As a regular web user, you likely see both types of websites all the time without thinking about it too much. Before you decide fully on one or the other, it’s beneficial to know the differences between website templates vs custom design and how it applies to your vision, budget, and ROI goals. 

Before simply hiring any website designer and developer, you should know that certain website aspects like plug-ins, integrated features, and other additions aren’t always built-in. They are also not guaranteed to function 100% as your website goes live. It takes the right team with enough experience and expertise to customize your website for an optimal customer journey from start to finish. 

It is crucial to understand the key differences between a custom website vs. a template before you make a decision that will impact the future of your business.  

Need a custom website for your business? Contact Exults today.

5 Differences Between A Custom vs. Template Website

You’re ready to use what you have to revamp your business’s website to fully reflect your brand and its purpose. But you’re still not sure exactly how much help you’ll need to get what you want out of your website. It’s easy to overthink something like this, but it may help to break down each one before getting into the nitty-gritty details.

What Is A Custom Website? 

A custom website is typically built from scratch and coded to include the integrations you want to offer your visitors to enhance their experience. A few of these integrations include items like…

• Chat capabilities
• Pop-ups
• Drop down navigation
• Contact forms
• Interactive scheduling

In addition to creating the exact user experience you envision, having a custom website vs. a template allows you to infuse your brand’s personality throughout with endless design options like…

• Consistent branding throughout
• Scrolling style
• Font and headline options
• Embedded videos
• Multiple photo galleries

And so much more! Custom websites are best for businesses needing a unique look and feel with added plug-ins and capabilities. This type of website design takes considerably more time and effort than a website template.

What Is A Template Website? 

Finding a website template for your business is much different than building a website from scratch. However, you will be limited in the number of features and custom integrations that are available. This is because a template is pre-designed or set to a specific amount of additional features that you’re capable of using. 

Using a pre-set website template means you can worry less about your website’s overall design. This type of website design is best for businesses that need to keep the user experience straightforward. But, there are a few drawbacks involved in going the templated route.

Here are 5 areas of focus to refine your website needs…

1. Code

As mentioned before, a custom website gives you the power to customize the user experience down to their final click – from choosing a dropdown style to ensuring branding is consistent throughout. Many people think these types of features come standard with any website build. However, this isn’t always the case.

First things first…The biggest difference is the one that you don’t see as a consumer, and that’s the code. 

To keep it simple, custom websites are built using custom code. As a result, it does require longer development hours; however, the end product is not limited by a templated framework and is instead highly flexible. And you own the website outright – meaning no one will have a website exactly like yours. With a solid developer, you reduce your risk of security breaches as hackers will have to spend dedicated time on your website alone to crack it. Templated websites provide hackers the opportunity to attack websites on a bigger scale. 

The downside is that your site may crash more frequently with updates unless you have a development team on standby to manage your website updates. 

Templated code is great for easy-to-launch sites and standardized development. For some companies, this is great as you may not use your website as a key driver in your business. So if you see your website as a brochure rather than a member of your sales and marketing team, templates may be the best option for you. Usually, templates are in the form of website builders. These are great for visual people because it offers a transparent view of what your website will look like when you’ve added all the necessary information.

Want to combine ideas from different website templates into one custom website design? Talk to the Exults team today.

2. Functionality

Do you have a special program for returning customers? What about seasonal promotions?

Depending on your website’s needs, you may prefer having a custom website vs. a template. Certain actions are simple and can be easily built into a template. But you may want to take your design a step further and go from “Call Now” leading to a contact form to “Schedule An Appointment” leading to an interactive calendar instead. Or, perhaps, you need an e-commerce website that allows users to safely navigate and purchase products.

Defining the functionality of your website is best done with a web designer or developer that can think through all of the possibilities from a user perspective. It’s essential to get this nailed down before putting anything else into action.

Whether you want to ensure a seamless mobile experience or create timely notifications with your colors and branding, compare a quote with a custom website developer compared to using a template. Fewer features on your website might leave you feeling as though using a template is the most effective way to communicate your business’s message.

