You Can Design Websites from Scratch or Use Pre-Built Websites – Is One Way Better than the Other?

Original Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/1stwebdesigner/~3/gQydlqTDusE/

There’s been a debate going on for some time regarding whether it is best to design websites from scratch. Others believe it is better to rely on pre-built websites to help the process along.

This debate can get somewhat heated at times. Especially when the argument comes up that using templates is not professional. One argument is related to the highly-respected senior designers. It is that they would be expected to create their designs from scratch. They should put their originality, creativity, and professionalism on display in the process.

A counterargument is that even the most gifted designers won’t hesitate to use tools. This included also pre-built websites. Doing so makes their work easier and yields superior outcomes.

As you might expect, neither side is completely right or wrong. As we shall see, the answer lies somewhere in the middle.

Designing from scratch gives you creative freedom & pre-built websites rob you of your creative mark

Designing from scratch is not synonymous with creativity. They’re two different animals. If you’re convinced designing from scratch will make you more creative, you have a long, tough row to hoe.

Experience can certainly help you become better at your trade. However, you have to build up a foundation of knowledge to become more creative. Properly channeled creativity addresses what clients want and need. Not gimmicky websites filled with eye-candy.

That’s a mistake all too many web designers are guilty of.

A creative design has to align with a given industry’s or business sector’s standards. A pre-built website can provide the foundation you need to avoid false starts. You can get a project off the ground.

Be Theme has the largest library of pre-built websites on the market; more than 400 of them.

They’re organized by industry and/or content type. As demonstrated in the following examples.

How much experience have you had working with clients that own a gun range? Or, offer a product line of exotic coffee beans, lead a band or design drones?

BeGunRange

BeCoffee3

BeBand3

BeDrone

You’re only professional if you design from scratch & pre-built websites are for beginners

Follow that argument and you’ll find yourself in all kinds of trouble. The reason? Do you design from scratch with the objective of becoming more professional? Then, you’re going about it backward.

You’ll risk setting standards for yourself that are difficult if not impossible to meet. This can lead to frustration, stress, and burnout. Plus, you’ll be sorely tempted to copy what true professionals are doing. That’s the exact opposite of creativity.

Write down “You’re only professional if …” on a piece of paper, light a match to it, and never give it another thought.

Being professional means delivering exactly what your clients need. Do that, and you’ll do fine. Learn what your clients are looking for and make that your number 1 priority. Creativity will follow.

Why wander outside the envelope to create an awesome special effect design? Especially, when your client wants something that’s a little understated.

BeClinic3

BeCompany3

BeSimple2

Or even rather simple!

You have to put 110% effort into every project & if you can’t treat each client equally, you shouldn’t take clients at all

If as a student, you put 110% effort into a given area of study you should get a good grade. You can make a habit of trying to give 110% to every homework assignment from every class. Then, your grade point average is likely to plummet.

Calculus, English Lit, and Thermodynamics are different breeds of cat. So are your clients with their individual needs.

Yes, you can give a client a 110% effort; but you can’t do so for multiple clients. One may assign an easy task, and the next one may give you a back-breaker.

There are two things that can smooth things out a bit or a lot. One is teamwork, the other is pre-built websites. You can hand work over to a team member to lighten your load. You can use a pre-built website to get a project that addresses an unfamiliar topic off to a rousing start.

If you’re short on time, the budget you need isn’t all there. Or, you need to build a website for a beauty parlor client, but your talents lie in the home improvement area. Then, a pre-built website will see you through – and often in just a few hours.

Give 75% and let a pre-built website provide the additional 35%!

BeTailor2

BeRenovate3

BeEcoBeef

BeCakes

Conclusion

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to create designs from scratch. When you can do so and do so successfully, you’re going to feel very good about it.

Just don’t make the mistake that doing so is the best or only way to become more creative. That simply isn’t true, and you’ll only make things harder for yourself.

Don’t let others tell you that “You’re only professional if – blah, blah, blah – either. Give your clients what they want. Professionalism and enhanced creativity will follow as surely as night follows day.

As far as treating all jobs and all clients equally is concerned, it can’t be done. Pick your battles, design from scratch if an opportunity presents itself. Use pre-built websites (and use them freely). The latter is especially important any time you have an unusual project.

Browse Be’s pre-built website library and you quickly discover why all of this makes sense.