What is a Custom-Coded Website?
First things first — what exactly is a custom-coded website? There are a number of ways that a website can be built, but two of the most popular are website builders or traditional coding methods (custom-coded). Let’s initially compare the two!
You may have heard of platforms such as Squarespace and Wix. These are known as website builders or “drag-and-drop” platforms. You don’t need to learn how to code to use these platforms as they come with a range of pre-made designs you can edit and customise. Sounds great, but what if you’re looking for something far more bespoke? Website builders have limitations, and once you reach that point, custom code is the next level up.
Think of custom coding as the OG way of building websites. Instead of relying on pre-made templates, a developer creates your site from scratch using coding languages and files. Here’s the beauty of it — because it’s custom-coded, your website can be crafted to meet your specific needs. Want a completely unique design? Done. Need particular features or functionality to support your business goals? No problem.
Unlike templates, which can sometimes limit creativity or flexibility, custom-coded sites give you complete control over everything. It’s the perfect solution for small business owners, startups, or entrepreneurs looking to stand out and elevate their online presence in a way that’s uniquely theirs.
Now, let’s explore why a custom-coded website is worth every penny.
1. Functionality Tailored to Your Needs
One of the biggest advantages of a custom-coded site is the ability to incorporate any functionality you need. For example, are you a yoga studio that wants to offer a unique online membership platform? Or maybe you’re a glampsite that requires a comprehensive booking system? With a custom-coded site, there’s no compromise — you can have exactly what you need to run your business smoothly.
To incorporate something like this into a website builder, you’re relying on limited plugins and third-party integrations offered within these platforms. This means you may not be able to add the functionality you really need as your business grows. Alongside that, sometimes website builder plugins have been created by developers as a hobby or side project, so they may be outdated or offer limited support if you run into any problems.
2. Flexibility to Grow
As your business evolves and grows, your website needs to adapt accordingly. A custom-coded site offers the flexibility to scale and expand as your business requirements change over time. Unlike pre-designed templates that can be limiting and difficult to modify, a custom-coded site can easily accommodate new features, pages, integrations, and design changes when the time is right.
It might be that you have a fixed budget as your business is just starting out. With a custom site, you can invest this into a design you can afford right now and then invest further as your business grows and expands. If you go for the template option, it can be difficult to add new pages that flow with the rest of your site that aren’t simply a copy and paste job from another page.
Quick tip: When choosing a developer, ask if they’ll give you access to a content management system (CMS). This can allow you to edit text, add pages, and update your site without constantly relying on them. My clients, for instance, love having the freedom to make changes themselves — it saves time and money in the long run. Plus, you can keep your site fresh and exciting without breaking the bank.
3. Built For Scalability
Picture this — you’ve worked hard, and your business is thriving. Traffic to your site is spiking and everything feels great, until your website crashes or slows down. Sound like a nightmare? This is where a custom-coded site can be a saviour.
Your custom website will be built to handle high traffic volumes without compromising performance. Plus, you’ll be able to integrate seamlessly with third-party tools, such as payment gateways, CRMs, or analytics platforms, as your needs evolve. Growing pains don’t need to include a meltdown, at least when it comes to your website.
Whatever stage your business is at now, your website will be ready for what comes next.
According to Google, a page load time of 4 seconds or more is considered slow. Most users won’t sit and wait when there are thousands of other websites that they can turn to. Clicking that back button and finding an alternative is certainly more appealing than waiting for a page to load! Ensuring that your site is optimised for performance is critical, and the code that makes up your website plays a huge part in this.
A custom-coded site is built with lean, efficient code to ensure lightning-fast load times and seamless performance. This not only enhances the user experience but also positively impacts your SEO (search engine optimisation) rankings (where your website or web page appears in search engine results). Fast websites = happy customers + happy Google. It’s a win-win!
Templates are often packed with excessive features and code you might not need. Particularly the shiny, “modern” looking templates packed with animations and funky scrolling effects. Whilst these features can look visually appealing on the outside, they can create something called “code bloat.” This is effectively unnecessary code that renders in the background which can significantly slow down your site. Speed matters, so this is something you want to avoid.
5. Endless Design Possibilities
So far I’ve discussed the more technical benefits of a custom-coded website, but let’s not forget the fun part! With custom code, you have the freedom to create a unique and personalised design that aligns perfectly with your brand. You can craft intricate layouts, implement custom animations, and fine-tune every aspect to your heart’s content. The possibilities are truly endless!
Is a Custom-Coded Website Right For You?
A custom-coded website may cost more upfront than using a DIY template platform, but the long-term benefits are worth it. You’re not just paying for a website — you’re investing in a tool that supports your business growth, attracts customers, and helps you outshine the competition.
Trying to cut costs with a template-based site might seem like a good idea now, but what happens when those limitations catch up with you? A second rebuild later down the line can end up costing more than investing in custom in the first place.
If your business has unique needs, growth goals, or a drive to stand out online, then a custom-coded website is the right choice for you! It offers unmatched functionality, flexibility, scalability, and optimised performance, all tailored to your vision.
Feeling inspired? If you’re ready to invest in a custom-coded site that helps your business thrive, I’d love to chat. Drop me a message, and we’ll bring your vision to life!
