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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 update and will grow alongside your business. 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 managing your website and checking it is working and performing as it should. This can be updating the software and ensuring your website is secure will be working appropriately. No matter what, your website will be in good working order. Check out our post on Website Maintenance and why it is so important.

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

Custom-built Website Pros

1. Custom-fit to the business
2. Unlimited designs
3. Can be updated anytime
4. Better SEO ranking
5. Flexible when businesses grow
6. Highly responsive and optimised for mobile

Custom-built Website Cons

1. Expensive
2. Time-consuming
3. 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.

Template Website Pros

1. Easy customisation
2. Fast to implement
3. Less expensive
4. Already well-designed
5. Ideal for startup businesses
6. Easy to maintain

Template Website Cons

1. Restricted in design and updates
2. Navigation conforms only to the theme
3. Security is an issue
4. Functionality is limited

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

If you need help deciding on which CMS is right for you, we can help you make that decision. Here are some key considerations to make if you can’t decide between template vs custom build:

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 website needs checkout functionalities to be activated along with many other elements. We’re experts in E-Commerce Website Development, check out our page and see if we can help your project.

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 by filling out the contact form below.

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