Nowadays, there is no generally accepted solution in the web development market: some companies spend thousands of dollars on a custom-made website, while others choose a ready-made template.
Perhaps every approach is correct depending on the needs of a particular client. We believe that the most important criterion is the effectiveness of the site for business and its position in the search engine. However, it is difficult to make a decision between a template and custom web development immediately: on the one hand, you want to get a truly exclusive product, and on the other - to save money. Let's figure out which option is better for you.
Custom Web Development: Pros and Cons
There is no doubt that a brand or company will be better represented on the Internet if the site is developed according to the needs of a particular business. Such web resources will help achieve business goals.
For example, by choosing the Beetroot services, the web resource will be created according to the customer requirements: from a unique design to a wide functionality. So, if you are considering custom web development for your project, it is worth getting to know its advantages.
- Any customer wish can be implemented. Unique design features and specific functionality are possible if you opt for custom web development.
- An individually designed website is flexible and can develop alongside the business needs.
- For a custom developed web resource, it will be easier to implement SEO and promotional strategies because web developers pay particular attention to the internal optimization of a website.
- If you run an e-commerce project, the individual development of a website is a necessity.
Besides the numerous advantages, this choice has its cons that may discourage the customer:
- The cost of custom web development is higher because developers perform a more complex job that requires a high level of expertise. Besides, the lion’s share of the price is the services of developers working out a turn-key solution.
- Work on a unique project takes a long time, from at least a month up to even years.
Now let’s consider the pros and cons of using website templates.
Website Template: Advantages and Disadvantages
A template website is made by using a ready-made design. There are plenty of solutions for creating websites; each web studio can offer various template options for different types of web resources. The cost of a template website is rather democratic since it does not require the UX designer’s work. To make a website look awesome, you have to adjust colors, fonts, upload pics and logo, change the structure, and fill it with content.
A template site is usually a nice choice for simple projects like a business web page. The advantages of such a solution are the following:
- Low cost. A significant part of the work has already been completed by the developer.
- Implementation speed. A templated site is quick to do because most of the layout and programming has already been done.
- Customization. The patterns are getting more complex. The best templates are well thought out and allow further customization.
A template site is a cost-efficient solution. Of course, the price increases if additional improvements are needed. But you should also be aware of the disadvantages:
- A template site will not be unique, moreover, it may be one of the many copies made on the same template.
- There are certain limitations on graphic design, navigation, and functionality.
- Web templates require regular updates, otherwise, they risk becoming outdated, which will lead to site failures.
- Template sites are especially attractive for hackers because they can break multiple sites with one code.
Taking into account the mentioned above, which solution can be the best for you?
What to Choose?
There is no clear answer to what is bad or good for you. A cheap and simple site does not mean that it is of poor quality. The presence of an expensive exclusive design is not a guarantee that users will immediately love it. People appreciate the quality of the content, the logical structure of the site, the correct location of elements, and ease of use.
Both a template and a custom-made solution can properly handle business challenges. But an exclusive project allows you to improve user experience through a unique design and a high level of usability. This option is better suited for those who know their target audience well and want to create a website for it.
