Custom web design vs Templated websites

Introduction

In today’s crowded digital landscape, your website is often the first and most important impression your business makes. While template builders promise quick, low-cost results, they rarely deliver the performance, flexibility or cut through growing brands need.

In this guide, we explore the real differences between template and bespoke WordPress websites and why investing in a custom-built solution can unlock stronger branding, better user experience, improved SEO, and long-term scalability for ambitious businesses.

Template Websites

We live in a DIY era, so it’s tempting to believe that anyone can build their own WordPress website from scratch. How hard could it be? Everywhere you look, you’ll see off-the-shelf builder packages that promise pro results to non-coders. Just choose your themes and fonts, publish it onto the web – and wait for the business to flood in. But the reality is far from this simple.

Keeping it simple

A good strategy, at least, in theory. Granted, there’s nothing wrong with a basic builder package if you’re planning a small-scale, short-term website, perhaps for friends to check out your wedding photos. But if you’re an ambitious growing eCommerce business that offers a portfolio of different services and lives or dies on brand recognition, then working with a specialist Website design agency is invaluable.

Building a website from a template

Website templates include pre-defined parameters and functionality which is determined by the author/developer of the template. Users of pre-built website templates will be required to provide content (logos, colour palettes, images, copy) to the developer or to use a Content Management System that’s associated with the template and upload content directly. This can a basic design, however, anything that’s required of the website, beyond simply existing, will be a tough challenge to rise to due to the restrictions of the template.

Uniqueness

In a space filled with almost 2 billion websites, it’s getting more difficult every day to stand out online. There are many different stats online but anywhere from between 350 to 570 websites are reported to be created every minute! Which is why a unique, attractive and powerful design is more important than ever to help you succeed and stand out online nowadays.

If you are using a template design, although quicker than a bespoke design, anybody is entitled to use that template, and it’s likely that a lot of people will! There is nothing to protect the copyright or IP of your website when using a template design.

This is why we at SOZO only ever create a bespoke design and build from scratch for our clients, that are one-of-a-kind, and never from a template. It means that together, SOZO and our clients can create something both sides can be truly proud of for years to come.

Search Engine Optimisation

An important consideration for businesses is Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) which is a key aspect for reaching previous, current and new customers. Search engines analyse a website’s code, which is where standard website templates tend to get caught out due to old or outdated code. A website owner who relies on a template will ultimately be reliant on the template’s developer to update code periodically to conform with W3C HTML and CSS coding standards, which is a significant risk for maintaining SEO rankings. This is especially important if you’re considering using your website for sophisticated purposes, such as the bespoke functionality and design used in Location London’s search platform.

Copyright

With a template site, you can never own the copyright or IP of your site, which is an important factor to consider right at the beginning of any website build, especially for a business website. However, with a bespoke website, it is possible for you to own it.

Hire a custom WordPress design agency and the initial outlay may be a little more. But you only have to consider the long-term benefits to see why it makes sense.

Bespoke Websites

A website as unique as your business

Scan the web and you’ll see endless builder-package sites that make the business look flat and generic. Meanwhile, a good WordPress design agency will meet with you to get a sense of your brand identity, then tease out the vision in your head and turn it into a dynamic design that looks great on a home computer, tablet or mobile.

Smoother customer experience

Rather than force you into a one-size-fits-all template, a WordPress design agency will create a made-to-measure site that showcases all your services, eases visitors smoothly along the customer journey to purchase, and avoids the dreaded drop-offs. Tivoli Wines benefits from a comprehensive user journey and shopping experience, made possible through a collaborative design process between SOZO’s in-house designers and developers.

Faster and more secure

Self-build packages add needless functionality that means the site takes ages to load and customers melt away (Google calculates that 50% of surfers wait just three seconds before giving up). A WordPress design agency will streamline your site so it loads faster and is resistant to the gremlins that could cost you time and money. Atwoolls Outdoors uses Magento 2 combined with WordPress, providing a basis to grow its eCommerce business along with profiling new content areas throughout the site.

Futureproofed & scalable

A template-based site might support your business today. But when your operation grows, it won’t have the flexibility to scale up – meaning you’ll lose business as you scramble to create a new site. Far better to get it done right at the outset, enlisting a website design agency that works on custom built Shopify or WordPress sites who will build scalability into the original website.

Sustainable website design

Perhaps one of the largest benefits of a customised website design is impact a low-carbon design can have on the environment. Every brand operating on-line will have a carbon footprint, and by choosing a more sustainable approach a large percentage of this carbon can be reduced.  Read more here: How to reduce your digital carbon footprint

Summary: What is the difference between a template website builder and a custom website?

Website builders provide a convenient way to launch an e-commerce site using templates that users can modify by adding their own content, logos, and products. These platforms are ideal for newcomers or small ventures needing to set up shop quickly without substantial upfront costs. However, the use of common templates can hinder a brand’s ability to stand out in a crowded market. These limitations can also negatively impact Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), as users must rely on the template provider to update and maintain the underlying code.

Conversely, custom e-commerce Shopify websites designed by a professional agency offers a fully tailored online shopping experience that aligns with a brand’s identity and strategic goals. Such websites are developed from the ground up, providing unique designs that set a business apart from competitors. They enable superior user experiences through custom functionalities and integrations that streamline the shopping process and enhance customer satisfaction. Custom sites also tend to perform better in terms of loading speed and security, crucial for retaining customers and securing sensitive transactions. Ultimately, investing in a custom e-commerce website is beneficial for businesses aiming for long-term growth and a strong market presence.

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