Website with a template or a unique project?
Choosing between a template and an individual project depends on many factors and may vary depending on the specific case. In this answer, I will discuss the pros and cons of both options.
Website templates are popular because they are cheap and easy to use. Templates are pre-made projects that can be customized to your needs using a website editor. Templates are often available on various platforms such as WordPress, Wix or Squarespace, and can be easily changed by adding your content and images. This allows you to quickly create an attractive website without having any experience in design.
However, using templates has its limitations. Since templates are designed with a wide range of users in mind, they may not meet the specific requirements of your business. Templates can also limit the flexibility of website design, meaning that you cannot make changes to the structure or appearance of the site as easily as with an individual project.
On the other hand, an individual project is a dedicated solution created for the specific needs of your business. An individual project is designed from scratch, according to the requirements and specifics of your business. You can have an impact on every element of the project, from the website layout to the color scheme, fonts, and images.
However, an individual project is usually more expensive than a template. Website design requires extensive knowledge and experience in web design, as well as time to create a project from scratch. Additionally, the design process may take longer than with a template, which can delay the publication of your website.
In the end, choosing between a template and an individual project depends on your needs and budget. If you need a website quickly and don’t have a large budget, a template may be a good choice. However, if you need a website that is unique and perfectly tailored to your business, an individual project may be the best option, although it is usually more expensive.
How to make a decision?
When making a decision about building a website with a template or an individual project, it’s essential to consider several factors.
1. Budget: Building a website with a template is often cheaper and more cost-effective than commissioning an individual project. However, if you have a larger budget, an individual project may be more suitable.
2. Website purpose: If your website needs to have unique functionality or be specifically tailored to the specific needs of your clients, an individual project will be more suitable. For simple informational websites, a template may be sufficient.
3. Time: Building a website with a template is much faster than an individual project, which requires time-consuming work from programmers. If you need a website quickly, a template may be a better choice.
4. Design: Templates are often designed with aesthetics in mind but can be less flexible when it comes to modifications. An individual project allows for creating a website exactly as you imagine it.
5. Functional requirements: If your website requires special functionalities such as integration with external systems, customization for specific SEO requirements or advanced analytics tools, an individual project may be more suitable.
It’s essential to always thoroughly analyze your needs and expectations, as well as your budget, before making a decision about building a website.
Benefits of websites on templates
Given that most people, especially small businesses starting out, are not interested in individual projects, I will focus on websites built on so-called templates. Don’t get me wrong – it’s essential to differentiate between the two terms because many people believe that a website on a template is just 2 clicks and done. However, building a website on a template requires significant work – we save only on coding, but have to perform all the work related to installing and configuring CMS, theme, location, content, images, etc.
Of course, an analogy can be made with a house in a raw state, which takes X times more time and resources than building on top of it.
Here, the word “template” does not necessarily mean that it will be completely free or that you can do it yourself in 5 minutes without effort. A template is a certain structure or design – i.e., a website’s appearance or foundation – developed in PHP, CSS, JS, which we can compare to building on top of a house.
Advantages of websites built on templates:
1. Ease and speed of creation: Website templates are designed for relatively fast creation of a website. Most templates are already ready-to-use and do not require the user’s knowledge of programming or web design. All graphic elements, color scheme, fonts, and layout are already designed. This requires only inserting your content and images, which significantly speeds up the entire process of creating a website, unless you want to make some customizations based on the template – then the amount of time or money spent on someone who can do it for you will increase.
2. Costs: Building a website on a template is much cheaper than commissioning an individual project. The owner of the website can choose from thousands of templates available for free or at a low cost, which allows for significant savings. However, remember that a license for a template is only a fraction of the price or time you will have to spend on “finishing your website” – do you remember the analogy with a house in a raw state?
3. Professional appearance: Website templates are often designed by professionals who know what graphic elements and layout will attract visitors. This way, even a small business’s website can look professional and gain customers’ trust.
4. Responsiveness: In today’s world, it’s essential to ignore the fact that most people view websites on mobile devices. Website templates are usually designed to be responsive and adapt to screen size. This way, the website looks good both on a computer, tablet, or smartphone.
5. Updates: Website templates are often regularly updated, which means they can use the latest technologies and solutions. Website owners don’t have to worry about updates because template creators take care of ensuring that websites built on their templates always comply with the latest standards (if you chose a paid template, as free ones may behave differently).
6. Technical support: Many companies offer technical support for their templates, which can be very helpful for inexperienced users. Website owners can use technical assistance when they encounter problems with configuration, modification, or updating the website – this only applies to paid templates and the support is not provided for free indefinitely; usually, you get 6-12 months of support as part of the purchased license with the option to extend it annually.
If you’re still deciding on a company that will build your website and want it to be done properly so that your virtual office doesn’t scare off either clients or Google search – contact us through the contact form below. We have good prices and reasonable realization terms.
