Template vs Custom Website: What You Really Need to Know to Stop Wasting Time

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Template vs custom website? This guide breaks down what’s worth it based on your business stage, goals, and budget.

If you’re reading this, you’re probably:

• Wondering if buying that Showit template was the right move
• Debating between a template customization or a custom website
• Confused by the sea of terms like “semi-custom,” “website refresh,” “Website in a Day Day,” “done-for-you,” and thinking… why does everyone call the same thing 14 different names?
• Or—you’re just a good friend who clicked on the link from Instagram. (Hi, I love you.)

Either way—I’ve got you.

We’re going to break this down in real words, no BS, no fluff. I’m going to explain the difference between using a template and hiring someone to build you something custom. And I’m going to help you figure out what actually makes sense for you—your business, your budget, your brain.

But first—
Hi, I’m Jordin. I’ve been designing websites for nearly 20 years. (Yeah, I started young. Yeah, I’ve seen every trend come and go. Yeah, I know what actually works.) These days I work with small businesses, creative professionals, and online service providers—mostly using Showit—because I believe your website should work for you, not just look pretty.

Now, let’s get into it.

What Even Is Template Customization?

Okay, here’s the truth: a lot of designers will call this different things—semi-custom, Website in a Day, Website in a Week, quick launch, day rate, etc.—but at the end of the day, it’s template customization. And that’s the heart of the template vs custom website choice: do you want to start with a strong frame or build the damn thing from scratch?

Literally: you buy a template, and someone customizes it for you.

That’s it. That’s the thing.

What changes is how far someone’s willing to go with that customization. Some folks just swap out text and photos and call it a day. Others (hi, it’s me) will treat it more like a mini-strategy session—making real design decisions, layout tweaks, small code upgrades, etc.—to make it feel like it wasn’t a template in the first place.

It all depends on what you need and who you hire.

When a Template is the Right Choice

Let me say this up front: templates are not a lesser option. They’re not the “cheap version” of a website. And they’re not going to sabotage your business.

In the template vs custom website conversation, templates are often ideal if…

• You’re just starting out
• You found a template you love
• You need a site now, not 3 months from now
• Your business is simple and you just need something clean and professional
• You don’t want to spend custom website money $$$ until you’re sure your offers are working
• You like having a visual structure to work from

I always recommend high-quality Showit templates from shops I trust (because not all templates are created equal – like at all, unfortunately). Here are a few I come back to again and again:

• Superhero Design Co – Bold, strategic layouts that feel like a confident handshake
• Tonic Site Shop – Gorgeous, modern templates with real conversion strategy baked in
• Norfolk – Minimal, thoughtful, non-cookie-cutter

When You’re Ready for a Custom Website

Now, custom design is a whole different ballgame. This is when we’re building the site from scratch—page layouts, structure, user flow, copy strategy, all of it—based on your exact goals, business model, audience, and offers.

On the other side of the template vs custom website spectrum, custom design is best suited if:

• You’ve outgrown the “starter site” stage and are ready to scale
• You’ve got layered offers, complex services, or multiple audiences
• You’re in a saturated niche and need to stand out (coaches, therapists, photographers—I see you)
• You want your site to look, feel, and function like no one else’s

Some examples from my work:

• BodyFit Nutrition – A deeply personalized nutrition coaching experience needed more than a “plug-and-play” site. We built a site with strategy, clear offers, and an energetic but professional visual identity.
• Emily Austin Therapy – Emily’s brand was rooted in warmth and intentionality. Her site needed space for storytelling, specialized services, and a user experience that reflected the calm, grounded feel of her work.
• Rachel Kotack Psychotherapy – Rachel specializes in helping people-pleasers and adults with ADHD untangle perfectionism, boundaries, and burnout. Her site had to strike a balance between warmth and clarity—making sure the people she supports feel seen and safe from the very first scroll. A custom design gave us the flexibility to match her voice and values, not just slap her name on a generic layout.

How to Know Which You Need

Here’s what I ask every client who’s not sure:

Where are you in your business?

If you’re under 1–2 years in, still validating offers, still figuring out your audience—start with a template. You’ll save time and money and still look polished.

Do you need to stand out right now?

If you’re in a competitive space where everyone’s saying the same thing (“I help women live their best lives”—you know the type), a custom design can be your edge.

How complicated is your site going to be?

If you have 1–3 offers, a simple contact page, and maybe a blog? A template can handle that. If you need multiple service categories, sales funnels, a blog + podcast, member areas, or advanced integrations—you want custom.

What’s your timeline and budget?

Custom design is a bigger investment and takes more time (because it’s tailored to you). If you’re short on time or just don’t want to drop $6K+ right now, a high-quality template + customization gets you up and running fast—without looking DIY.

Let’s Talk About What I Do for Template Customization (AKA: The Hybrid Option)

I live in the space between fully custom and DIY. It’s where a lot of my clients live, too.

Here’s what I offer: template customization with a strategic twist.

That means:

• You buy a Showit template (from a shop I recommend)
• You fill out my prep work and get your content ready
• I take your template and make it feel like you—not like the designer you bought it from
• You get a fully functional, strategic website in a fraction of the time

This is perfect if:

• You’re ready to launch but don’t want it to look like everyone else’s site
• You want a professional to set it up right (SEO, layout, image sizing, mobile styling—stuff you don’t want to mess with)
• You’re stuck in template purgatory and just want it DONE already

You just need to have your content ready. (Yes, I mean done. Not “almost done” or “mostly drafted.”)

Common Questions I Get

Can I use a template and still rank on Google?
Yes. SEO isn’t about how you build the site—it’s about how you set it up. I make sure your headers, meta data, keywords, mobile responsiveness, and blog setup are all good to go. (Bad templates can mess this up. Another reason I vet what I work with.)

Will my site still look like the original template?
Not if I have anything to say about it. I’m not just here to drag-and-drop your stuff into someone else’s layout. If something doesn’t make sense for your business, I’ll adjust it. Your site should look and feel like you, not like the template demo.

What if I need more pages than the template has?
I’ve got you. I’ll either repurpose existing layouts or create extra pages as add-ons. We’ll talk scope before we start so there are no surprise costs.

What if I already tried DIY-ing it and it’s a mess?
No shame. Send me what you’ve got. We’ll clean it up and do it right this time.

Quick SEO Comparison

Let’s get nerdy for a second:

Feature	Template (DIY)	Custom	Template (Customized by Me)
Page Speed	Varies	Optimized	Optimized + compressed images
Mobile Friendly	Usually decent	Perfectly responsive	Professionally adjusted
Headings + Structure	Often chaotic	Strategically planned	Cleaned and corrected
Blog Setup	May exist	Customized	Set up + optimized
Keyword Placement	On you	Part of strategy	I guide you or include it

TL;DR – What’s Actually Best for You?

🟢 Use a template if:

• You’re early-stage
• You have a tight timeline
• You want a stylish, functional site without a huge investment

🟣 Go custom if:

• You have a clear brand, layered offers, or complex needs
• You’re ready to scale
• You want a site that’s built exactly for you

🔵 Do a customization (with me) if:

• You want that middle ground
• You already bought a template but it’s collecting dust
• You want to look legit without starting from scratch

Need Help Deciding?

If you’re still not sure what you need, that’s okay. I’m not here to upsell you—I’m here to help you pick the thing that makes the most sense for where you are right now.

You can explore my services, peek at my portfolio, or send me a DM on Instagram and I’ll give it to you straight.

No pitch. No pressure. Just the honest answer.

Because you’ve got a business to run—and you don’t need one more decision slowing you down.

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