3. Scalability

Regarding website design and development, scalability often goes hand-in-hand. On one hand, a template may not grow with you and your business as you reach higher revenue goals. On the other hand, a custom website means more routine maintenance to keep your website up-to-date and aligned with your business as you grow. If you have a trusted team of developers in your corner, you can worry less about maintaining your website and spend more time offering valuable information to your target audience.

Along with being able to maintain your website, having a custom-built website gives you more power in real-time to make changes as you see fit when reviewing your bounce rate, keyword standing, etc. A website template will usually let you change most copy or content, but certain other features may be set and unable to change.

4. Design

One of the major benefits of having a fully custom design versus being locked into a template is that your brand’s voice, tone, style, and branding can be intertwined into everything from headings to special effects that appear on certain pages. Your website will stand out compared to others in the same industry because it will have your company built into every aspect possible. 

Building your website from scratch with custom website design services means having FAQs with easy-to-read dropdowns and interactive graphics, videos, and beyond with your brand logo, colors, font choice, and so much more built-in. For many business owners, this is an ideal choice to stand out as a company and break through the noise associated with duplicated content, reused designs, and stock images. However, this can be a costly choice when compared to using a web template.

In addition to saving money, you can also adhere to a stricter timeline from strategy to launch. A website template is done for you and, for the most part, is set as far as features and functionality. Because of this, you have more control over its content and how quickly you plan on producing said content to be published on your website. After plugging in the right information into the pre-designed template you choose, you can launch your website knowing the technical details are taken care of. Again, a drawback here is that you’re limited to only what’s available.

5. SEO

Content is still king. And unique content will always be favored by popular search engines like Google. Because using a website template limits some of your ability to be creative, you won’t likely be largely distinguished as having more original content as a custom-built website. Even more, if you’re using pre-set copy, your SEO rank is susceptible to taking a hit. Unique copy with properly researched keywords and SEO strategies is more likely to appear at the top of most search engines. If SEO isn’t a concern for your business, this may not matter as much to your or your team when it comes to launching your website.

Beyond these 5 differences, choosing between a custom website vs a template usually comes down to one essential facet of your business – your budget.

Custom Website Design And Development All With One Dedicated Team

Still trying to decide whether you want to go with a custom website vs a template? 

Choosing a web template can be an ideal choice for companies without a website at all or startups without the larger budget of a well-established business. They can be a comprehensive tool used to showcase your services, company, and a way to connect with your potential customers.

Exults specializes in custom website designs for businesses across the nation. Interested in a custom web experience for your business? Get started with Exults today.

The post Differences Between A Custom Website vs. Template Website appeared first on Exults Digital Marketing Agency.

In today’s digital landscape, nearly anyone can design and run a website, but not everyone succeeds at making their website truly effective. A website is much more than just pretty pictures and text—it requires strategic planning, well-crafted content, and seamless functionality to stand out from the competition, especially for industries like law firms where professionalism and clarity are paramount.

Ultimately, the success of a website hinges on how user-friendly it is. This guide will walk you through the key elements of a user-friendly website and how to win over your audience with a website homepage that excels in law firm website design and beyond.

What Should Be on the Home Page of a Website?

The homepage is often the first interaction users have with your website, making it the most crucial page to get right. Whether you’re focusing on law firm website design or another industry, your homepage should immediately communicate who you are, what you do, and how users can benefit from your services. Here are the essential components that every website homepage should include:

• Clear Value Proposition: Your homepage should clearly state what your business offers within seconds of landing on your page. This is especially important in law firm website design, where clarity and professionalism are key.

• Easy-to-Find Navigation: The main navigation menu should be intuitive and accessible, guiding users effortlessly to the information they seek. User-friendly website navigation is critical to keeping visitors engaged.

• Engaging Visuals: Use high-quality images and graphics that align with your brand’s message. Avoid clutter, but ensure the page is visually appealing.

• Call to Action (CTA): Encourage users to take the next step with prominent, strategically placed CTAs. This could be scheduling a consultation for a law firm or exploring services.

• Social Proof: Include testimonials, reviews, or client logos to build trust and credibility with new visitors. Social proof is an important element of a good website, particularly in industries that rely on reputation.

