The success and failure of many organisations today depend on their ability to create a credible and well-crafted website to create a long-lasting first impression. It's paramount to project a professional image whether it is in-person or virtually to ensure your organization's continued business success in the future. Website design is one of the most overlooked aspects of a business. There are a plethora of options out there and clients and customers are spoilt for choice. No matter how good your content might be constructed unless it's visually appealing and striking, it simply won't cut it if you're trying to entice customers. Hence, it comes as no surprise that many organisations have prioritised website design and development and put it as the number one agenda in most board room meetings.
Even after you have made the wise decision to invest in developing a new website, many business owners are still perplexed and can't fathom whether to use website templates or to build a fully customised website. You could even consider template-based solutions like Weebly, Wix or Squarespace which are perfect for start-ups as they put you in control of website creation without the need for any coding or designing expertise. To help you zero in on the best possible option, we will be outlining the five key variables that you should be taking into consideration to help decide which one is right for you.
Budget
A lot depends on the budget in hand when it comes to website development. When creating a new website, you get what you pay for. If you're on a limited budget, your best bet would be a template-based website. For instance, a CMS website budget starts from $1850 (INR 1,25,000), while opting for a static website budget would burn a hole of $750 (INR 50,000) in your pocket. Each has their own particular benefit and weakness.
Layout based sites help save a great deal of time since the visual design and the format are already laid out. Although template-based website seems the logical option for companies on a tight budget, after a certain point of time, the extra development and improvement due to an over-the-top customization of a pre-planned layout can end up costing more than a custom site itself.
Many think having a custom web design is too expensive but if your company can afford one, the benefits of opting for a custom website far outweigh its cons. To put it simply, if your budget is holding you back from getting your business up on the Internet, opt for a template website otherwise custom website is a no-brainer.
Time
Another important factor to note is that template sites usually have a shorter development time as compared to custom websites which take at least a few weeks on an average to design and build. If you're time-strapped and in a hurry to get your website up and running, then a template website would be the best fit for your business.
Designing and developing a custom website design includes much more than just the looks; it involves planning, discussions, designing, development, copywriting, photography, testing and also demands the participation and involvement of several people from varied departments working together. These take weeks of preparation, unlike a template-based site where you can jump straight to the design. To summarise if you're in a time-crunch, you will have no option other than opting for a template website.
Brand
If establishing a brand and building your brand's image and presence is your number one priority, then the best option would be to hire a website design firm to help you stand out from the crowd. Your website is a reflection and representation of your brands' personality and branding is all about building trust with your customers and prospects. This specialized approach, however, comes at a premium.
Template based websites simply don't lend the personalization required to do justice to your brand representation as you won't be able to customise your website beyond a certain point. The premium you pay for custom built websites is well worth it because it ensures your brand is well portrayed on the internet. You're even equipped with the appropriate tools and techniques to better deal with clients and thereby make the most of your interactions with them.
User Experience
Your site visitors are going to originate from various sources right from desktops to tablets and it's paramount that your site is optimised and easily accessible from all these different gadgets. To ensure your user's experience is optimum and results in complete satisfaction, you need to have a custom website. Although template websites allow for customization, they more or less look pretty similar to each other thereby making it difficult for it achieves a unique identity and set itself apart from the hordes or other template sites.
Additionally, when it comes to user experience, a custom website has far fewer restrictions than a website template as it offers far greater flexibility and security as well compared to template-based sites. Besides, functionality is also seriously limited in template sites as even incorporating e-commerce or adding any other kinds of custom applications is impossible.
Long Term Scalability
If you envision the need to constantly add on elements and features to your site to handle the increasing traffic, it's best to avoid a template based site as it can make things difficult. Template-based sites are intended to be a one-size fits all solution and hence they come up with a host of extra features which not only means more coding to worry about but also due to a fixed server, it can result in slower loading times. The effects of this are virtually immaterial if you have a low traffic website. However, if you plan on increasing scalability to a larger audience, your best bet would be to invest in a custom website.
At Notion Technologies, web designing being our forte and we realise the significance of having a solid web presence as it quintessentially becomes the face of your organisation. With a bucket load of experience in the web design and development, we strive to deliver to you the best possible layout keeping in mind the target audience by bringing together the top expertise in digital strategy, web design and development to help clients conquer their biggest web challenges.
Moreover, we understand your company's individualistic business requirements very well and work in collaboration with you to develop a unique and customised user experience which delivers value to your audience. We deliver solutions which are tailor-made for your business and believe in giving you the right guidance and counsel by clearly understanding your requirements, your audience and your company on the whole. Our knowledgeable website development teams are here to lead your business to success even if the right solution for you might not be in the best interest of Notion Technologies. We firmly believe in the motto, Business development is all about building trust. Forcing the wrong solution is extremely short-sighted.
On a closing note, we at Notion Technologies believe that template-based websites can work for bare-bones organisations that just need a functional website devoid of complex features. But, if you're planning to upscale and grow, you most definitely should consider custom website design that will meet and exceed your expectations and your marketing goals.
