Custom Design Website VS Template Website. Which one is more suitable for you?

As a business owner, there are many ways you can do to showcase your brand image professionally in cyberspace. One of them is by creating an official website.

In building a website, the appearance is the first thing visitors see when browsing your website. An attractive appearance that looks professional but still user friendly is indeed the dream website of business owners.

But unfortunately, building the ideal website is not an easy task to do. You need to use the services of a website developer to work on the website the way you want and that of course will cost a sum of money.

No doubt, many business owners are finding other alternatives as a way to build websites. One of them is the template, which offers a lower price than building a website from scratch.

However, is using a template the right choice for your business? What are the advantages and disadvantages of using website templates and custom design websites? What type of website is fit for your business?

This article will explain in detail the difference between custom websites and website templates and guide you to choose what type of website is best for you. So, make sure you read to the end.

 

 

Custom Website

A custom website is a website that is made precisely according to your business needs. You need help from a website development company to work on the website to make the results according to your wishes.

Custom website development begins with a series of creative processes. Starting from understanding who your target audience is, whom you want to reach, what functions you want to implement on your website to your business concept on the internet.

In addition, website developers is also able to optimize the performance of custom websites in search engines. Optimization of a website in search engines allows each website page to appear easier when users perform relevant searches.

You will not get this when using website templates because not all templates support search engine optimization. Therefore, custom websites are far superior to template websites in terms of the performance on search engines.

On the other hand, even though creating a custom website does tend to take longer and costs more money, it is worth what you get allowing you to get a website that is thoroughly built and makes sure everything works the way you want it to be.

 

 

Advantages of Custom Websites

The the advantages of using a custom website compared to a website template are as follows:

More SEO-Friendly

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) plays a significant role in determining the success of a website. A specially made website will undoubtedly be much more SEO-friendly compared to a template-based website.

There are SEO rules in building a website to make it easier for user to search your website and not all templates comply with these rules. During the development period, the developer will optimize the website to rank better in search engines.

 

Unique Design

Amid today’s dense web ecosystem, having a website with a unique design is an advantage. For business owners, a unique website design will make you stand out in the eyes of consumers as compared to competitors’ websites.

A specially built website ensures that everything is designed, revised, and served exclusively for you. You won’t find another website with a similar design because the developer makes your website from scratch according to your requests.

 

Easy to Customize

In addition to a unique design, a specially designed website is also easier to customize and develop. Thus, a custom website can adapt well in line with business needs that are constantly evolving.

It’s called the scalability factor, where a custom website can grow in line with the development of your business. In addition, custom websites are usually equipped with a Content Management System (CMS) that makes it easy for you to manage your website autonomously.

 

100% Responsive

Responsive is the term used for websites that can operate smoothly on all devices and browsers. Custom websites have gone through a series of tests to run seamlessly on all devices.

With more than 3 billion people worldwide accessing the internet through different types of devices, having a responsive website is a must. In addition, technological advances in browsers and you have to ensure that your website is responsive according to the latest standards.

 

Easy Maintenance

By using the services of a website development company, you will have direct access to developer support. Those skilled developers can help build your website from scratch.

So, if there is an error or bugs in the website, you can contact the developer to fix these problems. Also if you want to add new features, they are ready to make your desires come true, with of course an additional fee.

 

 

Disadvantages of Custom Websites

On the other hand, the disadvantages that you may feel when using a custom website are as follows:

Long Development Process

Because it was built thoroughly and through a series of complicated processes, it is not surprising that creating a custom website tends to take a longer time. Custom website development period is usually up to 4 months, depending on the specifications demanded by the business owner.

Even so, the long process of creating a website at the start can save you time in the future. This is because you can manage custom websites more quickly and will operate smoothly according to your expectations.

 

More Expensive

It’s no secret that creating a custom website is often expensive. You have to spend up to tens of millions of rupiah to get a custom website to your liking. It can be more or less depending on the functionality implemented on the website.

Unlike the website templates that you can get at a much lower price. However you will not regret spending much money because you will get a beautiful website in appearance and functions smoothly.

 

 

Website Templates

A website template is a website built using a template design that is already available for use. The easiest way to create a website template is by set up a WordPress-based website and purchase templates from websites that provide templates.

