The value of custom website design

You have a one in a million property so why would you ever want your website to be one of a million or look just like everyone else’s? You have a lot of options when it comes to your website and one of the more important ones you’ll make is about its design: Template or custom.

We’re not going to sugarcoat it; custom websites can be more expensive but like everything else you buy for your property it should be seen as an investment. As with any investment, we have to look at its value and custom websites are very valuable. If you’re evaluating if a custom website is right for your property, consider the following:

One of a kind – Your unique property should have a unique website to show it off online. Obviously you’ll still want to follow certain website design best practices with navigation and calls to action buttons, but with a custom design you can choose if you want to lead with vibrant photos or quick pick options to get to other pages of your site.

Owned, not rented – Many of today’s template designs are sold as a rental option or you have the design as long as you continue to pay your provider but if you move to another host your website doesn’t move with you. With a custom design, you are paying for everything and the design belongs to you.

Custom functions and features – With a custom design, you have control in your site’s functionality and specific features that are important for your guests to book online. There are still some template designs that aren’t responsive – a critical function to show up in Google’s Search results.

Scalable – Thinking of offering weddings at your property in the future but not quite ready for it now? With a custom website it can grow as your business grows with unlimited pages or sections whereas many template designs will cap how many pages you can have or prevent you from updating your navigation.

Things to keep in mind when developing a custom design:

• A custom design requires your creative input and time. Do you have the time to work with a developer, provide content and images, and share your vision for your website?
• Do you have the budget for a custom website?
• Do you have the budget for a photographer as you may need new images for your site?
• Do you want to be trained on how to make edits or content updates?
• Do you have a list of special features or sections you know are must-haves with your site?

As you mull over these questions, it might be helpful to download our free resource guide on other elements that are essential for a high-converting website.