Do you believe in the saying: “First Impression is the last impression”? Well, in my opinion, a website to a business is that first impression.

That is why your company’s website should be the best among the best.

If a company has a moderate/ugly-looking or a not so easy-to-use website, then the chances of a user returning to that website is very low. I myself would immediately close that browser and make it a mission to look for a competitor’s website that is much better. Also, the possibility of me returning to that website ever again is almost nil.

That’s the reason having a good website that is not just beautiful and attractive but also consists of up to date features are a must.

Now, the next question that arises is – Do I go with a custom web design or use a pre-made website template?

Both of these options have their own sets of pros and cons with respect to the type of business and their specific requirements. The benefit of one may prove to be the disadvantage of the other.

So, this post will help you understand the advantages and disadvantages of both website types and will give you a heads up in making the right decision.

 

So, what is a custom website?

A custom website is a web design that is built right from the scratch. This kind of web design is unique and has its own set of requirements. Only a skilled designer who has a good knowledge of HTML and CSS can give life to such a website.  

And, website template?

Website template, on the other hand, is a pre-made design that has a readymade layout, customizable features, and personalized tools and techniques. Website templates can be purchased or used for free online by anyone and set up a website by themselves.

 

Moving on to the pros and cons of each of these website types.

Advantages of Custom Website:

Unique Design with Polished Details

Since custom websites are designed keeping in mind the specific requirements of your company, it is safe to say that the design will be unique and original. The content and design will perfectly synchronize with each other giving a flawless result. You will be able to incorporate your brand story, show the personality and culture of your company as well as structure your website so as to attract the right kind of audience.

Customization, Scalability, and Flexibility

When you have full control over your website, you have the freedom to design your website the way you want. You can have a one-on-one conversation with the designer any time you want, and discuss about the website layout & structure and make necessary updates whenever required. The entire website development process will be strategically planned making website management very easy right from the beginning. Not only this, the maintenance of the site in the future will be very flexible as well. 

Clean Code and Search Engine Friendly

When a website is developed by skilled professionals, the codes will be clean and up-to-date. Also, the design will be expertly tested to work on all kinds of browsers and devices. This is one major advantage as a clean code is very important for SEO. With a custom template, you can make your site to be search engine friendly right from the beginning so that you can get higher rankings and increase your website traffic organically.

Support from Technical Experts

Most of the firms come with a support service when you hire them to create a website for you. This support service includes skilled developers that are ready to solve any errors or problems the moment you notify them. So, in case you need to fix any errors or troubleshoot, the support team will be at your beck and call.

 

Disadvantages of Custom Website:

Maybe Expensive

Custom websites do not come cheap. As each and every requirement is developed specifically for your brand, the cost is sure to be high. For example, a budget of $3000 will only give you semi-customized website. The more budget you have, the more customized features will be added to your website. So, you can afford a custom website, only if you have a proper budget.

Long Development Time

The time taken to plan, design, develop, test, optimize and many other steps to create a custom website will surely take a lot of time. The average estimated time to build a quality website is around 2-4 months, depending upon the features and requirements. So, as compared to a website template, a custom website will take almost three times more time.

Dependent on Technical Experts

Since all your designs, developments, tests and optimizations are done by a team of technical experts, you will always be dependent on the hired team. You may have to wait quite some time for the skilled hand to arrive and fix even the smallest changes leaving your company website in between.

 

Advantages of Website Templates:

Cost Effective

Website templates are the most suitable for those companies that are on a low budget, companies that are just start-ups or small businesses. With some extra search input, you can also get beautiful designs by using a free template. A website template can save a lot of money for other developments and marketing strategies.

Short Development Period

Since, website templates are pre-made designs with readymade layouts and structures, your website will be completely ready in a very short period of time. All you need to do is, update your images and content and a full-fledged website can be launched in a matter of minutes.

What You See is What You Get

With a website template, you can more or less know what your final website design will look like beforehand. A few changes like font, color, images, and texts are the only things that you need to update and your website will be ready right then and there.

Technical Knowledge Not Required

You don’t need to be a technical whiz to manage a website that you acquired from a readymade template. As everything is pre-made, the layouts and structures will be easy to manage without learning the know-hows of working in the backend.

Variety to Choose From

With plenty of firms that provide highly functional website templates, you will have tons and tons of designs to choose from. You just need to do proper research and find the one that will best suit your brand’s needs and requirements.

 

Disadvantages of Website Templates:

Little to No Customization

A readymade website template is quite difficult to customize since most of the pages and layouts are static. And, if you need to integrate dynamic features into your site, the customization can turn out to be a worrisome task.

Unrequired Features

There may be a case where you love the template layout and decide to purchase it for your website but find out that the template comes with some extra features that you don’t need. There will be no option for you to exclude those features and this may make your site heavy or appear bulky.

Lack of Original Design

There is a high chance that the website template that you purchase will look very similar to hundreds of websites present all over the world. So, your website will lack authenticity and you will need to work extra hard on your content and image to stand a bit out of the crowd.

 

Conclusion

So, now that you know about the pros and cons of both custom websites and website templates, which one would you choose? Well, it is up to you to decide the right one for your business. So, separate a good amount of time, do proper research and then list down your requirements, budget, specifications and project time. Finally, go ahead and make the most suitable option.