WordPress and Dreamweaver: Which Website Template is Right for You?

We all have that one site we always turn to whether it be for personal or professional reasons. For me, it’s Reddit. For you, it might be Wikipedia or Imgur. When it comes down to building a site, there’s generally two ways to go about it: with web design software or from the ground up.

If you’re new to website design, you might be wondering what software is best suited to the job. Picking a wordpress template could be a good option, since it’s very popular and lots of people know how to use it. On the other hand, building a website from scratch could be a liberating experience, as you have full control over the entire process. Unless you’re really skilled or have a lot of time to devote to the project, going the manual route isn’t advisable. That’s why I prefer to teach others how to build a site with web design software, as it takes the drudgery out of the process and gives you a good result that you can further customize. If that’s something that interests you, continue reading.

The Pros And Cons Of Each Method

Before you decide which approach to take, you should consider the pros and cons of each method. Doing this can help you determine the best way to build your site.

If your goal is to create a simple but elegant personal site with minimal design features, going the manual route is your best option. The disadvantage is, of course, that you’ll have to deal with all the technicalities of getting the site up and running. A wordpress template allows for lots of customization through the use of plugins and the ability to add additional design features easily. These templates are usually simple, clear and easy to implement. Going the manual route with a wordpress template also means you’ll have to learn how to use various different editors and software to update the website. If you’re looking for a one-stop-shop for your design needs, a wordpress template is a great option.

Manual Website Design Vs Custom WordPress Template

Now, let’s take a look at the differences between building a site manually and designing a WordPress template. If you go the manual route, you’ll be working with a framework such as WordPress or Drupal to get your site up and running. The advantage of doing this is that you can utilize various plugins to make your site more robust and secure. You’ll also be able to add additional design features easily. For example, you might want to add a parallax effect to your site’s footer or header to make it look more engaging.

However, going the manual route can be very time-consuming. Not only do you have to design the site yourself, but you’ll also have to learn how to use various different WordPress or Drupal themes to get the results you’re looking for. This is why I don’t recommend this approach unless you have a lot of time to commit to the project. Building a WordPress template takes a lot less time and allows for more versatility. You can use a tool like Elementor to quickly create fully navigable and functional personal sites that look great. Another advantage of building a WordPress template is that you’re not locked into using a particular theme. Should you later decide that you don’t like the theme, you can simply download and replace it with another. This is why I prefer to build sites from scratch using a tool like WordPress, as it makes upgrading much easier.

Choose The Right Platform For Your Site

If your site will be publicly accessible, you should consider what platform you’ll use to develop it on. You might want to build a wordpress site, since it’s very popular and has a huge amount of third-party support. However, if you’re looking for a more professional-looking site with additional visual features, you could choose to develop it on a different platform such as PHP or Node.js. Additionally, if you’re looking to monetize the site in some way, you might want to avoid using a general-purpose platform like WordPress for this. Instead, look into using a platform such as Laravel or Express to create a professional-looking site with monetization abilities.