Free Web Templates: A Good Deal, Or Not?
Free templates? Sounds like a great idea doesn’t it? Something for nothing, right? Well, maybe so; but the old adage that “you get what you pay for” might be worth considering here. When it comes to free web templates this adage comes into play- in more ways than one. Lets take a look at why “free web templates” might not be the best option after all.
Free Web Templates: Cookie-Cutter Appearance
First of all, one should consider that while the World Wide Web is a collection of hundreds of millions of websites, for a variety of reasons, the vast majority of the websites populating it look very similar. When the transmission of information is one’s main concern, design sense becomes, at best, an afterthought. The truth is the majority of new websites than come online do not appear unique, in comparison with the millions already there. Why is this? Well, because original thought is something of a rare commodity. People tend to repeat what they’ve already seen.
Of course another major reason for the lack of quality and diversity on the Web is tied to the fact that design sense is not an innate ability for the majority of people. In fact, design sense is unique to people with an artistic flare and a skill-set able to turn that sensibility into “virtual reality”.
Free Web Templates and the Wizard Behind the Scenes
Today the majority of web templates featured online feature a largely one-dimensional display. And while color schemes vary (some working and some definitely not!) there is often a distinct lack of texture featured on these website templates. Again, we should ask: why is this?
Well, a vast panorama of color is available to anyone working with html and css. One simply inserts the color code within a table or a div layer (depending on what format you’re using) and Voila! Your web template lights up with vivid color. However, while the colors may be dynamic (although, again, how they work together is still very much dependent on the design sense of the person formatting the template) there still is the question of texture to deal with.
Unlike color, there is no simple way (even if someone had the design sense to accomplish it) to add texture, grain, etc. to a layer of color. To accomplish this feat one must actually create shapes and blends using an image-altering software such as Adobe Photoshop. It’s in the crafting of these unique shapes and images that a website really begins to develop some three-dimensionality and originality.
Value in Web Template Design
If you’ve noticed, quite a few online companies selling web templates will advertise “free web templates” from there homepage. However, when you click through to the actual page featuring these free web templates, they leave you feeling less than overwhelmed. Why is this? Well, because heart and soul are generally not poured out into the design of these free web templates. Usually, they feature a very basic structure, a very basic color scheme, and absolutely no “bells and whistles”. Now, this isn't always the case. Exceptions to this rule do exist. Some free web templates are actually pretty state of the art. But many more are not. The question is, why? Well, let’s be honest, most of the time this is because these free web templates are here just to attract you to the website. From there the company hopes you’ll see the difference in quality between the free web templates and the “premium web templates” and decide to spend a little, to get a little – so to speak.
I guess this fits with the adage that there is “no free lunch”. These free web templates are really nothing much more than a ploy to get you to the website- with the hopes you’ll spring 20 to 60 dollars for a more exciting template version.
Before we demonize these companies for such an approach perhaps we should ask- “can we really blame them?” After all, they’re pouring in time, effort, and skill to produce exciting, compelling web template designs that help bring the World Wide Web to life. Isn’t it fair that they make a living in the process?
Gaining Perspective on Value: Web Templates vs. Custom Website Design
To realize just what a great deal web templates are for individuals, organizations, or companies looking to develop a new website, one should simply compare with the option of hiring a design firm to create a custom website template from scratch. This kind of service can vary anywhere from $500 to $5000- depending on the experience and skill-set of the design company. Frankly, the companies coming in on the lower end of this scale often leave much to be desired with the custom template creations they come up with. And while the companies on the top end of the scale offer top-notch designs, the cost involved, for most individuals and companies, is prohibitive.
Purchasing a pre-formatted web template however gives you the best of both worlds. You’re able to pick from a variety of striking, bold, compelling web template designs while still only having to fork out an amount well under $100. Put in perspective, doesn’t that sound like a pretty great deal?
You might not be getting one of those “free web templates”, but by only committing to a one-time fee of anywhere between $20 and $60, you’re able to gain from the craftsmanship and design sensibility of a true web templates design professional.
Free Web Templates: Design Sensibility- Or a Lack Thereof
When putting together a new website, one should remember that research has demonstrated, time and time again, that design matters. It would be foolish to not consider the value a good design brings to your website. Believe it or not, research shows that the majority of people surfing the Web will make a decision about the quality of a website within the first few seconds of visiting it. And here comes another old adage that applies: “you only get one chance to make a first impression”. And more specifically, according to this research, you have about five seconds to do so! Considering that fact, don’t you think choosing a quality, affordable, striking web template design makes sense over the choosing of one of those free web templates; the ones that are flat and underwhelming in appearance?
The Hidden Cost of Free Web Templates
In the end, free web templates might not be so free after all. What? How is this possible? I mean, free is free, right? Well, yes, perhaps at first that’s true. You might be able to download one of these underwhelming free web templates and use them to bring your website to the Web. However, what happens after this? What happens when your website visitors are consistently under-whelmed by your website? What happens when your website offers nothing to separate it from countless millions populating the Web?
I think you can see that the potential loss in revenue (if you’re a company selling a product or service), or the potential loss in loyalty (if you’re an non-profit organization or church) suggests that, in the long run, choosing from the available free web templates might not be such an affordable decision after all. This is especially the case when there are so many excellent web templates – not free, but offered at very reasonable prices – that allow you to wow your customers and/or audience with website design that shines now, and for years to come.
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