Free templates have their uses, but they really aren’t intended for serious web design that has a professional look.
In the world of the internet, websites can seem like a dime a dozen – and some are. Most will use free templates to design their website, so that when you drop in for a visit you feel as if you’ve fallen into the over processed world of stale fast food.
If your teen wants an easy website to showcase their Tolkien collection, that’s one thing. If what you want is a professional site with a sleek look and the power to stand tall in the competitive market of the internet, then you need two things.
- Some serious web design experience, which you can easily gain through online tutorials.
- Expertise backing you, from professional web designers like Pelling Design.
Why Not Use Free Templates?
Free templates have their uses, but they really aren’t intended for serious web design that has a professional look. First impressions really can make a difference and internet users who land on your website need to feel like they’ve arrived in the adult world, not on a board game.
Free templatesour difficult to customize and the result is a lingering sense of processed, same as everyone else, trying not to stand out, kind of website. People click in, click out, and forget they were even there.
Perhaps worse than being forgettable is the threat of appearing somewhat ridiculous. Cheap clothes and cheap websites have the same problem: they look tacky. They look neglected, you look haphazard, and customers don’t stick around long enough for you to convince them that they need your services.
The appearance and layout of your website may have convinced them that they need to look elsewhere. Is that really what you want?
The Advantages of a Pro Designer
It bears repeating: the internet is a huge place, and you need to stand out.
Crisp up-to-date style and smooth navigation throughout your site is essential. When a potential customer clicks onto your website, they need that ‘wow’ factor that keeps them there, makes them want to explore, and believe the message on your home page. That creative touch with clear branding will make your site rise to the top.
Your website will serve your customers and reach a wider target audience. The goal here is to provide the information visitors to your site need when they need it. To do so with a strong sense of credibility that encourages them to act on what they see. Think of your website as a field representative who never quits drawing in readers. It must answer their questions and make them return for more.
You use the internet. You’ve seen some fantastic sites that cause you to linger and ask yourself questions that lead you further in. That kind of polish is the professional touch. Professionally designed websites will provide that custom look to grab attention.
Your website should look professional, and updating it should be easy. Competition online is high octane stuff. You need the creative fuel that gets you in the running with a website that never stops working for you.
You need to understand the vagaries of internet traffic. Know how to tap into the energy of the customer base you’re looking for and how to keep them coming back. Your website might be a new one for the business you’re opening online, or it might be an established one which you have depended upon for years. A successful business or community service provider knows this: to invest in the website is to invest in the business. Although it may seem like a costly investment at first, you’ll soon realize why it was so important and see your ROI rise.
