Custom Web Design Vs WordPress Theme: What’s Right for Your Business?

‘Tis the season of firsts, and what can be better than to take your presence to a new level with a brand-new website or to revamp the older one? And if you’ve decided to develop it with WordPress, welcome to the club! More than 40% of all websites are developed using WordPress. But there’s one question surrounding WordPress that possesses the most pressing concern – whether to go for custom WordPress web design for the website or go for a WordPress theme?

WordPress themes might be inexpensive, but can they offer the versatility and customization that you require? And, while custom WordPress website design allows for unrivaled creative freedom, can it work within your budget and timeframe? There’s just too much on the plate to discuss today! So, without any further ado, let’s take a closer look and explore both worlds to help you decide which option is right for your business.

Importance of Web Design

There is a saying that goes, “Presentation is the key because people buy with their eyes, not their wallets,” and given the current digital landscape and the human psyche, it couldn’t be more true. With every third person out of four believes that based on web design, they formulate the brand’s perception. So, is web design the real deal-maker? Yep! The website design isn’t just images and code; it’s your brand’s digital heartbeat that enables you to nurture relationships with customers and leave a favorable impression on them. From the first glance of the website to the final click, it’s a visual feast that shapes the perception of the brand and drives action. Be it establishing contact, making a purchase, or signing up for the newsletter, a well-designed website can work wonders for a one-person business or brand. But on the flip side, a poorly designed website can be a major turnoff. It can cause confusion, frustration, and even off-puttingness.

Let’s have a look at what sleek, beautiful, and easy-to-navigate web design can do

• Sets the first impression straight.
• Build trust with your target audience.
• Gives the brand a vivid personality.
• Makes the website look credible and approachable.
• Can help with better conversion rates and sales.

Read More: Website – A Requisite for Local Businesses

Custom WordPress Web Design

About Custom WordPress Web Design

Custom WordPress web design is the process of designing and developing a custom WordPress website from scratch that has specific modifications that a WordPress theme isn’t able to provide. They are usually used to custom build websites that are large, complex, and have unique functionalities. Custom WordPress design is where every pixel is an expression and every click is an experience that resonates with the target audience as deeply as possible.

Advantages of Custom WordPress Web Design

1). Business-centric

As the name suggests, custom WordPress web design is not a one-size-fits-all solution; it’s a custom-made solution that is built with the website in mind and not the other way around. One has the flexibility to choose the right color, fonts, and appearance of the design and to choose the features and functionalities they want in the website; otherwise, they won’t find them in a pre-made theme. The end result of opting for custom WordPress design is a unique and custom WordPress website that truly reflects the business.

2). Better Security

When it comes to the security of the website, there are no ifs and buts; it’s sine qua non. Since pre-made WordPress themes are used by thousands of businesses, they are unable to ward off security scare and cyberattacks effectively. On the other side, custom web design is built from the ground up and follows the latest security measures, making it a secure option over WordPress themes. Be it two-factor authentication, malware scanning, or data encryption, custom web design proves to have a better security wall.

3). Greater Support

As the custom WordPress design is built by professional WordPress website designers who specialize in different types of web design, the need for any big changes in the design and code parts gets mitigated once the website is live. Since you have access to a team of experts who are dedicated to your project, you have a wider range of support options. So, if there are any issues or bugs in the website, they can be fixed by the WordPress website designer and developer at the drop of a hat. The team would be available round the clock via live chat, phone call, email, video conferencing, and screen sharing, presenting peace of mind to the business, especially those businesses that rely on their website for sales.

Limitation of Custom WordPress Web Design

1). Duration

When compared to pre-made WordPress themes, custom web design takes longer to design and development time. Since it’s designed and developed from scratch, has bespoke functionalities, and is unique from hordes of other websites, it requires a great deal of knowledge and skillset to give the custom WordPress site its unique look, feel, shape, and structure. This process of developing a one-of-a-kind custom WordPress website is complex and can take several weeks or even months to complete, making it impractical for businesses that want to hit the market within a certain timeframe.

2). Expensive

When you decide to avail yourself of custom WordPress web design, these services do not come cheap and can burn a hole in your pocket. Regardless of whether you develop it in-house or outsource it to any WordPress web design company, it’s a lengthy process that requires skills and expertise to complete it within a stipulated timeframe. Even after the website goes live, you might have to pay for additional support in the future for the website, which might make a dent in your savings and finances.

When You Might Want to Choose Custom WordPress Web Design?

So, you have gone through the pros and cons of selecting custom web design, but the number of factors overwhelms you and gets the best of you. We get it; we totally get it! Here are the scenarios when you should opt for custom WordPress design.

• You have a special vision for your website that a pre-made theme cannot fulfill.
• You require a website that is highly specialized for your industry or expertise.
• You want to build a website that is search engine optimized and will appear high in search results.
• You require a website that is both secure and compatible with industry laws.

