In today’s digital age, the idea of launching a website with just a few clicks is tempting. With countless templates available, it seems easy to throw up a site and call it a day, rather than taking the time to create a custom website.
When it comes to firms in the alternative investment space, a template simply doesn’t cut it. Building a truly effective website takes time — typically four to six months. Here’s why a custom website is worth the time you put into it, and how you can make your firm’s website shine.
The Foundation of Your Online Presence
Your brand is more than just a logo; it’s the essence of who your firm is and what you offer. Ensuring that this is clearly communicated is critical to the effectiveness of your website.
Your website is often the first impression potential advisors and investors have of your firm. It’s the foundation of your online presence, so it’s crucial that it reflects your brand accurately and professionally.
Before you start developing your custom website, make sure you have a strong brand in place. If your branding isn’t fully developed, refine it before moving forward.
Designing a Tailored Experience, Not Just a Template
Once your branding is established, the next step is design. Unlike template websites, where you simply plug in your content to an existing design, a professionally developed website involves crafting a unique design tailored to your firm’s needs.
This process starts for our clients with Marketing Intent creating one to two initial pages. You’ll have the opportunity to review these pages, provide feedback, and make tweaks until the design is exactly how you envision it. Only after the design is finalized will the remaining pages be developed.
This tailored approach ensures that your website doesn’t just look like every other site out there. It’s a reflection of your firm’s unique identity and a tool that elevates your brand and enhances the experience for advisors and investors.
Content Drives Design: The Importance of Finalizing Your Message
Content is the backbone of your website. It’s what tells your story, communicates your value, and engages your audience. Content isn’t just words on a page. It drives the entire design of your website.
Think about the different elements you might want to highlight: some might need a graphic, others might be better suited to a dropdown menu or an interactive feature. A custom approach to your website ensures that your content is delivered in an effective and compelling way through your website’s design.
Content and Compliance: Building Credibility and Trust
In the alternative investment industry, compliance is non-negotiable. Every piece of content on your website needs to be thoroughly reviewed to ensure it meets regulatory standards. We all know that compliance, as important as it is, takes time — as does internally reviewing your website content.
While it might be tempting to rush through these stages, taking the time to ensure everything is compliant and aligned with your firm’s goals is essential for building credibility and trust with your audience.
Why It Takes Four to Six Months—and Why It’s Worth It
When you add up all these steps — branding, design, content finalization, compliance, and management review — it’s clear why custom website development takes four to six months. It’s not about throwing something up quickly; it’s about creating a powerful, effective tool that supports your business goals and resonates with your audience.
At Marketing Intent, we’re committed to helping you get your website launched as quickly as possible, without sacrificing quality. We understand the importance of your online presence and work diligently to ensure that your website is a true reflection of your firm’s expertise and value.
