Custom Websites Vs Templates: The Basics You Should Know

When you decide to get a new website for your company, you have a few choices. You can go with a custom design and professional development or try to use a template to build the site on your own. If you are getting a new site, the following information can help you.

Which type of website is better?

Choosing one or the other will be a personal decision based on your unique business. Many people find that a template website completed on their own is adequate for their needs. Others require a custom site built by professional developers. You will need to think about your goals, budget, and even schedule availability to help make your decision.

What a good website should do

No matter which case you may fall in, there are some basic needs every website should meet. First, a website is for your customers. They want to learn about who you are as a company, what you offer, and how you can help them. Second, your website should establish you as an authority in your industry. This is for both your customers and search engines. Finally, your website should drive people to contact you, whether that is by a phone call, message, email, or in-person visit. Here are some other standards your website should meet.

• It should be mobile responsive. This helps users navigate your site on their phones and tablets and allows search engines to see you are focused on user experience.
• You will need to consider content as well as the development of the site. A good mix includes videos, images, and written information.
• Pay attention to loading speed, as this is an important factor for ranking and user experience.
• Always use a clean layout. Cluttered websites are hard to read and difficult to navigate.

The pros and cons of a custom website

Custom designed and developed websites are great for any business. These are designed based on your preferences and can be customized to fit almost any need. You will likely need to hire an agency to get a high-quality custom website, although you could find someone to hire in-house. Here are some pros and cons you should know about getting a custom website.

Pros

There are many benefits to having a custom website. It will be branded specifically to your business and be unique to you. A professional digital agency will make sure to design your site for desktop and mobile users, and test that it works on all devices. They should be able to update your site as your business needs grow and change. The design should be effective, secure, and reflective of who you and your business are. Here are some other benefits.

1. Website development agencies often offer other services, including search engine optimization and marketing. Having the team that designed and developed your website work on your digital marketing will keep your branding consistent.
2. Your website will be checked for security and updated as needed.
3. You will be heavily involved in the planning process.
4. A custom website development company should be able to offer unique features that aren’t available on a template.

Cons

Even with all of the above benefits, there are a few downsides to choosing a custom website. This option is typically more expensive than going with a template. It could take longer to design and develop as well. You will need to schedule time with the agency for planning and meetings, and be sure to provide them with adequate information. This may be a downside for you, but it will become a benefit in the long-run.

Pros and cons of templates

If you are not able to afford a custom-designed website, there is a chance you haven’t found the right agency yet. But, sometimes a template really is the best option for a company. Here are some pros and cons of going with a website template.

Pros

Choosing a template is usually a relatively inexpensive way to get a website. You can go with a template website and make it yourself, or even work with an agency to complete the site for you. This type of website will not take as long to create and it may be easier for you to update in your own time.

Cons

There are often more cons for going with a template. Other companies, sometimes in your industry, will be using the same template. This means that your brand isn’t being reflected properly. There are typically fewer options for customizing and you won’t be able to get as many plugins. Here are some other cons you should be aware of.

1. Templates may not work on all devices. This is because they were not given the coding to do this.
2. There are some cases where templates are not made to be SEO friendly. This can be an issue that is out of your control, no matter how hard you try to improve your rankings.
3. You will likely not be able to get the same support as you would from working with a custom development agency.
4. The actual design of the site will not be unique to you. If you prefer something different than a template offers, you won’t get the choice to change it.
5. Your content (images, videos, and written information) will have to fit into the design. This could affect what you are able to provide your website visitors.
6. User experience may suffer, especially since updates are not as versatile. This means that as web design trends change, your site may not be able to keep up.
7. The security of your site may be subpar.

Are you looking for a new website for your business?

If you are searching for an agency to work with to make a professional, effective website, UCI Digital in Amarillo, Texas can help. We provide comprehensive website Services including Design, Development, Content Marketing, Social Media, and more. You can reach us at (806) 553-5332 or Send Us an email to learn more.