A well-functioning web presence isn’t just about putting your services and contact information somewhere in a dusty corner of the internet. 

Why DIY websites hurt

Let’s say you’re a helping professional—coach, mental health worker, psychologist, counselor, or alternative healer. Your job is based on trust and credibility. People find you in two ways: personal recommendations or online searches. Recommendations are great, but they’re like gambling—some days clients show up, other days the calendar is empty. And while you are probably a helper at heart, don’t forget that you’re also running a business. And that means you need regular income, which requires a predictable client base. This doesn’t just magically appear around you or manifest solely through the power of your thoughts. 

If you rely solely on recommendations, you’ll likely encounter random clients who are far from your ideal. The uncertainty will stop you from filtering who you work with—you’ll feel like you have to accept everyone (and everything) for fear of what tomorrow might bring. You’ll meet clients who aren’t truly committed, and you’ll find yourself questioning your skills and knowledge because you don’t feel effective. The truth is, the problem isn’t you or your skillset; it’s the misconceptions you’ve been sold about client acquisition.

The result? You won’t attract enough of the right clients who truly value your work, and you’ll end up headed for burnout. To avoid this downward spiral, it’s essential to recognize that a stable online presence isn’t optional—it’s absolutely crucial for the success of your business.

Why investing in a website is worth it

First impressions are everything. Prospective clients will immediately check you out online. If they find a polished, professional website, you’ve already won points. But if they stumble onto a clumsy, DIY site that falls apart on mobile and contains irrelevant content, well… they’ll be heading for the back button.

And here’s the thing: It’s not enough to be an expert in your field—you need to look like one! People need to trust you before they even meet you, and first impressions are critical in building that trust.

“But my friend can do it for cheap!”

Ah, the classic “friend of a friend” solution! Yes, you probably have a friend who will throw something together for 150 euros. But then come the issues: the website won’t be responsive (it breaks on mobile), it’ll be hard to navigate, the site structure will be a mess, and the content… well, let’s just say it won’t represent what you do accurately.

And here’s where it gets awkward: how do you tell your friend that their work isn’t up to par? Awkward, right? Plus, since they’re working for cheap, they’ll likely lose enthusiasm after the second revision. With no contract in place, there’s no clear accountability, leaving you with a website that doesn’t work—for you or your clients. And while it might have been “cheap,” it ends up being an expensive lesson.

You paid the low price for a website that not only doesn’t help with attracting clients but actually worsens the situation.

Another common scenario: You hire someone for a mid-range price, and they deliver a decently functioning, average-looking template site. However, since they don’t understand your industry, your business goals, or the specialized communication that’s crucial in building a helper-client relationship, the website won’t be effective.  

I’ve often mentioned that online visitors make a decision in less than 2 seconds about whether to stay or leave a page. That’s why understanding the depth of your profession is essential in web design too. I focus on designing websites for helping professionals because, with 25 years of experience in this field, I have an in-depth understanding of what works and what doesn’t in the online space.

A poorly executed or mediocre website not only costs you the money you spent on it but also many potential clients you could work with happily—and at higher rates. 

When you try to fix a poorly designed website, more expenses pile up. In fact, many web designers—including myself—won’t take on the task of fixing someone else’s work. Along with the extra costs, you’ll lose a lot of time and clients—not to mention damage to your reputation, as those who’ve already seen your poorly executed site aren’t likely to give you a second chance. 

Time is valuable, and everyone tries to save it. First impressions are critically important—especially because there’s only one chance to make a first impression!

DIY website: When you do it yourself…

If you decide to tackle your own website, be prepared to invest a lot of time, energy, money, and patience. You’ll have to wear many hats—web designer, SEO expert, copywriter, and marketer. It can be an exciting learning journey, but it will eat up a lot of time that could be better spent practicing your profession. 

Let’s dive into the details.

It’s not impossible to teach yourself web design—I went through the same process. I moved from being a graphic designer to working as a helper, and I learned web design while building my own websites for family constellation therapy, Qigong, and sound therapy. That’s where it all began. Although I had almost two decades of graphic design experience and a solid foundation in the field, it still wasn’t easy to get the knowledge I needed to create websites that work both functionally and visually.

If you’re starting from scratch, you’ll need good English skills, as most tutorials are in English. (This article was first written for Hungarian mental health professionals.)Plus, you’ll have to invest a lot of time. It will take months before you can put together a decent (read: mediocre) site.

Beyond the technical aspects, you’ll need to dive into design—an exciting prospect, no doubt.
You’ll soon realize that besides the chosen website builder, you’ll need to understand WordPress/Wix basics, image editing, color correction, vector graphics, logo design, typography, and even how to make foreign character sets work in fonts designed for English. 

Besides the cost of hosting and a domain, you’ll also need to invest in some website builders, professional design tools (like the Adobe suite or Canva), and for even a basic site, you might need some CSS or HTML coding knowledge.

It’s not impossible to learn all this. But as you spend time and energy learning these skills (along with content creation, audience targeting, and SEO), you won’t be spending that time on your core professional work—which again means losing clients and money.

A professional web designer, who understands the essence of your profession, can save you all this trouble. However, they won’t come cheap, because they know that the key lies in the details, and working out those details requires more time and specialized knowledge. But the results will speak for themselves.

Summary: Why investing in a professional website is worth it

As a well-being professional, your job is to support others in their growth. But don’t forget that your own business needs the same attention and care. Your online presence is where the first connection is made—a professional website is the first step to reaching the right people, building trust, and forming genuine, valuable relationships with your clients. If you don’t invest in this, you won’t just lose clients; your confidence may also take a hit when you end up working with people who aren’t aligned with you.

Cheap solutions always cost more in the long run. But if you make a conscious decision now and invest in a quality website, it will become the foundation of a stable business. Clients will trust you, recognize your professionalism, and appreciate the value you bring. Don’t be a slave to your own business—be its leader!

Yes, a cheaper website may seem like an attractive offer at first, but think about it this way: it’s like trying to save money on running shoes. Sure, you save a little upfront, but after getting blisters for the third time and dealing with knee pain every time you run, you realize you’ve spent more on band-aids, physiotherapy, and doctor’s appointments than you would have on a good pair of shoes. The same applies to websites. The fast and cheap solutions will always cost more in the end—lost clients, lost time, and maybe even lost enthusiasm for the profession you’ve dedicated yourself to.

If you invest thoughtfully and choose a professional online presence, you’ll have a solid foundation for your business. You won’t be a slave to your profession—you’ll be the proud leader of the helping business you’re building. 

And who wouldn’t want to be that kind of successful and cool boss?