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Why choose a bespoke developed website over a template-based site?

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In the digital age, your website is often the first point of contact for potential customers and one of the first points of reference. It’s not just a virtual shopfront—it’s a representation of your brand, your personality, your values, and your vision.

When it comes to creating this crucial asset, you have two primary options: using a pre-built template or investing in a bespoke, custom-developed website. While templates may seem like an easy and cost-effective solution, there’s a lot more to consider when you want your brand to stand out.

At Madison, we have a proud team of skilled developers who specialise in creating bespoke, coded websites tailored specifically to your business needs.

Here’s why choosing a bespoke developed website is a far better investment for your brand than settling for a template-based site.

Unique Branding and Customisation

Your brand is unique, and your website should be too. Template websites are designed for the masses, which means they often come with limitations on how much you can customise – the layout, the features, and the functionality. This often results in websites that look and feel generic—just another copy of countless other sites out there.

Though brand guidelines can be followed, unique designs and showing off personality will be very difficult to achieve.

On the other hand, a bespoke website is crafted from the ground up to reflect your brand’s identity. Every element, from the layout to the smallest design details, can be tailored to match your businesses personality and ethos. This level of customisation ensures that your website is a true representation of your business, helping you to create a strong and memorable online presence, if you’re proud of your business’s personality, your website should be able to reflect this.

Optimised Performance

Templates are built to cater to a wide audience, which means they often come with a lot of unnecessary features and bloated code. This can significantly slow down your website, leading to longer load times and a poor user experience. In today’s fast-paced digital world, even a slight delay in loading can cause users to leave your site, potentially costing you clients or affecting your reputation.

A bespoke website, however, is built with performance in mind. Our developers at Madison ensure that your site is optimised for speed, using clean, efficient code and only the features you actually need. The result is a faster, smoother experience for your users, which can lead to higher engagement and conversion rates.

Enhanced SEO Capabilities

Search engine optimisation (SEO) is crucial for driving traffic to your site, and templates can often be lacking in this department. Template sites may not be structured in the most SEO-friendly way and modifying them to improve SEO can be a challenge.

With a bespoke website, SEO is built into the design and development process from the start. Our team at Madison understand the importance of SEO and ensures that your website’s architecture, code, and content are optimised and relevant to your search criteria, to rank higher in search engine results. This gives you a competitive edge in your industry, helping more potential clients find your business online.

Scalable, flexible and future-proof

As your business grows, your website needs to be able to grow with it. Template websites can be restrictive, limiting your ability to add new features or expand functionality as your needs change. This can result in the need for costly overhauls or even a complete redesign in the future.

Templates have a shelf life and development will only go so far; outdated templates will eventually require complete re-builds.

A bespoke website, however, is built with scalability in mind. Whether you need to add e-commerce capabilities, integrate with third-party services, or expand your content, a custom-built site can easily accommodate your evolving needs. Our developers at Madison build websites that are not only flexible but also future-proof, ensuring your investment stands the test of time.

Security

Security is a major concern for any website, especially if you’re handling sensitive customer data. Template websites are often targeted by hackers because their vulnerabilities are well-known and widely shared. Additionally, the reliance on third-party plugins can introduce further security risks, the more plugins you have the more vulnerable you are.

A bespoke website offers enhanced security because it’s built specifically for your business. Our team at Madison ensures that your site is protected with the latest security measures, reducing the risk of breaches and keeping your data safe. Plus, you won’t have to worry about the security risks associated with using generic, off-the-shelf and widely targeted solutions.

Dedicated Support and Maintenance

When you choose a template website, you’re often left to figure things out on your own or rely on limited customer support. This can be frustrating, especially when you encounter technical issues or need to make updates.

With a bespoke website, you get the benefit of dedicated support from our team of experts at Madison. We’re here to help with everything from troubleshooting to routine maintenance, ensuring your website remains in top condition. Our ongoing support, including pro-active quarterly account reviews, allows you to focus on what you do best—running your business—while we take care of your digital presence.

In addition, we will give you all the tools and training for you to be able to make content updates and changes yourself, should you wish to self-manage your website.

You have the best of both worlds!

In conclusion, while template websites may offer a quick fix, they come with significant limitations that can hold your business back, in everything from style to functionality to performance.

A bespoke developed website, crafted by our skilled team at Madison (including designers as well as developers), offers unparalleled design, customisation, performance, security, and support.

By choosing a bespoke solution, you’re investing in a website that truly reflects your brand and sets you apart from the competition.

If you’re ready to take your online presence to the next level, why not contact us today?

Let us create a website that not only meets your current business needs but also exceeds your expectations and accommodates your future-goals and plans.

Ready to start?

Call us on 01273 757996