If you’re not sure whether bespoke web design is ideal for you, it’s always a good idea to chat with a WordPress customization services specialist. They can assist you in determining your requirements and recommending the best solution for your company.

Read More: Top 5 Benefits of Hiring Dedicated Development Team

WordPress Theme

About WordPress Theme

A WordPress theme is a comprehensive collection of various files, including PHP files, CSS files, and JavaScript files, that define the website’s structure and the website’s overall appearance, feel, and functionality. It helps to modify the way a WordPress website is displayed on the front-end without having to modify or tweak the core WordPress software. It’s a great way to create a professional-looking and polished website without having to build it from scratch.

Advantages of WordPress Theme

1). Easy Setup

One of the primary reasons many businesses opt for WordPress themes is that, even without any coding or designing skills and with smaller tweaks, themes have a much shorter build time than custom ones, helping the website go live on the go. Want to personalize it to your taste? With hundreds of plugins and extensions to choose from, you can make a few modifications in order to personalize it. As a WordPress theme comes with the necessary files and instructions, it’s a great fit for businesses that lack the time and resources to hire a WordPress web developer.

2). Significantly Cheaper

When it comes to the cost difference between a pre-made WordPress theme vs custom website theme, the former is the clear winner. WordPress has both paid and free theme options in its inventory. The paid themes are priced anywhere from $10 to $100, making them a great fit for budget-conscious businesses of all sizes and sectors. Also, using the pre-made WordPress theme and customizing it to your liking and business appropriation not only reduces the website’s time to market but also mitigates the financial commitments of a site build, making it a more cost-effective option than custom WordPress web designing.

3). Faster and Scalable

Lastly, the reason why WordPress themes are a hit among businesses of all sizes and sectors is that the themes are faster and more scalable. WordPress themes are faster and scalable because they are built on a solid foundation. Since the WordPress themes are already designed and developed to work briskly with a websites of various type, they’re easy to scale. Whether you want to add new pages or remove the old ones, the theme is designed to work faster than a custom WordPress theme, without having to worry about creating new designs.

Read More: 12 WordPress Benefits you Should Definitely Know About

Limitation of WordPress Theme

1). Customization Option

While WordPress themes have many customization options, you’re ultimately bound by the theme’s elements and design in many ways. And if you want to personalize the web design and website to your taste, you need to either put in the work yourself or hire professional WordPress website designers. Also, another issue with customization of web design is that often it can lead to inconsistencies in the code and is not compatible with all plugins and extensions.

2). Performance Issues

Though pre-made WordPress themes are easy to get started with, are cost-effective, and don’t take longer time to market, they come with a hidden disadvantage. Since the WordPress theme website has multiple scripts that allow you to customize the website to your liking, you have to choose one among the many. But the issues arise when the unused scripts of other themes start getting loaded, causing the code to bloat and cause an immense drain on the page’s loading speed. Additionally, WordPress themes are poorly coded too, which can also lead to performance issues on the website.

When You Might Want to Choose WordPress Theme?

Are you in a dilemma about when to choose a WordPress theme or customize WordPress theme design? Here’s our take! Opt for a WordPress theme when time is of the essence and you desire a quick, stylish online presence. Check out below the scenarios when you should go for a WordPress theme.

• You’re on a shoestring budget.
• You need a website up and running in a shorter turnaround time.
• You lack the technical expertise for custom web design.
• You want a website that has a window for customization.
• You want to update the website on your own.
• You want to use a popular and well-supported platform.

If any of these reasons apply to you, a WordPress theme is the best option for your website.

Let’s Wrap Up

Phew! As we bid adieu to the paradoxical duel of whether custom WordPress website design is better or choosing a WordPress theme is right for your business, remember that it all boils down to your specifics.

If you’re looking for a unique and custom WordPress website that truly reflects your brand and your brand’s voice, then custom WordPress web design is the way to go. But if you’re on a shoestring budget or you need a website up and running in a shorter turnaround time, then going with a WordPress theme may be a better option.

Ultimately, the decision of whether to go with custom WordPress web design or a basic WordPress theme is up to you. But whatever you decide, don’t forget to add fun to it! And if you ever feel overwhelmed and confused with the available options, it’s better to grab a drink and have a word with the WordPress customization experts.

P.S. If you’re looking for web design experts, we’re up for a chat!

How Can the IndyLogix Solutions be of Help to Your Online Presence?

We believe that a great website is the golden ticket for any business that wants to succeed in the digital landscape. But guess what? A majority of websites are difficult to use, confusing, or not visually appealing. According to a study by Toptal, 88% of websites have bad experiences. No more; it’s about to change!

At IndyLogix Solutions, we are regarded as the best when it comes to WordPress customization services. We have an in-house team of dedicated and experienced WordPress website designers and developers who will work with you to create a website that is not only visually appealing, but is also robust, cross-platform compatible, and functional.

