Custom vs. Template Web Sites
What's the Difference Between Custom vs. Template Web Sites?
Template Web Sites
A template web site is a web site that is sold to a number of different practices, with only the pictures and text changed (and sometimes the background colours).
The overall look, feel and functionality of the web sites are the same, as are the sections, graphics and navigation. Your web site looks like everyone else's web site.
Custom Web Site
A custom designed web site, on the other hand, offers you nearly unlimited flexibility in terms look, feel, functionality, setup, sections, graphics, navigation and almost anything else.
Custom web sites are designed as a collaboration between you and the web site developer. The back-and-forth process ensures you end up with the web site you wanted.
Which Is For Me?
As with all things in life, there are pros and cons to both template and custom web sites.
Pros and Cons of Template Web Sites
Template web sites are often quick and cheap to build, but it's at the expense of your needs since your needs are being shoehorned into a preexisting (inflexible) design.
Since the developer often hosts template web sites, they are free to charge any fees they see fit for the hosting (often more expensive in the long term than custom web sites). This also means you may not own the web site, and if you ever become dissatisfied with the developer, you cannot take the web site to a new developer (you have to start from scratch).
Finally, some template sites may not be easily updated without the help of the developer, which can add to the ongoing costs associated with the maintenance of the web site.
Pros and Cons of Custom Web Sites
Custom web sites take longer to build and can be noticeably more expensive initially, but they ensure the web site fits your needs. Also, custom web site developers typically offer hosting as a ancillary service, but you are free to take your web site and host it elsewhere; you own the web site!
Finally, since it's a custom web site, you can even have it designed so that you can update it yourself (even if you do not know HTML or other web site technologies).
The Bottom Line
You don't prescribe the same treatment for each patient; you spend time assessing history, clinical signs, personal impressions, etc. to come to a diagnosis and treatment protocol tailored for that patient. Shouldn't your web site receive the same consideration? The choice depends on what fits best with your practice.
This article has only scratched the surface of the differences between template and custom web sites, so if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask us!
