When it comes to developing the look and feel of your business website, there are endless options and decisions to be made. But before poring over the little details, like typography and imagery, you must first focus on the big picture and determine the overall layout and format. Your layout is the like the floorpan of your digital store, so choose wisely!
Many entrepreneurs take the budget-savvy route and opt for a free or affordable website template. A website template is a layout that is already pre-designed, rather than custom-designed, the latter of which can be pricey. A template allows a business owner to plug in their content (including text and photos), creating a quicker path to launching a professional and presentable website.
But picking a website template can be daunting. You must first think about your industry, your unique value proposition, and the type of user experience (UX) that makes sense for your customer. Here are some questions to ask yourself to determine your layout:
- How should you present the best images and text on your homepage?
- How many webpages should your website have, and how will the layout differ for each webpage?
- Should your template be largely image-driven or text-driven? Or a balance of both?
- Should your products be featured horizontally across a single page or should your customer scroll down to view each item, one-by-one?
Some templates make it easy for a visitor to understand the business mission statement, unique offerings, and policies on a single page. Others offer a user experience that entices the customer to navigate through different webpages to learn more about the brand.
Again, there are literally thousands of website templates to choose from, and the options can be overwhelming. Here are a few business website templates to help with your decision-making process. Go through each design and review how the layout and presentation works—or doesn’t work—for your business.
1) This Entrepreneur theme by Themovation offers business owners an easy way to confirm, schedule and secure bookings. Whether you’re a salon owner, or a plumbing company, a website that allows an entrepreneur to streamline their appointments is a great investment.
2) This Art Nouveau gallery template is ideal for image-driven businesses, be it a freelance graphic designer or someone selling physical art pieces. This simple site allows you to showcase several images on the homepage, giving visitors an instant preview of your work and talent.
3) The Diamind template is a great platform for jewelry, cosmetics, and other fashionable ventures. Retail entrepreneurs can showcase their feature products in an elegant template; there is also ample space for product descriptions that could inform and entice your customers.
4) Do you dream of selling your own goods at a farmers’ market as well as online? The Meabhy template is ideal for foodie businesses. Food stores and restaurants want the images of the plated foods to speak for themselves. This layout allows founders to share what makes their delectables so special through the power of words and imagery.
5) This FinanceLife by strongholdthemes template exudes professionalism. Its clean and modern look makes it a solid pick for accounting, law and real estate firms. The strong welcome page scrolls down to a row of three picture and description boxes where a business can list its main offerings.
6) Folio Bootstrap theme is an elegant, yet sleek layout for those who need to share an online portfolio, be it a photographer, actor, or writer. The landing page is a simple image statement, and can lead to further pages that reveal more about your achievements and credentials.
7) Are you launching a personal brand? This Motivate template works for career coaches, nutritionists, and other consultants. Let your personal brand shine through imagery, yet have space to add a tagline and descriptions that convey your unique value proposition.
When developing your business website, it’s best to go with a template that not only reflects your brand but allows for a delightful user experience for your customers.