Custom Web design vs. Template | Which one to Choose?

The direction of your company's digital marketing strategy will be decided by a template or a custom web design.

Are you considering making a new website investment for your company but need to know if a theme or a custom design is better for you? Whether you are familiar with the differences between the two or are just beginning your research, this article should offer some helpful things to consider while deciding which path to choose.

The Right Next Step for Your Website Design and Digital Strategy

Time for an illustration. Consider a custom-built home against a production home to help you better comprehend the distinctions between the two types of websites: custom and template. Both have comparable functions, but it will be much simpler to design your home bespoke from the beginning if you require extra amenities (like a master bedroom with two closets).

Website design is comparable in this regard. The website with a production home concept provides quick move-in, reduced prices, and specifications that can be suitable for your requirements. Of course, you could eventually outgrow this choice or modify your lifestyle to suit it, depending on what you're searching for.

We initially assess the primary goals of the website and the target audience while collaborating with customers to decide which strategy will perform best. The significance of outperforming rivals, the distinctiveness of the business and brand, the budget and timeframe, and who is included in the company's target market are a few possible considerations.

Working with a Template

You may get a website theme from one of the many themes and website builders available today. WordPress is the most popular platform for these sites, although you have seen commercials for themed websites from Wix, Squarespace, and GoDaddy. There are both free and premium themes available. Almost any website development company can design WordPress websites, but not all are built similarly. Keep this in mind if you're searching for a team to develop your site.

A thematic approach works well for specific customers when building a website that serves simple functions with little to no particular requirements. They could reinvest part of the money they save on design and development time in the link-building and SEO tactics used on the site to drive targeted visitors. There is a cap to this tactic, though. There is a limit to how rapidly your themed site can load before you start to experience design issues.

Additionally, it could be challenging to locate support or make changes to the theme if your web firm doesn't provide continuous assistance because the code is designed in a way that makes it challenging just to go in and make changes. There are countless methods to build code for a website since WordPress is so popular, and no two developers work in precisely the same manner. It's comparable to being given a copy of Goosebumps and instructed to turn it into a Steven King book. Scary!

Pros for Templates

1. Quick market approach

2. Cost-effective

3. Additional third-party apps are available

4. Topics relevant to industries (Construction, law firm, restaurant, etc.)

Cons for Templates

1. Due to a lack of design alternatives, the website's theme could be clearer and easier to support.

2. Finding assistance is challenging.

3. Not every construction is receptive to mobile devices.

4. Themes are designed to support several add-ons and third parties, which slow down the website.

5. The technique doesn't incorporate organic SEO.

Working with a Custom Web Design

There is a reason why large corporations opt for a custom web design over adhering to a predetermined theme. Custom web designs are better at bringing in customers.

You needn't fear that your site contains extra features you won't utilize because they were created with one firm in mind. The problem with templated websites is that they are designed to accommodate all after-market changes, but a custom web design is focused on giving your business what YOU need. A custom site will also have a greater SEO value because the coding will be cleaner and explicitly designed for your business.

While the main drawback of the bespoke design is that it costs more and takes longer, it could be advantageous in the long term. The custom site allows both teams to review each design, or even each page if required, to ensure that it is what the user wants rather than attempting to rush perfection. Analyzing your return on investment might be very different due to this degree of information.

Pros for Custom Design

1. Specific to your business and market

2. The website was created with search engine optimization in mind.

3. All browser and device kinds will be checked for your website.

4. The website provider provides ongoing assistance.

Cons for Custom Design

1. It takes longer to implement

2. Greater cost

3. Additional time and effort are needed throughout the building procedure.

4 IMPORTANT QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF WHILE CHOOSING A TEMPLATE OR CUSTOM WEB DESIGN

When making a decision, ask yourself the following.

1. Which alternative is most likely to provide a profitable long-term investment?

Typically, custom websites produce a larger return on investment. More ROI is produced from distinctive design, superior customer experience, and stronger branding. Your products, services, and marketing initiatives affect your investment return. No matter what sector you work in, you should always know how much money you hope to recover from your website.

2. Which one is superior in terms of design?

Custom websites are better at satisfying your company's design requirements and objectives. On the other side, it is challenging to produce a distinctive design using templates independently. Furthermore, if you use a template, your website will likely resemble many other websites on the internet.

3. Which one offers the greatest chance of long-term scalability?

It is quite challenging to customize your template if you want to expand your design to highlight new features and functions.

A personalized website may be modified and expanded. A website built with templates may not assist your business in attracting a sizable volume of inbound visitors. The majority of templates are universal.

4. How long, on average, has each website been online?

Custom websites are more durable. According to Go-Globe, a personalized website's typical lifespan is 3 to 4 years, compared to 1 to 1.5 years for a template.

Since custom web designs are created specifically for your company from the start, they are more cost-efficient overall. However, as your company and traffic expand, you might need to invest more money and effort in template upkeep.

The final verdict

You may decide whether to use a template or create a unique website. Some businesses will succeed just fine with a template website. They could be familiar with coding or content management systems, or the site they are searching for only requires basic functionality. But for most organizations, it makes sense to let website experts handle website security, software upgrades, and functionality upkeep.

A custom website may be more expensive up front, but you can expect it to require less ongoing maintenance from your staff, fewer third-party plug-in expenses, and less time spent trying to get a theme to work the way you want it to.

The money you spend on a bespoke website is an investment in the marketing plan for your business. How much may your business lose with a poor website strategy? It can cost more upfront.

The CodeAutomation Difference

Even with a personalized website in mind, not all providers are created equal. CodeAutomation has been offering conversion-driven websites that carefully examine our clients' brands for 15 years. This method has consistently produced original website designs and great ROI for our clients.

Contact us via our contact page or email info@codeautomation.ai to set up a discovery meeting immediately if we sound like the right marketing partner for your business.