In this article I’ll try to briefly explain website templates in layman’s terms. The reason for the article is two-fold. First I happen to get a lot of visitors to my website who are looking for information or resources that might help them build their own website, so this will help them understand what a website template is, (or is not), and how to use a website template. Second, since I build websites from templates, it helps my clients understand how I use website templates to build a website.
Website Templates
What website templates are: I’m not sure if there is an actual definition for website template. The term website template is used rather loosely in my opinion and to make matters worse, there are definitions for website template, or rather explanations of what a website template is, which are actually more deceptive than anything else. For example I found a wikipedia article that attempts to give a definition for website template:
A web template is a tool used to separate content from presentation in web design, and for mass-production of web documents. It is a basic component of a web template system. Web templates can be used to set up any type of website. In its simplest sense, a web template operates similarly to a form letter for use in setting up a website.
The above definition for website template is inaccurate in my opinion, because while a website template is a tool used for producing web documents, it does not necessarily “separate content from design”, because the design and content of a site are most often integral. Its not limited to mass production of web documents either, because a website template can and should be setup for every website, regardless of the site being two pages or 2 million pages. Really the only thing remotely accurate about this definition is that web templates can be used to setup any type of website. The last part of the definition which would lead someone to believe that a website template operates like a form letter is completely wrong however, because they certainly do not. As a matter of fact, this is most likely the biggest source of confusion for do it yourself website builders.
I will try to explain what a website template is so that my readers can get a better understanding of it:
A website template is actually just a website. Its an electronic document made to be visible on the World Wide Web. Its written in code called “html” which stands for hyper text markup language. A company or designer who produces the website template is producing something which looks and feels just like a website, because it is a website. The only difference between a website template and a website is that the website template it typically populated with generic text that reads something like “Lorem Ispum, blah, blah, blah” and it has stock photography and artwork instead of photos, logos and artwork that are made for a specific company or business. Many of the links on a website template don’t link to anything either. Aside from that, you can upload a website template to a web hosting server and it will look and feel like a website.
How to use a website template
In essence, a website template can be used “as-is”, or only used as the skeleton or layout for a website. This latter method is how I use website templates. Selecting a website template to use for website project is a matter of finding a template that best suits the design goals of the project in terms of the layout and general aesthetics. Other than that, the website template will most likely need to be customized for the web project. Sometimes there is very little customization, other times a great deal of it. From the width of the template to the graphics, photos and color scheme used in it, many aspects of it will most likely be changed. Page names and navigation also obviously change. For example, by the time a web designer gets done with the website template customization, you may not even recognize it as the website template that was originally selected for the design.
Example of Website Template Customization
To provide a better visual idea of how website templates can be customized to suit a particular design goal, look at the following websites which all look markedly different, yet are all based on the same website template, (actually the same template that is shown on the top of this article).
Creating web pages from a website template
Perhaps the most confusing part of all for a non-designer, is figuring out that the template they just downloaded can’t simply be used as the generic definition of website template suggests… Like a form letter or like you just somehow open some program, fill in fields and then publish the whole thing to the web. There is a whole bunch more to it than that and here is why:
To open and customize a website template, you need software to do it. You’ll need a website design software, which allows you to see both the html code as well as the design view. For example, I use Macromedia Dreamweaver 8.0. With the website design software, you will create editable regions, or designate certain areas of the website as something which can be altered, like a certain area of text or a photo. The web design software will also enable you to convert the template design into an actual template that you can apply to the various pages within a website. In other words, after the template is customized, it has to be “saved as” a template, so that brand new pages can be made based on the template design.
The web design software will most often also have a built in file transfer device so you can connect to your web hosting server and upload the files. The web design software also allows you to make changes and updates to the website and synchronize the local version with the remote version of the website.
Customizing a Website Template Using Graphics, Images and Photographs…
You’ll also need graphics software to work with the artwork, graphics and photos in a website template or on the individual new pages created from the website template design. For example, I use Macromedia Fireworks to produce and modify graphic images. I used my graphics program to create the images you see throughout this website and in this article as well.
