So you need to build a solar energy website, and you have a certain “look” or style in mind.

Fortunately, website design has come a long way in the last few years.

Free templates, ready-made designs, and website builders allow anybody to get their website up and running relatively easily.

In a world where your digital presence is crucial to build your brand, this shift has been incredible.

But starting the process of building your website with a solar energy website template can be a shortcut to some bad website choices.

Starting with a template or pre-made design is like starting your office building search based on an existing conference room layout.

Sure, a good existing conference room layout is great. But it doesn’t really matter if your location, building, lease terms, and expansion options do not make any sense.

Here’s the open secret among professional web designers: web pages are made of HTML & CSS with a few scripts thrown in. This means that…

…any website template can exist on any good web platform.

In other words, you’re not tied to using a specific website platform just because you like a template that platform provides, because that template can be recreated anywhere!

With that in mind, here’s a brief 6 step guide to choosing the right solar energy website template on the right web platform so that you can build the design & functionality that your business needs.

1. Define Your Needs, Budget & Assets

Since any generic template can transform into a solar energy template with a little editing, they are very easy to market (and easy to mislead). It’s important to take stock of what you truly need, what your budget is, and what website assets you already own.

Needs

What functionality does your website need? Is it simply a “brochure site” or does it need to be interactive? Do you need it to be easily edited? Do you need to publish educational content frequently and easily? Do you need visitors to be able to request a quote?

There are no right answers, but it’s important to at least think about them before reading template sales features.

Budget

Price is powerful, but it’s important to not only pay for value but to also pay for what matters.

What is a new lead worth? How long do you expect this website to last? How much is your time worth – and how much will getting your website right save time?

Again, there are no right answers, but it’s important to at least think about them before shopping for a design/designer/template.

Assets

Pre-made solar energy templates can go a long way… but the site still needs to be yours. What photography do you have? Do you have a digitized logo? Do you know your fonts and exact colors? Do you have content already written for your about page, FAQs, etc? Do you have marketing partnerships with other local businesses or organizations? Do you already have established social profiles & reviews?

There are no right answers, but it’s important to at least think about them before getting swayed by nice mock-ups.

2. Understand Terminology & Options

Website terminology can be daunting and frustrating with so many companies mixing, matching, & misusing jargon to sell their product. Here are the 5 core things you need to have a website on the Internet nowadays:

Domain Name

A domain is your “address” on the Internet. You lease it for a certain amount of time from ICANN via accredited “domain registrars”. You can buy one now and “point” it to your website later. Many website hosting companies also resell domain names to provide convenience.

Website Hosting

Your website is made up of computer files. And those files have to “live” somewhere. Website hosting companies rent space on specialized servers that store & serve your website files whenever someone goes to your website.

Website Software

A modern website usually consists of a lot of different files. While not 100% necessary, websites usually need software (ie, a “content management system”) to manage all the files – and make it easy for a human to edit & maintain.

There are hundreds of thousands of website software options.

For our purposes, we’ll be looking at WordPress.

WordPress powers more than 25% of the Internet. It has its critics and its evangelists. But it’s still the go-to solution for most solar energy websites.

Why? Because WordPress is kind of like the 4-door sedan or light SUV of website software.

Yes, it is popular. But it’s popular because it fits most people’s needs. It’s versatile, manageable and suitable for so much. If you hear people saying that “WordPress gets hacked” or “WordPress is not fast”, that is like someone saying that “sedans get broken into more often than semi-trucks” or “well, your Honda Accord can’t beat my Ferrari off the line.”

Yes, those criticisms are true… but not.

Plus, as we’ll see, there are ways to mitigate/eliminate WordPress’ disadvantages while keeping its advantages for building a solar energy website (ie, ownership, publishing, integrations with interactive tools, etc).

*WordPress is for most, but not everyone. It does have a learning curve. Here’s how WordPress compares to Wix, how WordPress compares to Squarespace, and how WordPress compares to Weebly. Your end goal should be a website that is best for *you* and your goals. The general strategies below work regardless of platform.

Website Templates

As we saw in the introduction, templates are simply pre-made HTML & CSS (the computer languages that browsers use to yield a webpage). While not 100% necessary, mobile devices and different browsers make good design nearly impossible to do well from scratch. All good web designers use some sort of template/framework to start.

And there is a whole universe of pre-made solar energy website templates that range from free templates to paid to bundled with custom design services.

There is one item to remember about template, however:

Website templates should focus on design, layout & content presentation… and not on functionality.

Website Plugins / Extensions

Plugins / extensions / apps are specific pieces of software that work with your website software to add functions or features to your website.

Possibly the biggest advantage of WordPress is how “extensible” it is. WordPress has a whole universe of free & premium plugins. These allow even small solar energy websites to have very advanced functionality on them. In fact, many software providers make WordPress plugins & compatible scripts that can drop right into a WordPress-powered site, which means you can have almost any functionality on your site that you dream up.

3. Choose & Setup Your Solar Energy Website Platform

There are a lot of excellent website platforms. There are infinite ways to combine, mix & match the 5 different pieces you need for a modern website.

But this guide would be worthless if it did not actually help you find a template & build a website that works.

We’ve already narrowed the website software down to WordPress. Now we need to pick where your WordPress software will live & how it will work with your templates & plugins.

There are two main options here: “self-hosted” WordPress and WordPress.com.

Disclosure – I receive customer referral fees from companies mentioned on this website. All data & opinions are based on my professional experience as a paying customer or consultant to paying customers.

Self-hosted WordPress

WordPress is free, open-source, community supported software. You can download it, install it anywhere, and use it however you like.

When you self-host WordPress, you get complete freedom but also have complete responsibility. It’s like owning your own building. You can do whatever you want… but you’re also the one to call the plumber.

That said, installing WordPress with a good business hosting company makes all the difference. A good hosting company can provide the support, security & services that can minimize the risks of maintaining your own self-hosted WordPress.

For businesses, I use & recommend InMotion Hosting for a few reasons. I wrote a full review of InMotion here.

1. InMotion provides excellent support services via phone, chat, email & knowledgebase.
2. InMotion operates at a slightly higher price point to focus on businesses (not hobby bloggers).
3. InMotion provides WordPress auto-install at checkout in addition to an (optional) free, drag & drop design tool called BoldGrid.
4. InMotion can provide custom web design services to minimize the search for a random freelancer.

See InMotion Hosting’s current Business Hosting Plans here.

Upside: If you self-host your WordPress software, you can download & use basically any theme or plugin that you want. Developers & consultants are used to the setup. It is future-proof, and it saves a good bit of money compared to other options.

Downside: You are in charge of technical aspects. Sure – InMotion provides support and consultants can provide expertise, but you are ultimately in charge of everything. For anyone who doesn’t want to deal with technical issues at all – self-hosting WordPress is not ideal.

WordPress.com

WordPress.com is a “hosted service” run by the originator of WordPress software. It’s an all-in-one service that bundles a limited version of WordPress software with hosting, software, support, and services all into one monthly plan.

If self-hosting WordPress is like owning your own building, then using WordPress.com is like leasing a pre-built storefront. You can do all the customizations that you want “inside” your building, but the maintenance and boring bits are not your responsibility.

For businesses, I use & recommend WordPress.com for a few reasons.

