Today, creating a website is no longer something that only very skilled programmers can do. Only a few years ago, if you wanted to create a custom site, you would have to hire an expert.
Of course, you would get a personal approach and a website that was built from scratch. But this is not always effective, especially for startups when the money is usually tight.
Luckily, with the help of the content management system platforms, you can use some templates. This strategy will save you a lot of time and finances. Students who decide to create their startup have to choose how to spend their time very carefully. You can always ask ‘write my essay’ on DoMyEssay service. This way, you can throw more forces into your business!
There are a lot of things to take into account when starting your own company, for example:
- marketing;
- customer base;
- system requirements for your web service;
- financing;
- and many more.
So, that’s understandable when students don’t want to spend a lot of time on the website. Usually, they choose a content management system platform, so they have a basis. After it takes off, the pages can be customized later! But you still need to learn about the advantages and disadvantages of each approach to website creation.
Custom-Built Website vs. Standard Content Management System
First of all, let’s find out about the differences between these solutions. As you might have already guessed, a custom-built product is something that an expert (or a team of professionals) creates from scratch. You would need to explain your vision to a third party that should try their best to bring your business to life.
A standard content management system is something that you can use as a basis for your product. Basically, it’s like a template that has some functionalities and an interface. For example, if you want to create a blog, you can choose a predesigned template that will have text pages, a built-in donation system, and means of communication with your readers.
Price
Of course, the thing about most student startups is that they need money. You will attract investors, sure, but until then you have to tighten your belts and cut some costs. Using a CMS-based site is cheaper as compared to custom work. But some experts say that a product that is tailored to your unique needs will be more profitable over time!
Time Needed For Development
As you hire a team of developers, it will take them some time to create the final product. Of course, business owners can hire a bigger group but they will need a lot of money to finish. Also, student startups usually include like-minded people who want to do everything by themselves. By using a CMS-based platform, you can do it in no time!
User Experience
Without doubts, any client wants creative and understandable communication with a business. But some argue that with a content management system, you get something that really works. The templates are transparent and very user-friendly. Sometimes, it happens that a whole team of developers can’t create a website that will be understandable to every person.
Return in Investment
This point is something for the marketing department to consider. Previous experiences of business owners demonstrate that when you create something specifically for the clients, they respond to it better. In other words, a CMS-based platform can’t give your customers a unique experience. So, it’s better to fulfil your perfect vision and create a custom platform.
Security
Often, people think that when they hire a development team, they will have top security of their data. In most cases, this is true if you look for a trusted group of workers. But consider that even after you finish building a website, the maintenance will be done by an outside team. It’s better to create something from inside the company, even with a CMS-based platform.
Performance
Faster web service always has only the necessary code. When you write it from scratch, you will improve its performance as you go further. With a prepared content management system, students can’t regulate what goes into their webpages because of the templates. Even if you find something that is 90% suitable for you, there is still 10% that will slow you down.
Plug-ins and Extensions
Do you need some plug-ins for your website? Yes. Does a CMS-based platform have it? Yes. Can you control them? No, you can’t. This situation is far too common for startups that use a content management system. Also, you will be very reliant on the updates and security issues of the company that created the extensions. It’s always better to own your product 100%.
So What Is Better?
Every startup has to decide what will make more sense. Some people want to save money on building a custom website, and others want to have better security. In reality, it all depends on the resources of the company. At the same time, it’s better to create your own product that you will know and love! In your custom web service, you can also adjust it to the client’s needs.
To Sum Up
There is no definite answer that will fit all startups. In reality, most student companies have bigger problems than building a website, like attracting investors or creating a customer base. So, you should consider all aspects of developing a startup.
