No one-size-fits-all solution to building a website

New research from website research firm Clutch shows the one-size-fits-all approach to building a website doesnt work.

The research breaks down the capabilities, limitations, and costs of using different solutions to build a website. Clutch interviewed experts from across the field of web design and development for insights on how to build a successful website that aligns with the goals, requirements and budgets of the buyer.

The research posits that depending on your website requirements, some solutions are more appropriate than others.

"There's no need to spend money on a completely custom website if you can attain 90% of the website's value with a content management system [CMS] like WordPress or Drupal," explains Amanda Soderlund, analyst at Clutch. "Then again, if you have highly complex requirements, you won't be able to achieve that level of customisation without spending the money on a custom site built from the bottom up.

The website solutions in the research include simpler methods like do-it-yourself website builders and pre-made templates on a CMS, or higher-cost options of hiring a web design agency to build a custom design for a CMS or a completely custom website.

"We actually do not believe all companies need to hire a web design agency, and that some of the DIY options out there are a great fit for plenty of businesses these days," adds Erin Pheil, the owner and project manager of the web design agency TimeForCake. "These DIY options weren't around a handful of years ago, but these days there are fantastic ones available for businesses looking for straightforward, simple, brochure sites.

Understanding the purpose and requirements of a website can help companies determine which website-building solution will provide the most overall value.

"The thing that we always tell clients to start with is to figure out why they want a website," explains Tom Greenwood, managing director of the web design company Wholegrain Digital.

"It sounds like a very basic question, but it's surprising how rarely people have really thought through what value they're going to get out of it. What is it that they're trying to get out of it, and how much is that really worth to them?