Building a website or redesigning a website is a daunting task. There are a million different options to choose from, and how do you know which one is best for your business? In this three-part guide, we will go through various options and steps to make it easy for you to showcase your business.
This first guide will go through the difference between a custom-developed website and a content management system solution and when to choose one or the other.
What is Custom Website Development?
Essentially, a custom website is hiring a developer to build it from scratch. Custom development enables you to create a complex website that meets all your requirements and helps you stand out from your competition.
When Should You Consider a Custom Website?
Custom websites can be attractive when you think about uniqueness and flexibility, but it is imperative to know when necessary for your business. Keep in mind that your website could either break or make your site’s popularity and profitability. It’s not all about the look and feels of a website, site speed, SEO, and features are crucial for your website to work for you, not against you. With that being said, when should you consider a custom website?
1. Complex Features
Like I said above, the number one reason to consider a custom build is when you want complex features that template-based sites do not provide.
These complex features could involve integrating your own proprietary tech through APIs or could be functionality like membership tiers, gaming, interactive content, cloud-based storage, or anything else that doesn’t just have images and text.
2. You Have the Time
On average, it can take up to three to six months for a custom website. So when you consider a custom-built website make sure your business has allotted the time it will take to complete it.
3. You Have the Budget
There is no way to sugar-coat this; custom websites are expensive if you want them done right. However, there are a lot of developers out there, so choosing the right one is critical. Custom websites can range up to $50,000+, depending on the complexity of your site.
Custom websites are a good option if you have the budget and want to stand out in the marketplace. In this sense, a custom site is excellent because you can go way beyond the “typical” website and design something truly unique and innovative.
What is a Content Management System (CMS)?
A content management system helps you create, manage, and modify content on a website. Essentially, it is a tool to build a website without starting the code from scratch. A CMS helps you with all the necessary code to speed up the building process. It also allows you to maintain and modify your website over a long time.
There are two types of CMS options - template based and custom build. A template-based CMS is when you pick a predefined template with built-in features ready to go and modify with your company's information. For example, you sign up for a website building and hosting platform like Squarespace, and pick from one of their templates and starting inputting the information you want.
A custom built CMS is when you have some starting code, but it is completely customizable to fit your needs. In essence, a custom CMS gives you the flexibility to build a website that matches your business needs. It is very similar to a completely custom website development, but it allows you to manage it on a content management system.
When Should You Consider a Content Management System (CMS)?
A CMS is the most common way to build and host a site. Over 65 million websites on the internet today are using a content management system. With that being said, most businesses choose a CMS solution because of the following reasons:
1. User-Friendly
A CMS helps businesses be self-sufficient once the build is complete. Once the initial development is done, they can make updates as they please. With custom websites, you would have to contact the developer to make frequent changes to your site.
2. Affordable and Time-Efficient
Unlike custom builds, content management system websites can be built in a matter of weeks since the designer and developer have a starting point. It is also more affordable for businesses than custom websites.
3. Advance Optimization
Like I said before, your website could make or break your business depending on SEO and site speed factors. Content management systems have advanced tools to help your site rank better in major search engines. It also helps to have a digital marketing strategy to increase online traffic to your site.
Final Thoughts
When choosing a direction for your website, please keep your business goals and objectives in mind. Both a custom website and a CMS website are great options, but both have pros and cons.
Overall, when deciding to build a website for your business, cost, time, maintenance, and design capabilities play a significant role. I hope this article helped you understand the two options and equipped you with the knowledge you need.
We are in the business of helping companies grow in the digital age. So, if you are looking to build or redesign your website, we would be happy to have a conversation with you.
Stay tuned to our following website building guide: Pros and Cons of Different CMS Platforms and What You Should Consider When Picking One.
