But when it comes to deciding how to create this online presence, a common question often arises: should you invest in a website developed from scratch by a specialized company, or opt for a more affordable solution based on predefined templates? Both options are valid, but they respond to different realities, objectives, and budgets.

The customized development of websites, from the design of the information architecture that will determine user navigation, to the graphic creation of layouts and storytelling of the message to be conveyed, and the technical programming of both frontend and backend to build the code and HTML, requires a great deal of effort on the part of a multidisciplinary team that must be up to date with web trends and best practices.

This scenario has several advantages:

• Unique and distinctive layout
  The design is fully customized, which guarantees its exclusivity in the digital world. It must meet the user's experience while ensuring a digital presence consistent with the brand.
• Best web practices
  With professionals in the field involved in the entire process, there is a guarantee of quality that will be decisive in the website's performance. We are talking about responsive websites, fully adapted to various devices: desktop, mobile, and tablet; optimized for SEO (Search Engine Optimization) with the correct configuration of meta tags and meta descriptions for each page; fast website loading for immediate access; and compliance with the latest accessibility and security standards.
• Scalability
  It is possible to start from the root of the website and the developed structure, grow with the business to include new integrations and features without having to resort to developing another website.
• Continuous technical support
  After launching the website, it is equally or even more important to ensure ongoing support for maintaining and updating the website over time.

The main disadvantages are the initial budget available and the development time for the new site. However, in the medium and long term, it is an investment that can pay off, allowing you to create a solid digital footprint with users right from the start—even if the development time may be longer than for platforms with predefined templates.

It all depends on the objective of each project and its size, and the launch may be phased.

On the other hand, when using platforms with predefined templates, the user can independently create the website based on an available layout. However, the analysis of User Experience and User Interface that defines the navigation flow on the website is left in the background, as is all the work developed by creative and technical teams.

The advantages of this scenario are the speed of launch and the ease of use of these platforms, but it all depends on the time the user will need to develop the project without the help of competent teams and the low initial cost, as we have already seen, as it is more affordable in terms of plans and monthly fees.

The disadvantages speak for themselves, starting with the generic design and customization limitations, since a predefined template does not take specific needs into account. From an SEO and performance standpoint, some templates may not be properly optimized for search engines, resulting in slow websites that are frankly less accessible to users with disabilities. There is also a dependency on the chosen platform, and migrating the website to another service can often be complex or restricted.

The choice between a fully customized website or one based on predefined templates often depends on the available budget.

In the early stages of the project, it may make sense to opt for a more economical solution, such as developing a One Page Site. This is a website based on a single page, which concentrates all the content relevant to the client's business.

This option allows you to create a customized and dedicated website with a smaller investment, instead of immediately moving on to a more robust multi-page website. As the company grows, this can be a starting point that gradually evolves into more complete and complex solutions.

Predefined templates offer more practical and accessible solutions, but they have several disadvantages. Ultimately, rather than choosing between price and quality, it is a matter of aligning the solution with the digital strategy.