Defining a Website As A Website… Directories and Publicly Accessible Pages…
So far, you’ve learned that a website template is actually just a website that someone made which contains generic information. In order to be used, the template must be customized and then saved as a template, allowing the web designer to create new pages built on that template’s design. While this is all necessary, by no means does it result in a website – the way most people envision a website, which is a group of web pages that all share the same design look and feel and link to each other with a “home page”, “about us page”, etc.
In order to create a website, a web designer uses their website editing and designing software to “define” a directory and all the cohesive web pages contained in that directory which make up the “website”. Then, the web pages and all the various image files that make up that website are transferred to a web hosting server where they are publicly accessible and can be visited when someone types in or clicks on the URL or domain name of the website.
Where to find a website template
There are literally 1000′s pf places online to find website templates. The main thing that needs to be considered is what type of website template you’ll need, (For example, in most cases I employ transitional html, CSS based templates). There are also website templates for Flash Websites, Joomla Websites, WordPress Websites, etc. The other thing you’ll have to consider is how much you’re willing to spend on a website template. There are free website templates and premium website templates. The free website templates are – well – FREE. In some cases they are pretty decent and in other cases they are junk. Premium website templates might be great or just as crummy as a free template, the exception is that you are paying for the right to use that template design with what’s referred to as a user license. Premium templates typically come with some level of technical support in case there is something wrong with the template. They won’t tutor you on how to use a website template of course, but they will offer a fresh download or an updated version of the template if something is technically wrong with it. Expect to pay $50 – $150 for a single use license for a premium website template. There are also companies and freelancers who offer templates you can buy the copyright to, (this means that you can literally purchase the template design and they don’t resell it to others). Expect to pay $2000 – $3000 for the copyright. Lastly, there are also designers who will design a website template for you. Expect to pay $2000 – $5000 for a custom designed website template from a freelancer.
Website Template Based Editors and WYSIWYG website builders
As one last note, I’ll mention that this article focuses on website templates as they are most often used; a pre-designed website that can be customized, modified and used to create a website. To add to this dizzying array of choices and information surrounding traditional website templates, its important to note that there are also website template based editors and template based WYSIWYG, (what you see is what you get), web builder softwares. Some examples of this would be Intuit’s homestead websites, GoDaddy Website Tonight websites, Netfusion Websites, Yahoo Websites and there are more… Lots more. There are also “theme” based websites, such as WordPress websites. The template based editors are primarily focused on the do it yourself market and I don’t recommend them for commercial use, although they can be used this way if you’re willing to put up with the pros and cons of template based editors. In the future, perhaps I will dedicate an article to the template based website builders.
I hope that this article on website templates provides you with some answers to questions you may have had.
Category : Blog
Should you use Facebook Marketing and Social Network Marketing?
Okay, lets be honest… Unless you’ve been under a rock for the past two years, you have undoubtedly heard of Facebook and Twitter, two websites that have defined SOCIAL NETWORKING. In this article, I intend to tell YOU my honest opinion about Facebook Marketing and Social Network marketing in general and whether or not its all its cracked up to be!
The term social networking and all that it stands for has been forever emblazoned into our brains. As a marketer… A Web marketer or Internet marketer especially, I have been aware of the concept of social network marketing for quite a while, after all – web marketers live for this sort of stuff right? I do get excited when a new or creative marketing idea comes along, but I tend to be more conservative and get a bit skeptical of anything dubbed latest or greatest including social networking. I like to see results before I make recommendations.
Social networking has its place and has some value I suppose, but in my opinion, (contrary to the current zombie like fascination in social network marketing), I think social network marketing is highly overrated and fails in comparison to the hype surrounding Facebook Marketing, Twitter Marketing and so on.
Your website and consistent efforts to promote your website should be your focus, while social networking is optional and supplemental if you choose to pursue it. By no means am I discounting the possibility that social network marketing might work for some or that some people or companies might experience some good return on their social network marketing efforts, but your energy should be spent on your website and traditional methods of marketing – not social networking.
