Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Flipboard 1 Deciding whether to hire a web designer or simply purchase one of the thousands of web templates online can be a daunting task. For many people, hiring a custom web designer is a waste of money considering the fact that you can buy a website template for as little as $10. But one thing they forget is that cheap is expensive. Did you know you could lose 94% of your customers because of poor design and lack of trust in your website design? Infographic Source – Custom Web Design Vs Website Templates Without further ado, here are 5 reasons why custom web designs is better than website templates: Custom designs gives your business credibility Although you might always be looking for ways to save money, as a business owner, and increase your profitability, buying a website template might do your business a great disservice. With a website template it is impossible to differentiate your business and create an online presence unique to your business. Remember, your website is your shop front; it is your marketing and should project your professional image. The more professional image you project the more credible you look. Keep in mind that you need your business to stand out in the crowd and a website template might not be able to give you that. Customized web designs minimize limitations Website templates are a one-size-fits-all. For example, they may not be equippedand ready with all ecommerce functionalities. That means they may have some limitations which cannot be removed. Custom web design on the other hand won’t have such limitations. Custom web design allows you to choose what you want and how you like it. Custom design creates a website that is compatible to all browsers Many people overlook this feature, yet it can make or break your website. Not everyone uses the most recent browser to browse the net. Some even use different browsers to access the same site. The only way to guarantee that your website will properly display on Mozilla, Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Opera and Safari is to hire a custom web designer. Custom web design ensures your site is search engine friendly A professional web designer will ensure your website is search engine optimized. It is critical to get the CSS and HTML code right and build your website that will give you a head start when it comes to search engine rakings. There are no such assurances in website templates. Custom web design ensures your website is tailored to your audience If you have very specific requirements, then you need a custom web designer. It is critical to have a website that reflects the needs of your customers. Generic templates might not be able to take this into consideration. However, there are situations where a website template may do. For example, if you don’t have the time, money and resources to hire a custom designer, a website template may come in handy. But once you have built brand and online presence, custom web design is critical. Here are additional pros and cons of custom web design vs. website templates. Twitter Tweet Facebook Share Email This article was written for Business 2 Community by Stacey Rudolph.Learn how to publish your content on B2C Author: Stacey RudolphView full profile ›More by this author:The Rising Popularity of Visual Search in 2021 [Infographic]Why Video Marketing is Crucial for Your Online BusinessHow Social Media is Changing Customer Service [Infographic]