DIY vs. Custom Website & SEO: Which Is Right for Your Growing Business?

Hey friend — let’s have a heart-to-heart.

If you're like a lot of the incredible women I work with here in Charlotte, NC, you started your business with big dreams and a whole lot of hustle. Maybe you pieced together your website on Wix (been there 🙋🏻‍♀️), Googled how to “fix SEO,” and did your best to make it look professional.

And let me just say — you’ve done amazing. But now?

Your business is growing… and your website isn’t keeping up.

Let’s talk about the difference between sticking with a DIY setup and investing in a custom website and SEO built for growth.

What DIY Gets You (and What It Doesn’t)

Wix, Squarespace, and Shopify are awesome starting points. They’re budget-friendly, easy to use, and give you full control. And when you're just starting out? That’s exactly what you need.

But here’s what I see all the time:

• You’re booked out, but your website still screams “just getting started”

• Your dream clients aren’t finding you in Google searches

• You spend more time fixing issues than actually growing your biz

  
  

At some point, DIY becomes a bottleneck — and your brand deserves better.

DIY vs. Custom Website + SEO: A Quick Breakdown

Here’s how they stack up:

Feature	DIY	Custom Website + SEO
Unique Design	✅	✅
Optimized Performance	❌	✅
Technical Support	❌	✅
SEO Customization	❌	✅
Ownership & Control	✅	✅

A DIY site gives you control. A custom site gives you growth.

Why This Matters for Lifestyle Businesses

Whether you’re a florist in Plaza Midwood, a real estate agent in South Charlotte, or a salon owner in NoDa — your website is your storefront.

It needs to:

• Reflect your brand and style

• Help you show up on Google (hello, SEO!)

• Convert curious browsers into booked clients

• Grow with your business

A Real Charlotte Story

One of my clients — a super talented event planner based right here in Charlotte — was juggling so many bookings, but her site didn’t reflect her brand anymore. It was beautiful, yes, but slow and invisible in search results.

We rebuilt it from the ground up:

• Custom design that matched her style

• SEO setup so she could finally be found online

• A site that she’s proud to send clients to (no more cringing at broken links or outdated info!)

Now? She’s not just busy. She’s booked solid — and it all started with a better foundation.

How to Know When It’s Time to Upgrade

Still on the fence?

Here’s your gentle checklist:

• Your site feels outdated or “meh”

• You’re not showing up in local search results

• You’ve outgrown the template look

• You’re tired of tech issues and patchwork fixes

• You’re ready for a more intentional online presence

Let’s Build a Website That Grows With You

Hi, I’m Jennifer — a Charlotte-based website designer and SEO specialist who helps women in lifestyle businesses create websites that actually work. No jargon. No overwhelm. Just smart strategy, beautiful design, and SEO that helps your dream clients find you.

Contact me here to chat about how we can bring your website to the next level.

Your business has grown — now let’s make sure your website grows with it!