Our awesomeness doesn’t end here! Post-development and website deployment, we also help you with WordPress maintenance and support, so you can focus on growing your business. Our comprehensive range of WordPress customization services has helped brands and businesses in a myriad of ways, including building brand awareness, attracting new customers, improving customer service, and boosting sales, all while being the internet’s blue-eyed boy.

Want to avail yourself of more than just duct-tape solutions? We know you value numbers! Connect with the best in town when it comes to WordPress, and we’ll take care of everything from idea to implementation and anything in between. 

FAQs

How do custom WordPress themes affect the performance and loading speed of my website compared to using a standard theme?

If you choose a great web hosting platform and the right plan, your WordPress website is off to a great start. However, the only thing that stands out as the difference between good performance and optimal performance of the website is the website’s theme.

Standard themes (or basic themes) are designed to be versatile and easy to use, but they are often bloated with unnecessary code and features. Whereas, custom themes are optimized for performance. The custom WordPress theme can be customized to load only the scripts and styles that are needed for your specific website, which can help in improved performance of the website, faster loading speed, and better SEO. So, before you decide to build your own website or uplift the existing one, weigh your options before opting for either. Good luck!

Is it necessary to hire a professional WordPress web design company for a custom website, or can I attempt it myself?

Let us ask you something – would you rather save time or money? Choose either, because in custom WordPress website development, you can’t choose both! If you have time and resources to learn the ropes of WordPress and build the website on your own, you can certainly attempt to do it yourself (DIY). However, if you don’t want to reinvent the wheel, it’s best to hire professional custom WordPress website designers.

Here are some of the benefits of opting to hire custom WordPress website designers, which aren’t limited to –

• They can customize the website as per your business’s goals and needs.
• They can help with the development of a secure website, which mitigates security mishaps.
• Custom WordPress website designers can improve the functionality of your website.
• Help free up time for you, so you can focus on other important aspects of business.
• Lastly, and probably the most important one – they help you with the design and development of a website that stands above from the rest. That’s the USP of custom WordPress website designers!

But ultimately, the decision whether to hire a WordPress web design company or build it on your own is up to you and your business appropriation. Weigh the pros and cons of both worlds, and if you need help with custom WordPress website design, connect with the experts at IndyLogix. 

Are there any potential risks or challenges associated with migrating from a theme-based WordPress website to a custom one?

While custom websites can be your digital magnum opus, there’s a road less traveled. There can be potential issues or challenges associated with the migration of a website. Here are some issues or challenges you might face –

• Loss of files.
• Website facing downtime during migration.
• Website’s design alignment might get distorted.
• Issue of compatibility with the plugins or third-party software’s.
• URLs of some pages might not work.
• Error establishing a database connection.

Here are some tips to help you mitigate the risks and challenges of migrating to a custom WordPress theme –

1). Create a backup of your website before the migration starts.

2). Hire professionals from a reputed WordPress development company.

3). Test the migration on a staging site first.

4). Monitor the website after the migration.

How much does hiring a custom WordPress website designer cost? Also, can we hire them for WordPress custom fields, or do we need to pay for end-to-end services?

When it comes to the cost of custom WordPress web design, there’s no one size fits all approach. The cost of hiring custom WordPress website designers varies depending on a number of factors, including the complexity of the project, the features needed in the website, the expertise of the WordPress website designers, the location of the WordPress website designers, and the level of WordPress customization services required, to name a few. But in general, expect to pay a ballpark estimate from $500 to $1500 for a basic website to as high as $30,000 or more for a complex and functionality-laden website.

Coming to the second half of the question, do you only pay for WordPress custom fields or do you need to pay for end-to-end WordPress customization services? If you only need WordPress custom fields, you may be able to find custom WordPress website designers who will work for you at a lower cost. However, if you avail of end-to-end WordPress customization services, such as design, development, deployment, and maintenance and support of the website, you will need to cough up more money.

As a full-suite WordPress web design company, IndyLogix provides end-to-end WordPress customization services to businesses of every size and sector. We charge what it reads on the stamp, i.e., we only charge for the services availed of from us and not for the whole package!

How do I choose the right WordPress customization service for my business?

Choosing the right WordPress customization services for your website can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be the same. So, how do you figure out which services are apt for your website? You don’t need better answers, you need to ask better questions that will fulfill your business’ needs and objectives. Here are few things to consider when making your decision –

1). What are your unique requirements? What exactly do you want your website to accomplish? What characteristics are important to you?

2). What is your spending limit? What is your budget for customization?

3). What is the timeline for you? When do you want your website finished?

4). What is your level of technical proficiency? Are you capable of making updates to your website on your own, or do you require a service to manage everything for you?

By following this questionnaire, you’ll be better positioned to figure out what custom WordPress web design services you need.