Custom-built website Vs template website?

A custom-built website is a website that is generated from scratch. It is coded to suit whatever your business is looking for in terms of aesthetics and functions. There’s no template that will constraint your needs, you can have whatever you want (or whatever your developer is capable of creating should we say!).

Custom-built websites are flexible to updates and will grow as your business grows. Unlike templated sites, personalised ones are easier to modify and are likely to last a lifetime with new features being added. You’ll also get…

• To communicate with a professional developer/designer to get your website looking and working exactly how you want it. There might be some back and forth between the two, but you’ll end up with something you’re 100% happy with.
• Consistent branding on your website that will complement all of your other activities. Your website designer will use your branding across the entire site, including font, colours and logos to ensure that all aspects of your marketing are consistent.
• Unique design — having a unique website that is professionally designed will bode well with current and future clients/customers. You’ll avoid having a generic-looking website and websites really do say a lot about a company.
• Professional maintenance — since you’ll be paying for a ‘service’ there will always be someone looking at your website to ensure it is working and performing as it should. This can be updating the software, or checking that security will be working appropriately. No matter what, your website will be in good working order.

However, nothing is without its drawbacks, so here are a couple of the key pros and cons of having a custom-built website.

Pros

Custom-fit to the business

Unlimited designs

Can be updated anytime

Better SEO ranking

Flexible when businesses grow

Highly responsive and optimized for mobile

Cons

Expensive

Time-consuming

The website is dependent on the skill of the developer

What’s a template website?

A template is a ready-to-use, built-in theme found in most content management systems (CMS) — such as WordPress. They already have a certain layout, fonts, and colours you can choose from in their options, while the colours, text and layout can change slightly, the customisation options are pretty minimal, and even if you change everything, your website is likely still going to look like many other websites out there.

However, template websites are fast and easy to implement. You just need to choose a theme and you’re ready to go. But, of course, there are drawbacks, so let’s quickly explore the main pros and content of template websites.

Pros

Easy customisation

Fast to implement

Less expensive

Already well-designed

Ideal for startup businesses

Easy to maintain

Cons

Restricted in design and updates

Navigation conforms only to the theme

Security is an issue

Functionality is limited

What type of website is best suited to my business needs?

If you can’t decide between the two, here are some factors to consider.

Your budget

This will be the decision-maker for most people. Custom-built websites are generally pretty expensive, while templates are often cheap or free to download on the internet on some occasions. So, the decision can solely be made based on budget alone, however, it’s always important to note that websites are an ongoing process and can be improved over time, with budget restrictions eased somewhat.

Scalability

Template websites can’t really offer scalability unfortunately, they are limiting over a certain point. So, if your business improves and expands, you might want to scale up your website too, but scaling up templated websites isn’t straightforward and can be a huge frustration. However, custom-built sites make it easier to update, are flexible to changes and can be upscaled to deal with high volumes of traffic.

Deadline

If you’re time-constricted, the fastest way to implement a website is to have a template one. Once you’ve signed up, you’re able to instantly pick your themes and begin customising your website, while adding content and imagery.

Business Needs

The difference between getting a custom-built website and a template one in many cases will come down to the overall needs of your business.

Do you need a blog, personal site, business / corporate website, or an e-commerce website?

We ask because each of those different types of websites require a different website set up to better suit its needs. For example, a blog might only need simple features while an e-commerce site needs checkout functionalities to be activated along with many other elements.

Decision made?

Your website is a digital tool for your business, it’s a great source of information and a place that can allow you to build up brand awareness. It needs to be eye-catching and easy to use.

Of course, there is more to a website than having it look wonderful, it also needs to serve a purpose, and be functioning well from a users perspective.

If you’re looking for a custom-built website, then you’ve come to the right place. All that’s left to do is contact us to get started. Don’t forget to follow us on socials for all things website-related — Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.