Every business — regardless of size, type, and niche — has to have an online presence. However, it’s not enough to just have a website. A website has to have a compelling web design and seamless user experience for it to be successful. This is where custom website development comes into the picture.
In this article, we’ll explore seven reasons why you should opt for custom web application development for your business.
What is custom web development?
Custom web development is the process of creating custom web solutions, tailored to meet the specific needs and preferences of a business or individual. Unlike using pre-made templates or pre-packaged software, custom development offers complete control over the functionality, design, and features of the website or application.
Custom web development vs. website templates
Custom web development vs. using website templates are two distinct approaches to creating websites. Web development involves building a website from scratch or using a content management system (CMS) with complete customization options. This approach allows for a unique design tailored to your brand, scalability to accommodate growth, performance optimization for fast loading, integration of complex features, robust security measures, and control over ongoing maintenance and updates.
On the other hand, website templates are pre-designed layouts that offer limited customization options. While they enable a quick setup, customization is often constrained to colors, fonts, and content, resulting in less uniqueness and potential similarities with other websites using the same template. Templates may not provide advanced features and can be less scalable and secure unless you regularly maintain them with patches and updates.
To put it simply, web development offers flexibility and full control over every aspect of your website, while website templates provide a quicker, budget-friendly solution but with limitations on customization and potential drawbacks in terms of uniqueness and scalability. The choice depends on your specific business needs and, resources, and objectives.
Reasons to choose web development for business
There are many options when it comes to launching a business website — from doing it yourself or using pre-existing templates all the way up to a custom-built website. Each of these methods has its benefits, but choosing the best one for you can be tricky. Here’s a closer look at five reasons you might be better off with custom website development.
- Custom web design: For a local car wash, dry cleaner, or other business whose website will serve mostly as an online “brochure” or ad, a basic website template may be all you need. But if visuals and branding are a big part of your business, custom website design can give you an edge. For example, do you plan to sell apparel, jewelry, housewares, or other types of products that rely on visual appeal to attract shoppers? A custom web design can showcase what’s unique about your products and make you stand out from the competition.
- Tailored functionality: You can find web design templates that can handle many common functions, but what if your business model requires something out of the ordinary that a template doesn’t offer? Or, you might run into the opposite problem: the template you like has extra features that you don’t really need (which can slow your site down). When you choose custom website development, your website’s functionality can be tailored to fit your needs — not the other way around.
- Easily scalable: Do you have goals to expand your business far beyond its current state? If your business website is created using a template, it can sometimes be more difficult to scale it up and add new features later on. With a custom-built website, on the other hand, the existing site can easily be modified to add whatever features you want as your business grows.
- Adaptable design: Adaptable design means making sure your website works well on different devices. Your custom website can be designed to look and function properly on computers, phones, tablets, and even smart TVs or home devices.People use all of these devices to shop and browse the internet. If your website doesn’t work well on the device they’re using, they might leave and look for a similar business that does. You want to stay ahead of the competition by making sure your website is accessible and user-friendly no matter how your customers choose to access it.
- Optimized for search engines: Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is important if you want more people to visit your website and buy from you. Without SEO, potential customers won’t be able to find your website when they search online for the products or services you offer. If you hire an experienced custom web development company, they can create a website for you that’s designed to show up in search engine results and attract more visitors. But if you’re using ready-made templates, you’ll need to create SEO-friendly content for your website. If you’re not good at this, it can hurt your online business. Plus, when you use Web.com to build your custom website, you also get inclusion in local business listings to help you get found online. Your website won’t just look great — it will also get noticed, and isn’t that the whole point of having a website?
- Higher security levels: Security is a big concern both online and offline. Nowadays, many customers know to check for the “HTTPS” at the beginning of a website’s URL as a sign of security. In fact, Google goes a step further by warning users when they visit a site that lacks SSL, which is a security feature. This warning suggests that the site may not be safe to use. Google also takes into account your website’s SSL certificate and overall security when determining where your site ranks in search results. It prefers websites that provide a safe and secure experience to users. When you opt for custom web development services, you can ensure that your website gives top priority to the safety of your users. If you decide to outsource your web development, you can rely on another company to manage your website’s security for you.
