SonWebHost
Account Disabled
If you had to change your template to update it to a more modern and current site which template would you choose. Send a link to show which one you would get. 
New web hosting template that sells
- Thread starter SonWebHost
- Start date
easyhostmedia
Well-known member
when looking at templates, you also need to look at how many downloads have already happened.
Take the Nimble template steve mentioned, so far 80 purchases, so potentially 80 other sites using that template (so 80 identical websites), even if you pay ther unique price, this would stop the seller offering this template again, but still 80 other sites out thier the same.
the last template we used from themeforest had about 3 purchases before we took it then within a matter of 12 months their was 300 purchases, so we changed our template, now this template has 497 purchases
Take the Nimble template steve mentioned, so far 80 purchases, so potentially 80 other sites using that template (so 80 identical websites), even if you pay ther unique price, this would stop the seller offering this template again, but still 80 other sites out thier the same.
the last template we used from themeforest had about 3 purchases before we took it then within a matter of 12 months their was 300 purchases, so we changed our template, now this template has 497 purchases
With so many templates in the market now, and so many WordPress sites, I think the perception of the general public has migrated to glossing over the uniqueness of sites, and are looking for deals and content instead. If your site looks decent, is functional, navigates easily, has great content and is marketed correctly, you'll be fine whether 80 or 300 other sites share your template.
Of course, if you're looking to dominate branding of your product or service, being unique is part of that formula. A ton of mom and pop businesses don't need to be heavily branded though, to be successful. Of course this depends on the market - car dealerships are heavily branded, but I wouldn't call them mom and pop either.
Of course, if you're looking to dominate branding of your product or service, being unique is part of that formula. A ton of mom and pop businesses don't need to be heavily branded though, to be successful. Of course this depends on the market - car dealerships are heavily branded, but I wouldn't call them mom and pop either.
easyhostmedia
Well-known member
I think the final nail that made us decide to change our template was not the amount of others that purchased the template, but we spotted the template being used by a couple of the ebay fly by night cheapo we give everything unlimited for $1 a year hosts and did not wnat anyone turning up on our site seeing the same template and thinking we were associated with such hosts.
I've heard if it works, don't break it - but I think sites need to be updated periodically to maintain interest and to keep up with the times.
Where you go with your site depends on your target audience. For instance, color themes convey different meanings in different regions of the world.
Of course, I suppose there could be guilt by association if viewers were to see both sites - as prospects judge sites in comparison to those they just left.
When I evaluate themes, I don't look so much at how many have the same theme, more-so I envision what I can do to make the site unique to my clients.
Where you go with your site depends on your target audience. For instance, color themes convey different meanings in different regions of the world.
Of course, I suppose there could be guilt by association if viewers were to see both sites - as prospects judge sites in comparison to those they just left.
When I evaluate themes, I don't look so much at how many have the same theme, more-so I envision what I can do to make the site unique to my clients.
SonWebHost
Account Disabled
I notice new site layouts that seam to be the trend and buyers see things as if you have an outdated website then you would not make sales what sites you consider up to date in their templates and send a link on how to get such a template
HostOX
Member
That is what annoys me, I paid $150 for a unique template which was much better than any themeforest template.
People should just stick to unique all the way, it works out better and looks much more professional.
euro-space
Account Disabled
I'd suggest to pay a bit more and hire professional designer to make unique layout of your brand website..
It is wise to make sure to put all the money into the servers as possible. That said it leaves little to nothing for themes and design.
All depends really on your business plan.
Like one poster said. If it isn't broke then don't fix it.
Most clients don't know anything about web design so they honestly don't care.
They are after all coming to you to get you to host their site.
Now if you have a portfolio and you are trying to sell yourself as a design firm then by all means you should have the latest greatest designs. That is to be expected. And you should be embarrassed if you are using old outdated designs and trying to pass it off as the latest best thing around.
It is all about what your company is selling. If you are selling yourself as a hosting provider then the crucial thing to keep in mind as should a customer. Do you have the latest technologies. Do you keep up with the latest threats to networks.
All depends really on your business plan.
Like one poster said. If it isn't broke then don't fix it.
Most clients don't know anything about web design so they honestly don't care.
They are after all coming to you to get you to host their site.
Now if you have a portfolio and you are trying to sell yourself as a design firm then by all means you should have the latest greatest designs. That is to be expected. And you should be embarrassed if you are using old outdated designs and trying to pass it off as the latest best thing around.
It is all about what your company is selling. If you are selling yourself as a hosting provider then the crucial thing to keep in mind as should a customer. Do you have the latest technologies. Do you keep up with the latest threats to networks.
easyhostmedia
Well-known member
You are so wrong.
