e-Business-Formula Internet Marketing Discussion Forum

[Kevin Robb]

Can anyone relay their experience with website templates?

There are hundreds of templates available, both free and paid so are they easy to use or do they have limitations?

Do you believe they are a quick and easy method to set up a simple site or do you prefer other options?

Just curious

Cheers

Kevin Robb

[Steve MacLellan]

Hi Kevin,

Web templates...

You know... sometimes I can sit in front of the computer for hours and still have a blank canvas. I don't have an inspiration. I'm not feeling creative. I don't know what I want. It's like sometimes you got it... sometimes you don't.

Then other times, you got it, you're bang on, and you can rip off something you're really happy with. For example, when I designed the template for my site it was 12:00 a.m. in the morning and I just sat down to check my email after a movie... before going to bed.

15 minutes later I had created the template for my site, and 30 minutes later I had all of the images sliced and diced and the [url=http://homebusiness-websites.com]homepage[/url] done.

Other times, when I don't feel creative enough to build something from scratch, I will look at templates for ideas. And I've used free templates in the past based on a clients request...

He had about 30 sites to do and didn't want to spend a lot of money on them. So he sent me a zippered file of 100 or so free templates. Then said pick one, add the copy, and upload the site.

By the time I modified the template, added the copy, each 5 page mini-site only took 90 minutes to build.

So there are some good things about templates... and some of them... even some of the free ones look nice. And if you can find something you like... it sure beats staring at a blank canvas for a few hours.

[quote]do they have limitations? [/quote]

Every template will have some limitations, but from my experience, the more complex the template;the more limitations.

So... it is best to choose a simple template if you're not 100% sure of what you want [b]or....[/b]

You need to plan the website in advance and know exactly what needs to be built into the template.

Best Regards,
Steve MacLellan

[Lynn Terry]

Regarding website templates, I've had experience with two vendors: Template Monster and Basic Templates.

Template Monster has more detailed, complex template styles (and higher prices). You generally need a graphics editor (PhotoShop) and often a flash editor - and definitely an HTML editor (Dreamweaver). They are designed with high-end programs, and it's difficult to work with them if you dont have the programs yourself - - especially when it comes to any amount of customization.

Basic Templates, however, sells their templates for only $5 each (or you can get a membership and download many for a flat rate). They are simple CSS designs (which sounds complicated, but just means it is easy to make "site wide" updates) and VERY easy to work with. You can even download NVU (a free html editor) at www.NVU.com and really be ready to move forward with one of these templates.

Even if you customize it to the point that it doesnt look anything like the original template, it's really helpful to have that 'starting point'. You can even get some great design ideas just by browsing their categories!

[Teena]

My experience with website templates? I found a website offering some incredible amount of templates, I forget how many now but it was probably around 500 for a nominal amount of money. I needed to help a client and to show them an assortment of sample sites the next morning, so I decide it's worth a shot.

The use of the English language on the web site was a bit odd, but hey, so are many others.

So I go through the site with a fine tooth comb, choose the package to buy, and pay my money. I got a Thank You on the screen, and a notice saying it would take several days to process and they'd be in touch ....! I was mortified!

I emailed them and had to wait 24 hrs for a reply - little did I know this was the start of a very complicated unfortunate series of events!

Yes, I had to postpone my client meeting.

I downloaded a guzillion files late one night when the payment finally went through [they refused a refund], excited with the anticipation of what I would be able to do with all these new templates.

When I was able to unzip the files, something was very very wrong. Took me a while to work out, but these guys had somehow [b]truncated[/b] every image name to be 8 characters. This meant that not one template worked - not one. I went through hundreds of them, trust me.

Emails full of disbelief followed, and this is when I discovered I was one the first customers for these college boys in Hong Kong who knew nothing about files, images, 8 character file names, or accepting credit cards. I can laugh about it now, but boy was I steamed.

They offered to send me cds with the downloads, and then asked me to pay for it, hahaha - I don't think so! They did post the cds, and you know what? I was so excited I couldn't wait to get home from the post office when they arrived a week later.