5 Important Elements of a User-Friendly Website

Many businesses, including law firms, make the mistake of prioritizing aesthetics or content over usability. However, user-friendly websites prioritize the user experience, making it easy for visitors to find what they need and take action. Below are the elements of a good website that are critical to user-friendly design.

1. Simple Website Navigation

A well-planned and easy-to-navigate website is crucial for user-friendliness. Clear, concise page titles and a logically organized menu bar are essential. Overcrowding the menu or burying important information can frustrate users and increase bounce rates. For law firm website design, it’s important to ensure that key information like practice areas, attorney profiles, and contact information are easy to find.

2. Aesthetic Appeal

While aesthetic appeal isn’t everything, it plays a significant role in user experience. A visually appealing website with professional, high-quality images and a clean layout can enhance usability. Consistent branding across your website strengthens your brand identity and makes your website more recognizable and trustworthy. This is particularly true in law firm website design, where a professional appearance can set the tone for client trust.

3. Responsive / Mobile Compatibility

With the majority of users accessing websites from mobile devices, mobile compatibility is non-negotiable. A responsive website adjusts seamlessly to different screen sizes, ensuring a smooth user experience regardless of the device. Test your site with Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test to ensure it meets mobile usability standards. Designing user-friendly web design that works well on mobile devices is crucial, especially for industries like law, where clients may be searching for legal services on the go.

4. Simple, Scannable Content

In today’s fast-paced world, users don’t have the time or patience for long blocks of text. Most users skim content, looking for key information. Make your content easy to scan by using clear, bold headings, subheadings, and bullet points. This approach helps users quickly find the information they need, improving the overall user experience. This is a critical aspect of creating a user-friendly website.

5. Quick Loading Time

A slow website can deter visitors and harm your search engine rankings. In fact, if your page takes longer than 6 seconds to load, you risk losing potential customers. Optimize your website’s speed by compressing images, minimizing the use of heavy scripts, and utilizing fast hosting solutions. A faster website not only enhances user experience but also boosts SEO performance. This is a key aspect of user-friendly website design.

Additional Resources for Creating a User-Friendly Website

Creating a user-friendly website involves understanding both your audience and the technical aspects of web design. Below are some additional resources that can help you refine your website:

• Google PageSpeed Insights: Analyze and optimize your website’s speed to ensure a user-friendly experience.

• Mobile-Friendly Test by Google: Ensure your website performs well on mobile devices.

• Yoast SEO: Improve your on-page SEO, making your site more accessible to search engines.

• Hotjar: Gain insights into user behavior on your website to make data-driven improvements.

Indicators of Website Success

Success in web design isn’t just about aesthetics or content; it’s about how well your site performs with its intended audience. Key indicators of a successful, user-friendly website include:

• Low Bounce Rate: Users engage with your content and explore multiple pages.

• High Conversion Rate: Visitors are taking the desired actions, whether it’s scheduling a consultation, filling out a contact form, or subscribing to a newsletter.

• Positive User Feedback: Consistent, positive feedback from users suggests that your website is meeting their needs.

• Search Engine Ranking: A user-friendly website often ranks higher on search engines due to better usability and optimized content.

The Importance of Social Proof

Incorporating social proof into your website design is a powerful way to build credibility. Whether through client testimonials, case studies, or user reviews, showing that others trust your services can significantly influence new visitors. This is especially important in law firm website design, where trust is a crucial factor in converting visitors into clients.

The Benefits of a User-Friendly Website

Investing in a user-friendly website offers numerous benefits:

• Improved User Experience: Easier navigation and faster load times create a more enjoyable experience for your visitors.

• Higher Search Engine Rankings: Search engines favor websites that provide a good user experience, which can boost your rankings.

• Increased Conversions: A well-designed website that’s easy to use encourages more visitors to convert into clients.

• Enhanced Brand Reputation: A professional, user-friendly website strengthens your brand’s reputation, making it more appealing to potential customers.

Looking For Professional Website Design?

If you’re in need of a user-friendly website that stands out in today’s competitive digital landscape, Exults is your go-to partner for internet success. Whether you need a website overhaul or a completely new design, our team has the expertise to take your project from concept to completion.

