Squarespace template vs custom website
At some point in your business, you’ll need to decide whether to buy a template or a custom website. Squarespace is a fantastic platform to host your website. We’ve outlined things you should consider before spending your money and the pros and cons of both options.
If you’re unsure which is the best solution for your business, book a free call with me to discuss your goals and business needs, and I’ll provide an answer.
Pros of Squarespace template websites
Affordable
Template websites are great if you’re starting your business and need to keep outgoings to a minimum. Buying a Squarespace template is a lot more affordable than hiring a Squarespace designer to build a custom website. Squarespace templates can range anywhere from £60 to £400.
Time efficiency
Templates come with pre-designed layouts and features, speeding up the website development process. This is ideal if you need a site up and running quickly.
Easy setup
Templates often include user-friendly interfaces and instructions, making it simpler for non-technical users to set up their websites without extensive coding knowledge.
Proven functionality
Template websites often incorporate tested design principles and user experience features, ensuring a user-friendly interface and navigation.
Customisation options
While templates have pre-designed structures, you can usually customize colours, fonts, and images to align with your brand identity.
Testing ground
Templates can serve as a testing ground for your business concept. If you're just starting, a template site allows you to establish an online presence before investing in a custom design.
Cons of Squarespace template websites
Learning curve
By purchasing a template website for Squarespace, it’ll be your responsibility to update the content and set-up the website for your requirements. There might be a learning curve if you’re new to the platform.
Time-consuming
Learning a new platform takes time and can feel intimidating. There are plenty of tutorial videos on YouTube or online courses you can join, but this all eats into time you could be spent elsewhere on your business.
Limited support
Many Squarespace template providers do offer a level of support or tutorials, but this won’t be the same as that one-to-one support you would have with a custom website project. You might face difficulties if you encounter complex issues or need tailored assistance.
SEO challenges
Some Squarespace website designers offer on-page basic SEO as part of their packages, whilst templates do not. This means you’ll need to learn SEO practices and implement them onto your website, or alternatively hire an SEO professional.
Cookie-cutter feel
Template websites are widely available, which means your site might look similar to other businesses using the same template. It could hinder your brand's distinctiveness. Squarespace is very customisable, even the templates you buy, but it will require more work on your end.
When should I use a Squarespace template?
Squarespace templates are fantastic if you’re a new business. New businesses are often time-rich and cash poor.
New businesses are often testing, learning, and changing. If you invest in a custom website, you might want to completely change it a year down the line, which would be a waste of money. A template website is the most cost-efficient route.
Starting a new business means you’re often strapped for cash. Squarespace templates are ideal to keep costs low as they are more affordable than custom builds.
Not only this, but if you’re new to Squarespace it will take time to learn the platform. This is fine for new businesses who might have plenty of time.
Some Squarespace template providers offer a semi-custom approach or a “restyle”. This means that they take an existing template and update it for you - matching your branding, structuring the site, and optimising it for you. This is the middle ground between a custom and template website.
Pros of custom Squarespace websites
Tailored to your requirements
You can incorporate specific features and functionalities that cater to your business's needs, enhancing user experience and engagement.
Built with SEO in mind
Custom websites can be built with Search Engine Optimization (SEO) best practices in mind, improving your site's visibility on search engines and driving organic traffic.
Unique design
A custom website is tailored to your brand's specific aesthetic and goals, ensuring a unique and memorable online presence that stands out from competitors.
Built for your business goals
Custom websites are built with your business goals in mind. Whether you are wanting to generate leads or encourage newsletter subscribers, a website designer can implement features to help you achieve these goals.
Technical work done for you
With a custom Squarespace website, you’ll have someone do the technical work done for you. That means you don’t have to worry about breaking the site, deleting something by accident, or fretting about if you set something up correctly.
After launch support
Many Squarespace website designers provide post-launch support for a certain number of days. That means should anything unexpected crop up, you have more questions, or you just need help tweaking something, your website designer can help you without paying any extra.
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Cons of custom Squarespace websites
Higher cost
Custom websites generally come with a higher upfront cost due to the personalised nature of the design, development, and coding involved.
Risk of delays
Relying on someone else can mean there is a risk of delay to the project. Unforeseen challenges could lead to project delays, impacting your website launch timeline.
Design expectations
Communicating your exact design expectations can be challenging, potentially leading to misunderstandings between you and the website designer.
When should I invest in a custom website?
Investing in a custom website is great if you’ve tried to DIY a website yourself but ended up frustrated, have outgrown your template website, or you’re making the switch from a different CMS like WordPress. If you need that extra support or hate ‘techy-stuff’ but know you need a website, the one-to-one support for a custom website can be a great reassurance.
Conclusion of template vs custom website
When deciding who is the winner - template vs custom website - it’s down to your opinion and the stage of your business. You should choose depending on your business goals, needs, and finance.
A template website is great if you’ve got time and patience to learn, update and manage the website. In addition, a template website is ideal if you don’t currently have the money to invest and need a budget-friendly option.
A custom website is an investment that can reap many rewards and save you time. Custom websites can be designed exactly how you want and have all the requirements you need. If you’re considering a custom Squarespace website for your business, see our Squarespace website design services or get in touch.
