As the world is progressively digitized, the success of any business is closely tied to its online presence. The customers are accustomed to finding everything they need online, so you need to accommodate their expectations to generate engagement and profits.
The first step to building an online presence is launching a website where your clients will visit to purchase or gather information about the product. Before that, you have to decide whether to create a custom website design or use a ready template. Both methods are great, but they come with different perks and challenges concerning finances, time, and technicalities. As your choice will further affect your website development process, you must choose what’s best for you.
The experience of using the page will impact the customer behavior, hence the need for creating an aesthetically pleasing and smoothly-operating website. Below, we’ll take a closer look at custom website-built and template designs so you may create an outstanding website that converts visitors into clients.
Custom Website Design
Custom website design is the process of creating a website from scratch based on your specific needs and requirements. A Custom website designer will analyze your goals and map out the content structure, navigation, and overall appearance of the site. Then, Custom website designer will craft a unique website that represents your brand.
Depending on the device used, the interface of the page will change. As it’s created by a professional, a custom website will be tested to smoothly operate on all devices, be it a laptop, smartphone, or tablet. This way, the customers will have a consistent user experience.
What is more, a custom website can be easily integrated into your business ecosystem with tools such as CRM or ERP systems. By creating a synchronized business with a seamless flow of information, you’ll be able to expand your operations and generate more revenue. Then, you should also learn more about BCM software features; if all aspects of your business are a part of a thorough business continuity plan, you will be able to rest assured that your company is safe.
Unfortunately, the costs of custom websites are significantly higher than those of a template-based solution. The custom web design process involves a lot of effort and time, and unless you have a background in coding, you’ll have to hire a professional SaaS web designer. You also have to consider that the website needs to be updated regularly, and thus requires maintenance and further changes, so you should plan for that.
The process of creating a custom website can be quite challenging and time-consuming. It requires heavy involvement from your side as the client – you will have to provide feedback to the designer along the way, so it can take weeks or even months to complete. Moreover, creating the website from scratch means writing countless lines of code and testing whether it’s working properly. Also, custom web design can be done from the professional web design agency like Digital8 and it will be helpful to complete advanced website features like payment gateway, cart feature and customized design.
Still, you can expect to see results faster because it is made to target specific objectives. If you’re after high search engine ranking and conversion rates, a custom-built website is what you need.
Pros
1. It’s a tailor-made website that is uniquely yours.
2. It allows additional services like CRM or ERP.
3. Tested by professionals to work on all devices.
4. Facilitates search engine optimization
5. Helps increase conversion rates.
Cons
1. Customized websites are much more expensive.
2. It requires a maintenance team.
3. Building from scratch is time-consuming.
4. It requires a background in coding.
Template-Based Website
As the name suggests, template design is used to build a website using a premade page layout that you can modify according to your preferences. This method doesn’t require a background in coding, and you may create the website on your own, which will considerably lower the costs. Moreover, the process won’t be as time-consuming as creating a custom design.
Unfortunately, most templates are built for generic purposes and don’t represent unique brands well. Though it may be altered to a certain point, a template-based website usually has a fixed layout and may not include certain features that are essential for your business. There is the possibility that the template won’t be compatible with tools that connect the website to your business ecosystem.
Even though there are many templates available online, it’s likely that a different business is already using the same template as you. With the similarity to your competitors, you might have difficulty standing out to potential customers. It will also influence your brand, as the website won’t be uniquely yours.
Web designers also advise against using free templates because they often have poor quality code, which can result in inconsistent interface depending on the device, poor SEO ranking, and decreased conversion rates. Moreover, free templates might have security issues and be vulnerable to hackers. You should always use premium templates because they are safer and more reliable.
Pros
1. Templates are great if you have a limited budget.
2. They take considerably less time.
3. They don’t require knowledge of coding.
Cons
1. There are limits to customizing the template.
2. There can be sites that look like yours.
3. The template might not be compatible with certain plugins.
4. The template may have problems running on different devices.
5. Certain templates might not be SEO-friendly.
6. Old code may result in security problems.
Which One Should You Choose?
We can’t say that one is better than the other, as every business is different and so are their goals. Hence, you should consider such factors as time, budget, and brand image to determine which one is the best for your business.
If the success of your business is dependent on how customers perceive your brand image, then you should go with a custom-built site because it provides full flexibility when it comes to brand identity. On top of that, it is easier to analyze customer behavior on a custom website because it is personalized for your business only.
However, the cost is an important factor to consider before choosing between custom/template solutions. If you want your business to appear professional but don’t have a sufficient budget for a custom site, a template-based design may be a good solution for you.
In Conclusion
A website is a key tool for promoting your business and generating sales. While deciding which design to choose, you must keep in mind that it should represent your brand’s values and offer the best user experience for potential customers. By carefully considering the features you want, you’ll easily select the most suitable design for your business.
The two main options are creating a custom website design or using a template-based website. Both approaches have pros and cons, so you should weigh them carefully before choosing one. As this decision will influence the future of your business, it is vital that you take sufficient time to make the right choice. We hope that this article will help you understand the differences between custom and template websites and how they can impact your business goals and objectives.
Author: Przemysław Puternicki
