Our website design team working for clients since 1999
Website Design Team
Jeff Stewart
Jeff Stewart
computer programmer
systems analyst
website designer
graphic designer
SEO specialist
Jay Thistle
Jay Thistle
business manager
project co-ordinator
website designer
graphic designer
SEO specialist
Rich Thistle
Rich Thistle
visual artist
graphic artist
creative consultant
film maker

serving clients since 1999
with a personalized process
to keep you informed & involved

budget-friendly, affordable
solutions for a wide range
of small to medium-sized
business & professional
clients
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Thistle Custom Website Design Since 1999

Why a Custom‑Built Website Is a Smarter Long‑Term Move for Your Small Business

A custom‑built website isn’t 'better' because it’s fancier. It’s better because it gives your business control, flexibility, and long‑term value, which template platforms like GoDaddy or Wix simply can’t match.
  • 94% of first impressions made on a website are design-related
  • 38% of people will leave a website if its layout or content is unattractive 
1. Your brand actually stands out
Wix & GoDaddy sites tend to look… like Wix & GoDaddy sites.
Templates limit layout, design & user experience.
A custom site:
  • Reflects your brand’s personality
  • Lets you design for your ideal customer
  • Avoids the 'cookie‑cutter' look that makes businesses blend together
For a small business trying to differentiate, that matters.
 
2. Faster, cleaner & more optimized
Template builders load tons of unnecessary code behind the scenes.
That slows down your site & slow sites lose customers.
A custom site:
  • Loads faster
  • Performs better on mobile
  • Gives you cleaner code & better SEO foundations
Speed & SEO are two of the biggest revenue drivers online
 
3. SEO that actually works
Wix & GoDaddy say they’re SEO‑friendly, but they’re limited by:
  • Template structure
  • Slow load times
  • Restricted control over technical SEO
A custom site lets you optimize everything:
  • Metadata
  • Schema
  • Page structure
  • Image compression
  • Site architecture
Better SEO = more organic traffic = more customers. 
 
4. Unlimited functionality
GoDaddy / Wix platforms are great until you want to do something they don’t support.
Custom sites let you add:
  • Booking systems
  • Custom forms
  • Membership areas
  • E‑commerce features
  • Integrations with your CRM or POS
You’re not boxed in by what the platform allows. 
 
5. Lower long‑term cost
Wix / GoDaddy seem cheap upfront… until you add:
  • Apps
  • Plugins
  • Storage
  • Bandwidth
  • E‑commerce features
  • Monthly subscription fees
A custom site is an investment, but:
  • You own it
  • You’re not locked into a platform
  • You avoid endless monthly add‑on fees
Over 3–5 years, custom sites often cost less. 
 
6. You own your website 
With Wix / GoDaddy:
  • You can’t move / export your site
  • You’re tied to their pricing & limitations
A custom site gives you:
  • Full ownership
  • Freedom to switch hosts
  • Control over your data
That’s real business security. 
 
7. Professional credibility
Customers can tell when a site is DIY.
A polished, custom site signals:
  • Professionalism
  • Trustworthiness
  • Stability

Bottom Line

Wix & GoDaddy are great for hobby projects or temporary sites. A custom‑built website is built for long-term, real business growth.
If you want:
  • A unique brand presence
  • Strong SEO
  • Faster performance
  • Long‑term flexibility
  • Ownership & scalability

… a custom site wins every time.