Some websites, such as Elegant Themes, Template Monster, or ThemeForest, provide various templates to buy according to your needs. But the thing you need to pay attention to is that not all the templates available there are 100% responsive.

In addition, what you need to remember is that a template is usually equipped with built-in features that you can modify at will. But this can hinder the website in terms of loading speed and SEO performance.

Website templates are also usually problematic with features and functions that are not fundamentally to your desire. You can hire a website developer to improve the website so that the results are the way you want them, but that doesn’t mean the problem ends there.

There will be updates to website templates in the future, and you will experience some new issues. One of them is a functional problem because the modifications previously made by the website developer caused you to have to make adjustments.

 

 

Advantages of Website Templates

Here are the advantages of using a website template compared to a custom website:

Quick Building Process

The first advantage you will feel when using a website template is that the creation process is much faster than using a custom website. It is no surprise because you don’t have to build everything from scratch.

Everything is presented in one template design framework. You only need to change some design elements, such as colors, images, typography, etc., according to your wishes. Then a new website is ready to be used.

Comparing to a website where developers have to build from scratch, it can take up to months before you can finally use it. You can obtain the website you desire quickly in just a few days.

 

Relatively Low Cost

For those who have a limited budget, using a website template can be the right choice. Website templates have a shorter development period than custom websites. You only need to register a site and then buy a template that suits your needs.

With a much shorter development cycle, it will cost you less to get a website. The average price for a website template on the Themeforest.net page ranges from USD 30 to USD 65.

You can get a ready-to-use website with an attractive and professional-looking appearance. Compared to building a website specifically through a website development company, the costs you incur can reach tens of millions of rupiah.

 

Various Options

Websites-selling templates provide thousands of templates on the internet, varying from paid to free ones. All you need to do is find one template that best suits your business needs.

Most professional website template providers already provide settings to modify elements on the website, such as colors, typography, and even features that you can apply. But of course, the number is limited.

 

 

Disadvantages of Website Templates

Some of the most prominent drawbacks when using website templates are as follows:

Mostly Not SEO-Friendly

Most of the website templates are not optimized for search engines. In other words, they are more likely to be ranked lower when a user performs a search.

It’s because search engine algorithms are more interested in words than images. Meanwhile, a website template that has a lot of graphic and animation effects might look interesting.

However, this will ultimately affect the website’s performance because the use of unnecessary effects will slow down the website’s performance. In the end, poor performance will have a significant impact on a website’s ranking in search engines.

 

Less Unique & Exclusive

There are millions of people using templates on their websites. The probabilities are that the templates you use are also used by others. Even if you buy a template at a high price, there is still the possibility that other people will also buy the same template.

It will degrade the credibility of your brand because your website has a design that is not unique and exclusive. You may need to modify the template yourself if you want a whole website look, and this will be a hassle for you.

 

Limited Customization

Another drawback that you feel when using website templates is limited customization. Especially if you don’t have website programming skills, you need to hire a programmer to help you.

Of course, this will cost you a lot of time and money. The solution is to use a template that supports the visual composer to make it easier for you to design a website by dragging and dropping without the need for coding.

 

May Be Unresponsive

Often, template creators cannot guarantee that their templates will be 100% responsive and work on all devices. It’s because each template has its designation.

If a template isn’t designed to be responsive from the start, modifying it to run smoothly on all devices is nearly impossible. Using an unresponsive template is disastrous for you, considering that most people now access the internet via mobile devices.

 

Maintenance Tends to be Difficult

Use the services of a website development company to build your website. You will have access to support from a developer you can contact at any time if you need help. The same does not apply if you buy a template from a template provider website.

Most likely, you will not have access to the template builder. It will bring problems for you in the future if, at any time, your website is damaged or even inaccessible.

Templates that you buy on the internet also usually have features that you don’t need and thwart the performance of your website. When using the services of a website development company, they will not include features that you don’t need and can slow down the speed of your website.

 

 

Consider these 5 Important Factors

Before deciding to use a custom website or website template, there are five crucial factors that you must consider. They are:

Cost

The first thing you need to consider is that websites are not the right sector to save on a budget. The website is the most comprehensive representation of your company.

So do not be surprised if you can’t obtain a quality website at a low price. Unfortunately, not all companies have enough budget to buy a quality custom website.

