Website Design Companies vs. Custom Website and Software Design Companies
We appear to have been receiving a number of calls from potential clients who have been frustrated with their current website designer. They paid what felt to them like a large amount of money, but came to a point where their website couldn’t grow with their business or even meet their current demands and expectations. Their current website companies weren’t able to get done for them what they needed either. In order to get their website to do what they expect it to do and what they need it to do in order to be effective for their businesses, they have to start all over. But why? Shouldn’t any website design company be able to create websites that meet all your needs? The answer depends on what your goals are for your website.
If your are looking for a website that will be strictly informational and have some minor applications like a shopping cart or Flash media, the answer is yes, they can meet all your needs. If there is a chance that you need a database, appointment scheduling, forms that can be submitted, applications that can be integrated with your companies processes, or you have a unique idea what you need is a programmer, not a designer. Companies that have programmers that can write new software or rewrite existing software to develop a dynamic website have the ability to meet your business’ needs as they change and grow.
A design company may use templates or simplistic programming language that cannot be easily adapted. Templates do not allow much versatility in what you want your website to do; where as a custom layout is easily manipulated. A basic web designer with little experience in writing code, will most often choose a language that is easy to write, but cannot do much more than a standard website and shopping cart.
But, doesn’t a custom website cost more? Initially it does usually cost more than using a company’s catalog of template web designs. If your business is growing and you foresee that you will need custom applications or more features to use and offer your customers, it will cost you more to do a basic design now and have to start all over than to do a custom design now and add custom applications along the way. Another advantage of custom design is it is unique to and tailored to your company. A custom website can look and feel like every other piece of marketing material you produce to maintain an image, which is a great way of branding your business. A custom website is yours. Should you choose to have someone in house manage your website, or want to leave your current developer and go to another, you own the programming and design. A custom website built by a programmer is written in code that is able to be added to and taken from easily and can handle applications that template websites cannot.
Aside from having a much more professional look to them, a custom website is your answer to saving money in the long run and having a website that will be user friendly and reflect your business more accurately.
Tags: Software Design, Web Design
June 17th, 2009 at 10:13 am
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