Why Template Sites Don’t Cut It for Serious Businesses
WillowTreeTeam
June 3, 2025
Templates Are Cheap for a Reason
There’s a time and place for template websites. If you’re just starting out or testing an idea, they’re better than nothing. But if you’re a serious business with real goals? A template will always limit your growth.
We’ve worked with dozens of clients who started with templates—Wix, Squarespace, Shopify themes—only to outgrow them fast. Why? Because templates prioritize speed over strategy.
4 Reasons Templates Hold You Back
1. You Look Like Everyone Else
Most templates are overused. If your site looks like 500 others in your industry, it erodes trust.
2. They’re Not Built to Convert
Templates are designed to be generic. They don’t take your buyer’s journey, value proposition, or brand story into account.
3. Limited SEO Flexibility
Custom sites give us full control over on-page SEO, site structure, speed, and schema—essential for long-term rankings.
4. You Can’t Scale with Strategy
Need a custom lead funnel? Booking integration? Membership portal? With templates, you’re often forcing features that were never meant to fit.
Your Website Is a Business Asset, Not a Placeholder
A custom website is an investment in scalability. It grows with you. It evolves with your brand. And it reflects the thoughtfulness of everything else you do.
At Willow Tree, we design with strategy baked in—no generic pages, no duct-tape solutions. Just thoughtful design backed by real branding work.
Explore custom website design. We’ll show you the difference.