So you need
your site online and looking good, though your budget
isn't the biggest? Well, this is what allot 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.
©Copyright
2005 Logo2D.com
Anthony Jewell has over 6 Years experience in the Web
& Graphics World. You can visit my business at http://www.logo2d.com/ |
