by Jay Kang | Posted on June 10th, 2023

Are you an affiliate website owner looking to create a stunning and engaging site without the need for extensive design experience? Look no further than website templates. These pre-built templates offer a time-saving solution that allows you to customize your site quickly and effectively. However, to achieve optimal results, it’s crucial to understand how to use website templates correctly.

Table Of Contents

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Dos:
Don’ts:

Conclusion

In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through the dos and don’ts of using website templates, providing valuable insights and practical tips to help you create a high-performing, secure, and SEO-friendly website that reflects your brand identity.

Dos:

Match your branding:

When customizing your website template, remember that your site is an opportunity to make a statement about your brand identity. It’s not just about looking different from the default template or your competitors; it’s about reinforcing what makes your business unique. Start by adding your business name, tagline, logo, and other brand elements. Replace placeholder copy with text written in your brand voice and ensure that stock images, icons, and animations align with your brand story. Each customization is a chance to enhance your brand’s presence, so make the most of them.

Pick a unique color scheme:

Selecting the right color scheme is a critical design decision that can impact your site’s accessibility, brand identity, and user experience. Rather than sticking with the template’s default color scheme, choose colors that align with your brand personality and resonate with your target audience. Consider color theory and psychology to create an aesthetically pleasing and psychologically impactful design. Explore successful examples of websites that utilize specific color palettes for inspiration. Remember, your website should feel like a natural extension of your brand, so choose your color palette carefully.

Choose fonts wisely:

While website templates offer multiple font options, it’s important to exercise restraint and stick to two or three fonts to maintain visual consistency. Create a visual hierarchy by using different font sizes to highlight important elements. Ensure that your font choices are not only visually appealing but also accessible, with sufficient color contrast and legibility across different devices and screen sizes. Prioritize user experience and readability to prevent high bounce rates and ensure that your content is effectively communicated.

Design for scannability:

In today’s fast-paced digital world, visitors tend to skim online content rather than reading it in its entirety. To accommodate this behavior, design your website with scannability in mind. Limit the amount of text, incorporate ample negative space, and utilize images and videos to enhance visual appeal. Create a clear visual hierarchy, employing font styles and sizes to guide readers’ attention. By optimizing your site for scannability, you increase the chances of conveying your message effectively, even to those who only skim the content.

Be consistent:

Consistency is key to creating a cohesive and professional website. While it may be tempting to customize every page, it’s important to maintain a consistent design across your site. Backgrounds, color schemes, typefaces, and writing tone should align with your brand and remain consistent throughout your website. This doesn’t mean that every page should look identical; different layouts can be used for specific types of pages. However, ensure that colors, fonts, and other design elements are used in a cohesive manner to reinforce your branding and provide a seamless user experience.

Keep it simple:

In the pursuit of creating visually appealing websites, it’s easy to fall into the trap of overloading templates with animations, images, videos, and other widgets. However, a cluttered and complicated layout can overwhelm visitors and hinder their ability to navigate your site effectively. Instead, focus on presenting clear information and options. Simplify your navigation and make your calls-to-action (CTAs) stand out. Concise and impactful copy will enhance the user experience, ensuring that visitors can easily find the information they seek.

Update as needed:

Websites are not static entities but rather dynamic platforms that require regular updates to meet evolving user needs and expectations. Additionally, as new web design trends emerge and technology advances, updates become necessary to stay relevant and maintain optimal performance. Incorporate practices such as A/B testing, competitor analysis, customer feedback implementation, and regular site audits to ensure that your website continues to deliver a top-notch user experience. Embrace change and adapt to keep your site fresh, engaging, and aligned with the latest industry standards.

Don’ts:

Choosing a Template That Doesn’t Meet Your Needs:

One of the most critical mistakes you can make is selecting a template that doesn’t align with your specific website requirements. Before settling on a template, consider factors such as your budget, the level of customization available, and whether the design reflects your brand’s personality. Determine if the template is responsive, ensuring a seamless user experience across different devices. Take your time to explore options and find a template that meets your needs effectively.

Choosing a Template with Unresponsive Elements:

In today’s mobile-dominated world, having a responsive website is essential. While most pre-built templates advertise responsiveness, it’s crucial to verify this feature before making a decision. Resize your browser window on both desktop and mobile devices to check if the content adjusts accordingly. Responsive elements will adapt to different screen sizes, ensuring a consistent and user-friendly experience for all visitors.

Using a Free Template with Branding:

While free templates can be tempting, they often come with the branding of the theme developer, which can undermine the professional look of your website. Additionally, free templates may pose security risks if they contain malicious code. Carefully consider the implications of using a free template and ensure that it aligns with your brand image and security requirements. If necessary, consider purchasing a paid version or explore affordable premium options.

Ignoring User Reviews:

User reviews provide valuable insights into the quality and usability of website templates. Before making a purchase, take the time to read reviews and ratings from other customers. Pay attention to both positive and negative feedback to gain a comprehensive understanding of the template’s strengths and weaknesses. Opt for templates with positive reviews and high ratings to increase the likelihood of a successful and hassle-free customization process.

Choosing a Poorly-Coded Template:

The coding quality of a template directly impacts its performance, search engine optimization (SEO) capabilities, and overall user experience. While reputable marketplaces ensure high coding standards, it’s still essential to exercise caution. Choose templates that have undergone thorough review processes to minimize the risk of encountering coding issues. Prioritize lightweight and well-coded templates to enhance site performance and ensure compatibility with modern web standards.

Not Customizing an Overused Template:

Templates offer a convenient starting point for website creation, but failing to customize them adequately can lead to a lack of uniqueness and differentiation. Avoid the pitfall of using an overused template without personalization. Customize the template extensively to reflect your brand’s identity and stand out from the crowd. Alternatively, consider selecting a template that is less commonly used, ensuring that your website maintains a distinct and memorable visual appeal.

Disregarding the Rules of Good Design:

While low-code and no-code platforms have made website creation accessible to individuals without extensive design knowledge, it’s important to understand and apply the principles of good design. Even with pre-built templates, adherence to design guidelines such as visual hierarchy, navigability, and consistency is crucial. Understand the fundamentals of good design and ensure that your customizations align with these principles to create a visually pleasing and user-friendly website.

Conclusion

By following these dos and avoiding the don’ts, you can harness the power of website templates to create an exceptional website that captures the essence of your brand and provides an engaging user experience. Remember, templates are a valuable tool, but it’s your customization and attention to detail that will make your website truly stand out. Take the time to explore options, customize thoughtfully, and continuously update your site to meet evolving needs. With the right approach, you’ll have a website that not only looks beautiful but also drives results for your affiliate business.

Jay Kang

Jay Kang, entrepreneur and SEO expert, is the driving force behind innovative platforms like linkilo.co and seorankserp.com. His latest creation, ProductReview.Tools, provides affiliate marketers with a powerful WordPress plugin for crafting high-converting reviews. Committed to empowering marketers, Jay continues to make a positive impact in the digital marketing space.

14 Dos and Don’ts of Using Website Templates

Dos:

Don’ts:

Conclusion

Jay Kang

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