Custom web design might sound fancy, but it’s far from a fashion statement. Custom web design is a business necessity. If you want to build a solid home on the web for your business, custom is the way to go. It’s not free or even cheap, but it’s a long-term investment that will pay off, and here is why.
What is Custom Web Design?
“Custom” in web design refers to a website that is designed from scratch to meet your specific business needs. However, it doesn’t mean your web designer is going to build his own content management system and reinvent the internet. Custom websites have unique designs, but are usually built on an available content management platform, such as WordPress.
The design of your website, technically, is limited only by your imagination. Although you can be as creative as you want, we recommend following the lead of your designer and avoiding the extreme end of “custom.” There is a reason why most modern websites have similar elements and navigation, and this reason is user experience. Being too original may harm your website from the usability standpoint, making it difficult for people to navigate and do business with you.
What You Get With Custom Web Design
So, what is so great about having a custom website? Well, there are a few things that make it worth the investment, to name a few:
- The most accurate representation of your brand.
- A chance to stand out among your competition.
- The ongoing guidance of an experienced web designer.
- Custom features such as rotating banners or unique content placement
- Ability to control every aspect of the design.
- The site that speaks to YOUR customers and delivers information and services in the way THEY prefer.
And if you find a Maryland web design company with a background in marketing and search engine optimization, such as Advantage Internet Marketing, you can also get a website that is optimized for both users and search engines from the get-go.
Isn’t All Web Design Custom?
Some web design companies may advertise custom web design, but in reality they just reuse the same template for multiple clients. They will “customize” it for you with your logo, colors and content, but it will strikingly resemble hundreds of other sites. While there is a place and use for template-based websites on the web, the problem arises when such websites are sold as custom web design. There is very little work involved in building a site like this, so you shouldn’t be paying a premium price for what’s essentially a copy-and-paste design.
So, how do you know if you are hiring the right company?
- Make sure their website has a portfolio
- Look through the portfolio—if you see identical websites, that’s a red flag.
- Check their pricing model—if they package their services and then nickle and dime you for every extra pages added to the site, that’s also a red flag.
- Read online reviews and talk to your friends.
The biggest value of custom web design is that it stems from your business goals. When you are working with a template, you have to build your objectives and strategy around an existent design, which is a backwards way of thinking. Strategy should come first, and each element of your website should support it. At Advantage Internet Marketing, we work hard to get your vision across and deliver a custom website that represents your business and works as a part of your marketing strategy.
Give us a call at 410-549-4737 to discuss the custom features your website could benefit from.