Choosing between a DIY approach and hiring a consultant depends on your website's complexity, your team's technical skills, and your available resources. Use the following guidelines to determine the best option:
Choose DIY if you answer YES to ALL of the following:
You need a website primarily for presenting information, such as documents, event details, and project updates.
You or your team have basic web skills and can work with website builders like Google Sites, Wix, or Squarespace without coding.
You can manage content updates regularly without requiring external support.
Hire a Consultant if you answer YES to ANY of the following:
Your project requires dynamic pages with an online database, and you do not know how to set it up. (Dynamic pages automatically update content based on a database or user interactions, rather than being manually edited.)
You need advanced features such as GIS integration, interactive maps, data dashboards, or public engagement tools beyond your technical expertise.
You want a polished, professional design that aligns with branding and user experience best practices.
The website has complex technical requirements, such as accessibility compliance (ADA/WCAG), integration with planning databases, or API connections that you are unfamiliar with.
Your team lacks the time or expertise to maintain and update the site effectively,
A hybrid approach using Wix could involve setting up the website yourself while hiring a consultant for specialized features. Here's an example:
Scenario: Community Engagement Website for a Planning Project
DIY Components (Built with Wix by the Planning Team)
Use Wix templates to create a clean, user-friendly homepage.
Add pages for project updates, event calendars, and downloadable reports using Wix’s built-in tools.
Set up a blog for news and planning insights.
Use Wix’s form builder for basic public comment submissions.
Enable Wix’s multilingual feature for language accessibility.
Consultant’s Role (Custom Features & Enhancements)
Integrate an interactive GIS mapping tool by embedding ArcGIS or Mapbox into the Wix site.
Set up a custom survey tool (beyond Wix’s basic forms) to collect and analyze public input.
Ensure ADA compliance and optimize accessibility beyond Wix’s default settings.
Implement custom coding for advanced data visualizations, like public feedback dashboards.
This approach keeps costs low by leveraging Wix’s easy-to-use tools for content management while ensuring technical features meet professional standards through a consultant’s expertise.