Cookie Cutter Websites: How One Site Doesn’t Fit All

Your business needs a dominant online presence in order to grow and become successful in today’s ever-expanding market. When many business owners begin the process of developing a website, they are faced with the tough and often confusing choice of template versus custom web design and development.

When you’re embarking on the journey to create a new or improved website, it may be tempting to choose the cheaper template – but don’t be fooled. Saving money now could lead to losing money later. Discover our complete guide to choosing between custom and template websites. You’ll learn how much of an impact this choice could have on your business’ future.

We love using the “House Analogy”

If you wanted to purchase a new home, you would have 3 choices: resell property, open lot subdivision, and fully custom. Websites follow the same basic structure with: template, custom template, and fully custom.

The first choice you have when buying a home would be to buy a resell. This means that you would be buying a home that someone has already been living in. You would get exactly what they have. Their countertops, floors, cabinets, wall colors, etc. It is very possible that others might have something that is very similar in style and design.

In the web world, that is called a template. Someone else has made that template and you have very limited customized options. Not only that, they have sold that template over and over again. This can cause major issues down the road when looking to optimize the site. One of the major issues that most encounter is your customers seeing the template and saying to themselves, this looks just like other business’ websites so are their services and products just like the other guy’s as well?

The second option for buying a home would be to head out to a subdivision that has open lots. You pick your lot and then pick a floor plan that has been pre-approved to fit that lot. You will have the ability to customize some of the items such as the floor types, wall colors, cabinets, counter tops, etc.

In the web world, this is called a customized template. You can upload all of your content, images, and you can even change the color scheme. The issues are still pretty much the same. You might pay a little more for this option. In fact, we would have to say that a large portion of smaller web design firms even use this option. The majority of these firms likely don’t possess the skill, time, or manpower necessary to produce a fully custom website. A custom template is a good option for a small business, unless you have aspirations to grow or change in the future.

The last option is a fully custom house. This means that you have met with a builder and an architect. These folks have sat down with you and have designed a home that completely fits your needs today and the future. Do you have now or will you have a large family? Will you ever want to add a room over the garage? Will you want an additional garage to park a recreational vehicle? In other words, custom home builders understand that your needs change and will want to construct your home so you don’t have to move and build a completely new one at a later date.

In the Web World…This is a fully custom website. It gives you everything that your organization currently needs and enables you to grow and change over time without having to completely scrap the foundation of the site.

The fully custom solution will certainly be a larger investment but, think of it this way: why are you asking your customers to spend their money with you, when they can easily see that you don’t even invest in you?

Here’s just a handful of items that a custom website will give you:

More Professional Appearance

When a potential customer or client visits your business’ website, they should get a great first impression of who you are. A polished, professional website with custom content and design is a great way to show off your top-quality products and services while establishing a level of trust that many template websites simply cannot portray.

By utilizing a template you are bypassing the opportunity to invest in your brand and stand out from your competitors. Inserting content into predetermined spots may get your message across, but what’s the point if there’s no one willing to stick around to read it?

Responsive Design, Guaranteed

60% of web traffic comes from a mobile device, and 70% of mobile searches result in an action within an hour. Your website has to make a good impression on every device, and many template websites fail to adapt and respond the way custom designed sites do.

Far too many businesses make the mistake of neglecting their website’s content and layout, which can quickly impact how long a user stays on their site and where they rank in searches. As a result, Google flags their site as a poor source of information and their site’s search engine ranking goes down the drain.

The Flexibility You Need

It’s often difficult to add custom content to template websites. Without this flexibility, template websites often end up with a mess of content and photos that don’t quite match your business.

Custom web design allows you to create a site that represents your business’ goals and values, along with integrating the perfect user experience. The days where you can have an average design and stale content have passed. With a custom web design that comes with a custom content management system, you can easily update your site and drive measurable results.

The Key is Consistency

Your brand is everything. It’s what makes you stand out from the crowd and is often your potential customer’s first impression of you. To create a consistent voice across all platforms, you need your business cards, emails, and website to be cohesive. In order to maintain this consistency, your business needs a custom website built around your brand.

Why Businesses Choose Splash Omnimedia:

Splash Omnimedia invests the time and effort into learning what matters most to your business and your audience. Our team of designers and strategists work closely with your business in order to create the perfect custom website. Your design will consist of a blend of specialized layouts, unique features, and consistent branding that mesh with your business’ needs and goals.

With a custom website from Splash Omnimedia, your business will receive the personalized care and support of a team of over 30 specialists, all dedicated to your website’s success. We offer the support that many template web developers lack. Discover the difference a custom website can make on your business’ success. Contact our team of expert designers and strategists today!