Ready to Elevate Your Online Presence?

Learn more about our mobile compatibility web design services and how we can help you create a user-friendly website that not only looks great but also drives results. Contact Exults today for a consultation.

The post Key Elements Every User-Friendly Website Should Have appeared first on Exults Digital Marketing Agency.

With the average small business now spending more than $75,000 a year on digital marketing, spending is only going to go up.

If you’re not constantly updating your digital marketing strategy, you’re going to fall behind. You need to have a strategy that takes into account what your customers want, or you’re going to fall flat on your face.

Here are three things to keep in mind when updating your strategy for 2019.

Stay Social

One of the best tools you have access to as a business owner is all the free advertising you can get on social media. With the help of social media, you can test out ideas with your digital marketing strategy in real time and see real results. Rather than having to guess whether you’ll be able to connect with your audience, make it happen on social media.

With social media, you get the opportunity to make powerful and directly targeted campaigns that work to connect with audiences of all types. Want to make something targeted to working-class women in Toronto? You can do it with social media.

Looking to try out a new flavor of your product in Ohio? Social media helps you figure out what kind of response you’ll get.

Start a Blog

When people use search engines, they’re either looking for a specific product or the answer to a question. When you start a blog, you get the chance to capture both audiences with your writing, offering answers to questions with your products and services as the solution.

When you start a blog, you also get the chance to increase your ranking on search engines. Search engines reward websites with lots of regular updates with higher results than other sites. They look for keyword intent and the context that you use terms in.

They’ll also be looking to match searchers with local results, so mention where you’re located as often as is relevant.

Don’t Give Up On Email

While it might seem slightly outdated, email is still a viable way to connect with your audience and run a promotion. When you maintain email as part of your digital marketing strategy, you connect with the people who’ve opted into what you have to offer.

When you connect with your customers via email, it feels more personal than social media.  Since it means you’ll reach them directly, you need to handle this contact information with care and target customers only with what they care about.

Your Digital Marketing Strategy Is a Moving Target

The metrics for success when it comes to digital marketing are constantly changing. If you’re not ready with a flexible and agile digital marketing strategy, you’re going to fall behind in the dust your competitors create. Use the three methods above but be ready to shift your content at a moment’s notice.

Check out our latest guide to ensure you’re also using best practices with paid advertising.

The post Ring in the New Year: What Your New Digital Marketing Strategy Needs to Look Like in 2023 appeared first on Exults Digital Marketing Agency.

The environment today is digital first!  It has been for years – Amazon did not start with opening a physical bookstore and Google did not start by opening a physical library.  When people call us and ask about what they should be spending online – they need to treat it not like shopping for a car and providing the lowest number possible – digital needs to be first!  Digital is an investment, not a cost!  A local business in today’s market may need to spend thousands of dollars a month just to feel an impact and reach a qualified prospective buyer.

Okay so to delve into some ideas to assist in growing your business through digital marketing, start with an awesome website that looks great and has call-to-actions so people know how to engage with your business.  This means a visible phone number and a form – or way for a website visitor to submit their information.  If you are selling something make sure there is a way for people to buy it.

When it comes to social media, make sure to secure your handles (account profiles) on networks you feel are relevant to your audiences as well as potentially securing handles on additional mediums in case a social platform grows.  Make sure the name (handle) of your profile is relevant to your business – if the exact name is not available, add a word that describes your business to the social name or something that is simple to remember.  Some of the more popular social profiles to secure currently are Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Google Plus.  In addition, you should secure your MySpace profile – just kidding – this just goes to show you how some these social mediums may die out or disappear.  Also, make sure when you claim your Google presence to submit to verify your listing – you can find more details here to claim a Google listing.

The above are just a few ideas to begin to get your digital presence more established online.  Read more details on our website if you want to learn additional information about digital marketing opportunities or email me at Zach.Hoffman@exults.com if you have any questions or want ideas.

Thanks for reading,

Zach Hoffman

Exults – Founder & CEO

The post Digital Marketing Ideas to Establish Your Business Online appeared first on Exults Digital Marketing Agency.