1. WordPress.com takes care of *all* speed, security & technical concerns while still benefiting from the advantages of WordPress software.
2. WordPress.com’s Business Plan is expensive, but it is predictable. There will never be a big consultant’s fee for maintenance.
3. WordPress.com provides a full directory of premium design templates with simple installation.
4. WordPress.com still allows you to install vetted 3rd party plugins – which is huge for a custom solar energy website.

See WordPress.com’s Business Plan here.

Upside: If you use WordPress.com, then you get most of the upside of WordPress software without any potential technical headaches.

Downside: You have a limited version of WordPress – and will inevitably miss out on some functionality and design options.

Your Next Steps

Remember that there is no wrong choice. It all depends on your goals and needs.

Sign up for InMotion Hosting’s Business Plan w/ WordPress auto-install.

Sign up for WordPress.com’s Business Plan.

4. Choose & Setup Your Solar Energy Website Template

Now that you know what you have and you know what you need, you can dive in finding the right pre-made solar energy template for your website.

When you are shopping, keep a few things in mind:

1. Ignore the mock-up photography and logo designs. Often, a template will only look a certain way due to the mock-up photography.
2. Focus on the layout of a given template.
3. Look beyond the homepage. Look at how the subpages and unique pages are presented.
4. Remember that any template can be reproduced as a WordPress Theme or template. If you see a Squarespace, Weebly, Wix, Drupal, etc template, it is better to convert that template to WordPress than to lock into that platform simply for the design.

Self-hosted WordPress Templates

With a self-hosted WordPress install, you have a basically unlimited choice of templates. Here are a few places to look for high-quality options.

• My round-up of WordPress Theme Frameworks – basically amazing foundational templates that can produce great websites with good photos & colors.
• ThemeForest – a huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• MOJO Themes – another huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• TemplateMonster – another huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• WordPress.org Repository – the official marketplace for WordPress themes & templates. All templates are free to download & install directly into your WordPress website.

If you used InMotion Hosting, then you’ll also have access to their BoldGrid templates that have drag & drop functionality. You can also use their design services to convert a template you love to WordPress + your brand.

WordPress.com Templates

With a WordPress.com Business Plan, you can not only upload template choices from sites listed above – you also get unlimited access to WordPress.com’s premium templates. These all have advanced customization options so that you can edit them.

You can browse them here.

5. Choose & Setup Your Solar Energy Website Functionality

Many template & theme makers bundle functionality with design. That can be great, but it can also have downsides.

If your theme has too much functionality built-in, then you are locked into that template. But if you separate out design & functionality, you can easily edit both.

Either way, WordPress allows additional functionality via plugins.

Everyday Functionality

WordPress works out of the box and needs very little installed on top. In fact, generally the fewer plugins you have, the better.

If you are using a self-hosted site, then I’d recommend installing the JetPack plugin to provide security & backups (along with other fun things like sharing buttons, contact forms, etc).

I’ve also written a round-up of “must have” WordPress plugins here – that includes things like Google Analytics & Redirects.

Specialized Functionality

Now – what you’ve been waiting for – specialized functionality.

Here it is important to emphasize writing down your needs. It’s easy to just randomly add things to WordPress that neither you nor your visitors need.

Once you do that, check out these resources:

• WordPress.org Repository – the official source for plugins. Do a search for specific functionality. Be sure to note the number of installs, rating, and other notes of quality.
• ThemeForest – also an excellent source for premium plugins in every industry.

6. Refine Your Design & Content

Now that you have your design & functionality setup, the fun begins.

The important point here is that whether your website is a brochure or informational site – or an interactive & constantly updated site – maintaining, revising and editing is never done.

It does not have to be time-consuming, but a good website is one that has regular updates and edits.

Editing Your Design

Using WordPress + a good template should make this process straightforward. InMotion’s BoldGrid tool brings drag and drop functionality to WordPress and WordPress.com’s Customizer tool allows for simple click & edit customization.

Here’s a guide to how WordPress Themes work – along with a tour of the WordPress Dashboard.

When planning & editing your site, be sure to keep the features that your customers want in mind. Even if you like a certain look or feel – that might be frustrating for visitors.

Marketing Your Solar Energy Website

Ahh, now the real fun. There are no right answers here.

But here’s the thing. You can’t do real, long-term brand building without a website. Social networks come and go. But a good website is something that *you* own.

If you lock onto your best customers and identify how they find you, you’ll be able to position your site for whatever comes.

I cover this topic in my guide to planning a local marketing strategy.

Next Steps

Walk through your budget & needs.

If self-hosted WordPress fits your needs, purchase a Business Hosting Plan with WordPress auto-install here.

If bundled WordPress services fit your needs, purchase a WordPress.com Business Plan here.

Keep Exploring & Learning!

• How To Setup a WordPress Website from Scratch
• Beginner’s Guide To Using WordPress
• How To Map Your Keywords for SEO
• Planning a Local Marketing Strategy
• Must Have Features for a Local Business Website
• How To Advertise Online Effectively

So you need to build a recording studio website, and you have a certain look or style in mind.

Fortunately, website design has come a long way in the last few years.

Free templates, ready-made designs, and website builders allow anybody to get their business online.

In the high-churn, cutthroat, rapidly digitizing music industry, this shift has been incredible.

But starting the process of building a recording studio website with a recording studio website template can be a shortcut to some bad website choices.

Starting with a template or pre-made design is like starting your studio building search based on existing lobby layouts.

Sure – a good existing lobby layout is great. But it doesn’t really matter if your location, building, lease terms, and expansion options do not make any sense.

Here’s the open secret among professional web designers: web pages are made of HTML & CSS with a few scripts thrown in. This means that…

…any website template can exist on any good web platform.

In other words, you don’t have to choose a website platform just because you like the template they offer. That template can be recreated anywhere.

With that in mind, here’s a brief 6 step guide to choosing the right recording studio website template on the right web platform so that you can build the design & functionality that your business needs.

1. Define Your Needs, Budget & Assets

Since any generic template can transform into a recording studio template with a little editing, they are very easy to market (and easy to mislead). It’s important to take stock of what you truly need, what your budget is, and what website assets you already own.

Needs

What functionality does your website need? Is it simply a “brochure site” or does it need to be interactive? Do you need it to be easily edited? How should it display your services and location (ie, PDF or HTML)? Do you need to take bookings? Do you want to stream the music that’s been recorded there?

There are no right answers, but it’s important to at least think about them before reading template sales features.

Budget

Price is powerful, but it’s important to not only pay for value but to also pay for what matters. Think about your physical business location. What do you spend money on and where do you cut back?

What is a new, repeat customer worth? How much do you want to grow? How long do you expect this website to last? How much is your time worth – and how much will getting your website right save time? How much is your staff’s time worth – can a good website help them?

There are no right answers, but it’s important to at least think about them before shopping for a design/designer/template.

Assets

Pre-made recording studio templates can go a long way… but the site still needs to be yours. What photography do you have? Do you have a digitized logo? Do you know your fonts and exact colors? Do you have descriptions of your history, location, services, etc? Do you have marketing partnerships with other local businesses or music organizations? Do you already have established social profiles & reviews?

There are no right answers, but it’s important to at least think about them before getting swayed by nice mock-ups.

2. Understand Terminology & Options

Website terminology can be daunting and frustrating with so many companies mixing, matching, & misusing jargon to sell their product. Here are the 5 core things you need to have a website on the Internet nowadays.

Domain Name

A domain is your “address” on the Internet. You lease it for a certain amount of time from ICANN via accredited “domain registrars”. You can buy one now and “point” it to your website later. Many website hosting companies also resell domain names to provide convenience.