Imagine my continuing disbelief when I found that there were [b]thousands of images[/b], in no particular order, all zipped.

When they were unzipped, I had no idea whatsoever where the images were to go - which template? inside which folder? inside which *other* folder???

No, I didn't get to show these templates to my client - I found another solution. And no, I've never actually used any of the templates or images I got from Hong Kong.

So, do I use templates? Sometimes, but always with a grain of salt!

Cheers
Teena!

[kellylowe]

Templates are great for getting ideas. However, my experience in actually USING a template was that I did just as much work as if I was creating the page from scratch.

So, yes, they are great for getting layout ideas and such, but that's all I've found them useful for.

[Teena]

I've recently had a few enquiries about templates from potential clients who wanted a bit more control of their website building [rather then by using the automated website builder I sell].

I looked into a couple of different sites, and ended up adding templates from Template Monster as an additional option for my clients.

http://www.buildawebsitetonight.com/templates/

Taking all the info above into consideration, I still think you need a certain amount of skill and the right type of software [as Lynn pointed out] to be able to tweak the more complex ones.

I've decided to add the simpler options available at Web Templates as a third option for potential clients who want an easy less-complicated solution, but who still want to use html themselves. I learnt so much by downloading my first template a few years back - I pored over it for hours and probably learnt more by pulling it apart than by attending a class.

So in answer to your question Kevin, I think templates certainly have a place - for different people at different levels in their web building skills. And like Steve, I love to look at them to get tons of inspiration!

Cheers
Teena

[Kevin Robb]

Teena,

There is no doubt templates appeal to a lot of people but many lack the skills or software to change them.

With your background is there an opportunity here to perhaps put together a simple step by step guide for those that want to make basic changes to templates?

I realise that no two templates are the same but the basics still apply.

Your thoughts...

Cheers


Kevin Robb

[Teena]

Hi Kevin,

I've been working on something along these lines on and off, and now you've encouraged me to get it finished!

It's an ebook showing absolute newbies how to work on website templates, using several different techniques. I'll post a message here when it's ready.

Cheers
Teena!

[Kevin Robb]

Hi Teena,

What is it they say...Great minds think alike. LOL

Anyway I look forward to viewing the finished result as I believe it will find widespread acceptance...In fact it could make a good item to use as a viral promotion.

Food for thought...

Cheers

Kevin Robb

[tizzle]

I too look forward to a good template tutorial.

I think that you guys have hit it right on the head when talking about templates. They really can be a great way to figure out more or less what you want to do. Sometimes it only really takes a few ideas from someone's templates to inspire me get my work done.

That said, there seems to be a steep learning curve with using templates. While I am the kind of person who likes to play around with software and figure things out, I have given up the few times that I really have tried to utilize a template in my design. Instead I usually pull out the ideas I like and try to recreate them.

--Tizzle

[Teena]

I'm a naughty, naughty girl ...

I had grand plans to do this step-by-step tutorial but life/business got in the way!

But now that my memory's been jogged, I might dust off the first draft and see if it's worth resurrecting. My idea was to give a brief introduction to basic HTML, then look at the templates to see how they work, and how to change them.

Kevin - if you don't hear back from me about this in a month, I'll need a good talking to!

Ciao for now
Teena

[Alan]

If you are proficient in dreamweaver, then i think html templates which can be modified with the help of dreamweaver is the best. Definitely dreamweaver saves you a lot of time and effort and makes your work really easy in modifying templates.

just give a try by downloading a free template(which could be modified with dreamweaver) and you would really love the job.

[Peter2]

If you do a quick search on Google you will find thousands upon thousands of free template sites and some really good tutorials as well.

Peter2

[Busterz9]

Well, I think that if you make a website from a template you should still make it unique. A designer should modify the template so it looks little like that original. When users surf the web, I'm sure they don't like seeing the same layout used in server diffrent places.

I have quite a bit of HTML/CSS experience my self, I used to write templates. I was fast out of ideas so I didn't get many done.

One of my favorite template websites is [url]http://openwebdesign.org[/url].

Buster