Website Templates vs. Custom Project: How to Identify the Best Variant?

Intro

Have you come up with a plan to launch a website for your company? Once you decide to move forward, you are likely to face a dilemma. Should I choose a personalized online project or website templates? What type of website is best for my company's client outreach?

In this post, we will talk about the distinctions between website templates and custom-made projects. Each choice has advantages and disadvantages and fulfills a specific function for various types of businesses.

To help you choose the best course of action for your company, you need to consider multiple aspects. These include your finances, time, technical competence, and objectives. So let us list all the pros and cons of each approach.

How to Create a Website & What Can Be Your Reliable Assistant?

Website Templates

To answer the question of how to create a website to sell, you can always turn to website templates. Using them, it is possible to create an online project quickly and affordably.

Generally speaking, it is a pre-made set of web pages to which you can add different pieces of content. These include text, images, videos, and others.

A high-quality website templates design allows altering various components to reflect your aesthetic impact and branding strategy. You will be ready to work with your pieces of content and customize their layout, style, and colors.

There are thousands of ready-made solutions for a wide range of purposes. Some of them are basic static pages, while some are interactive and creative options.

Advantages

1. User-friendliness and ease of use.

You do not need to be an expert programmer to modify website templates. In addition to this, WYSIWYG builders employ drag-and-drop tools to edit the content. All you need is an idea of how your website will appear and a minimal knowledge of online navigation.

2. Affordability.

A website’s cost is determined by two main points. How sophisticated it is and how much customization is possible. Overall, it is a cost-effective option, particularly for startups and small businesses. You can also download some website templates for free. However, it is critical to keep in mind that their functionality and personalization capabilities will be limited.

3. Speed.

It is possible to establish and publish a brand-new website in a couple of days. You have all the code written, so there is no need to make numerous tests or revisions. After customizing and filling it with the necessary content, it is ready for launch.

4. Various styles and functionalities.

You have a whole kaleidoscope of options when it comes to appearance, functionality, and add-ons.

5. Basic layouts.

The friendliness and accessibility of standard web themes are the main design principles. The site's basic architecture does not change regardless of how the layout and structure vary. So you can be sure of getting an easy-to-use online project with smooth navigation.

Disadvantages

1. You cannot be overly choosy.

A very original business idea will undoubtedly necessitate a distinctive website. Even if there are thousands of website templates for business available, you may discover a few that match your requirements. It implies choosing something that is closest to meeting your needs, but not a perfect match.

2. It is possible to face customization limits.

Unfortunately, not all adjustments will be possible. Website templates are not fully adaptable. For example, text containers can only accommodate a particular amount of words or characters. Furthermore, you can only upload photos of a given size.

3. Unchangeable code.

Most website templates enable you to read the code behind them without altering it. Even if you could change the rigid base code, it would be extremely time-consuming. It happens because the majority of the code is produced by computers. Since the entire system is interconnected, changing the code in some circumstances can potentially damage some functionalities.

4. Non-exclusivity.

There is no need to explain what the mass market means. When you purchase website templates, you are essentially acquiring the license to use them. It eliminates uniqueness because several businesses, including your rivals, can buy and utilize the same ready-made solution.

5. You will need to focus on optimization.

Website templates design is essentially a blank sheet of paper with a basic website framework added. Therefore, you are in charge of the site’s optimization. It involves optimizing for user experience, search engine (including searching for keywords and analyzing search engine results) speed, and performance. The most basic optimization mechanisms are all you receive for the low price of website templates. The remaining holes must be filled up with extra tools and high-level abilities.

Custom Websites

A custom web design, as opposed to website templates, is made for your brand identity, organization, or product. Moreover, it includes all the elements crafted exclusively for your intended audience and marketing plan. Custom online projects are all about ensuring that people see a branding, function, and mission on every site page.

Advantages

1. Distinct and completely customizable.

One of the key benefits of websites designed from scratch is their capability to be whatever you want them to be. To start with, they will ideally fit into your business strategy. Additionally, you can have any feature or functionality to meet all of your demands. In other words, a personalized web design is unique. It automatically becomes a component of your company, its aesthetic, and its image, which makes online promotion easier.

2. Integrated UX and SEO.

The efficiency and user experience are built into their very core with a custom design. For instance, a fully-responsive design is one of the most significant UX elements, especially when it comes to mobile devices. There are more features to incorporate to enhance user engagement and improve search engine ranking.

3. Easily scalable.

A web developer will create a site that can expand with your company. To satisfy new eCommerce and web design demands (like increasing traffic or new product categories), it is possible to add new features. You are also free to upgrade existing ones by altering just a few lines of code. Although it is sometimes ignored, scalability is crucial for keeping up with the times.

4. Integration of additional useful services.

During the coding and design stages, developers can incorporate external services. For example, these can be MailChimp, HubSpot, and Google Maps using integrated APIs. Through this integration, any service becomes a component of the core website. The difficulty is that each plugin is a separate system. If there are too many of them, the site's functionality and loading time may suffer, in addition to compatibility problems.

5. You will work closely with a professional.

Custom web development turns out to be successful when there is a joint effort between the customer and the developer. Working with a qualified specialist provides you with useful design recommendations.

Disadvantages

1. More costly than website templates.

Building a website from scratch is a complex process that requires a team of experts. Consequently, the cost reflects all of that labor. In general, you can expect to pay a decent sum of money, especially in comparison to a template-based website. However, additional financial gains eventually outweigh the hefty price over time.

2. You will need to wait longer.

A team of professionals may need from a few weeks to a few months to craft a site, based on its intricacy. All the procedures need a great deal of effort, consideration, and accuracy. Once the site is finished, more alterations will not be necessary. Even though creating a personalized website takes longer, you avoid the trouble of having to make numerous changes.

(Source: https://www.infographicsshowcase.com/the-importance-of-a-custom-designed-business-website/)

Website Templates vs. Custom Sites: Final Thoughts

So do you need website templates or a custom-built site? It may seem that a personalized website has a number of benefits, but it is not always the best option. Take the following crucial factors into account before opting for your excellent variant.

• Budget: analyze your finances and compare the costs of template-based and custom websites.
• Goals: what is the website's purpose, and what functionalities are you looking for?
• Target market: do not forget that a template-based site is not always the best option for a specific niche.
• Requirements: can you develop and construct what you require using website templates (for example, by TemplateMonster Digital Marketplace)?
• Competition: take inspiration from rivals and analyze the market to figure out how to differentiate your site.
• Time: if you want to enter a market as quickly as possible, you may not be ready to wait for a web developer to produce a site.

We hope it will be easier to decide on the most suitable basis for your online project. Thanks for reading!