Wix, Squarespace, WordPress… or Venda? We Love Templates… Until We Don’t
“Can’t I just use a template?”
If we had a shilling for every time we’ve been asked that, we’d be designing this blog from a beachfront villa in Watamu. And honestly, it’s a fair question. But tusidanganyane: templates aren’t the enemy. They’re fast. They’re cheap. And they’ve come a long way from the janky layouts of 2012.
But here’s the catch: templates are designed to fit everyone, which means they’re not really built for you.
So if you’re stuck between going the DIY route or building a custom site from scratch, this post is for you. We’ll break down what each option offers, where they fall short, and how to choose what your brand actually needs. Spoiler: it’s not always what you think.
Website Templates — Fast, Affordable, and Slightly Generic
Website Debate are like fast food. Reliable. Convenient. Gets the job done. Platforms like Wix, Squarespace, Shopify, and even Canva Sites have made it ridiculously easy to spin up a website in a weekend. They’re perfect for:
- Side hustlers testing an idea
- Solo creatives launching a portfolio
- Event organizers needing a one-pager
- Brands with zero time and limited budget
And hey, we’ve seen templates that actually look pretty great, with enough tweaking.
The Not-So-Great:
Here’s the thing: once you’ve added your logo and changed the colors, you’re still working within someone else’s box.
- You’re one of a hundred sites with the exact same layout
- You’re limited by drag-and-drop constraints
- You can’t optimize speed, SEO, or integrations as easily
- And when something breaks, support is usually a chatbot named “Blip”
Templates are great starters. But rarely do they scale.
In our opinion, using a template is like renting a lovely Airbnb—it’s fine for now, but if you want to paint the walls or knock out a room, you’re out of luck.
You’re no longer sure if your template’s still serving you? We’ll do a free review and tell you where it’s working—and where it’s holding you back.
Custom Websites: Built to Fit, Built to Grow
Custom-built sites are like tailoring a suit: you don’t just pick something off the rack. You get the right fabric, fit, and finish. Every detail has a reason.
When you go custom with Venda, you’re not just buying a website, you’re getting:
- A layout designed around your user journey
- On-brand design that doesn’t look like anyone else
- Proper SEO foundations baked in (not bolted on)
- Freedom to integrate tools, scale features, and update easily
Our free advice: If you’re a business that plans to grow, convert leads, or be taken seriously, custom is the way to go. Like our clients:
- Cleft & Sounds: They needed a site that looked like an album cover but worked like an event ticketing system. No template could do that.
- Jeota Media: Their portfolio had to sell services and show off visual flair. We built it with scroll-based storytelling and modular CMS sections.
- Kensam Coffee: A clean e-commerce build with sleek product cards, real storytelling, and integrated fulfillment. Not your average template site.
Do you have a vision that doesn’t fit into a pre-set box? Let’s custom-build something that does it justice.
Your Website Should Grow With You
Here’s the truth: templates are a good start. But when your brand starts leveling up, your website should too.
At Venda, we don’t shame templates because we’ve worked with plenty. But we also know that real growth needs structure, flexibility, and a website that’s working just as hard as you are.
So if you’re ready to move from “this is fine” to “this is fire,” we’re here for that.
So What Next, you ask? Send us your current site. We’ll tell you honestly what’s working—and what’s not. Or have we convinced you to think of a redesign? Book a Discovery Call and let’s figure out if custom is the move.