Okay, I’ll be the first to admit the irony here. I started this blog to give small business owners free and low-cost marketing resources — and one of my first posts was literally telling you to go build a whole new digital platform. I see you side-eyeing me.
But stay with me, because here’s the thing: when it comes to websites, just like most things in life, there’s a Mercedes-Benz option and there’s a “gets you where you’re going just fine” option. Both are legitimate. The right one depends on what you’re willing to invest — your money, your time, or both.
Here’s how I break it down:
Option 1: Hire Someone to Build It
Yes, this is the most expensive route — but it buys back your time, and that’s real money too. The good news? “Hiring someone” doesn’t have to mean a five-figure agency retainer.
Freelance platforms like Upwork or Fiverr have made this surprisingly accessible — a quick Fiverr search will show you options starting around $100–$200. For my own business website (SMCKits), I wanted something beyond a standard template, so I went with Brick and Bytes — and I’d recommend them without hesitation. Their work is excellent, and depending on what you’re going for with your brand, they might be exactly who you need.
Option 2: Build It Yourself
If you’re willing to roll up your sleeves, there are fantastic DIY platforms designed specifically for people with zero web development experience. Most run under $100/year once you factor in domain and hosting costs — and some are completely free to start.
Here are five solid options to explore:
- WordPress (this is my DIY site on WordPress!)
- Wix
- Squarespace
- Shopify (especially popular for e-commerce)
- Hostinger
Option 3: Let AI Do It
Quick note before we get into this one: being a great entrepreneur doesn’t mean you’re automatically a great marketer — and that’s perfectly okay. That’s literally why this blog exists.
But if you’re comfortable with AI tools and know how to prompt well? You can have a full website built in minutes. For free. No manual building required. We are genuinely living in an era that levels the playing field for even the most resource-constrained small business owner, and that’s worth celebrating.
The Bottom Line
Whether you go full Benz or roll with a well-maintained Honda Civic, the goal is the same: get your business online and make it easy for people to find you.
The bottom line is this:
Social media is a powerful megaphone — but your website is your home base. Use both. Just don’t confuse one for the other.
What You Can Expect Here
I will be using this as an extension of my initial Marketing Agency offering – a platform for disseminating marketing tips, free and low cost marketing best practices that any individual or organization can use to help promote their businesses, their products, and their services.
Interested? Watch this space for more.
Marketing That Matters 