Customized vs. Standardized Websites?

ZWAANZ | Blog/ News: Customized vs Standardized Websites

Websites are generally charged at a rate per hour, due to the customised needs of a client. If you are working with a strict budget, here are some basic tips to help you determine how to go about developing a website to meet your required needs. Generally speaking, the more customised your web site, the more you will end up paying, as it takes time to design and develop websites, as per specific criteria. The more standardized your web site, the more cost effective it will be, but all of these general rules have their ‘pros and cons’…

As mentioned above, customised websites are generally more expensive, but offer very ‘brand specific’ solutions, down to the very last detail. Whereas, standardized websites are generally more cost effective, but can often lack originality and brand equity, leaving a potential customer still wondering who you really are, what you really do and most likely even forgetting that you exist shortly after visiting your website – if it really lacks originality?! Therefore, it is vital to find the balance between customization and standardization!

There are a lot of websites on the internet that allow you to either obtain (download) website templates, free of charge or at a minimal cost. Often the planning and design aspect of a website takes the longest and can be the most costly part of the website. Thus, existing templates obtained free of charge or at a fee can often save both time and money for you and the developer. Even if you manage to find a website template with the general design/layout you like and need the colours changed, for example, this may still be a major benefit as customizing a template will save a lot more time, as opposed to having to design one from scratch, in most cases.

ZWAANZ | Blog/ News: Customized vs Standardized Websites

Once the design/template aspect is out the way, we then need to look at website images (including logos & header etc.) and content. If these can be supplied as quickly as possible, in the format (i.e. image format etc.) requested with little or no editing, enhancements/adjustments required, this will further guarantee a website that will meet your expectations and will more likely ‘fit the bill’. Basically, the more editing, enhancements/ adjustments that need to be done in the way of images and content by a designer or developer, the more time will be required to get your website up-and-running and the more costly it will be to design and develop.

Website structures and content can be a major factor for SEO (Search Engine Optimization) along with ‘key words and phrases’, specific to your industry/sector, which should be used on your web site. It is essential that your content is done thoroughly and that you have included all relevant information without content ‘over-kill’… Content ‘over-kill’ may cost you more in the way of your website development and could also have negative connotations in that you may end up losing a potential customer in a sea of either complex and/or irrelevant information. A lack of information may be just as dangerous, if not more so… Therefore, it is vital you find the right balance for your website content and provide all relevant information that will keep people interested and wanting to visit your website again.

In general, websites that are over 10 (ten) pages and/or need to be updated on a regular basis, we strongly recommend you consider a ‘Content Management System’ (CMS) – This allows for quicker development and a website that is database driven; making it easier for users to navigate and search for information on a website that may be content intensive.

ZWAANZ | Blog/ News: Customized vs Standardized Websites
CMS also allow for a user-friendly platform where the website developer (or CRM administrator) can configure profiles for access rights (permissions) that will allow content administrators (i.e. you or an authorized user/s) to update content, images or other aspects of the website (CMS), as per pre-determined criteria agreed upon with the website developer (or CRM administrator) and the respective business/customer (you)… For further details on CRM or any of our other web-based solutions, review our web solution packages and portfolios or Contact Us for further details.