Build it yourself, or get it built?
Wix, Squarespace and GoDaddy make it easy to put a website up. Getting it found and turning visitors into calls is the hard part. Here’s how DIY compares with a done-for-you site.
A DIY website on Wix, Squarespace or GoDaddy costs a monthly subscription plus your own time, and you’re responsible for the writing, the SEO and keeping it up to date. A Northeave website is £500 one-off, written and built for you to rank on Google and in AI answers, and it’s yours to keep with no monthly fee required. DIY suits people with time and an eye for it; done-for-you suits trades who’d rather be on the tools.
Side by side
| DIY builder (Wix, Squarespace, GoDaddy) | Northeave website | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Monthly or yearly subscription, for as long as the site is up | £500 one-off. No monthly fee required |
| Your time | Evenings and weekends: writing, photos, layout, settings | A 15-minute call, then send photos and a few details |
| Words on the page | You write them | Written for you, around the jobs you want more of |
| Local SEO and AI search | Possible, if you know what to set up | Built in: areas, structured data, FAQs, fast loading |
| Enquiry handling | Basic contact form | Click-to-call, WhatsApp, qualifying questions |
| Who owns it | You, but it only runs on that platform | You: site, domain and data |
When DIY is the right call
If you enjoy that kind of thing, have the time, and mainly need somewhere to point people who already know you, a DIY builder is fine. The templates look good and you'll learn a lot.
When it isn't
Most trade websites built in an evening say "quality workmanship, competitive prices" and not much else. They don't mention the towns covered, don't answer the questions homeowners ask, and don't give Google or AI tools much to work with. That's the gap a done-for-you site fills: the words, the structure and the setup that get you found and get the phone ringing.
Questions trades ask
Can a Wix or Squarespace site rank on Google?
Yes. Ranking depends far more on the content, your Google Business Profile and reviews than on the platform. The challenge with DIY is knowing what to write and set up.
Is there a monthly fee for a Northeave website?
No. The website is £500 one-off and yours to keep. Monthly plans are optional and add things like your Google profile, review requests and call handling.
Can you rebuild my existing DIY site?
Yes. We can rebuild it properly and move your domain across, so you keep your web address.
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Read more15 minutes. No sales pitch.
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