Why a Custom Designed Website Is Better Than Using a CMS like WordPress, Joomla or Drupal
Introduction to Website Development Approaches
What is a CMS?
A Content Management System (CMS) is a platform that allows users to create, manage, and modify digital content with minimal technical knowledge. Examples include WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal. These platforms come with pre-built templates, plugins, and themes designed to simplify web development for a person lacking the knowledge of writing the code which a website is created from.
What is a Custom Designed Website?
A custom designed website is built from scratch using programming languages like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, or frameworks such as React, Vue, or Laravel. These sites are tailored specifically to the business’s needs, ensuring maximum control over layout, design, and functionality.
Reasons Custom Design (Custom Code) is better:
Avoiding Template Limitations.
CMS platforms often restrict creativity through cookie-cutter templates. A custom website lets designers break away from generic layouts, creating a unique visual experience.
Reflecting Brand Identity Accurately
With custom design, every pixel can align with your brand’s style, tone, and mission. This is essential for businesses aiming to leave a strong and memorable impression.
CMS platforms often restrict creativity through cookie-cutter templates. A custom website lets designers break away from generic layouts, creating a unique visual experience.
Reflecting Brand Identity Accurately
With custom design, every pixel can align with your brand’s style, tone, and mission. This is essential for businesses aiming to leave a strong and memorable impression.
Lightweight Coding vs Bloatware
CMS platforms include layers of unnecessary code and scripts—referred to as bloat—which slows down loading speeds. In contrast, custom websites only include what's needed, making them significantly faster.
Page Load Speed Impact on SEO
Search engines like Google factor in page speed when ranking websites. Faster-loading custom sites often rank higher than CMS-based ones bogged down by plugins and widgets.
Page Load Speed Impact on SEO
Search engines like Google factor in page speed when ranking websites. Faster-loading custom sites often rank higher than CMS-based ones bogged down by plugins and widgets.
Common CMS Vulnerabilities
CMS platforms are popular targets for hackers because of their widespread use and known vulnerabilities. Outdated plugins and themes increase these risks.
Custom Code Reduces Attack Surface A custom-built site doesn’t rely on third-party plugins, reducing the number of exploitable points. Security protocols can be tailored from the ground up, ensuring better protection against threats.
Custom Code Reduces Attack Surface A custom-built site doesn’t rely on third-party plugins, reducing the number of exploitable points. Security protocols can be tailored from the ground up, ensuring better protection against threats.
Adapting to Growing Business Needs
As your business grows, your website should evolve too. Custom sites can easily accommodate new features, pages, and integrations without being constrained by CMS limitations.
Custom Integration with Tools Whether it’s CRMs, APIs, or eCommerce systems, custom websites offer seamless integration options, tailored precisely to your operational workflows.
Custom Integration with Tools Whether it’s CRMs, APIs, or eCommerce systems, custom websites offer seamless integration options, tailored precisely to your operational workflows.
Fully Tailored Navigation and Layouts
Custom design allows for a UX crafted from scratch, making it easier to guide users through their journey—whether it’s buying a product or submitting a form.
Responsive Design Across Devices While some CMS themes may not be mobile-friendly, custom websites are optimized for all screen sizes, ensuring a consistent experience for every visitor.
Responsive Design Across Devices While some CMS themes may not be mobile-friendly, custom websites are optimized for all screen sizes, ensuring a consistent experience for every visitor.
Template limitations
Template-based sites often require frequent updates and redesigns as the technology evolves and the template becomes outdated. Custom websites are built to last, potentially saving you from the ongoing costs associated with template maintenance and redesigns.
Reduced need for third-party tools Custom sites can often be built to integrate with existing systems or offer custom solutions, reducing reliance on expensive third-party plugins or tools, according to Secret Source Marketing.
Long-term cost of ownership While the initial investment may be higher, the reduced maintenance, redesign, and third-party costs can make a custom website more cost-effective in the long run. Many new companies are currently offering FREE websites using AI, but have high monthly fees that add up quickly to far exceed the initial custom design cost. After the initial design cost, you may only need to pay $25-50 per month for hosting and some updating fees as needed.
Reduced need for third-party tools Custom sites can often be built to integrate with existing systems or offer custom solutions, reducing reliance on expensive third-party plugins or tools, according to Secret Source Marketing.
Long-term cost of ownership While the initial investment may be higher, the reduced maintenance, redesign, and third-party costs can make a custom website more cost-effective in the long run. Many new companies are currently offering FREE websites using AI, but have high monthly fees that add up quickly to far exceed the initial custom design cost. After the initial design cost, you may only need to pay $25-50 per month for hosting and some updating fees as needed.