Web templates are raw materials that need to be refurnished/edited to be published online. Editing web-templates could include content insertion, graphic insertion/modification, inserting company logo, changing styles, changing links, changing flash images etc. Editing is quite easy but in case you feel otherwise you can always make use of template customization services that most template providers offer at affordable costs. Some template providers like http://www.buytemplates.net offer affordable customization services irrespective of where you actually purchased template from. This article discusses techniques that you can use to edit your web templates effectively to create unique looking websites.

Editing website templates effectively

For editing website templates all you would require is an html editor like Dreamweaver, Photoshop, FrontPage or Go-live. Most of these html editors are WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) kind and have a user friendly interface. You can do two types of editing to your web-templates. One is content editing and other is graphics editing.

1.) Editing content of your web templates

The template provider would have supplied you with an ‘index.html’ file along with your template. This is file that you would require for editing content of your templates. You can edit content using a text editor or an html editor software program.

Editing using text editors

Editing using text editors is best possible way to edit your templates. This will ensure that your html coding remains clean and no unnecessary junk code is added. But of course you need to be some what conversant with Html to hand code your templates. Notepad is probably most well-known of all text editors. Other than Notepad some other good and advanced text editors are editpad (editpadpro.com), NoteTab Light (notetab.com), and arachnophilia (arachnoid.com/arachnophilia/index.html).

Editing using Html editors

Making use of an html editor is probably easiest way of editing templates and would be useful to those who are not conversant with html. Most html editors are user friendly and have an easy-to-use interface. Some well known html web template editors are Dreamweaver, FrontPage and Go-live. To edit content of template, all that you would need to do is load index.html file in an editor. After that you can simply cut and paste your content where dummy content is provided and you are done. Adding content would also include changing links, adding content to tags and changing image sources if required.

Handy tips for content editing

Do It Yourself

The first way would be obvious, to do it yourself. If you have technical knowledge and time on your hands then this is a great way to put up a site that suite your business.

Pros:

• Save money by not paying someone else to do it for you • Maintain full control of your site • Sense of pride in what you have accomplished

Cons:

• Many business owners lack technical knowledge to effectively develop all necessary components of their web site. • Many business owners lack knowledge of how to write effective web copy that encourage sales as well as will be optimized for search engine. They are not versed in layout designs that increase accessibility and functionality. • They do not have hours invest in research, development and implementation of a business web site due to they must run their business so they put together a rush project. • Many business owners do not know how to effectively market site after design.

Results:

In most cases results are business owner builds a site that brings no results. The site is a creation that only owner appreciates. Due to lack of expertise and time they miss many critical elements in their site. So though price was not much more than registration of a domain name, purchasing of software, hosting fees and time, I cost owner thousands in loss time and sales.

Friend and Family

Many business owners have friends and family that have some web design experience but few have people in their circle that have a full understanding of developing a business site and how it interacts online.

Pros:

• The price of designing site will be minimal • You have someone with some technical knowledge to design and maintain your site • You have a personal bond with designer

Cons:

• Since this is for a friend or family and is not a high paying or no paying job many friends and family take their time and do not put same effort if it were a full paying job. • The knowledge of friend of family may not be much more than business owner so development of good copy and functional design will be lacking. • After design is complete job is done. There are no further marketing of site.

Results:

In most cases results are same as results of if business owners would have done it themselves. With out expertise in web design and Internet marketing site brings no results thus waste valuable time and money.

Templates and Sitebuilders

Templates and template driven site builders are newest trend in web design. There are numerous sites that business owners can go to and download a template or go through an easy step by step process which will put them online in a matter of minutes.

Pros:

• Usually low priced and sometimes comes with hosting • Fast design turn around time. You can have your site up same day • Visually appealing design that is structured properly by a professional designer • Easy to put in your information and publish • You have control over site and can freely make changes

Cons:

• Nonexclusive- This means that you will not have a unique site. You will have a site that looks just like many of your competitors. Being in business you know how important it is to be unique. *Some template designers will offer exclusive rights for a nominal fee. • You must provide sales copy • They do not optimize site for your company • There are not means of getting targeted customers to come to your site after design is published.

Results:

The results tend to be slightly better with template driven sites due to web site layout is visually appealing and structure is functional. The challenge is still to get people to come and by from your site. This still is placed on ability of business owner.

Directories