Website Hosting

Your website is made up of computer files. And those files have to “live” somewhere. Website hosting companies rent space on specialized servers that store & serve your website files whenever someone goes to your website.

Website Software

A modern website usually consists of a lot of different files. While not 100% necessary, websites usually need software (ie, a “content management system”) to manage all the files and make it easy for a human to edit & maintain.

There are hundreds of thousands of website software options.

For our purposes, we’ll be looking at WordPress.

WordPress powers more than 25% of the Internet. It has its critics and its evangelists. But it’s still the go-to solution for most recording studio websites.

Why? Because WordPress is kind of like the 4 door sedan or light SUV of website software.

Yes, it is popular. But it’s popular because it fits most people’s needs. It’s versatile, manageable and suitable for so much. If you hear people saying that “WordPress gets hacked” or “WordPress is not fast”, that is like someone saying that “sedans get broken into more often than semi-trucks” or “well, your Honda Accord can’t beat my Ferrari off the line.”

Yes, those criticisms are true… but not.

Plus, as we’ll see, there are ways to mitigate/eliminate WordPress’ disadvantages while keeping its advantages for building a recording studio website (ie, ownership, marketing, integrations, etc).

*WordPress is for most, but not everyone. It does have a learning curve. Here’s how WordPress compares to Wix, how WordPress compares to Squarespace, and how WordPress compares to Weebly. Your end goal should be a website that is best for *you* and your goals. The general strategies below work regardless of platform.

Website Templates

As we saw in the introduction, templates are simply pre-made HTML & CSS (the computer languages that browsers use to yield a webpage). While not 100% necessary, mobile devices and different browsers make good design nearly impossible to do well from scratch. All good web designers use some sort of template/framework to start.

And there is a whole universe of pre-made recording studio website templates that range from free templates to paid to bundled with custom design services.

There is one item to remember about templates, however. Website templates should focus on design, layout & content presentation… and not on functionality.

Website Plugins / Extensions

Plugins / extensions / apps are specific pieces of software that work with your website software to add functions or features to your website.

Possibly the biggest advantage of WordPress is how “extensible” it is. WordPress has a whole universe of free & premium plugins. These allow even small studios to have very advanced functionality on their websites. In fact, many software providers make WordPress plugins & compatible scripts that can drop right into a WordPress-powered site, meaning your site can have almost any functionality you dream up.

3. Choose & Setup Your Recording Studio Website Platform

There are a lot of excellent website platforms. There are infinite ways to combine, mix & match the 5 different pieces you need for a modern website.

But this guide would be worthless if it did not actually help you find a template & build a website that works.

We’ve already narrowed the website software down to WordPress. Now we need to pick where your WordPress software will live & how it will work with your templates & plugins.

There are two main options here: “self-hosted” WordPress and WordPress.com.

Disclosure – I receive customer referral fees from companies mentioned on this website. All data & opinions are based on my professional experience as a paying customer or consultant to paying customers.

Self-hosted WordPress

WordPress is free, open-source, community supported software. You can download it, install it anywhere, and use it however you like.

When you self-host WordPress, you get complete freedom but also have complete responsibility. It’s like owning your own building. You can do whatever you want…but you’re also the one to call the plumber.

That said, installing WordPress with a good business hosting company makes all the difference. A good hosting company can provide the support, security & services that can minimize the risks of maintaining your own self-hosted WordPress.

For businesses, I use & recommend InMotion Hosting for a few reasons. I wrote a full review of InMotion here.

1. InMotion provides excellent support services via phone, chat, email & knowledgebase.
2. InMotion operates at a slightly higher price point to focus on businesses (not hobby bloggers).
3. InMotion provides WordPress auto-install at checkout in addition to an (optional) free, drag & drop design tool called BoldGrid.
4. InMotion can provide custom web design services to minimize the search for a random freelancer.

See InMotion Hosting’s current Business Hosting Plans here.

Upside: If you self-host your WordPress software, you can download & use basically any theme or plugin that you want. Developers & consultants are used to the setup. It is future-proof, and it saves a good bit of money compared to other options.

Downside: You are in charge of technical aspects. Sure – InMotion provides support and consultants can provide expertise, but you are ultimately in charge of everything. For anyone who doesn’t want to deal with technical issues at all – self-hosting WordPress is not ideal.

WordPress.com

WordPress.com is a “hosted service” run by the originator of WordPress software. It’s an all-in-one service that bundles a limited version of WordPress software with hosting, software, support, and services all into one monthly plan.

If self-hosting WordPress is like owning your own building, then using WordPress.com is like leasing a pre-built storefront. You can do all the customizations that you want “inside” your building, but the maintenance and boring bits are not your responsibility.

For businesses, I use & recommend WordPress.com for a few reasons.

1. WordPress.com takes care of *all* speed, security & technical concerns while still benefitting from the advantages of WordPress software.
2. WordPress.com’s Business Plan is expensive, but it is predictable. There will never be a big consultant’s fee for maintenance.
3. WordPress.com provides a full directory of premium design templates with simple installation.
4. WordPress.com still allows you to install vetted 3rd party plugins – which is huge for a custom recording studio website.

See WordPress.com’s Business Plan here.

Upside: If you use WordPress.com, then you get most of the upside of WordPress software without any potential technical headaches.

Downside: You have a limited version of WordPress – and will inevitably miss out on some functionality and design options.

Your Next Steps

Remember that there is no wrong choice. It all depends on your goals and needs.

Sign up for InMotion Hosting’s Business Plan w/ WordPress auto-install.

Sign up for WordPress.com’s Business Plan.

4. Choose & Setup Your Recording Studio Website Template

Now that you know what you have and you know what you need, you can dive in finding the right pre-made recording studio template for your website.

When you are shopping, keep a few things in mind:

1. Ignore the mock-up photography and logo designs. Often, a template will only look a certain way due to the mock-up photography.
2. Focus on the layout of a given template.
3. Look beyond the homepage. Look at how the subpages and unique pages are presented.
4. Remember that any template can be reproduced as a WordPress Theme or template. If you see a Squarespace, Weebly, Wix, Drupal, etc template, it is better to convert that template to WordPress than to lock into that platform simply for the design.

Self-hosted WordPress Templates

With a self-hosted WordPress install, you have a basically unlimited choice of templates. Here are a few places to look for high-quality options.

• My round-up of WordPress Theme Frameworks – basically amazing foundational templates that can produce great websites with good photos & colors.
• ThemeForest – a huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• MOJO Themes – another huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• TemplateMonster – another huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• WordPress.org Repository – the official marketplace for WordPress themes & templates. All templates are free to download & install directly into your WordPress website.

If you used InMotion Hosting, then you’ll also have access to their BoldGrid templates that have drag & drop functionality. You can also use their design services to convert a template you love to WordPress + your brand.

WordPress.com Templates

With a WordPress.com Business Plan, you can not only upload template choices from sites listed above – you also get unlimited access to WordPress.com’s premium templates. These all have advanced customization options so that you can edit them.

You can browse them here.

5. Choose & Setup Your Recording Studio Website Functionality

Many template & theme makers bundle functionality with design. That can be great, but it can also have downsides.

If your theme has too much functionality built-in, then you are locked into that template. But if you separate out design & functionality, you can easily edit both.

Either way, WordPress allows additional functionality via plugins.

Everyday Functionality

WordPress works out of the box – and needs very little installed on top. In fact, generally the fewer plugins you have, the better.