Here’s my advice about social network marketing based on my experience, with a dash or two of common sense added for flavoring.
First let us examine social networking sites like Facebook:
- Who uses social networking? Really – Think about this… Almost 500 million people have Facebook accounts so it SEEMS like the perfect opportunity to tap into a giant pool of regular users. Unfortunately I think, (perhaps you’ll agree), that the majority of Facebook users might be pre-teens, teenagers and twenty somethings who are less likely to care about or recommend your “stuff” to their friends unless of course you have the hottest iPhone app on the planet or a pair of tickets to Lady Gaga you’re giving away. The point is, that if you maintain a social networking profile for the purpose of marketing, you’ll need your friends or followers to be people who are potentially interested in your goods or services, (as well as folks you can communicate to effectively), therein lies the conundrum of finding the perfect pool of friends or followers.
- Why do people use social networking? If you can answer this question, you’re among a small percentile who perceives the value in social networking. Sure, its kind of neat to find old classmates or friends you have lost touch with. Yes its cool to build your clan of family members, (spouse, children, siblings, etc). I’ll admit its easy to post pictures to share. I love that its an instant method of obtaining or sharing late breaking news and events… BUT what is there beyond that? Social networking sucks up a bunch of time and can result in some very real relational issues that probably would never have arisen if you were not “Facebooking” at all.
- What do people talk about on social networking sites? Hmmm… The field that pops up on Facebook when you log-on invites you to let the world know “What’s On Your Mind”… From what I can tell, most people don’t have much on their minds if anything… They are tired, their feet hurt, they went to see a movie, they went out to dinner… Blah blah, blah so what? If you’re a high-level thinker forget about Facebook because what’s on YOUR mind, is rarely if ever anything that concerns the bulk of the populous that makes up your friends list. Don’t believe me? Just try talking about anything that truly matters like your product or service, current events, politics, the wars, religion, etc and you will quickly become either frustrated, ridiculed or ignored.
- How do you make your important message viral using Facebook? The truth is you can’t… Not unless your important message is a funny video, or stupid chain post. Think about your audience. First – they don’t care. Second – Your post is stupid. Third – You’re embarrassing their cool friends who see their wall. Fourth – Why are they your friend again?
- How much time does it take to do social networking? Setting up your Facebook profile or similar is easy enough. Its the finding friends, inviting friends, adding friends that can become time consuming. Of course that time is nothing compared to the countless hours you get sucked into it, almost in a trance state, discussing nothing and somehow justifying that its time well spent.
You’re probably thinking that I’m not a big supporter of social networking initiatives. Well ~ Not so much… I admit that, but you’re reading this because you want an honest opinion right?
Facebook, Twitter and Social Networking actually does have some positive points.
I’ll point out the few I know of and you’ll be able to decide for yourself whether or not to incorporate Facebook marketing or social network marketing into your overall web marketing plan.
- Your personal Facebook page can help YOU (your name) get found on search engines. If you’re someone who needs their personal name to show up well, (a Doctor, Lawyer, Music Artist, Actor or Actress, Politician, etc.), then a Facebook Personal Page might just be the answer. If you are trying to promote a business however, the business pages at Facebook do NOT get crawled and do not show up on search engines. If you must have a Facebook page, make sure its just a personal one not a business one.
- A social networking profile can give you a softer more personal image. This is nice because customers like when they can see that the people who run a company or an organization are real people that have real families and they talk about regular stuff – not just business. If you prefer to maintain a professional image however, social networking is probably not the best idea because it does demystify your brand and expertise.
- Its a Back-Link Paradise. When you place a link to your website or web page in a Twitter post, (or a personal Facebook post), it can certainly help a search engine crawl your website or web page – sometimes your site or page will be crawled within hours thanks to just a single link.
- Its cool to be connected. Having a Facebook, Twitter or other social networking widget on your website can draw site visitors to it like moths to a flame, show them that you are connected and they will sometimes even click through to your social networking profile page – maybe add you as a friend or follow you.
There you have it ~ My honest opinion on Facebook marketing, Twitter marketing and social network marketing!
Category : Blog
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