Template Websites versus Custom Websites
Why Template Websites Aren’t a Value at Any Price
If you need a new business website – or even your first business website – then you’ve undoubtedly noticed the TV commercials and online ads for ready-made template websites. Not only are they usually cheap or free, but these sites are advertised as being “fill-in-the-blanks easy,” meaning you could have a new business site set up in minutes.
That’s about as great a bargain as you’re ever going to come across… or is it?
The Pros and Cons of Template Websites
To figure out what kind of deal you’re really getting, let’s look at the pros and cons. The big advantage to these types of sites, of course, is that they offer you an almost-instant site that costs next to nothing. For single-person businesses with no budget and no employees, that can be an irresistible offer.
It also tends to be the point where the advantages end. That’s because there are also several pretty big downsides to launching that kind of site:
- First and foremost, your business website looks like one that was created from a template
- There is a decent chance that several of your competitors will be using the same layout and service
- You have virtually no options for customization beyond adding your own photos and/or text
- It can be difficult or impossible to effectively market this type of website, especially via search engines and social media
- The company offering your “free” website might want something in return, like ownership of your web content
We could go on and on, but the point is that you might not be paying much, or anything, but you aren’t getting a very good deal in return, either.
The Bottom Line on Custom Website Value
In today’s world, your business website isn’t just a big part of your company, but potentially your most important tool for making sales, sharing product information, and even giving out event information and contact details. In addition, it’s often going to be the first thing people ever see or associate with your business – in other words, your website is the first impression.
Because of that, you don’t want a site that looks generic, or paints you as an amateur in your business. It’s natural to want to save money, especially if you’re starting up or feeling the pinch in your marketing budget, but working with templates tends to be a false economy that isn’t going to do you any favors in the long run. Budgets are tight because the economy is so competitive right now – you need every advantage on your side.
By working with a professional business web design team, one that gets to know your business and understands how to effectively convey the right messages, you don’t just get a set of web pages in return, but a platform you can use to grow your business and bottom line in the months and years to come.
Web template companies would love to convince you that what they have to offer is just as good as what you would get from a professional creative team, but common sense and a close look at the pros and cons tell a different story. Contact AO Design today to see how we can help build your custom website and put your company on top of the Web.