Has your business decided to invest in a new website? Generally, you’ll have two options to consider: build a website from an existing website template or create a custom web design from scratch with the help of a web design company. Both options have their pros and cons depending on your budget, branding and website needs, but which option will benefit your business the most? To help you make your decision, we’ve provided a brief breakdown below on the differences between website templates vs custom web design and which option can best help your business achieve its goals.
What Are Web Templates?
Web templates are template-based designs that offer you an existing layout to fit your content into. When building a website with web templates, you are basically searching for a template design that has the closest resemblance to how you want your website to look and function. When you find the one that may work, services like Wix or Squarespace allow you to edit these templates and make small customization changes with images, colors and layout sections. While website templates can help you get a website up fast and easily, will it send the right message to your potential clients?
Disadvantages of Web Templates
You Won’t Stand Out From the Crowd
There are only so many website templates out there, so chances are if you are using one to build your business website, many other businesses are too. If you’re a business without any competition, this may not pose a problem, but if you’re looking to establish credibility and stand out from your competitors, a website that looks like everyone else’s won’t do the trick.
Templates Aren’t Built for SEO
Unlike custom built websites, templates aren’t designed with SEO (search engine optimization) in mind. While some website services may offer search engine ready website templates, the coding on the templates aren’t kept up-to-date, which means they can’t take advantage of the latest trends in SEO or ways Google ranks websites like a web developer can.
Poor Customer Support
If you grab a template from the internet and run into a bug or an issue on your website, chances are you won’t be able to connect with the person who built the theme to ask them questions or request support the same way you could when working with a website development team. Instead, you may have to find your answers by searching through forums, watching video tutorials, or waiting several days for customer support to receive your inquiry.
You’re Stuck With What You Get
If you purchase a template online, you may receive features on your website that your business may not need or want, which means you may have to put up with designs, layouts or functions that not only don’t fit the purpose of your website but also compromise your website’s performance, functionality and user experience.
What is Custom Web Design?
Custom-built websites are built from the ground up without any use of a pre-designed layout, allowing you to have input throughout the entire design process. When you partner with Array on a custom web design, you have a full team behind your business designing and developing a website with your business in mind. We take the time to learn more about you, your business and target audience, challenges and goals. Starting with a blank canvas, we then begin the planning and design process to customize a website based on the needs of your business.
Advantages of Custom Web Design with Array
A Unique Website That Expresses Your Brand
Custom web design allows you to create a website that is truly unique and original, giving your business an edge over your competition. With the help of our web developers, you can make your website look like anything you want without being limited to premade templates.
You Control How Your Website Functions
If you can imagine it, our web developers can do it. Want a membership system for your customers? Include special features at checkout on your eCommerce store? With custom web design, you can incorporate any specialized features you want into your website to keep your audience engaged and turn those leads into conversions.
Create a Dynamic Experience For Your Target Audience
The problem with website templates is they are not well designed to be responsive across all devices (phones, laptops, tablets, etc.) and browsers (Google Chrome, Safari, Firefox, etc.). At Array, our web developers make sure that you receive a dynamic and responsive website that resizes and adjusts and will test your website across all devices and web browsers before presenting the final product.
Your Website Will Be SEO Friendly
SEO plays a big role in attracting your target audience to your website. When building a website from the ground up, we optimize your website to be search engine friendly throughout the creation process using the latest and most up-to-date SEO practices, making sure it is optimized to rank high on Google and other search engines.
Support From Web Developers When You Need It
With Array, you get access to skilled web developers that can help you troubleshoot issues or overcome any challenges that may arise. Furthermore, after we’ve built your new website on WordPress, our web developers sit down with your support staff and train them on how to use the content management system so you can make updates or changes across your website as your business grows.
Let’s Create An Awesome Website Together!
As you can see, there are a lot of things to consider when investing in a new website for your business. But if you’re searching for a website that is personalized and unique, fully customizable, built to fit the needs of your business, and reflects your brand, then contact Array today! Together, we can create a dynamic, stunning website that makes an impact and helps you achieve your business goals.
If you’re ready to take your online presence to the next level, our award-winning team and web design + development services are here to help!