But if your company can afford it, you don’t need to think twice about using a custom website. Expensive costs will be worth what you get; consider it an investment in the future.

But if your budget is limited, website templates might be the best choice for you. Of course, you must relinquish some things, namely limitations in terms of functionality on the website.

So, website templates can be the only option for those of you who have a limited budget. But using a custom website is the most appropriate choice for those who want to invest in the future.

 

Time

Another reality you have to face is that no great website is built in a short amount of time. A quality website will take at least two to four months to launch, depending on the complexity of the implemented features.

You can’t force a website developer to speed up the creation process. Because they have much work to do; it takes many people to do complex and varied tasks.

Unfortunately, not everyone unabatingly waits for this long process. If you are in a hurry to launch a website, you may have to settle for using a website template which, of course, has a much shorter development period.

So, if you have little time to launch a website, the only option is a website template. But if you are willing to be patient, a quality custom website will be ready for you to use smoothly.

 

Brand

The third factor you need to consider is your brand identity. Each brand has its position and goal, and only a custom website can represent it.

A website is the most extensive representation of your brand, and a template-based website cannot accommodate your needs. Website templates don’t give you space for personalization that can reflect your brand’s personality, identity, and uniqueness.

A custom-made website is a great way to build an emotional connection between customers and your brand. This kind of user experience helps create trust and loyalty to a brand, and it’s priceless.

So, if you want to build a website that signifies your brand’s image, there is no other choice but a custom website. If you don’t mind the credibility of your brand, then a website template might be the right choice.

 

Functionality

Website templates also limit you in terms of functionality. As we know, not all templates are designed to run smoothly on all devices, both mobile and desktop devices.

Given that more people access the internet via smartphones, the responsiveness of a website is a must. You can only get this if you use a custom website because the developer has done testing to make sure your website is responsive on all devices.

In addition, the security factor is also an issue when using website templates. Hackers tend to prefer template-based websites because they can use one malicious code to hack thousands of websites simultaneously.

Especially for those who want to build an e-commerce website, using a website template is a colossal blunder. Of course, you should use custom websites that are uniquely developed to be more secure from hacker attacks.

So, custom websites have far fewer limitations than template websites. In addition, using a custom website is safer from the possible risk of hacking that can occur at any time.

 

Flexibility & Scalability

Website templates may seem a suitable solution for your current needs. However, have you ever thought about what will happen when your company starts to grow?

As the company grows, you need many additional features that are not currently installed on the website. Modifying existing templates to improve website functionality can create coding conflicts that result in website crashes.

You don’t feel that way when you use a custom website, which gives you the scalability to grow even further. The development company that builds the website has made sure that your website will be easy to develop if you want new features.

So, using a custom website gives you flexibility according to your current condition. Still, you can quickly expand it as your company grows. Website templates can not do the same thing.

 

 

Which One is Right for You?

Here we provide a guide for choosing between a custom website or a website template that is most suitable for you.

Who Should Get a Custom Website?

Every scope of the business has different needs. If you want an SEO-friendly website, has a unique appearance, and is easy to develop in the future, then having a custom website is the ideal choice.

Custom websites have a CMS that makes it easy for you to update website content and save your expenses in the future. Although creating a custom website takes longer and costs more, you won’t be dissatisfied with the result.

You will get a website that suits your business needs in terms of appearance and functionality. In addition, you will provide a fantastic user experience for anyone who visits your website.

 

Who Should Purchase a Website Template?

On the other hand, if you have a limited budget and little time, a website template could be the right choice for you. Website templates are also a discreet option for those who do not have web programming knowledge but want to create a website.

In addition, for those of you who are not sure about a website design that suits your business needs, it is better if you invest in a website template. But of course, you have to be ready with all the limitations that you might feel if you continue to use website templates.

 

 

Summary

Choosing between a custom website or a website template may be a puzzling decision at first. But this is not an intricate matter as long as you know the needs and business goals you want to achieve.

For those who are not limited by budget and development time, a custom website will always be the best choice. On the other hand, website templates offer options for those who have a limted budget and time.

Custom websites are here to express your brand with superior functionality and ease of scalability. A custom website is tailor-made for you, tailored to your brand identity and uniqueness, and configured to grow with you in the future.

Hopefully, after reading this article, you will no longer hesitate to use a custom website. Happy website building, and see you soon!