Just as quickly as I gulped down my last glass of water, I changed my website. That’s why I love web design so much. Nothing is permanent—everything is updateable. And boy, have I been making updates lately! From my recent homepage refresh, to my axing of the sidebar, I’ve made progress—but I don’t think I’m done.
Another idea popped into my head last week when a prospect asked me the difference between custom design and themes…a question I get asked a lot. I need an FAQ page!
To make it as easy as possible for my ideal clients to understand what I do, I’m going to answer these questions on my website:
What is custom design?
A custom design starts from a blank slate. Every decision is made specifically to suit your needs, from colors to fonts, layout to structure. Every single component is entirely customized for you. With a custom design, your website will be one-of-a-kind. It’s all about getting the right message across and keeping the site structure lean and efficient without unnecessary page bloat.
What is a theme?
A theme is a set of files that defines the overall structure and look of your website. If you search for “WordPress themes,” you’ll find a million to choose from. Essentially you can buy the theme, add your own content and photos, and have a website. But if you look at pre-built themes vs. custom WordPress themes, you’ll see the difference.
Do I need a custom design, or a theme?
Well, a pre-built theme might cost a bit less—but it’s generic. I specialize in custom-designed themes because it makes anything possible. Doesn’t that sound fun? Instead of trying to mold something into something else, why not start fresh and build it exactly the way you want? Custom design isn’t just about the look—but also how the site functions. Pre-built themes can have baked-in functionality that you’re probably not going to use. It won’t be streamlined or efficient for your needs. A custom-designed theme ensures you can edit everything you need to edit, easily. Many of my clients are designers, and they want a site that doesn’t look like everybody else’s.
Will you take a theme and customize it for me?
Unlikely. But maybe…if you bake me brownies. See, the thing about themes is—they’re not custom websites—which means they don’t reflect you as well as they could. And I’m all about showing off your unique coolness.
How much does this cost?
Check out the awesome packages I created to answer this very question. Need a custom quote? Fill out my form.
How long will this take?
After you provide the copy and we have our kickoff call, your fabulous website will normally be up and running in 8-12 weeks.
Do you handle web hosting?
Nope. These folks do it much better than I could.
Should I start with design or copy?
Start with copy. I’ll repeat: START WITH COPY! It helps to drive the design—and copy-first is part of my process. If you need copy help, contact Connect with Copy.
Will my site be responsive?
Abso-freakin-lutely. Is there any other way? When we work together, your website will be simple to navigate with easy-to-read content on any and every device imaginable.
Do I need design, development, or both?
If you’re a service provider or business owner who needs a website, you most likely need both. If you’re a graphic designer who wants to design the site and have me develop it for the web—you need development. If you just want me to design your site, but plan to have somebody else to code it for the web—you need design.
Have questions about WordPress websites or working together? Please share them here. I want to answer them all so my upcoming FAQ page is as informative as possible! Thank you!
