What’s that? You don’t think cutting your own hair is a great idea? How hard can it be? You get a pair of scissors and snip away! And hey, it’s only hair. If you mess up, just wait for it to grow back and try again. And in the meantime, wear a hat.

Long before Britney Spears had her DIY headshaving moment, I had one of my own. I personally kind of liked the results. My wife nearly had a heart attack. Okay, lesson learned. Don’t cut your own hair.

Some Things You Can Do Yourself

Changing the oil in my motorcycle always makes me feel empowered. I also like making my own pizza dough from scratch (provided I’ve washed my hands after changing the oil).

A lot of hardware stores offer DIY classes on everything from painting to plumbing repairs to electrical wiring. I should probably take some of those classes.

Some Things Should Be Left to Professionals

If you’re planning a big traditional wedding, you might not want to design your own wedding dress (unless you’re a clothing designer). I’d also discourage you from removing your own appendix, even if you’re a surgeon.

And as you might expect, I caution any business owner (aside from web designers) from designing their own website, and for the same basic reasons you don’t want to cut your own hair or design your own wedding dress.

The fact is that what appears simple (like snipping hair) requires a considerable amount of training and experience. At least if the results are important to you. After all, there is no law against cutting your own hair. But expect to be dissed and possibly avoided if you do.

Web designers and developers have to consider so many factors. Here are just a few:

• Are objects properly aligned?
• How does the design direct the eye?
• Is the color scheme professional?
• Does the design connect to users emotionally?
• Does it tell a story?
• How does it look on different browsers and different devices?
• Is there enough negative space?
• Can users easily find the information they are looking for?
• Does the design further establish the uniqueness of the brand?
• How fast do pages and images load?
• Are there elements that drive users away or fail to generate action?

So Much to Know

Can you learn how to do this yourself? Yes, but it takes considerable time to do so because there is so much to learn. You have to learn the basic principles and established standards of web design. Also you need to get very familiar with the tools like Photoshop, text editors, and the limits of various browsers. Then you have to learn HTML, CSS and most likely PHP, MySQL, JavaScript, SEO, content managment systems, etc. This can take years to get a handle on. But if you have nothing but time, knock yourself out.

If you’re looking to establish your brand online, with a professional site that attracts visitors and turns them into customers, then you would be smart to hire a professional. One with years of experience, but who stays current with the ever-changing technology. Personally, we think we’re the best, but by all means shop around. Just don’t do it yourself. Or your website could end up a little funny-looking.