If you are using a self-hosted site, then I’d recommend installing the JetPack plugin to provide security & backups (along with other fun things like sharing buttons, contact forms, etc).

I’ve also written a round-up of “must have” WordPress plugins here – that includes things like Google Analytics & Redirects.

Specialized Functionality

Now – what you’ve been waiting for – specialized functionality.

Here it is important to emphasize writing down your needs. It’s easy to just randomly add things to WordPress that neither you nor your visitors need.

Once you do that, check out these resources:

• WordPress.org Repository – the official source for plugins. Do a search for specific functionality. Be sure to note the number of installs, rating, and other notes of quality.
• ThemeForest – also an excellent source for premium plugins in every industry.
• Industry-specific Software Providers – since WordPress is such a popular CMS, your favorite software providers probably have an integration. Do a Google Search!

6. Refine Your Design & Content

Now that you have your design & functionality setup, the fun begins.

The important point here is that whether your website is a brochure or informational site – or an interactive & constantly updated site – maintaining, revising and editing is never done.

It does not have to be time-consuming, but a good website is one that has regular updates and edits.

Editing Your Design

Using WordPress + a good template should make this process straightforward. InMotion’s BoldGrid tool brings drag and drop functionality to WordPress and WordPress.com’s Customizer tool allows for simple click & edit customization.

Here’s a guide to how WordPress Themes work – along with a tour of the WordPress Dashboard.

When planning & editing your site, be sure to keep the features that your customers want in mind. Even if you like a certain look or feel – that might be frustrating for visitors.

Marketing Your Recording Studio Website

Ahh, now the real fun. There are no right answers here.

But here’s the thing. You can’t do real, long-term brand building without a website. Social networks come and go. But a good website is something that *you* own.

If you lock onto your best customers and identify how they find you, you’ll be able to position your site for whatever comes.

I cover this topic in my guide to planning a local marketing strategy.

Next Steps

Walk through your budget & needs.

If self-hosted WordPress fits your needs, purchase a Business Hosting Plan with WordPress auto-install here.

If bundled WordPress services fit your needs, purchase a WordPress.com Business Plan here.

Keep Exploring & Learning!

• How To Setup a WordPress Website from Scratch
• Beginner’s Guide To Using WordPress
• How To Map Your Keywords for SEO
• Planning a Local Marketing Strategy
• Must Have Features for a Local Business Website
• How To Advertise Online Effectively

So you need to build a shopping mall website, and you have a certain “look” or style in mind.

Fortunately, website design has come a long way in the last few years.

Free templates, ready-made designs, and website builders allow anybody to get their business online.

In the high-churn, cutthroat, rapidly digitizing retail industry, this shift has been incredible.

But starting the process of building a shopping mall website with a shopping mall website template can be a shortcut to some bad website choices.

Starting with a template or pre-made design is like starting your mall building search based on existing parking lot layouts.

Sure – a good existing parking lot layout is great. But it doesn’t really matter if your location, building, lease terms, and expansion options do not make any sense.

Here’s the open secret among professional web designers: web pages are made of HTML & CSS with a few scripts thrown in. This means that…

…any website template can exist on any good web platform.

In other words, you’re not tied to using a specific website platform just because you like the template. That template can be created anywhere.

With that in mind, here’s brief 6 step guide to choosing the right shopping mall website template on the right web platform so that you can build the design & functionality that your business needs.

1. Define Your Needs, Budget & Assets

Since any generic template can transform into a shopping mall template with a little editing, they are very easy to market (and easy to mislead). It’s important to take stock of what you truly need, what your budget is, and what website assets you already own.

Needs

What functionality does your website need? Is it simply a “brochure site” or does it need to be interactive? Do you need it to be easily edited? How should it display your shop directory & location (ie, PDF or HTML)? Do you need to display a calendar and sell tickets for special events?

There are no right answers, but it’s important to at least think about them before reading template sales features.

Budget

Price is powerful, but it’s important to not only pay for value but to also pay for what matters. Think about your physical business location. What do you spend money on and where do you cut back?

What is a new, repeat mall visitor worth? How much do you want to grow? How long do you expect this website to last? How much is your time worth – and how much will getting your website right save time? How much is your staff’s time worth – can a good website help them?

There are no right answers, but it’s important to at least think about them before shopping for a design/designer/template.

Assets

Pre-made shopping mall templates can go a long way… but the site still needs to be yours. What photography do you have? Do you have a digitized logo? Do you know your fonts and exact colors? Do you have descriptions of your shops, location, events, etc? Do you have marketing partnerships with other local businesses or organizations? Do you already have established social profiles?

There are no right answers, but it’s important to at least think about them before getting swayed by nice mock-ups.

2. Understand Terminology & Options

Website terminology can be daunting and frustrating with so many companies mixing, matching, & misusing jargon to sell their product. Here are the 5 core things you need to have a website on the Internet nowadays.

Domain Name

A domain is your “address” on the Internet. You lease it for a certain amount of time from ICANN via accredited “domain registrars”. You can buy one now and “point” it to your website later. Many website hosting companies also resell domain names to provide convenience.

Website Hosting

Your website is made up of computer files. And those files have to “live” somewhere. Website hosting companies rent space on specialized servers that store & serve your website files whenever someone goes to your website.

Website Software

A modern website usually consists of a lot of different files. While not 100% necessary, websites usually need software (ie, a “content management system”) to manage all the files – and make it easy for a human to edit & maintain.

There are hundreds of thousands of website software options.

For our purposes, we’ll be looking at WordPress.

WordPress powers more than 25% of the Internet. It has its critics and its evangelists. But it’s still the go-to solution for most shopping mall websites.

Why? Because WordPress is kind of like the 4 door sedan or light SUV of website software.

Yes, it is popular. But it’s popular because it fits most people’s needs. It’s versatile, manageable and suitable for so much. If you hear people saying that “WordPress gets hacked” or “WordPress is not fast”, that is like someone saying that “sedans get broken into more often than semi-trucks” or “well, your Honda Accord can’t beat my Ferrari off the line.”

Yes, those criticisms are true… but not.

Plus, as we’ll see, there are ways to mitigate/eliminate WordPress’ disadvantages while keeping its advantages for building a shopping mall website (ie, ownership, marketing, integrations, etc).

*WordPress is for most, but not everyone. It does have a learning curve. Here’s how WordPress compares to Wix, how WordPress compares to Squarespace, and how WordPress compares to Weebly. Your end goal should be a website that is best for *you* and your goals. The general strategies below work regardless of platform.

Website Templates

As we saw in the introduction, templates are simply pre-made HTML & CSS (the computer languages that browsers use to yield a webpage). While not 100% necessary, mobile devices and different browsers make good design nearly impossible to do well from scratch. All good web designers use some sort of template/framework to start.

And there is a whole universe of pre-made shopping mall website templates that range from free templates to paid to bundled with custom design services.

There is one item to remember about templates, however. Website templates should focus on design, layout & content presentation… and not on functionality.

Website Plugins / Extensions

Plugins / extensions / apps are specific pieces of software that work with your website software to add functions or features to your website.

Possibly the biggest advantage of WordPress is how “extensible” it is. WordPress has a whole universe of free & premium plugins. These allow even small shopping malls to have very advanced functionality on their websites.

3. Choose & Setup Your Shopping Mall Website Platform

There are a lot of excellent website platforms. There are infinite ways to combine, mix & match the 5 different pieces you need for a modern website.

