Why Custom Website Design is a Better Option for You and Your Business

What Is Custom Website Design, and Do You Need It?

Even before the current pandemic, more and more business owners realized the benefits of a user-friendly online presence. Having a simple website was no longer enough to meet ever more demanding and sophisticated consumers’ expectations. But is a custom website design your best or only option? That depends on your situation.

For those in retail who rely on in-store traffic, you have to find new ways to get your products to the customers. To switch the emphasis to online shopping, you need online stores that are both functional and simple to operate. Limited to take-out orders, many restaurants require robust online menus and ordering functionality. Some of you may need to incorporate video conferencing options.

A Custom Website Is Not Your Only Option

Custom website design is one way to get a website or online store that matches your expectations and supports your business objectives. But it is not your only available option. The web design marketplace is full of choices for consumers.

Business owners have options ranging from established web design agencies and freelance designers to DIY services that promise the moon (all for one low monthly cost). And that can be a big problem.

Most business owners have little or no understanding of custom website design or website design in general. What matters most to them is the bottom line. Web design costs are scary for them, and they often opt for the cheapest option, such as a template website or DIY web design.

Often these differences are not apparent to the untrained eye. I want to explain the primary differences between custom website design and other options. And I will outline a few reasons you may want to consider hiring a professional and getting a custom-designed website.

Key Differences of Custom Website Design

Custom website design is different from using a free or DIY website builder or template. Depending on the tool or template you are using, the results you achieve may differ. But it will help you to consider these key differences:

Limited Functionality vs. Custom Functionality

DIY web design options may offer specific functionality that a business owner is looking for… or not. Wix and Squarespace are good at adding features that many users have come to expect. But they don’t offer everything. If what they have on hand doesn’t match your needs, you’re out of luck.

A custom website, on the other hand, does not have these limitations. By using modular frameworks, our web design team can create just about any layout you may require. If the exact functionality you need is not available, we can build it for you. Of course, you will pay more for custom website design. But you are getting what you want or need in return.

Nowhere is this more evident than in e-commerce design. “I only need a straightforward online store with a few items or products.” That is how many of our e-commerce projects start. But no matter how simple or basic an online store is supposed to be, there are always quirks. Often this requires writing a custom piece of code or adding a niche plugin. That is what puts the “custom” in a custom website.

Their Design vs. Original Design

Web design should be an area where professional web designers or agencies always have the upper hand. We tell our clients that we design custom websites around their business and the message they want to convey.

Website design is much more than merely adding your logo to a pre-designed theme or template. And again, the ability to have something unique that matches your specifications is essential to many people.

Of course, there will always be those willing to sacrifice a unique look in exchange for a lower price. Custom website design seems to be too great a cost and effort. But there are other worthy arguments to make.

Locked In vs. Freedom to Move

When you are buying into a DIY service, you are stuck. The service provider will not just let you take your website with you since everything is most likely proprietary. Closed systems like this do have some advantages, but they’re also a one-way street.

A custom website design using an open-source CMS does not limit you if your needs or vision change down the road. You are free to host your site just about anywhere and. If you ever want to switch to a different platform, someone has most likely crafted a tool to help you migrate content (if not the design) from the old one.

Benefits of Custom Website Design

Experienced Web Designers

A website is more than just a few pages full of content slapped up onto a server. There needs to be a strategy for how a website looks, functions, and the reasoning behind its content. Without an effective web design strategy, it’s easy for a site to become inconsistent and aimless.

Not having a strategy is often the case for small businesses that may not have a team of in-house experts. It is also an area where hiring an experienced web designer or agency can be an asset. There is excellent value for clients in hiring someone who knows what they’re doing when building a website. A designer can pick up on the details that business owners would otherwise miss.

The point is that a company’s website or e-commerce store is too crucial to entrust to anyone less than an expert in their field. This simple fact makes custom website design an attractive and cost-effective option, especially in the long run.

Professional Relationships

To us, being a custom website design team is more than merely building websites and online stores. Here at PixoLabo, we often build relationships with clients that last for the long term. Some of our clients have become personal friends over the years. And we are there to provide expertise, support, and advice. Those are things that can’t be easily replicated or replaced.

Plus, the personal relationship we develop with any client means that we are interested in their success. Our clients are not just another number. They are people who can rely on us to help them achieve their online objectives. And that is one less thing for you, the business owner, to worry about or do on your own.

An Investment in Your Business

When speaking with a potential client, we always point out that building a custom website is a long-term investment. A website is something that evolves and grows along with your business. While budget is certainly an understandable constraint, it’s also worth mentioning that you get what you pay for.

These days, many low-cost site builders provide decent products and have a legitimate place in the web design market. But in general, they are for those with either meager budgets or a real DIY spirit. I am not saying that you can’t build a website yourself. I am merely pointing out that building a website for their business is not the best use of a business owner’s time.

Frankly, most businesses don’t have the time to put things together by themselves. Nor do they have the web design expertise necessary to create something that lives up to its full potential or supports their business objectives. Depending on the tool they use, some end up frustrated by the process and decide to hire a professional.

Business owners that are doing it all themselves on a limited platform are taking time away from their real strength – running their business itself. That can stall growth and end up negating any initial cost savings. And that’s a big deal.

Final Thoughts

Indeed, freelancers and small web design agencies like PixoLabo are not the only options for web or e-commerce design. But we still provide a level of professional experience and service that you may not find elsewhere.

Business owners and other professionals who need a website or online store hear mixed messages about which option they should choose. While some website tools and builders do a decent job, job users sooner or later face limitations they can not overcome.

Please take my advice. Choose a custom website design from the beginning. Yes, it will cost you more money. But you will save a lot of time and frustration, not to mention wasted effort and money, in the long run.

If you think hiring a professional is expensive, wait until you hire an amateur!

We Can Help You with Custom Website Design

Do you need a better website or online store to meet consumer expectations and support your business growth? Our web design team has helped business owners like you get the most from their online presence.

Here at PixoLabo, we offer a full range of mobile-first business website consulting and design services for small businesses, including custom web design and development, e-commerce solutions, search engine optimization, brand design, and WordPress optimization.

Feel free to reach out to us. Our team will be happy to help you explain the benefits of custom website design in general and how they apply to your business or product brand.

Did You Consider a Custom Website?

Are you planning to get a new website or online store? Have you considered custom website design as an option? Do you have anything to add to our guide to small business website creation? What made you decide for or against that?

Please leave your comments below so our audience can benefit and grab our feed, so you don’t miss our next post! And help your audience get the business website they need by sharing our small business website creation guide with them!

Thank you! We appreciate your help to end bad business websites, one pixel at a time!

By Gregor Saita
Co-Founder / CXO
@gregorsaita