Why A Custom Web Design Is Better Than Using a Template
If you want to truly stand out as an online business, you have to prioritise website design. If you view your website as your online address, you’ll want it to leave a great first impression. Not only does it have to leave a great impression, it has to leave a lasting impression.
From being easily associated with your brand to an outstanding user experience, there are many reasons why website design matters. While there are many templates available, you should opt for a custom design. Let’s examine why a custom web design is better than using a template.
It will reflect your brand
When you want to build a website, it has to be in line with your brand. Every brand has to have its brand book or brand guidelines. Finding a template that fits your brand guidelines can be like looking for a needle in a haystack. In other words, it’s impossible. But, with custom web design, you have the freedom to design a website that reflects your brand. Simply put, your brand is what differentiates you from your competitors. So, make sure your custom web design reflects the essence of your brand.
It’s easier to optimise
When you are starting your online presence, you need to think about search engine optimisation (SEO). SEO is necessary if you want to be visible on Google’s search results page. The best approach is to have your website optimised for search engines right from the start. This way, you’ll slowly start climbing the ranks and get a steady increase in organic traffic. Custom solutions are easier to modify to align with your SEO strategy.
You can build a website for your ideal audience
User experience is an important metric. You want your ideal audience to easily find exactly what they need and what resonates with them. Thus, a custom web design can deliver just what your target audience needs. If you choose a template, you won’t be able to manipulate it as much, thus it will limit your efforts.
Brand consistency
A custom made website is the key to building a strong online presence and even stronger brand identity. That’s why you need a team skilled in web design or a graphic design agency to help align custom built solutions with your brand guidelines.
Design is all about consistency, so you need to align your brand guidelines and visual identity with your brand image across all touchpoints. Such a strategy is ideal for reinforcing brand recognition across all domains, whether it’s in print, social media, or your website.
Unlimited scalability and flexibility
Another strong reason to choose custom-made solutions over templates is flexibility. Template-based designs are not as flexible as you may expect them to be. So, you may have a quick solution or fast results, but you won’t be able to change and scale them as your website needs to change over time.
If you need full control over the structure and functionality of your website, choose custom web design. The end goal will be faster to achieve, as you’ll easily adapt and upgrade your online presence as your business grows and evolves.
Speed and performance
A fast-loading website is one of the key SEO ranking factors. Thus, you should consider how you can improve the speed and performance of a website if needed. It must have a fast loading time and easy navigation. If a template can’t be enhanced for speed and performance, you may have high bounce rates. Not only that, but it may also affect the conversion rate. Either way, you need to optimise a website for speed and performance right from the start. Monitor these metrics as you go along as well, SEO and conversion rate optimisation is a long-term project.
Better security
With a custom-made design, you won’t be easily targeted by hackers. One of the reasons template-based websites are more at risk is their use. Templates are in widespread use because they are fast to set up, but there’s also a risk associated with their security. On the other hand, custom web designs often have proper security certificates and measures implemented. As a result, they are protected and less vulnerable to potential threats.
There aren’t any licence restrictions
When it comes to website design, you have more control if you build a custom solution. There won’t be any issues with ownership or control. However, when a website is based on a template, there are certain restrictions. So, if you want full ownership and the ability to make changes as needed, choose a custom-built website over a template.
Easier management of advanced features
If you want to integrate advanced website features, like custom forms or multiple languages, go for a custom web design. When you know you can change a website freely, you have better control over advanced features and their implementation.
Even if you think you won’t need advanced features, your needs may change over time. So, always choose an option that is easy to change, upgrade and update to fit your specific needs.
Ensure trust and credibility
A website based on a template is easy to spot, especially if it uses a template that has already been overused and seen quite a few times. Consider this scenario – you want to build a strong online presence, but your website is similar to many others. Your brand won’t be viewed as trustworthy and credible by those visiting.
But, if you have a professionally designed website, your brand will gain more trust and credibility. Creating a polished and professional online presence is easy if you choose a custom design that reflects your brand identity.
Easier support and maintenance
Those who built your custom-made website will be those who maintain it. When something is built from scratch, it’s easy to maintain and improve. But, when you choose a template, you may have problems along the way. If you don’t have dedicated support, don’t choose a template.
Your needs and requirements will guide your decision towards either a template or a custom web design. But make sure to consider all the pros of custom web design over anything that just seems fast and easy to set up.