But this guide would be worthless if it did not actually help you find a template & build a website that works.

We’ve already narrowed the website software down to WordPress. Now we need to pick where your WordPress software will live & how it will work with your templates & plugins.

There are two main options here: “self-hosted” WordPress and WordPress.com.

Disclosure – I receive customer referral fees from companies mentioned on this website. All data & opinions are based on my professional experience as a paying customer or consultant to paying customers.

Self-hosted WordPress

WordPress is free, open-source, community supported software. You can download it, install it anywhere, and use it however you like.

When you self-host WordPress, you get complete freedom but also have complete responsibility. It’s like owning your own building. You can do whatever you want…but you’re also the one to call the plumber.

That said, installing WordPress with a good business hosting company makes all the difference. A good hosting company can provide the support, security & services that can minimize the risks of maintaining your own self-hosted WordPress.

For businesses, I use & recommend InMotion Hosting for a few reasons. I wrote a full review of InMotion here.

1. InMotion provides excellent support services via phone, chat, email & knowledgebase.
2. InMotion operates at a slightly higher price point to focus on businesses (not hobby bloggers).
3. InMotion provides WordPress auto-install at checkout in addition to an (optional) free, drag & drop design tool called BoldGrid.
4. InMotion can provide custom web design services to minimize the search for a random freelancer.

See InMotion Hosting’s current Business Hosting Plans here.

Upside: If you self-host your WordPress software, you can download & use basically any theme or plugin that you want. Developers & consultants are used to the setup. It is future-proof, and it saves a good bit of money compared to other options.

Downside: You are in charge of technical aspects. Sure – InMotion provides support and consultants can provide expertise, but you are ultimately in charge of everything. For anyone who doesn’t want to deal with technical issues at all – self-hosting WordPress is not ideal.

WordPress.com

WordPress.com is a “hosted service” run by the originator of WordPress software. It’s an all-in-one service that bundles a limited version of WordPress software with hosting, software, support, and services all into one monthly plan.

If self-hosting WordPress is like owning your own building, then using WordPress.com is like leasing a pre-built storefront. You can do all the customizations that you want “inside” your building, but the maintenance and boring bits are not your responsibility.

For businesses, I use & recommend WordPress.com for a few reasons.

1. WordPress.com takes care of *all* speed, security & technical concerns while still benefitting from the advantages of WordPress software.
2. WordPress.com’s Business Plan is expensive, but it is predictable. There will never be a big consultant’s fee for maintenance.
3. WordPress.com provides a full directory of premium design templates with simple installation.
4. WordPress.com still allows you to install vetted 3rd party plugins – which is huge for a custom shopping mall website.

See WordPress.com’s Business Plan here.

Upside: If you use WordPress.com, then you get most of the upside of WordPress software without any potential technical headaches.

Downside: You have a limited version of WordPress – and will inevitably miss out on some functionality and design options.

Your Next Steps

Remember that there is no wrong choice. It all depends on your goals and needs.

Sign up for InMotion Hosting’s Business Plan w/ WordPress auto-install.

Sign up for WordPress.com’s Business Plan.

4. Choose & Setup Your Shopping Mall Website Template

Now that you know what you have and you know what you need, you can dive in finding the right pre-made shopping mall template for your website.

When you are shopping, keep a few things in mind.

1. Ignore the mock-up photography and logo designs. Often, a template will only look a certain way due to the mock-up photography.
2. Focus on the layout of a given template.
3. Look beyond the homepage. Look at how the subpages and unique pages are presented.
4. Remember that any template can be reproduced as a WordPress Theme or template. If you see a Squarespace, Weebly, Wix, Drupal, etc template, it is better to convert that template to WordPress than to lock into that platform simply for the design. Again, that would be like choosing your location based solely on the parking lot layout. Better to choose a location that fits all your needs and spending money renovating the parking situation.

Self-hosted WordPress Templates

With a self-hosted WordPress install, you have a basically unlimited choice of templates. Here are a few places to look for high-quality options.

• My round-up of WordPress Theme Frameworks – basically amazing foundational templates that can produce great websites with good photos & colors.
• ThemeForest – a huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• MOJO Themes – another huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• TemplateMonster – another huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• WordPress.org Repository – the official marketplace for WordPress themes & templates. All templates are free to download & install directly into your WordPress website.

If you used InMotion Hosting, then you’ll also have access to their BoldGrid templates that have drag & drop functionality. You can also use their design services to convert a template you love to WordPress + your brand.

WordPress.com Templates

With a WordPress.com Business Plan, you can not only upload template choices from sites listed above – you also get unlimited access to WordPress.com’s premium templates. These all have advanced customization options so that you can edit them.

You can browse them here.

5. Choose & Setup Your Shopping Mall Website Functionality

Many template & theme makers bundle functionality with design. That can be great, but it can also have downsides.

If your theme has too much functionality built-in, then you are locked into that template. But if you separate out design & functionality, you can easily edit both.

Either way, WordPress allows additional functionality via plugins.

Everyday Functionality

WordPress works out of the box and needs very little installed on top. In fact, generally the fewer plugins you have, the better.

If you are using a self-hosted site, then I’d recommend installing the JetPack plugin to provide security & backups (along with other fun things like sharing buttons, contact forms, etc).

I’ve also written a round-up of “must have” WordPress plugins here – that includes things like Google Analytics & Redirects.

There are also options for eCommerce like WooCommerce that work well for shopping malls that want to sell tickets or other special offers on their sites.

Specialized Functionality

Now – what you’ve been waiting for – specialized functionality.

Here it is important to emphasize writing down your needs. It’s easy to just randomly add things to WordPress that neither you nor your visitors need.

Once you do that, check out these resources:

• WordPress.org Repository – the official source for plugins. Do a search for specific functionality. Be sure to note the number of installs, rating, and other notes of quality.
• ThemeForest – also an excellent source for premium plugins in every industry.

Note that with WordPress.com Business Plans also have lots of shopping mall functionality – see this example.

6. Refine Your Design & Content

Now that you have your design & functionality setup, the fun begins.

The important point here is that whether your website is a brochure or informational site – or an interactive & constantly updated site – maintaining, revising and editing is never done.

It does not have to be time-consuming, but a good website is one that has regular updates and edits.

Editing Your Design

Using WordPress + a good template should make this process straightforward. InMotion’s BoldGrid tool brings drag and drop functionality to WordPress and WordPress.com’s Customizer tool allows for simple click & edit customization.

Here’s a guide to how WordPress Themes work – along with a tour of the WordPress Dashboard.

When planning & editing your site, be sure to keep the features that your customers want in mind. Even if you like a certain look or feel – that might be frustrating for visitors.

For malls, your directory and location pages are the top priority. Your visitors are likely on mobile devices – that means scannable content and minimal navigation.

Marketing Your Shopping Mall Website

Ahh, now the real fun. There are no right answers here.

But here’s the thing. You can’t do real, long-term brand building without a website. Social networks come and go. But a good website is something that *you* own.

If you lock onto your best customers and identify how they find you, you’ll be able to position your site for whatever comes.

I cover this topic in my guide to planning a local marketing strategy.

Next Steps

Walk through your budget & needs.

If self-hosted WordPress fits your needs, purchase a Business Hosting Plan with WordPress auto-install here.

If bundled WordPress services fit your needs, purchase a WordPress.com Business Plan here.

Keep Exploring & Learning!

