A Closer look at Using a Template Site. Is it Professional
Choice?
So you need your site online and looking good, though your
budget isn't the biggest? Well, this is what alot of new sites
and companies face each and every day. You are looking for an
alternate route to get your site online but don't want to break
your bank account. Oh, there you go. You didn't think I would
see you looking at one of those templates sites online. Go ahead
browse around, I'll wait.... Ok, back with me now. Great. Now
you may be thinking to yourself "these sites looking pretty
good" and "the cost of them is great", but(yes there is a but).
Is buying a template from one of these sites professional? Well
lets take a look.
Now it is not to say that these many template sites don't have
great templates. The only problem is that if you pick a popular
template then your visitors may see your website design on
someone else domain name. Now if you don't mind this then great,
but it is definitely going hurt the image of your company in the
minds of your customers if they see the design somewhere else.
Especially if they are not aware that you have purchased a
template(something you are not going to advertise to them). Now
this is not to say that you shouldn't purchase a template but
you might want to give it more thought. A website just like a
logo, brands a company. It creates an image in the mind of the
visitor(potential customer). If they see this image somewhere
else(especially if the other site is in the same business as
you) it could lead them to do business with that site because of
a mistaken identity. Which means a lost client for you.
Ok, say you don't have a high budget and have to purchase a
template(just make sure you include in your future budget
savings for a custom website). Remember just because the preview
of the template looks good doesn't mean it will work good. Each
designer and coder will develop their template differently, so
you may get into a bit of a mess when you start adding your
content. Some things you may want to check on before purchasing
a template is:
1. Refund Policy. 2. Does the website offer support for their
templates and is it free? 3. Try to do a search on google and
see if there are any reviews about using templates from this
site. If there are good or bad reviews out there, then you will
be able to find them.
After doing this also make sure that you are going to be able to
edit the template without anyone's help. When I say this I mean
to make sure the template doesn't have something like flash on
it. If it does then you will either have to know how to edit
flash(including having the program) or pay someone to make the
changes for you. This can add onto as an additional price and
raise the cost of your website.
So before purchasing a template here is a little advice run down:
1. Check around to see how much a custom template(make sure you
get all rights to it) would cost. 2. If your budget isn't big
enough and you are going to purchase a template make sure the
site has a refund policy, offer support and try to get reviews
on them. 3. If your template has flash make sure to check around
to see if you can get some quotes on some simple changes to the
flash or purchase a template without flash. 4. Make sure your
deadline is not too tight, just incase.
Good luck and hopefully everything will go well. Just take your
time and you will have your site up soon enough.