You could have the best servers and service ion the world, but a very simple HTML webpage full of typos etc. and you will find you wont get customers as a cheap uncared for and error laden website shows to a prospective client that your services will most likely be cheap, uncared and unprofessional
How will anyone know you have the fastest servers in the world if they don't host with you? Everyone puts "best hosting" slogans on their sites. It doesn't have to be fancy. There no need for mammalian, avian or amphibious mascots. Forget the cartoonish representations for servers. As long as site is clean and professional. Its marketing. If you can't afford both the equipment and the marketing you will have a problem. Its like going to job interview with tattered clothes because you spent all your money learning the job.
You are sadly mistaken what I have written. Nobody ever said that if you have bad grammar or can’t spell you will be number one anyway as long as your servers are great.
It is just foolish to base a decision on looks and not facts.
That is like not dating a girl because she is not a super model. It makes you stupid and shallow.
Take for instance your post:
Even in the UK those words would still be spelled wrong or used improperly ion as we know means A particle that is electrically charged (positive or negative); an atom or molecule or group that has lost or gained one or more electrons. I doubt that is what you mean though.
I hope you see my point about how making harsh judgements or judgements based on design can lead to false impressions.
It is just foolish to base a decision on looks and not facts.
That is like not dating a girl because she is not a super model. It makes you stupid and shallow.
Take for instance your post:
and
Both of these parts of sentence are errors in spelling. As I am sure you meant "service in the world" instead and "you won't get customers" I however don't think that makes your company any less of a great person and would think it foolish to make judgement calls about a person or company based on a few errors in spelling.
Even in the UK those words would still be spelled wrong or used improperly ion as we know means A particle that is electrically charged (positive or negative); an atom or molecule or group that has lost or gained one or more electrons. I doubt that is what you mean though.
I hope you see my point about how making harsh judgements or judgements based on design can lead to false impressions.
The point of it is that there is no right way to design a site. There is no style guide that everyone is supposed to be following or you really aren't a professional. This is just more of the same mindset of people trying to judge people based on some perceived idea subjectively on how they think things should look. Just because you are wearing last years sneaker style doesn't make you a bad person, or a bad company.
I have also never seen any real data to show that having the latest design of the moment has a significant ROI to justify the expense.
If you are the kind of person that thinks that a template sells your company for you then please take down my information so that when you go belly up I can get those customers.
It isn't your template and theme that people are looking for it is support and specifications based on the market. HostGator is killing everyone in sales because they offer unlimited hosting for a small fee. Brent Oxley stated that they would get a 30% increase in sells every time they would offer some unlimited hosting deal.
So while I am not saying at all that you shouldn't care about site design at all. I am however saying that it is not as critical as people like to make out.
Look at HostGator as well as Burst.net both sites have been sporting the same look for a very long time.
They might not be the latest technology and design, but they are huge companies with loads of customers we would all die to have at least a tenth of. I hope you see my point.
I have also never seen any real data to show that having the latest design of the moment has a significant ROI to justify the expense.
If you are the kind of person that thinks that a template sells your company for you then please take down my information so that when you go belly up I can get those customers.
It isn't your template and theme that people are looking for it is support and specifications based on the market. HostGator is killing everyone in sales because they offer unlimited hosting for a small fee. Brent Oxley stated that they would get a 30% increase in sells every time they would offer some unlimited hosting deal.
So while I am not saying at all that you shouldn't care about site design at all. I am however saying that it is not as critical as people like to make out.
Look at HostGator as well as Burst.net both sites have been sporting the same look for a very long time.
They might not be the latest technology and design, but they are huge companies with loads of customers we would all die to have at least a tenth of. I hope you see my point.
Yes, but they became successful at the time when their look was fresh and new. No one is advocating a design change every year -- the point is what is your design before you get any customers and no one knows who you are.
It's OK to purchase a theme, because it's the content that you'll put on the site that will distinguish you from other businesses. It's also true that it shouldn't be very similar with many other sites. So as long you customize it enough to compliment your unique content it should do the job.
easyhostmedia
Well-known member
I think more and more hosts are going to places like Themeforest for templates and then customise to their own needs, but even customising them you will always tell their are using a pre formatted theme from the css, but nothing wrong in using a theme. you can pick up a good theme/template for $20 to $50 while it would cost on average $300 + for a bespoke theme.
solarishosting
New member
I think using a template is a good thing, if you know how to customize it to how you want it to look.
If we all used one template and added different functions to it, we could show the customer that it a different website and business.
It can be confusing for customers as well.
If we all used one template and added different functions to it, we could show the customer that it a different website and business.
It can be confusing for customers as well.
insight.tech
Member
I would suggest to buy a premium wp templates from themeforest and customized according to your requirements.
-
HostingDiscussion
A community for web hosting professionals and enthusiasts, since 2002.
