Choose Between a Fully-Custom, Template Based, or DIY Options to Get Your Business Online.
You’ve got a brilliant business idea and are ready to go online. But there’s one thing standing in your way. Actually building your website! What’s the best option for to get your site up and running? Should you hire a design agency for a fully-custom website design and website development or should you roll up your sleeves and do it all yourself? This could be a difficult choice to make; especially if you aren't fully aware of the challenges and the process to getting your business online! Let's explore the popular website building options and see their process, pros, cons, and best use cases!
Three Main Choices for Getting Your Website Online
There are three ways to get your website from an idea to launch:
Hire a web design agency or a professional website developer for a fully-custom website.
Work with an agency or a web design expert to customize a template website.
Do it yourself with a website builder like Wix, Squarespace, or Shopify.
Each of these options comes with its own pros and cons. Let’s take a closer look into what makes them different and how they fit your needs.
Option 1: Hiring a Web Design Agency to Build a Fully-Custom Website
A custom website is a one-of-a-kind masterpiece that perfectly reflects your business or brand. It’s designed from the ground up with your specific needs, brand, and business goals in mind. By hiring a professional website developing agency or an ecommerce website development company (one that specializes in ecommerce businesses only), you get a site that’s unique to you—crafted to not only look great but also perform exactly how you need it to. Here’s how the process of custom website development unfolds.
The Website Development Process
Discovery Phase: You meet with the project manager and the design team to share your business goals. They will want to understand your target audience, your brand identity, and any specific features you need, like .online ordering systems, booking systems or online stores.
Web Design: The agency’s website designer and the graphic designer will work together to create mockups of your web pages and landing pages. The website designer will focus on the desktop and mobile website layout, user experience (UX), and building out the optimal customer journey; while the graphic designer will focus on designing elements like graphics, colors, fonts, and buttons to align with your brand guidelines.
Development Phase: Once the web design is approved by you, the front-end developers start building out your site using the approved website layouts. If your website needs complex features, the back-end developers will handle that part.
Testing and Launch: Once the design is finished and the site is developed, the team will test everything for bugs and optimize it for search engines (SEO). Once you approve your new site, it'll go live!
The Pros
Completely customized: Your site is built exactly the way you want it, with unique features and a look that matches your business perfectly. It's built with no compromises on design, SEO, or responsiveness.
Scalable: Custom websites are built to grow with your business, so as your needs change, your site can easily adapt.
Advanced functionality: You can have complex integrations like ecommerce tools, booking systems, or even custom web applications.
The Cons
Cost: Custom websites can be expensive. The website development costs can range from several thousand dollars and up, depending on what you need. Click here to learn how much it costs to build a website.
Time-consuming: Building a custom site can take anywhere from one to three months, so if you’re in a hurry, this might not be the fastest option. We only take 3 to 6 weeks for a fully custom website; time is money baby!😎 💸
Best for:
Businesses with unique needs that require custom website development services.
Brands that want to stand out with a website that’s unlike any other.
Companies that are planning for long-term growth and need flexibility in their site’s design and functionality.
Option 2: Hiring an Agency to Edit a Template Website
If a custom site feels like too much, but you still want something professional, a template might be the answer. Many agencies offer template websites that you can choose from and have it professionally customized to reflect your brand values!
The Website Development Process
Choose a Template: First, choose a web design agency that you want to works with. Then you’ll select a template from their catalogue that would best represent your business. These templates come with pre-made web page layouts that can be customized to match your brand.
Customize the Design: The agency will usually set up a call to talk about your brand design guidelines before getting started with customizing the template to match your brand. They can change design elements like colors, fonts, and images to give it a unique feel. They’ll also add your content and make sure the user experience (UX) is smooth across all devices (desktops, laptops, tablets, and mobiles).
Launch: Once the template has been customized and everything looks great, the agency will launch the site for you. Note that most agencies do not include the domain or hosting costs into their template prices. You must have these to get your site online! Click here to learn why it's a necessary expense to get your site online.
The Pros
Affordable: Customizing a template is much cheaper than building a custom website. It’s a great option for businesses that may just be starting out and have a smaller budget.
Quick turnaround: Since the base layout is already done, the process is much faster. You can go from idea to launch in just a few weeks. We get your site up and running in only one week!💪😎
The Cons
Limited customization: You can only change so much in a template. If you need something highly specific or complex, this option might not be enough.
Not entirely unique: Although all the copy, colors, graphics, and images will reflect your brand; your site's layout won’t be 100% unique since templates are used by multiple businesses.
Best for:
Small businesses or startups that need to get online quickly and affordably.
Businesses that don’t need complex features, like a simple business website or even a basic ecommerce store.
Option 3: DIY Website Builders – A Budget-Friendly Solution
If you’re a hands-on person or working with a small budget, using a website builder like Wix, Squarespace, or Shopify could be a good option. Keep in mind that although these platforms make it easy to create a website without needing any coding or design knowledge; it may not always be the best choice for your business. You’ll still need time to learn the platform, and even with a template, your site might end up looking a bit amateur. Plus, these sites often aren’t optimized for SEO, which means lower rankings, less traffic, and a potential hit to your bottom line.
The Website Development Process
Choose Your Platform: Pick a website builder that suits your needs. Wix and Squarespace are good for general business sites, while Shopify is best for ecommerce.
Pick a Template: Like the agency approach, you’ll start with a template. Website builders have a variety of options to choose from.
Customize It Yourself: You can drag and drop content, change design elements, and add images. Most builders make it easy to tweak your site without needing a programming language.
Launch Your Site: After customizing the template, you are now set to launch your new site!
The Pros
Low cost: DIY builders are budget-friendly, with minimal monthly fees.
Pre-built templates: A wide variety of templates to choose from, so you can start with a ready-made design.
No coding skills needed: Builders like Wix and Squarespace are designed to be easy to use. No need to learn HTML, CSS, or JavaScript.
The Cons
Learning curve: Even with drag-and-drop tools, you’ll need time to figure out the platform.
Amateur look: Templates can make your site feel generic or unpolished.
Poor SEO: Without proper optimization, your site may struggle to rank, leading to less traffic.
Limited scalability: As your business grows, these platforms may not keep up with your needs.
Best for:
Small businesses, freelancers, or hobbyists who want an affordable website.
Entrepreneurs who enjoy DIY projects and don’t need complex features.
Businesses with simple needs, like a small local store or portfolio site.
What Type of Website is Right for You?
Choosing the right website for your business depends on your budget, timeline, and goals. If you need something unique and flexible, a custom website is worth the investment. If you want something professional but quick and affordable, a template edited by a website design and development agency is a great option. And if you’re on a tight budget or love doing things yourself, a DIY website builder like Wix, Squarespace, or Shopify can get you online without breaking the bank.
Whatever option you choose, remember that your website is your business’s digital storefront. It’s the first thing people see when they look you up, so make sure it’s designed to fit your brand, reach your target audience, and help your business grow by generating quality leads.
What Type of Website is Right for You?
Option 1: Hiring a Web Design Agency to Build a Fully-Custom
Option 2: Hiring an Agency to Edit a Template Website
Option 3: DIY Website Builders – A Budget-Friendly Solution
Still Not Sure Yet
Now, go out there and build the perfect website to show the world what your business is all about! If you want to consult an expert to create a roadmap for your website launch, click the button below to book a free consultation with us!
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