Why I think that template based websites are a good idea
People may be surprised that I also promote templates on this website. Would that not cause less business for me? Well, in some cases yes, but let me first go into more detail on why I think templates can be helpful for businesses.
Good reasons to create a template based website
You know what you are geting as you can pick the design
Designing a website can be a lengthy process. I would first create a design based on your specifications. You would then have a look a this and possibly make adjustments. I would then turn this design into a website using the technology which is most suitable for your particular website.
However, if you find a website template that you already like you can cut the whole design phase from the project. You will already have a design that you like that may need some tweaking but is fundamentally correct. Have a look at some great clean and functional wordpress templates that I selected for an earlier article.
Functionality is already there minimizing programming costs
A lot of functionality is often already incorporated in the template. This is especially the case for Wordpress themes. It really doesn’t make any sense to start from scratch building functionality that is already readily available in some templates. It can save you a lot of time in development cost. Of course it is important to select a good quality template otherwise it can have the reverse effect. To know what you have to look for, please check the article 20 things you need to know before selecting a Wordpress theme.
Full customization can still give you a unique look
Many of the good quality templates can be customized to suit your needs. So creating a website with a template as the basis does not mean that your website will look the same as many others. All colours and images can usually be adjusted.
Quick
Sometimes you just want to have a website really quickly. For a special promotion or just because you can’t wait to get your idea online. Nothing speeds up website creation more than a template.
Things to take into account before buying a template
These are all good reasons to consider buying a template. However, also be aware of the following:
Changes and tweaking are almost always needed
Be aware that in order to get a good quality business website you will need to have changes made to the website. Almost every template and theme needs tweaking to suit your particular business needs. So allow for changes in your budget.
You will need to do some search engine optimization
Your templates also need to be optimized for search engines. With millions of websites already on the web your website will only be found when the right search engine optimization techniques have been employed.
Templates are often not so easy to install or customize as the vendor claims; know your skill level
Most people will not be able to customize and install the website themselves. It still requires a lot of skill to tweak the templates in such a way that they will look professional and original. It is always best to hire a a qualified web professional to do this for you.
Choose wisely
It is important to know what you want and need before buying a template so read my article: 20 things to check before buying a wordpress theme.
Finally
So what about those customers that come to my website, buy a template and disappear? Well. in many cases these customers were not yet ready or prepared to set a good budget aside for a website. Many do not see their website as a valuable component of their marketing strategy. I have come accross many businesses that got themselves a ‘cheap’ website only to realize later that this website is not generating any business for them. Although I believe that you can make a good quality website with a website based on a template it is still advisable to get some advice on tweaking and search engine optimization to make your website successful.
There are also individuals and small businesses that would have otherwise not been able to afford a website. A website template allows them to have a professional website on the internet. This is a lot better than the home-made very poorly designed websites that we saw so much in the early days of the Internet. I would much rather see a well designed template based website than a poorly designed “original” website.
