A website template is a pre-designed webpage or set of webpages that you can use when creating a website. It provides the structure and layout for your site.
Templates are an essential part of website design because they streamline the process of building a website, allowing web creators to focus on content and functionality, rather than design from scratch. They also make it possible to implement a consistent design throughout your website.
Several websites offer a wide range of templates, making it easier for businesses to find one that suits their needs. Wix has over 900, for example covering categories such as ecommerce website templates, beauty website templates and website design templates.
What are the different types of templates?
Page templates vs website templates
Page templates: These are designed for individual pages within a website. They provide a layout for specific types of content, such as blog posts, contact pages or product listings. Page templates are ideal when you need to maintain a consistent look across similar pages. Check out these blog templates for examples.
Website templates: These cover the entire website's design, including multiple page layouts and site-wide elements like headers and footers. They’re suitable for creating a cohesive design across all pages of a site.
Dynamic vs. static templates
Dynamic templates: These allow content to be updated automatically based on data inputs or user interactions. They’re beneficial for businesses that require frequent updates, such as e-commerce sites with changing product inventories.
Static templates: These remain unchanged unless manually edited. They’re suitable for websites with content that does not require regular updates, such as portfolios or informational sites.
How to choose the right template for your website
Selecting the right template is crucial for aligning your website with your business and, or personal goals. Here are some factors to consider:
Your industry: Choose a template that reflects the nature of your business. For instance, a creative agency might opt for a visually creative website template, while a law firm may prefer a more formal and structured law website template design.
Your audience: Consider who will be visiting your site because a template that appeals to your target audience can enhance user engagement and satisfaction.
Your design preferences: Your brand's aesthetic should guide your choice. Look for templates that match your color scheme, typography and overall style. Most templates can also be customized to align with these too.
What to look for in a website template
When considering which template to use, it’s important to check their features and customization options. These include:
Responsive design: Ensure the template is mobile-friendly and adapts well to different screen sizes. You can also use specific responsive templates.
Customization tools: Look for templates that offer flexibility in design elements, allowing you to tailor them to your brand's identity.
Why it’s important to customize your website templates (and how to do it)
Personalizing your website templates is essential to reflect your brand identity accurately and effectively. Some of the changes you should focus on is modifying the layout including all sessions, columns and rows on the page.
The focus on customizing your colors and fonts, in order to align with your brand’s style guide. You can also upload your own media files, or those from your website builder to complement your text. You’ll also need to update all included text blocks.
"Once you pick the right layout or template for you, it's really important to take the time to customize all the content. Many people overlook this step. Make sure you remove any unrelated images or paragraphs, and focus on creating a clear flow for the content that tells the story you want to share with your audience." Dafna Rabin, Wix Templates design team lead.
Maintaining a consistent design across your website is crucial for brand recognition and user experience when using templates. When using templates you can make sure that all your pages follow the same design standards.
By using templates, you can maintain a uniform and professional design throughout your site, which is important to build trust with potential customers or site visitors.
What are the main benefits of using website templates?
Efficiency and cost-effectiveness
Templates are a very efficient way to create a website. By providing a ready-made structure and layout, they reduce the time needed to create a site from scratch. If you’re a business looking to launch your site fast, this is important.
Cost savings
Templates are often more affordable than hiring a professional designer. Platforms like Wix offer free templates, which frees up your budget for other priorities.