• How To Setup a WordPress Website from Scratch
• Beginner’s Guide To Using WordPress
• How To Map Your Keywords for SEO
• Planning a Local Marketing Strategy
• Must Have Features for a Local Business Website
• How To Advertise Online Effectively

So you need to build a window cleaning website, and you have a certain look or style in mind.

Fortunately, website design has come a long way in the last few years.

Free templates, ready-made designs, and website builders allow anybody to get their business online.

In a world where your digital presence is crucial to building your brand, this shift has been incredible.

But starting the process of building your website with a window cleaning website template can be a shortcut to some bad website choices.

Starting with a template or pre-made design is like starting your home search based on existing paint jobs.

Sure, a good existing paint job is great. But it doesn’t really matter if your location, lease terms, and number of bedrooms, etc do not make any sense.

Here’s the open secret among professional web designers: web pages are made of HTML & CSS with a few scripts thrown in. This means that…

…any website template can exist on any good web platform.

That means you’re not tied to an existing website platform just because you like the template.

With that in mind, here’s brief 6 step guide to choosing the right window cleaning website template on the right web platform so that you can build the design & functionality that your business needs.

1. Define Your Needs, Budget & Assets

Since any generic template can transform into a window cleaning template with a little editing, they are very easy to market (and easy to mislead). It’s important to take stock of what you truly need, what your budget is, and what website assets you already own.

Needs

What functionality does your website need? Is it simply a “brochure site” or does it need to be interactive? Do you need it to be easily edited? How should it display your services & locations you serve (ie, PDF or HTML)? Do you need to take reservations or accept online payments?

There are no right answers, but it’s important to at least think about them before reading template sales features.

Budget

Price is powerful, but it’s important to not only pay for value but to also pay for what matters.

What is a new, repeat customer worth? How much do you want to grow? How long do you expect this website to last? How much is your time worth – and how much will getting your website right save time? How much is your staff’s time worth – can a good website help them?

There are no right answers, but it’s important to at least think about them before shopping for a design/designer/template.

Assets

Pre-made window cleaning templates can go a long way… but the site still needs to be yours. What photography do you have? Do you have a digitized logo? Do you know your fonts and exact colors? Do you have descriptions of your history, services, etc? Do you have marketing partnerships with other local businesses or organizations? Do you already have established social profiles & reviews?

There are no right answers, but it’s important to at least think about them before getting swayed by nice mock-ups.

2. Understand Terminology & Options

Website terminology can be daunting and frustrating with so many companies mixing, matching, & misusing jargon to sell their product. Here are the 5 core things you need to have a website on the Internet nowadays.

Domain Name

A domain is your “address” on the Internet. You lease it for a certain amount of time from ICANN via accredited “domain registrars”. You can buy one now and “point” it to your website later. Many website hosting companies also resell domain names to provide convenience.

Website Hosting

Your website is made up of computer files. And those files have to “live” somewhere. Website hosting companies rent space on specialized servers that store & serve your website files whenever someone goes to your website.

Website Software

A modern website usually consists of a lot of different files. While not 100% necessary, websites usually need software (ie, a “content management system”) to manage all the files and make it easy for a human to edit & maintain.

There are hundreds of thousands of website software options.

For our purposes, we’ll be looking at WordPress.

WordPress powers more than 25% of the Internet. It has its critics and its evangelists. But it’s still the go-to solution for most window cleaning websites.

Why? Because WordPress is kind of like the 4 door sedan or light SUV of website software.

Yes, it is popular. But it’s popular because it fits most people’s needs. It’s versatile, manageable and suitable for so much. If you hear people saying that “WordPress gets hacked” or “WordPress is not fast”, that is like someone saying that “sedans get broken into more often than semi-trucks” or “well, your Honda Accord can’t beat my Ferrari off the line.”

Yes, those criticisms are true… but not.

Plus, as we’ll see, there are ways to mitigate/eliminate WordPress’ disadvantages while keeping its advantages for building a window cleaning website (ie, ownership, marketing, integrations, etc).

*WordPress is for most, but not everyone. It does have a learning curve. Here’s how WordPress compares to Wix, how WordPress compares to Squarespace, and how WordPress compares to Weebly. Your end goal should be a website that is best for *you* and your goals. The general strategies below work regardless of platform.

Website Templates

As we saw in the introduction, templates are simply pre-made HTML & CSS (the computer languages that browsers use to yield a webpage). While not 100% necessary, mobile devices and different browsers make good design nearly impossible to do well from scratch. All good web designers use some sort of template/framework to start.

And there is a whole universe of pre-made window cleaning website templates that range from free templates to paid to bundled with custom design services.

There is one item to remember about templates:

Website templates should focus on design, layout & content presentation… and not on functionality.

Website Plugins / Extensions

Plugins / extensions / apps are specific pieces of software that work with your website software to add functions or features to your website.

Possibly the biggest advantage of WordPress is how “extensible” it is. WordPress has a whole universe of free & premium plugins. These allow even small window cleaning businesses to have very advanced functionality on their websites. In fact, many software providers make WordPress plugins & compatible scripts that can drop right into a WordPress-powered site, meaning your WordPress site can have essentially any functionality your business needs.

3. Choose & Setup Your Window Cleaning Website Platform

There are a lot of excellent website platforms. There are infinite ways to combine, mix & match the 5 different pieces you need for a modern website.

But this guide would be worthless if it did not actually help you find a template & build a website that works.

We’ve already narrowed the website software down to WordPress. Now we need to pick where your WordPress software will live & how it will work with your templates & plugins.

There are two main options here: “self-hosted” WordPress and WordPress.com.

Disclosure – I receive customer referral fees from companies mentioned on this website. All data & opinions are based on my professional experience as a paying customer or consultant to paying customers.

Self-hosted WordPress

WordPress is free, open-source, community supported software. You can download it, install it anywhere, and use it however you like.

When you self-host WordPress, you get complete freedom but also have complete responsibility. It’s like owning your own building. You can do whatever you want…but you’re also the one to call the plumber.

That said, installing WordPress with a good business hosting company makes all the difference. A good hosting company can provide the support, security & services that can minimize the risks of maintaining your own self-hosted WordPress.

For businesses, I use & recommend InMotion Hosting for a few reasons. I wrote a full review of InMotion here.

1. InMotion provides excellent support services via phone, chat, email & knowledgebase.
2. InMotion operates at a slightly higher price point to focus on businesses (not hobby bloggers).
3. InMotion provides WordPress auto-install at checkout in addition to an (optional) free, drag & drop design tool called BoldGrid.
4. InMotion can provide custom web design services to minimize the search for a random freelancer.

See InMotion Hosting’s current Business Hosting Plans here.

Upside: If you self-host your WordPress software, you can download & use basically any theme or plugin that you want. Developers & consultants are used to the setup. It is future-proof, and it saves a good bit of money compared to other options.

Downside: You are in charge of technical aspects. Sure – InMotion provides support and consultants can provide expertise, but you are ultimately in charge of everything. For anyone who doesn’t want to deal with technical issues at all – self-hosting WordPress is not ideal.

WordPress.com

WordPress.com is a “hosted service” run by the originator of WordPress software. It’s an all-in-one service that bundles a limited version of WordPress software with hosting, software, support, and services all into one monthly plan.

If self-hosting WordPress is like owning your own building, then using WordPress.com is like leasing a pre-built storefront. You can do all the customizations that you want “inside” your building, but the maintenance and boring bits are not your responsibility.

