Selecting the right website template is a critical decision when you are starting to establish or planning to revamp your online presence. As you know, your website serves as the digital storefront for your business and this makes the choice of a website template crucial for creating a lasting and positive impression on your audience. In this post, we will briefly explore key factors and offer valuable tips to guide you in choosing a website template that aligns seamlessly with your brand and business goals.
Understanding the Importance of a Website Template in Website Design and Development
The website template forms the backbone of your online identity, influencing not only the visual aesthetics but also the functionality of your website. Putting it in a somewhat flamboyant manner: it is the canvas upon which your brand story unfolds, and the blueprint that shapes the user experience. As such, investing some time and mindspace while selecting the right website template is important for the success of your online venture.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Website Template
Brand Identity:
Your website is an extension of your brand. Ensure that the template resonates with your brand’s identity, including colour schemes, typography, and overall style. You should be able to change them easily without a hitch.
Website Development Goals:
Define your website development goals. Whether it is building an e-commerce platform, a blog, or a corporate site, choose a template that caters to the specific needs of your business. If you are using the site for lead generation, for instance, you will also need sales pages and even funnels. Talk to the template vendor and ask if they offer customisation services. The good ones will do that for you.
Responsive Design:
Since most users browse through mobiles, opt for a template with a responsive design to guarantee a seamless user experience across devices. If your entire audience comes from smaller screen devices like mobiles and tablets, then you should look at the mobile and tablet websites first and then the desktop version.
Here is how you do it with a live example:
- On your desktop or laptop, go to our marine charity website template demo (click on the link)
- Click on F12 on your keyboard
- On the bottom panel (it may open on the left or the right also or in a new window based on your configurations), click on the small icon on the left top of the panel that shows the icon for a mobile and a tablet
- The screen would refit to show how the site looks on the mobile phone
- Choose the different screen sizes from the drop-down that appears at the top
This will help you see how the template will look like on different devices.
A note: if you are reading this on your phone, the screen will have reconfigured to show the optimal look for your device
Ease of Customisation:
Assess the level of customization the template offers. A template that allows you to tailor it to your unique requirements ensures a distinctive online presence. For instance, with our templates, you can do anything you want. There are literally no limits.
SEO-Friendly Features:
Prioritise templates that integrate SEO best practices, facilitating better visibility and ranking on search engines. In case you are wondering, yes, our templates come preconfigured with an SEO plugin. The one we choose is usually the one that we believe will serve you best. In case you prefer a different plugin, then we load it for you.
Website Development Budget:
Consider your budget constraints. Determine whether a free or premium template aligns better with your financial resources. With us, there are no costs besides the $120-150 you pay. We may charge you in case you need customisations that will take us some time to design and develop but even then the cost will be lower than what you would get even on Freelancer websites like Upwork or Fiverr.
Three Important Tips While Selecting the Right Website Template
- Research and Discussion: Conduct thorough research and talk to the business that offers website templates to gauge the performance and reliability of the template. The right business will offer genuine products and be willing to listen to what you need and guide you better.
- Scalability: Anticipate future growth. Select a template that is scalable and adaptable to accommodate the expanding needs of your business. For instance, our business website templates and charity website templates are designed to grow with your organisation without any effort on your part to revamp the entire site.
- Template Support and Guides: Choose a template with comprehensive guides and reliable support. This ensures a smooth website development process and assistance when troubleshooting issues. If the business offers you year-long support like us, you have hit the jackpot
To sum up: the website template you choose plays a pivotal role in the success of your online venture. By considering factors such as brand identity, development goals, and user experience, and following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to selecting a website template that not only meets but exceeds your expectations.
