IlluminAge offers both custom designs and templated designs (or semi-custom designs) that meet the online marketing objectives of senior care providers. A custom design means that we create a design from scratch using your input and feedback. A template site is a design that has already been created that we customize with your brand colors, photographs, and copy. Either way, you’ll get a website that meets your stated goals.

So which is right for your company? Here are some of the factors you’ll want to consider when choosing a design that’s right for you.

Company Type/Size
If you’re a multi-site senior living company that offers independent/retirement living communities, assisted living services and skilled nursing facilities, you’ll probably want to go with a custom site. For such a wide array of services and target audiences (and therefore, most likely a lot of information), a custom site can be designed to inform and guide visitors down the right path. However, if you’re a single-facility senior living provider, an aging life care management company, or a small home care company, a template site of 10-15 pages may work well for you to tell your story.

Budget
If you’re on a tight budget, a template design may make sense for you. Because they’re created from scratch, custom websites are more expensive to design. Even if you have a little extra money to spend, it may make sense to go with a template design and put that extra cash into taking original photography and utilizing the services of a professional copywriter, two things that can help create a totally unique website. If you have a healthy budget and specific ideas on what you want your website to look like, a custom design may be right for you.

Time
If you’re working on a tight time-frame, you’ll probably want a template design. A custom design takes about three to four months to launch, while a template design can take as little as one to two weeks once you have your content submitted.

Function/Complexity
If you want a lot of “bells and whistles” on your site (live chat, a place for people to post reviews, a facility locator, the ability to sell products online), a custom design may make the most sense. Template designs are meant to cover the basics. For more complex sites or larger site plans, a custom design will offer more flexibility to organize your content in a manner that meets your needs.

Brand
If you have a firmly entrenched brand that has its own style guide and is carried across multiple platforms and media, it may make sense to create a custom site. Template sites provide attractive layout options to choose from, but are, by definition, limited in their ability to reflect a truly unique brand position. A custom site allows you the freedom to differentiate your organization and tell your story in a unique and compelling way.

The Bottom Line
Whichever design method you choose, IlluminAge will work with you to ensure your website maximizes your assets, highlights your benefits and works to attract your target audience. For larger companies who have a very specific idea of what they want their website to look like and how they want it to function, a custom site is probably the way to go. For those on a budget or tight timeline, a template site most likely make the most sense.