Why Using a Cheap Website Builder Is Hurting Your Sales (And What to Do About It)

We all know having a website is a non-negotiable when running a business—it’s like Business 101. But when it comes to building that website, many business owners face the same temptation: “Why should I pay for a website when I can use a free or super cheap builder?” Sure, platforms like Wix, Weebly, and Squarespace promise a DIY solution at a fraction of the cost, but that short-term savings might be costing you more than you realize.

If you’re serious about driving sales and growing your business, cutting corners on your website could be a major misstep. Let’s break down exactly why those “free” or cheap website builders might be hurting your bottom line and why investing in a professional website is a smarter choice.

1. Cheap Websites Don’t Convert Visitors into Customers

Your website isn’t just a digital business card; it’s a tool to capture leads and convert visitors into paying customers. Most free or low-cost website builders aren’t designed with that goal in mind. They offer generic templates that look fine, but they lack the marketing-focused features that encourage users to take action.

Consider this: Does your DIY website have clear calls to action (CTAs)? Is there a well-placed contact form or an offer that motivates visitors to reach out? If your site isn’t guiding visitors through a clear path, you’re leaving money on the table. A good business website isn’t just about looking nice—it’s about creating opportunities for leads. That’s why we prefer WordPress + Elementor, which allows for total customization of key marketing features to ensure your website is working hard for your business, not just sitting there.

(For more on why WordPress + Elementor is the best platform for lead generation, check out this article.)

2. Time Spent DIY-ing Is Time Spent NOT on Your Business

Think about how long it took you to piece together your DIY website. Days? Weeks? Months? Now think about what else you could have been doing with that time. Every hour spent tinkering with page layouts or troubleshooting plugins is time you could have spent running your business, serving customers, or developing new products.

Professional web design takes time—around 14 weeks according to industry experts—but with a professional team like ours handling the heavy lifting, you can focus on what you do best: growing your business. We build custom WordPress and Elementor websites that don’t just look good—they’re built to perform, so you get a professional, optimized site without wasting precious time.

3. Your Website Reflects Your Business—and Cheap Websites Send the Wrong Message

Your website is the digital face of your business, and in today’s market, first impressions happen fast—within 50 milliseconds, to be exact. A clunky, slow, or unattractive website can turn potential customers away before they even get a chance to see what you offer. If your site screams “cheap” or “template,” that impression sticks with your visitors.

A professionally designed website, on the other hand, builds trust and boosts your credibility. It shows visitors that you take your business seriously and, by extension, that you’ll take them seriously as customers. With WordPress + Elementor, you have the flexibility to create a polished, branded experience that elevates your business. Free builders just can’t offer that same level of control, leaving you stuck with cookie-cutter designs that don’t reflect your brand’s unique strengths.

4. Poor SEO Means No One Will Find You

It doesn’t matter how great your website looks if no one can find it. SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is the key to driving traffic to your site, and unfortunately, most free website builders are terrible at it. Many of these platforms don’t give you the control you need over key SEO elements like meta tags, page speed, and mobile optimization.

WordPress, on the other hand, is known for being SEO-friendly, and Elementor makes it even easier to manage important on-page SEO factors like headings, alt tags, and mobile responsiveness. Plus, with tools like Yoast SEO, you can easily optimize your site for search engines, driving more organic traffic and ultimately, more sales. We make sure your WordPress + Elementor site is fully optimized for SEO, so potential customers can actually find you online.

5. Slow Load Times = Lost Sales

Cheap website builders tend to generate bloated, messy code that slows down your website’s load time. And in case you didn’t know, a slow-loading website is a major sales killer. Studies show that if a page takes longer than 3 seconds to load, you lose about 40% of visitors. That’s almost half your potential leads gone in the blink of an eye.

WordPress + Elementor is built with speed in mind, ensuring that your website performs well, even with complex features and high traffic. We take things even further by optimizing your hosting, minimizing unnecessary plugins, and ensuring your site loads quickly on any device. That way, your visitors stick around long enough to become customers.

6. Free Website Builders Limit Your Growth

As your business grows, your website needs to grow with it. But most free or cheap website builders don’t offer the flexibility or scalability that a business needs over time. Need to add eCommerce features? Want to integrate advanced CRM tools or marketing automation? How about a custom client portal or an online course?! Good luck with that on a free platform.

With WordPress + Elementor, the possibilities are endless. Whether you’re adding new products, expanding into new markets, or integrating advanced tools, we can ensure your website evolves with your business. Plus, you own the site. Unlike Wix or Squarespace, which lock you into their ecosystem, WordPress gives you full control and ownership of your website and its content. That’s real freedom.

Don’t Let a Cheap Website Cost You Sales

Cutting corners on your website might save you a few bucks upfront, but the long-term cost to your business could be far greater. From missed leads to poor SEO, slow load times, and limited growth potential, using a free or cheap website builder just isn’t worth the risk.

Investing in a professional WordPress + Elementor website is an investment in your business’s future. At Digital Aspect Marketing, we specialize in building custom websites that are designed to generate leads, drive sales, and grow with your business. Don’t let a DIY website hold you back—let’s build something that actually works for you.

Ready to ditch the DIY and start seeing real results? Contact us today, and let’s create a website that helps your business grow.