Around this time last year, the Florida Senate proposed a bill that would make computer coding count as a foreign language in schools. This bill made a lot of sense. You don’t need us to tell you that the world is becoming more reliant on tech.

Unfortunately, there was enough people who didn’t think this bill was a good idea. Here’s what one prominent opponent had to say about the proposed bill…

“If you’re going to consider computer science as a language — a foreign language, not just a language — why not consider music? You can write it, you can read it, it’s been around for millenia, right? They’re different forms of communication and expression, but they’re not interchangeable.” – Alberto Carvalho, Miami-Dade Superintendent (source: Miami Herald)

We can respectfully disagree with Alberto (and we do). The tuba or drum don’t help you communicate with other cultures. Obviously, a foreign language does. And if you don’t think coding helps people communicate with other cultures, than you clearly haven’t heard of Facebook, WhatsApp, Skype, Hangouts, and Twitter.

We’re not saying that a kid SHOULD learn coding, but it should definitely be an option and it should DEFINITELY count towards a foreign language. Take 1 lesson on coding, and tell me that it doesn’t require the same level of focus, memorization, and a similar skill set for learning French. Think about all of the technology that is evolving around us. By adding computer coding to the repertoire of foreign languages, this gives each child the chance to participate in the evolving, digital world.

If you disagree with our sentiment, please comment with your thoughts in the box below. We’d love to have a healthy debate. 

Moving beyond the topic of whether or not coding should be a called a foreign language…

The future involves coding

We want the best for our kids. Learning a foreign language helps them better prepare for the future. Part of the future is getting a good job in this new tech-centric economy (and maybe build some cool websites). Computer coding is in high demand now, and that demand continues to dramatically rise.

If your kid can learn both Spanish and coding– more power to them. However, if it’s too difficult to learn both, coding should be considered as their foreign language. That’s all we’re saying.

Now for a little fun…

What language did the Exults employees take in high school?

Shocker! Most of our team took Spanish classes growing up, but a few didn’t. Take a look at our team graphic that unveils which language each of our marketing specialists took in high school. Instead of writing Spanish over and over again, we decided to have a little fun and include some key phrases from the language that they learned. Feel free to chuckle

If you want to speak in a foreign language (or English) with one of our specialists, feel free to call us at (866) 999-4736 or head to our contact page. 

The post Is Coding a Foreign Language? appeared first on Exults Digital Marketing Agency.

The new site places the emphasis on the most important part of the Foundation; the people that comprise it. Donors, alumni, and students come to life with compelling videos that capture the spirit of the American Dream campaign.

Being a charitable organization, donations are the lifeblood of the foundation. The streamlined navigation centers on the key points of the foundation’s mission, the lives it helps to impact, and the numerous ways donors can contribute.

Tony Catone, Creative Director, had a very specific vision from the start: incite action. The ever-present, brightly colored call-to-action buttons, the odometer animation on the statistics, and the auto-play hover effects on the videos are all designed to ask users to engage and let the site tell its story.

Tony’s creative vision was ignited by the people who are the Foundation;

“I really enjoyed working on this project- especially after watching the videos about the beneficiaries of the scholarships and seeing just how much the Foundation does for the students. After listening to their stories, I was inspired to take action- so I knew these videos needed to be the website’s heart.”

Exults CEO, Zach Hoffman, knew the Foundation needed to be showcased in a way that would help people better understand its reach:

“This new website represents the organization in the right light; it speaks volumes about the Foundation’s powerful narrative. When you visit this site, it tells an emotional, empowering story about the Foundation’s incredible mission to create change within our community. Listening to the students talk about their experience in their own voice helps donors understand exactly where their money is going: to the people who will help shape our future.”

After learning about the Foundation and the people who power it, we’re excited to see this project come to life and the response from the community, students, alumni, and donors. We hope to have conveyed the chief message at the core of the organization: how empowering people through education can change lives. To learn more about the Broward College Foundation, or to see the site in action, click here.

The post Just Launched: Broward College Foundation – American Dream appeared first on Exults Digital Marketing Agency.