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The Secret To Picking The Best Website Template

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I help my clients launch powerful websites that convert, increase revenue and magnetize their audience into raving fans.

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Struggling to choose a website template that’s the perfect fit for your business?

You’ve made the (incredibly!) smart choice to use a template to take your website to the next level. But what’s the secret to picking a template that will showcase your brand and offer so much more than just style over substance?

It all begins with setting aside some time to get crystal clear on a few things.

Look, I know you’re busy, but I promise it’s worth it. And you’ll be reaping the rewards with a potent new business tool (AKA The perfect website to boost your business) in no time.

Let’s dive straight in with your first step:

Set Specific Goals for Your Business (Before Choosing a Template)

Setting clear business goals will help you decide what your business needs from a template to flourish online.

With the right template, you can customise everything to perfectly align with your business goals (as with my favourite, Showit website templates, of course). So, tackling a firm list of those goals (for now and as your business grows) is key.

Here’s an example of what your list could look like:

Increase brand awareness and authority.
Showcase my (sensational) work (photographers, copywriters etc).
Sell products/services online with a fluid shopping process for buyers.
Build a strong, responsive list of email subscribers.
Encourage enquiries and increase conversions.

You get the idea. These are the basics, but really get down to the nitty-gritty of what you want to achieve.

Next is looking at which template features will help you get these results.

What are my Design Needs Based on These Goals?

The best website template for a business is ultimately one that is designed with success in mind.

It should provide a seamless user experience. Firstly, to encourage people to stay, explore and buy/sign-up/enquire (take your pick!) And secondly, to keep them coming back again and again.

So, take your list and analyse what design features will help accomplish each goal most effectively.

Goal	Requirements
Increase Brand Awareness	SEO and Blogging Capabilities, Strong About Page
Showcase My Work	Standout Portfolio, Gallery, Testimonial Page
Sell Products Online	E-Commerce Capabilities, Checkout Buttons, Sales Pages
Build Email List	Opt-In Forms, Thank You Pages, Integration with Email Platform
Enquiries and Conversions	Services & Sales Pages, Call To Action Buttons

Use this as a checklist against any template you consider. And confirm it fulfils each and every requirement. If it doesn’t, it’s not an option!

I guarantee it’ll make the process so much easier and give you the best results.

With the business fundamentals decided, it’s time to get the creative juices flowing…

Choosing a Template Style (Based on Your Brand Type)

Having a clear-cut vision of your brand style will help you select a website template design that perfectly reflects that.

So what is your style? Or the style you would like for your brand…

Editorial: Creative with an effortlessly confident edge. An authoritative presence that’s polished, honest and aspirational. The cool one.
Bold: Unapologetically individual, more of a trendsetter than a follower. Strong, confident and here to make an impact. The attention-grabbing one.
Minimal: A calm presence with an uncluttered, crisp feel. No-nonsense attention to detail. The quietly confident one.
Fun: Lively and playful, you’re here to lift the spirits! Vibrant, friendly and engaging. The upbeat one.
Timeless: A poised air of sophistication. Gracefully refined with a luxurious sense of quality. A ‘no trends’ zone! The elegant one.

Authenticity wins every time, so lean in to exactly who you are.

Then, use this precise vision to find a template that will attract your ideal audience.

Create Your Top 10

So you’ve done the heavy lifting (you did it!) and are fully armed with your super clear goals, functionality requirements and style preferences.

Now, we move on to the all-important task of choosing your perfect website template. One that is ripe for tailoring to your unique brand requirements.

I get it, it can be overwhelming.

We’ve all been there, the ’30 tabs open, my brain can’t handle this anymore’ search fatigue situation!

So, to simplify your search, compile a list of the templates that stand out and meet your business needs exactly. Then, narrow it down to your top ten favourite designs to compare.

Make sure each template on your list ticks every single one of your requirements. This is a no-compromise zone – honestly, the right template shouldn’t leave you needing to choose between flawless functionality and a stunning aesthetic.

What Else Should You Consider to Finalise Your Decision

So aside from the fundamental question, ‘Does this template fulfil all my business goals?’, what other points should you ponder before you enthusiastically hit the ‘buy’ button…

Do any of my competitors use this template?

If so, can I make it different? You need a unique online home for your brand to shine.

Will this design be easily adaptable to my brand colours and fonts?

Consistency is essential for establishing a cohesive, memorable brand. Matching brand fonts and colours exactly is non-negotiable.

Will this template integrate with my chosen platform?

Compatibility ensures seamless functionality and customisation.

Also, can you add plug-ins like WordPress to support high-ranking blog posts? And, does it integrate with Email platforms, such as Kit or Flodesk, allowing you to build a responsive email list – a captive audience ready to inform and convert?

Which are the Best Website Templates to Choose?

In a nutshell, they’re the ones that tick all your boxes and recognise that seamless functionality is equally as important as a stunning aesthetic.

Settling for ‘adequate’ in either area will not cut it here. Especially if you’re serious about growing your business and giving users that ‘five-star’ experience.

Advice from a professional website designer…

My top client recommendation is Showit templates – you’re probably unsurprised to hear! In particular, our stunning Studio Designs Showit Templates, which you can gain inspiration from in our Template Shop.

For a bit of clarity here: I chose Showit through my own experiences in building a website. It ticked all of my boxes and more:

visually stunning designs
next-level customisation capabilities (including options for custom code)
easy to use drag and drop interface

I also found it easiest to handover sites to my clients on, as they quickly got the hang of it and I am a huge advocate of clients managing their own websites after they work with me, so that they feel confident in changing images and updating text themselves.

The point is, Showit templates offer everything you need to build an outstanding online business presence. And the comments from our clients achieving incredible results are a testament to that.

However, there are an abundance of other worthy options to choose from.

Other Website Platform Recommendations

While Showit is my personal choice, honestly, it may not suit your particular business type and goals.

For example, if you have big E-Commerce store requirements Shopify would be a much better option to pursue.

Which is why it’s crucial to follow all the steps above and define clear goals, functionality requirements and style preferences, BEFORE you begin your template search.