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Compare CSS, WYSIWYG & DIY

  Hand-Coded CSS Websites WYSIWYG Website Design Software DIY Website Templates
Support & Help
Professional advice & expertise Yes Yes No
Easier & less time-consuming to maintain Yes No No
Requires no additional time to learn & build your website Yes No No
Do-it-yourself No Yes Yes
Well-Designed
Professional design results Yes Yes No
Flexible design choices Yes No No
Easy for Users
Based on the latest web development technology Yes No No
Easy to view on mobile devices, like smart phones Yes No No
Cross-browser compatible (doesn't distort content in multiple browsers) Yes No No
Built to load quickly on even slow Internet connections Yes No No
Accessible & Easy to Find
Often or always accessible to those using assistive technologies Yes No No
Structured to be search engine friendly Yes No No
Price Medium to High Low to Medium Low

More details on web technologies

Customized hand-coded, CSS-based websites

CSS based websites

Top-quality brands need top-quality websites. With hand-coded, CSS-based websites, you get the curb appeal that sells your site to new & returning visitors - rather than a cookie-cutter look and feel.

Hand coding does not rely on pre-built templates or WYSIWYG software. Instead, the layout of the website is constructed with CSS & HTML rather than tables - and it's designed to your specifications. Benefits include:

  • A more flexible design that reflects your brand
  • Quick & easy design updates & changes
  • Better search engine results
  • Faster download times for all users, including those on mobile devices
  • Easier accessibility for users with disabilities

Market Web hand-codes all of our sites. Learn more about our web standards

"What You See Is What You Get"(WYSIWYG) website development software

WYSIWYG web development

Some developers with HTML experience use WYSIWYG software to develop websites. This option usually costs more than the template-based, DIY software - but the upside is that it can produce professional-looking websites.

Unfortunately, WYSIWYG software often uses table-based layouts and inefficient, unnecessary code for design elements like roll-over buttons & navigation. The effect is a weighed-down site that is slow to load and less accessible.

Because of its many downsides, WYSIWYG web design software is a last generation web development technology that may soon be obsolete.

Do-it-yourself (DIY) template-based website generators

Website templates

When you invest in a website, you don't want to find that your competitor is using the same site as you, do you? With DIY websites, you may find yourself using the same website template your competitor used for their site... The effect? A diluted brand. Customer confusion. Wasted money.

But, if you have a very limited budget and are not concerned about sharing your web template with others, DIY template-based website software may be the way to go (although it has the same limitations of WYSIWYG... and more). DIY software keeps costs low and lets you build a site fairly easily - even if you have no HTML experience.

Want a custom-branded yet affordable site?
See Market Web's professional, custom web designs