comparison - custom websites vs. template websites

[brianzajac]

Hello everyone,

Although jaded to 'custom websites', I have compiled a small list of differences between custom websites & template websites. However, I would love to get your opinions on these AND (even better) add some more to these lists:

Custom Websites:

Overall Solutions
Infinite Scalability
One-of-a-Kind Design
Tailored for Any Small Business
Budget-Driven


Technical Solutions
Movable to Any Hosting Company
Client Can Update Site 24/7
Accepts Programmable Add-Ons
Includes Contact Form
Optimized for Seach Engines


Template Websites:

Overall Solutions
Budget-Driven
Automatically Generated Content

Technical Solutions
Client Can Update Site 24/7
Includes Contact Form

[brian.mark]

Custom sites
Can better track where problems occur and find a better solution
Able to make changes to increase conversion rate
Limited only by budget and creativity


Template sites
Limited number of changes that can be made

Brian.

[brianzajac]

Hey folks, is that it??? I'm sure there's some real geniuses out there who can come up with some items for each category. C'mon, add your '2 cents'!

P.S. Thanks Brian for adding yours...

[MuNKyonline]

You can do all of this with both! What about custom-templates? I design my own templates that are the basis for each site I make. Thus making it far easier to update, rather than having to change each individual page.

[jomariet]

Assuming that the custom site is built by a pro and that the template sites aren't an online WYSIWYG editor (requiring you to actually design a site) you still have to find the solution that actually meets your needs. For example, a custom designed site could include the backend cms allowing all the advantages of a template site package. But you are going to pay for that. Many template sites can be "custom" created for an additional fee and are still less upfront than a totally custom site with all the advantages of a template site builder.

I create both and the hardest part of the business plan was to differentiate between the two since they truly overlap. For this thread however, I'd say the arguments are -

Custom Sites:
Pro - developer should help organize and structure your content. It is the content that will make or break your site.
Con - you pay for what you get. A cheap design is a cheap design.

Template Sites:
Pro - You are able to add, edit, delete content immediately for a small upfront cost.
Con - You have to figure out what information your site needs to present without professional advice.

JM