Template Website or Unique Design? All the Pros and Cons

Building a website takes a whole team, with each person handling their own part. The work is split among developers, front-end developers, copywriters, and designers. Let's talk about the designers. If your goal is a unique website design, it's best to hire an experienced professional. But if a standard website is enough for you, a template design will also work. Which option works better? Let's take a look.

A template-based website is one whose design was not created specifically for the client. You can even pick a template yourself: watch a couple of tutorial videos, practice on a draft version, and then put your new skills to work setting up the template. Templates are sold in dedicated online marketplaces, but free ones are available too. You can tweak a template slightly and then manage it from the admin panel.

• Low cost. There are plenty of free options online that let you create your own design based on ready-made examples. You enter your design preferences, and the result is simple and no-frills. "Free" is a magic word, but you need to understand the quality level of these designs.
• Time savings. Many people want everything right away. This option is perfect for anyone who needs a simple website fast. Keep in mind that a simple site won't bring in big sales. If you need a website to represent your company, a few days of design work will be enough. Large online stores and serious websites won't use this option. Even so, template designs still have their audience.
• A way to test how well a design works. With a standard look, you can see how people respond to your site and whether it needs changes. A unique design may not increase sales in your particular market segment. If other sites use a standard design, it works. Why reinvent the wheel? Use what someone else has already come up with.
• A template can be a good foundation for building something unique. You'll save time and money on developing the platform. Take a ready-made template, and a skilled designer will polish it to perfection.

Disadvantages of using ready-made themes

The drawbacks of a ready-made theme may only show up after the project launches, and it's often the lack of a custom design that brings development to a standstill.

• Documentation is missing or incomplete. When building custom designs, developers rely on dedicated documentation. It should describe the plugins and modules that help you install the theme and configure the settings correctly.
• Hard-coded elements can't be modified. The standard set of elements often can't be adjusted. Many ready-made themes are designed for specific purposes, and some parts are coded in a way that makes them impossible to change. Modules and plugins can also cause code conflicts.
• Template updates. Template authors often fix and expand their work, but after these updates, some sections of your site may stop working correctly. You need to make sure the updates don't affect your custom code. Before updating, back up the design. When optimizing, make sure the template is up to date so your version doesn't break. Once the update is done, fix the site code so that none of its functionality is broken.
• Paid and free technical support. Some authors do offer support. They make money developing templates, so they're usually willing to answer customers' questions. But if you find a bug, you'll have to wait for the author to fix it. In addition, the developer has the right to discontinue the project.
• Exclusivity. Today, you need to be original to stand out from countless competitors. Business owners with standard websites are unlikely to attract new customers online, despite how many people now turn to the internet to solve their problems.

A unique design is created individually for each project. It meets the client's specific needs and follows current market trends.

• Originality. This is the main advantage. If you order a design from a professional, you can be sure there won't be another one like it online. All the graphics are completely unique, and this will show in your conversions and traffic.
• Your own requirements. With a template, you can't implement your personal requests. When you work with a designer, your ideas for the site's design will be put to use, and the professional will recommend changes based on current best practices.
• Work by a team of specialists. At a development company, design is handled by a group of professionals, which ensures that every stage of the process is followed. In addition, an SEO specialist will advise on how to arrange visual elements to achieve high conversions.

• The main disadvantage is cost. Good design doesn't come cheap. If you're on a tight budget, you can turn to freelancers, but along with the advantages, there may be drawbacks, so weigh your decision carefully. An agency will deliver high quality, but you'll have to pay a significant amount.
• Time. If you're willing to wait, keep in mind that creating a unique design can take up to a month. Remember that quality work isn't done in a day.