For businesses, I use & recommend WordPress.com for a few reasons.

1. WordPress.com takes care of *all* speed, security & technical concerns while still benefitting from the advantages of WordPress software.
2. WordPress.com’s Business Plan is expensive, but it is predictable. There will never be a big consultant’s fee for maintenance.
3. WordPress.com provides a full directory of premium design templates with simple installation.
4. WordPress.com still allows you to install vetted 3rd party plugins – which is huge for a custom window cleaning website.

See WordPress.com’s Business Plan here.

Upside: If you use WordPress.com, then you get most of the upside of WordPress software without any potential technical headaches.

Downside: You have a limited version of WordPress – and will inevitably miss out on some functionality and design options.

Your Next Steps

Remember that there is no wrong choice. It all depends on your goals and needs.

Sign up for InMotion Hosting’s Business Plan w/ WordPress auto-install.

Sign up for WordPress.com’s Business Plan.

4. Choose & Setup Your Window Cleaning Website Template

Now that you know what you have and you know what you need, you can dive in finding the right pre-made window cleaning template for your website.

When you are shopping, keep a few things in mind:

1. Ignore the mock-up photography and logo designs. Often, a template will only look a certain way due to the mock-up photography.
2. Focus on the layout of a given template.
3. Look beyond the homepage. Look at how the subpages and unique pages are presented.
4. Remember that any template can be reproduced as a WordPress Theme or template. If you see a Squarespace, Weebly, Wix, Drupal, etc template, it is better to convert that template to WordPress than to lock into that platform simply for the design. Again, that would be like choosing your home based on a paint job. Better to choose a home that fits all of your needs and spend money repainting.

Self-hosted WordPress Templates

With a self-hosted WordPress install, you have a basically unlimited choice of templates. Here are a few places to look for high-quality options.

• My round-up of WordPress Theme Frameworks – basically amazing foundational templates that can produce great websites with good photos & colors.
• ThemeForest – a huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• MOJO Themes – another huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• TemplateMonster – another huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• WordPress.org Repository – the official marketplace for WordPress themes & templates. All templates are free to download & install directly into your WordPress website.

If you used InMotion Hosting, then you’ll also have access to their BoldGrid templates that have drag & drop functionality. You can also use their design services to convert a template you love to WordPress + your brand.

WordPress.com Templates

With a WordPress.com Business Plan, you can not only upload template choices from sites listed above – you also get unlimited access to WordPress.com’s premium templates. These all have advanced customization options so that you can edit them.

You can browse them here.

5. Choose & Setup Your Window Cleaning Website Functionality

Many template & theme makers bundle functionality with design. That can be great, but it can also have downsides.

If your theme has too much functionality built-in, then you are locked into that template. But if you separate out design & functionality, you can easily edit both.

Either way, WordPress allows additional functionality via plugins.

Everyday Functionality

WordPress works out of the box and needs very little installed on top. In fact, generally the fewer plugins you have, the better.

If you are using a self-hosted site, then I’d recommend installing the JetPack plugin to provide security & backups (along with other fun things like sharing buttons, contact forms, etc).

I’ve also written a round-up of “must have” WordPress plugins here – that includes things like Google Analytics & Redirects.

There are also options for eCommerce like WooCommerce that work well for window cleaning businesses that want to accept online payments or sell packages online.

Specialized Functionality

Now – what you’ve been waiting for – specialized functionality.

Here it is important to emphasize writing down your needs. It’s easy to just randomly add things to WordPress that neither you nor your visitors need.

Once you do that, check out these sources:

• WordPress.org Repository – the official source for plugins. Do a search for specific functionality. Be sure to note the number of installs, rating, and other notes of quality.
• ThemeForest – also an excellent source for premium plugins in every industry.

6. Refine Your Design & Content

Now that you have your design & functionality setup, the fun begins.

The important point here is that whether your website is a brochure or informational site – or an interactive & constantly updated site – maintaining, revising and editing is never done.

It does not have to be time-consuming, but a good website is one that has regular updates and edits.

Editing Your Design

Using WordPress + a good template should make this process straightforward. InMotion’s BoldGrid tool brings drag and drop functionality to WordPress and WordPress.com’s Customizer tool allows for simple click & edit customization.

Here’s a guide to how WordPress Themes work – along with a tour of the WordPress Dashboard.

When planning & editing your site, be sure to keep the features that your customers want in mind. Even if you like a certain look or feel – that might be frustrating for visitors.

For window cleaners, your services and location information are the top priority. Your visitors are likely on mobile devices, so keep content scannable and navigation minimal.

Marketing Your Window Cleaning Website

Ahh, now the real fun. There are no right answers here.

But here’s the thing. You can’t do real, long-term brand building without a website. Social networks come and go. But a good website is something that *you* own.

If you lock onto your best customers and identify how they find you, you’ll be able to position your site for whatever comes.

I cover this topic in my guide to planning a local marketing strategy.

Next Steps

Walk through your budget & needs.

If self-hosted WordPress fits your needs, purchase a Business Hosting Plan with WordPress auto-install here.

If bundled WordPress services fit your needs, purchase a WordPress.com Business Plan here.

Keep Exploring & Learning!

• How To Setup a WordPress Website from Scratch
• Beginner’s Guide To Using WordPress
• How To Map Your Keywords for SEO
• Planning a Local Marketing Strategy
• Must Have Features for a Local Business Website
• How To Advertise Online Effectively

So you need to build a military website, and you have a certain “look” in mind.

Fortunately, website design has come a long way in the last few years.

Free templates, ready-made designs, and website builders allow anybody to get their site up and running relatively easily.

In the modern digital world, this shift has been incredible.

But starting the process of building a military website with a military website template can be a shortcut to some bad website choices.

Starting with a template or pre-made design is like buying a house based on the paint job.

Sure, a good existing paint job is great. But it doesn’t really matter if your location, mortgage terms, number of bedrooms, etc. do not make any sense.

Here’s the open secret among professional web designers: web pages are made of HTML & CSS with a few scripts thrown in. This means that…

…any website template can exist on any good web platform.

With that in mind, here’s a brief 6 step guide to choosing the right military website template on the right web platform so that you can build the design & functionality that your business needs.

1. Define Your Needs, Budget & Assets

Since any generic template can transform into a military template with a little editing, they are very easy to market (and easy to mislead). It’s important to take stock of what you truly need, what your budget is, and what website assets you already own.

Needs

What functionality does your website need? Is it simply a “brochure site” to share information, or does it need to be interactive? Do you need it to be easily edited? Do you want to display information about joining, training, career positions, etc.? Do you want to connect veterans? Publish educational content?

There are no right answers, but it’s important to at least think about them before reading template sales features.

Budget

Price is powerful, but it’s important to not only pay for value but to also pay for what matters.

What are your goals for the website? How long do you expect this website to last? How much is your time worth – and how much will getting your website right save time? How much is your staff’s time worth – can a good website help them?

Again, no right answers here. But it’s better to have an idea of budget before you start shopping for a designer/template.

Assets

Pre-made military templates can go a long way… but the site still needs to be yours. What photography do you have? Do you have a digitized logo? Do you know your fonts and exact colors? Want content do you have written?

There are no right answers, but it’s important to at least think about them before getting swayed by nice mock-ups.

2. Understand Terminology & Options

Website terminology can be daunting and frustrating with so many companies mixing, matching, & misusing jargon to sell their product. Here are the 5 core things you need to have a website on the Internet nowadays.

