Do You Really Need Custom Web Design for Your Brand?


Custom web design

Custom web design is a cornerstone of a company’s online presence. It not only affects the customer’s relationship with the company, but indeed, its entire public image. In 2016, a website is perhaps the single most visible aspect of a company. From customer outreach to PR to sales to marketing, almost every facet of an organization’s operations are affected by the company website.

In that light, it would almost seem a given that every company would want to invest in a custom web design for their site – and for many businesses, this is a valid course of action. However, despite the many benefits and advantages of a custom site, they aren’t necessary for every company or business owner.

When You Might Need Custom Web Design

The key advantage of custom web design is exactly what you’d imagine it to be: customizability. A custom web design allows you to create a website that looks and functions exactly how you’d like it. You and your design team aren’t pigeonholed by theme restrictions, outdated architecture, or the content limitations of pre-made website packages.

Custom web design will often be necessary (or even mandatory) when:

  • The site will need constant updates (content, inventory, etc.)
  • A high number (1M+) of visitors are expected
  • Multiple API integrations are needed
  • Search engine optimization is a priority
  • The company needs a truly unique website

Custom websites are an absolute necessity for enterprise-level companies. The technical and logistical requirements for these kinds of businesses are far too great to be handled by a prepackaged website – although many say that WordPress can handle enterprise sites.

Indeed, WordPress can handle the requirements of enterprise-level sites – this much is demonstrated by the platform’s use on sites as big as BBC America, the New Yorker, and Xerox. However, it should be noted that these WordPress sites still required extensive development work in order to handle the demands of their users.

You Might NOT Need Custom Web Design If…

For many people, the word “custom” goes hand-in-hand with “costly” – and this is especially true when it comes to web design. Web designers often charge a high hourly rate due to the sheer labor intensity of building a site from the ground up. Between structuring the HTML, building the CSS, and putting the whole thing up on a server, a hand-built website is no small undertaking.

To this end, a custom website is not always appropriate (or necessary) for every situation, including:

  • New businesses (e.g. less than a year old)
  • Self-employed individuals
  • Companies who may change their branding or name in the near future
  • Business owners who want to be able to directly change the content of their websites
  • The website needs to be as low-maintenance as possible

In these cases, it’s typically far more effective to go with a “turnkey” website service like Squarespace, or a simple form of WordPress. These services offer more than enough themes and support to help you build a unique, memorable website without breaking the bank.

Remember – you can always upgrade to a custom web design later if you feel it’s justified and necessary, all the while keeping your SEO in place and redirecting your customers to the new site.

No matter what kind of web design you’re looking for – custom, out of the box, or something else – Envision Creative is here to help. We’re a dedicated team of designers, developers, and marketers who can take your company’s marketing to the next level. To talk with one of our team members, give us a call at (512) 292-1049.

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