WordPress templates vs. a tailor-made website: which solution to choose?

An online presence is essential today. Are you thinking about how to create a website? An important decision awaits you: take the route of cheap WordPress templates, or invest in an exclusive custom solution from a professional agency? Find out which option is best for you!

The final decision will depend on your specific needs, budget and technical skills.

In our article we will reveal the advantages and drawbacks of both approaches so that you can make the best decision for your business.

How to create a website from the point of view of need

The first step is to weigh up your business's needs. What type of website do you need? Do you need a simple site with contact information and a contact form, or a complex e-shop with advanced features? Besides that you need to weigh up the need to integrate and connect various tools and services.

For instance, if you need to connect your website with external systems through an API, or integrate email marketing tools such as Mailchimp, that may require specific knowledge and add-ons. Read more about popular WordPress plugins.

• A basic website: for small companies or freelancers a simple website with a purchased WordPress theme may be enough.

• A complex website: for e-shops, companies with complex products or services, or those wanting a website with advanced features, an agency is usually the better choice; it will handle a comprehensive design or help create a custom WordPress theme and a custom solution.

How to create a website from the point of view of price

The second factor you should weigh up is your budget. A WordPress theme offers an affordable option, whereas an agency's services may be dearer. Consider how much you are willing to invest in your website and what return on investment you expect.

• A limited budget: if you have a limited budget, a WordPress theme may be a good choice for you to start with.

• A larger budget: if you have a larger budget and want to invest in professional design and features, an agency can bring you better value for money. At the same time it offers the chance of faster growth, and above all agencies also offer support in solving problems or with further development.

How to create a website from the point of view of skills

The third factor to weigh up is your technical skills. If you have experience of web design and development, you can create a website yourself with a WordPress theme. But how to create a website when you have no technical knowledge? A custom solution from an agency will save you time and effort.

When buying a template you may come across tools such as Elementor or Divi, popular builders for creating websites in the WordPress environment. These tools allow simple creation and editing of pages with an intuitive drag-and-drop interface, which means you do not have to be an experienced developer to achieve professional results. 

Elementor and Divi offer plenty of ready-made templates and modules that make creating visually attractive, functional websites easier, letting you focus on content and design without needing deep technical knowledge. These solutions are not the fastest, though, and can be relatively complicated for new users. On top of that, when you combine them with plugins such as WPML for multilingual sites, managing and optimising pages becomes complicated and time-consuming, which markedly raises the demands on your technical skills and patience.

Before deciding, you should be able to answer these questions: 

1. Do you have experience of web design and development?
2. Can you install and configure a WordPress theme yourself?
3. Are you confident about solving technical problems with your website?

• Basic technical knowledge: with a little effort and the available guides you can create a website with a WordPress theme even with limited technical knowledge. WordPress offers plenty of resources, tutorials and a supportive community that will help you overcome the initial difficulties and reach the results you want.

• No technical knowledge: if you have no technical knowledge, an agency can create a website for you without your having to worry about anything. A professional agency will handle every technical aspect, from design to maintenance, letting you focus on your business without worrying about technical details.

In summary 

The advantages of using a WordPress theme

• Low costs: a WordPress theme is an affordable option that lets you create a website for a few euros. Many quality templates are available free or at a low price, which is ideal for small businesses and people starting out.

• Simple to use: the WordPress platform is user-friendly and even with limited technical knowledge you can create a basic website. The intuitive interface and plenty of available guides make setting up and managing a site easier.

• A large choice of themes: thousands of free and premium WordPress themes are available, from which you can choose a design matching your brand. Themes are often customisable, which lets you create a unique look for the site without needing to write code.

• Independence: creating a website with WordPress yourself gives you full control over its content and design. You can add or edit content at any time without having to consult third parties, which gives you great flexibility.

The drawbacks of using a WordPress theme

• Limited features: basic WordPress themes do not offer advanced features such as online payments, social media integration or SEO optimisation. For such features you will often have to invest in premium plugins or extensions, which can raise the overall cost.

• Demanding on time: creating a website with WordPress takes time and effort. If you do not have enough time, an agency may be a better option, delivering the project faster and more professionally.

• Technical knowledge: even though WordPress is user-friendly, implementing advanced features may require some technical know-how. If you run into technical problems, they may be hard to solve without an experienced developer's help.

• Missing support: with WordPress themes you have no direct support from developers. If problems arise you will have to rely on online forums and guides, which can be time-consuming and not always effective.

The advantages of a tailor-made site from an agency

• Professional design and functionality: an agency will create a tailor-made website for you with a professional design and the features you want. A team of experts will make sure your site is visually attractive and functionally flawless.

• SEO optimisation: an agency will help you optimise your website for search engines so that you gain more organic traffic. They will use proven techniques and tools to raise your visibility in search results.

• Saving time: an agency will save you time and effort in creating and maintaining a website. That way you can focus on your main business activity while experts look after your site.

• Expert support: an agency will give you expert support and advice on web design and development. You can rely on their experience and know-how in solving any problems or realising new ideas.

The drawbacks of a tailor-made site from an agency

• Higher costs: approaching an agency is a dearer option compared with a WordPress theme. The high costs may concern not only creating the website but the services that follow, such as maintenance, updates and optimisation.

• Limited control: when working with an external agency you have less control over the individual steps of creating the website. The agency may have its own procedures and tools that need not always match your ideas or preferences.

• A longer process: creating a website with an agency can take longer than with a WordPress theme. The process of developing and approving the website can be drawn out, above all if there are many corrections and adjustments. That is because with an agency the process also involves several analyses of how best to build your site from several points of view.

• Finding a suitable agency: choosing a reliable, experienced agency can be a demanding process. Finding the right agency for you is a key step to your project's success. You need to do your research, define your goals and needs precisely and examine the portfolio of the agency that interested you to make sure it suits your requirements.

The decision about how to create a website, and whether to choose between a WordPress theme or an agency, depends on your individual needs, budget and technical knowledge. Weigh up your website's complexity, the features you want and your goals. If you need a fast, affordable solution with the ability to manage content yourself, WordPress templates may be a suitable choice.

On the other hand, if you are looking for a personalised design, advanced features and expert support, investing in an agency can bring you long-term advantages.

Do not forget the site's future development and maintenance – choosing the right solution from the start can save you time and money in future.