- Professional web developers: If you’re like most small business owners, you’d rather spend your time focusing on running and growing your business — not on deciding where to put a call-to-action button on your website. When you choose a custom-built website, you can rest assured that web design professionals are handling all of the heavy lifting. Yes, you will need to spend some time talking to the designers about your goals, needs, and preferences. In the long run, however, that time spent upfront will pay off: You’ll get a highly effective website that does exactly what you want it to.
What to Look For in a Custom Web Development Company
There are numerous web design companies offering their expertise, but if you want your custom site to perfectly fit your needs, you must choose your web design team carefully. Here are some of the key factors to consider:
Domain name registration and website hosting
A domain provides your website with a unique and recognizable online address, making it easy for people to find you on the internet. Web hosting gives your website a reliable space to store its files and content, ensuring it’s accessible to visitors at all times. Together, a domain and web hosting are essential for establishing a visible and functional online presence for your business, blog, or personal website.
A web design company with an all-in-one package that includes your website domain registration and secure web hosting means there’s less to think about—so you have more time to spend on your business.
A broad design portfolio
Look at the web design company’s previous work, including both DIY website templates and custom-built websites. Do they have plenty of experience designing websites for your industry? A company that focuses on eCommerce websites may not be the best choice if you’re launching a service business, for instance. Consider the company’s track record and how long they have been in business.
Sophisticated functionality
Websites need to do more than just look good—they need to function well. In addition to design, consider all the features, and tools a web design company has to offer. For example, no matter what industry you’re in, customers are increasingly using smartphones and tablets to make purchasing decisions. That means your website needs to be mobile-friendly and function as well on a mobile device as on a desktop.
Flexibility
Choose a company that can tailor their services to meet your specific goals and branding requirements. Assess their ability to create custom designs customizable templates that align with your vision and brand identity. Ensure they are open to revisions and adjustments throughout the design process.
Additional marketing services
Choosing a web design company that offers a range of online marketing services can greatly simplify your life. You’ll have one expert source you can turn to for help with everything from search engine optimization to pay-per-click advertising (in addition to your website design, of course). Web copywriting services, professional business email addresses, social media marketing assistance and website analytics tools are other services to ask your web design company about.
Experience
New website design companies pop up all the time. Knowing your web design company’s previous experience is crucial to ensure they have a track record of creating successful and effective websites. It provides insights into their capabilities, design skills, and ability to meet your specific needs. By reviewing their past work, you can trust that them to deliver a website that aligns with your goals and resonates with your target customers and audience.
Pricing and Value
Obtain detailed pricing information and understand what is included in their packages. Compare the value you receive with the cost and assess the company’s transparency in pricing. Be cautious of excessively low-priced options that may compromise quality. Web.com offers affordable custom website design packages starting at $199.
Ongoing Support and Maintenance
Inquire about post-launch support, website maintenance, and updates. Ensure they offer reliable technical support and assistance when needed. Consider long-term partnerships and their ability to accommodate future growth and scalability.
Good references
Before making a final decision, be sure to talk to other clients who have used the same web design company you’re considering. How satisfied are they with their website design and functionality? What additional features or services do they use, and how well are these working for them? Would they make the same choice today if they had it to do over again?
Conclusion
The general rule of thumb is if you have a simple website with a target audience and few needs, then a template-based website may be a good option for you. Templates can offer a quick and cost-effective way to get your site up and running with minimal effort.
However, if you have a complex website with specific requirements, then a custom website is the better choice. Custom website design and development comes with many advantages, and hiring a team of web developers might be the right choice for you.
With custom web design and development, you have the flexibility to create custom websites that perfectly align with your unique goals, branding, and functionality needs. You can ensure that your site stands out in terms of design and user experience. Additionally, custom websites can be tailored to accommodate future growth and changes, making them a more sustainable long-term solution.
Looking for top-notch custom solutions and web development services? Consider Web.com’s web development services to get a custom website that meets your exact needs and helps your business thrive online.
