For those looking to elevate their startup and take advantage not just of the holiday season but the year as a whole, one of the biggest things to consider would be overall website design. After all, for many online store owners out there who are not making use of Internet marketplaces such as Amazon, a website is the primary foundation of their revenue stream. It is where the online shoppers visit, and hopefully, they make off with quite a few products at the end of the day.
That said, it can be notoriously challenging to build a website that caters to the general masses. With so many online shoppers looking to make a shopping spree in the ongoing holiday season, it can be easy enough to build a website out of a template and be done with it. However, there is also an alternative in custom web design, that provides a unique set of pros and cons. While it can be challenging to figure out which type the startup needs, learning the differences will make things much easier. This article on Ramotion outlines a few differences between the custom and template web design.
On the topic of development time
Firstly, it would be a good idea to look into the general development time of both custom web design and a template. Without a doubt, the latter would have a much shorter development time due to the online store owner making use of a full template for their company. As a matter of fact, it will only take a day for a company to successfully integrate a template design — as it will have everything ready.
On the other hand, going for a custom design means taking the time to consider which factor goes best with a custom website. Custom web design can be much more meticulous, and it can take upwards of several months if there are design hiccups.
On the topic of adaptability
While the development time for templates is practically non-existent — making them ideal for those looking to take advantage of the holiday season — there is still the next year to consider. When it comes to making changes that can better aid a company in gaining brand exposure in the coming year, the template design falls short. Even templates that are generally popular can be challenging to handle as a template does not lend itself to any changes.
While a template might have trouble, the custom design will have no such problems. Once the foundation has been set, it can be easy to make changes based on the current business landscape, which undoubtedly gives the custom design an edge for those looking to future-proof their online store.
On the topic of search engine optimization (SEO)
Aside from general web design to help a company sell its products, SEO is a set of best-practice methods that can further boost a company’s popularity. A website that is built to complement a company’s spot on Google’s search rankings will undoubtedly have the edge over the rest of the competition. That said, which type of website design is best to help with SEO?
The template design does not entirely lose out when it comes to SEO, as there will be some that are already designed with SEO in mind. However, it is vital to take note that general SEO will only get a business so far. Custom web design means making full use of SEO based on the company’s strengths. It means making use of geo-targeting for local SEO tactics and the ability to easily make changes on the fly. While both have their advantages, the custom design is generally best-suited to handling SEO due to the number of things that can be added/removed whenever the seller wants.
The final verdict
The true culprits when it comes to figuring out the best thing for a business would be time and money. For startups that do not have too much of a budget, a template design is often the ideal thing to use, as it costs very little and can allow instantaneous results. There are also comprehensive YouTube channels, such as youtube.com/@createwpsite that can help you learn the basics of building your own site and working with templates or code.
For those who have a little more capital and are willing to play the long game, custom web design would be the best use of resources, as those who make use of templates will likely have to make a switch to custom if they intend to elevate their business to the next level. For those who are just getting started and want a piece of the current holiday shopping pie, a template would be a good idea — though it would be best to use a custom design going into 2021.