These days, building a professional website is easier than ever thanks to the many templates and themes available from services like WordPress and Squarespace. But for some businesses, opting for a custom website design is still the way to go.
In this post, we’ll look at:
- The perks of custom designed websites
- When a custom site is the better option
- How to budget for custom design work
- Tips for an effective custom website
- Pitfalls to avoid with custom sites
Let’s weigh the pros and cons of custom web design for today’s businesses.
Benefits of a Custom Designed Website
While templates provide convenient starting points, custom designed websites offer several unique advantages:
A Unique Brand Experience
A one-of-a-kind website design allows you to build a user experience that perfectly reflects your brand’s identity. Custom design provides complete creative control to establish your look and feel.
Custom Functionality
Need certain complex features like custom dashboards, ecommerce requirements or integrations with other tools? A custom site provides the flexibility to build any functions you need.
Search Engine Optimization
Though good SEO requires effort regardless, a custom site allows for optimization tailored to your business and goals. And you avoid templated content issues.
Security
Off-the-shelf templates can pose security risks if not updated diligently. A custom site lets your developers build in robust security from day one.
Scalability
As your business grows, custom designed sites can more easily evolve with your changing needs versus working within template constraints.
For the right brand, the advantages of custom design are compelling. But how do you know it’s right for you?
When Does Custom Web Design Make Sense?
Here are some key factors indicating your business could benefit from custom website development:
You Have Complex Functionality Needs
If you need advanced functionality like customized ecommerce, scheduling systems, portal logins etc. that requires heavy customization of templates, it likely makes more sense to develop fully custom.
Your Brand Identity is Very Distinct
Is your brand visual identity and messaging highly differentiated from competitors? Then showcasing this uniquely through a custom designed site can be smart.
You Have Deep Customization Requirements
Beyond color, fonts and images, do you need the ability to deeply customize site architecture, animations, layouts and other elements? Custom provides more control.
Security is Mission Critical
For businesses handling extremely sensitive data, building security in from the initial planning stages through custom development may be the safer route.
You Plan Significant Scale
If you foresee needing to greatly expand your online presence and functionality over time, a custom site built for easy scalability may serve you better long-term.
The more specialized your needs, the more a custom build often makes sense.
Budgeting for Custom Website Design
Since custom sites don’t rely on templated themes, they require an investment of time and money. What can you expect to budget?
According to GoodFirms, custom designed websites typically range from $60,000 to more than $100,000+ for enterprise-level builds. Even smaller businesses should plan around $20,000 to $40,000+ for robust custom sites.
With so many components, costs add up fast. Be sure to account for:
- Platform selection and licensing
- Development team wages
- Project management time
- Design elements like animations and graphics
- Security features and encryption
- Testing and quality assurance
- Post-launch maintenance and updates
Work with a web design agency to develop an accurate quote based on your specific vision, requirements, timeline and options like choosing between building custom vs integrating an open source platform.
Tips for an Impactful Custom Site
Follow these best practices to ensure your investment pays off with an exceptional website:
Conduct user research – Gather insights into your customers’ needs and pain points to guide the site experience. Surveys, interviews and web analytics help.
Prioritize your primary goals – Focus design and functionality on specific business goals like conversions or lead gen vs trying to be all things.
Choose the right tech stack – Select platforms and languages that align with business needs and allow room to scale.
Hire the right development partner – Vet providers thoroughly on expertise, understanding of goals, project management, quality assurance testing, support etc.
Invest in design – Custom design is not a shortcut. Put time and budget into crafting an experience on brand and polished.
Future proof – Look beyond launch. Plan for emerging technologies, new devices, shifts in user behavior etc. to make the site flexible.
Phase releases – Rather than launch everything at once, rolling out key features first allows for adjustments.
Promote the new site – Boost visibility for the new custom design through marketing outreach across channels.
Potential Pitfalls to Avoid
While rewarding, custom website design comes with risks to mitigate:
Losing steam mid-project – Insufficient planning and budget can stall projects and leave unfinished sites.
Feature creep – Trying to build in every possible feature often bloats budgets while launching later. Prioritize MVP.
VEERING from brand identity – Without boundaries, custom sites can end up disjointed from brand vision. Maintain direction.
Undervaluing design – Cutting visual design budget can lead to amateurish sites wasting custom dev potential.
Skimping on testing – Rushing to launch without sufficiently testing and refining undermines the end product.
Limited updates – Custom sites still require ongoing maintenance, additions and TLC. Don’t neglect after launch.
With smart planning, direction and promotion, custom designed websites can deliver tremendous value and establish your online presence in a truly unique way.
Ready for a Website as Special as Your Brand?
Does a custom designed website seem right for your business goals and identity? Or are you unsure if it’s the best route? Share your thoughts and questions in the comments below!
