Tech is all about innovation and entrepreneurship. These principles are key to digital marketing, too, so it is no wonder why the two field have much in common. One commonality is the revival of DIY that has emerged in recent years. This is especially true in the tech industry, where it is becoming increasingly common to focus on hands-on development rather than esoteric applications. DIY initiatives are taking over nearly every part of tech, but none has been more affected than web design. Web designers can attest that the industry is shifting its approach—and clients are leading the way.
The following are just a few of the reasons for this DIY revolution. Whether you are a communications strategist, web designer or tech consultant, you should be familiar with the ideas leading this shift forward. Consider the following and how these factors might impact the work that you do, too. You shouldn’t be surprised when DIY permeates your industry, too.
No Need to Outsource
Outsourcing has a number of benefits. When you outsource, you can enlist help from an expert, and you can free up the time you would have spent working on a particular task. Many people are resistant, though, and indeed it has both pros and cons. Many entrepreneurs are drawn to DIY tech methodologies, though, because it eliminates the need for outsourcing. For all of its benefits, outsourcing often does cost time and money, so buckling down on a DIY approach can be beneficial. You should carefully select what tasks you DIY, though—some are still best left to the pros.
Have Final Say
When you outsource—or surrender control over a task in any capacity—you give somebody else power over its results. Whether you are working on your company’s website or developing a new marketing strategy, relying on resources outside yourself can dilute the product you envision. When you take a deliberate DIY approach, though, you enjoy total control over the result of the project you are working on. You can have final say over its design, effect and functionality. If you are driven by a specific vision, as many tech innovators are, DIY allows you to make it happen.
Control Over Expense
DIY doesn’t just let you maintain final say over the results of your project. It also lets you control the budget that you set for the project. This is an important consideration for anybody in tech. Without a set budget, costs can easily swell and end up being more than a project is worth. Estimating costs is an important skill for any entrepreneur, but it is even better to be able to manage those costs. If you take a DIY approach and make your own website, for example, you know exactly how much time and resources will cost.
Learn New Skills
What entrepreneur doesn’t love learning new things? That’s why you are continually driven to innovate and create—you want to create new designs and resources to share. Honing in on a DIY approach can actually help you learn new skills. If you make your own website rather than outsourcing it, for example, the process might be challenging, but you are likely to have a whole new skill set by the time you are done. Developing a set of intersectional skills is one of the best assets a tech professional can have, and that’s what DIY offers.
These benefits demonstrate why DIY is making such a comeback across the communication and tech industries. Whether you are looking for ways to learn new professional skills or manage the costs of a project, implementing the principles of DIY might be the best way to accomplish your goals.
