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These days, you can’t have a thriving business without having an online presence. Google is one of the best tools for reaching customers, which means your website is what’s making a first impression on potential customers and hopefully converting views to sales. How can you accomplish that? The answer lies in your website design.

Many web platforms, such as WordPress or SquareSpace, offer templates that allow you to fill your content into pre-made boxes. For those who aren’t experts in web design, this is a user-friendly way to make a simple website.

Other business owners prefer to spend a little extra money on custom website design, which can be tailored to meet the specific needs of your business. The website owner has full creative control over how the site looks and is operated.

If you’re looking to create a website for your company, read on to learn the difference between custom design versus a pre-made template, as well as the pros and cons of each.

Custom Website Design 101

Custom web design allows you to implement a creative vision without being limited by the structure of a pre-made template. You can collaborate with a web designer and achieve your ideas for every aspect of the site, from layout to functionality. The flexibility and features can be as simple or elaborate as you like, allowing your business to stand out from the rest. Uniqueness is important in an ever-crowded digital landscape.

Custom Website Design Pros

Ensure consistency on every page with custom website design, from your logo to font colors and overall aesthetic. A custom page can provide the following benefits:

• It’s Uniquely Yours. Your website will never be confused with someone else’s when every aspect is original. This sets you apart from similar businesses that all use the same template.
• Create An Optimal User Experience. Web designs can be tailored to a specific audience with customized buttons, pop-ups, and more.
• Improve Your SEO. Search engine optimization is king when it comes to a successful website. Custom web design has more flexibility with SEO features such as meta titles, descriptions, etc compared to templates.
• Protect Your Page. The enhanced security that comes with custom website design can’t be beaten, since you will have full control. Ongoing support from a web design team protects against hacking, keeps your page up-to-date, and will always be optimized for great performance.

Custom Website Design Cons

True, a custom website design can help grow your business. But at what cost? Here are a few to consider:

• More Resources Needed. A customized web page requires additional expertise, time spent in consultations, and ultimately more upfront costs.
• Compatibility Issues. Not every custom design works for every device or browser, whereas templates are designed with specific devices and browsers in mind.
• Additional Maintenance. Unlike a template, you’ll be responsible for integrating new design features, updates, and technical support.
• Limited Support. Templates that are widely used often have community support if you develop a problem. A custom website design issue will require help from an expert.

Website Templates 101

Website templates have been used since the Stone Age of the Internet, when Myspace and Xanga were the personalized web pages of choice. These days, they have become more sophisticated and when done right, you may not be able to tell if you used a custom designer or not. They include all the necessary elements a website needs for simple navigation: headers, footers, layouts, drop-down menus, and more.

Website Template Pros

Website templates are popular for the following reasons:

• Cost-effective. Starting a business can be expensive – web templates can help you save money.
• User-friendly. As a business owner, you need something relatively simple to use and manage. Website templates are designed for those who aren’t web designers by trade.​​​​

Website Template Cons

Cons of website templates include the following:

• Limited Customization. There are options for creativity within the bounds of templates, but ultimately you are limited by someone else’s web design, not yours.
• Lack Of Originality. There’s a real chance that using a website template means you will find other businesses with web designs very similar to yours. This could make it difficult to stand out from your competitors.
• Hidden Fees. Some templates may be inexpensive or even free, however, they still could cost more over time if you have to pay a monthly subscription. Additionally, if you stop paying your monthly subscription the website is no longer yours.

Website Design Services In South Florida

Your website is the best way to make a good first impression in the digital world. Don’t leave your web design to just anyone. At Connectica, we offer a variety of services to improve your digital footprint, turning traffic into sales.

From building your website, to content creation, and social media advertising, our team of experts helps elevate your online presence with proven results.

To learn more about our services, call today at 1-877-816-2259.