Domain Name

A domain is your “address” on the Internet. You lease it for a certain amount of time from ICANN via accredited “domain registrars”. You can buy one now and “point” it to your website later. Many website hosting companies also resell domain names to provide convenience.

Website Hosting

Your website is made up of computer files. And those files have to “live” somewhere. Website hosting companies rent space on specialized servers that store & serve your website files whenever someone goes to your website.

Website Software

A modern website usually consists of a lot of different files. While not 100% necessary, websites usually need software (ie, a “content management system”) to manage all the files and make it easy for a human to edit & maintain.

There are hundreds of thousands of website software options.

For our purposes, we’ll be looking at WordPress.

WordPress powers more than 25% of the Internet. It has its critics and its evangelists. But it’s still the go-to solution for most military websites.

Here’s the thing: WordPress is kind of like the 4 door sedan or light SUV of website software.

Yes – it is popular. But it’s popular because it fits most people’s needs. It’s versatile, manageable and suitable for so much. If you hear people saying that “WordPress gets hacked” or “WordPress is not fast” – that is like someone saying that “sedans get broken into more often than semi-trucks” or “well, your Honda Accord can’t beat my Ferrari off the line.”

Yes, those criticisms are true… but not.

Plus, as we’ll see, there are ways to mitigate/eliminate WordPress’ disadvantages while keeping its advantages for building a military website (ie, ownership, accessibility, integrations, etc).

*WordPress is for most, but not everyone. It does have a learning curve. Here’s how WordPress compares to Wix, how WordPress compares to Squarespace, and how WordPress compares to Weebly. Your end goal should be a website that is best for *you* and your goals. The general strategies below work regardless of platform.

Website Templates

As we saw in the introduction, templates are simply pre-made HTML & CSS (the computer languages that browsers use to yield a webpage). While not 100% necessary, mobile devices and different browsers make good design nearly impossible to do well from scratch. All good web designers use some sort of template/framework to start.

And there is a whole universe of pre-made military website templates that range from free templates to paid to bundled with custom design services.

There is one item to remember about templates, however. Website templates should focus on design, layout & content presentation – and not on functionality.

Website Plugins / Extensions

Plugins / extensions / apps are specific pieces of software that work with your website software to add functions or features to your website.

Possibly the biggest advantage of WordPress is how “extensible” it is. WordPress has a whole universe of free & premium plugins. These allow even small websites to have very advanced functionality on their websites, from forums to to job application portals.

3. Choose & Setup Your Military Website Platform

There are a lot of excellent website platforms. There are infinite ways to combine, mix & match the 5 different pieces you need for a modern website.

But this guide would be worthless if it did not actually help you find a template & build a website that works.

We’ve already narrowed the website software down to WordPress. Now we need to pick where your WordPress software will live & how it will work with your templates & plugins.

There are two main options here: “self-hosted” WordPress and WordPress.com.

Disclosure – I receive customer referral fees from companies mentioned on this website. All data & opinions are based on my professional experience as a paying customer or consultant to paying customers.

Self-hosted WordPress

WordPress is free, open-source, community supported software. You can download it, install it anywhere, and use it however you like.

When you self-host WordPress, you get complete freedom but also have complete responsibility. It’s like owning your own building. You can do whatever you want…but you’re also the one to call the plumber.

That said, installing WordPress with a good business hosting company makes all the difference. A good hosting company can provide the support, security & services that can minimize the risks of maintaining your own self-hosted WordPress.

For businesses, I use & recommend InMotion Hosting for a few reasons. I wrote a full review of InMotion here.

1. InMotion provides excellent support services via phone, chat, email & knowledgebase.
2. InMotion operates at a slightly higher price point to focus on businesses (not hobby bloggers).
3. InMotion provides WordPress auto-install at checkout in addition to an (optional) free, drag & drop design tool called BoldGrid.
4. InMotion can provide custom web design services to minimize the search for a random freelancer.

See InMotion Hosting’s current Business Hosting Plans here.

Upside: If you self-host your WordPress software, you can download & use basically any theme or plugin that you want. Developers & consultants are used to the setup. It is future-proof, and it saves a good bit of money compared to other options.

Downside: You are in charge of technical aspects. Sure – InMotion provides support and consultants can provide expertise, but you are ultimately in charge of everything. For anyone who doesn’t want to deal with technical issues at all – self-hosting WordPress is not ideal.

WordPress.com

WordPress.com is a “hosted service” run by the originator of WordPress software. It’s an all-in-one service that bundles a limited version of WordPress software with hosting, software, support, and services all into one monthly plan.

If self-hosting WordPress is like owning your own building, then using WordPress.com is like leasing a pre-built storefront. You can do all the customizations that you want “inside” your building, but the maintenance and boring bits are not your responsibility.

For businesses, I use & recommend WordPress.com for a few reasons.

1. WordPress.com takes care of *all* speed, security & technical concerns while still benefitting from the advantages of WordPress software.
2. WordPress.com’s Business Plan is expensive, but it is predictable. There will never be a big consultant’s fee for maintenance.
3. WordPress.com provides a full directory of premium design templates with simple installation.
4. WordPress.com still allows you to install vetted 3rd party plugins – which is huge for a custom military website.

See WordPress.com’s Business Plan here.

Upside: If you use WordPress.com, then you get most of the upside of WordPress software without any potential technical headaches.

Downside: You have a limited version of WordPress – and will inevitably miss out on some functionality and design options.

Your Next Steps

Remember that there is no wrong choice. It all depends on your goals and needs.

Sign up for InMotion Hosting’s Business Plan w/ WordPress auto-install.

Sign up for WordPress.com’s Business Plan.

4. Choose & Setup Your Military Website Template

Now that you know what you have and you know what you need, you can dive in finding the right pre-made military template for your website.

When you are shopping, keep a few things in mind:

1. Ignore the mock-up photography and logo designs. Often, a template will only look a certain way due to the mock-up photography.
2. Focus on the layout of a given template.
3. Look beyond the homepage. Look at how the subpages and unique pages are presented.
4. Remember that any template can be reproduced as a WordPress Theme or template. If you see a Squarespace, Weebly, Wix, Drupal, etc template, it is better to convert that template to WordPress than to lock into that platform simply for the design.

Self-hosted WordPress Templates

With a self-hosted WordPress install, you have a basically unlimited choice of templates. Here are a few places to look for high-quality options.

• My round-up of WordPress Theme Frameworks – basically amazing foundational templates that can produce great websites with good photos & colors.
• ThemeForest – a huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• MOJO Themes – another huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• TemplateMonster – another huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• WordPress.org Repository – the official marketplace for WordPress themes & templates. All templates are free to download & install directly into your WordPress website.

If you used InMotion Hosting, then you’ll also have access to their BoldGrid templates that have drag & drop functionality. You can also use their design services to convert a template you love to WordPress + your brand.

WordPress.com Templates

With a WordPress.com Business Plan, you can not only upload template choices from sites listed above – you also get unlimited access to WordPress.com’s premium templates. These all have advanced customization options so that you can edit them.

You can browse them here.

5. Choose & Setup Your Military Website Functionality

Many template & theme makers bundle functionality with design. That can be great – but it can also have downsides.

If your theme has too much functionality built-in, then you are locked into that template. But if you separate out design & functionality, you can easily edit both.

Either way, WordPress allows additional functionality via plugins.

Everyday Functionality

WordPress works out of the box – and needs very little installed on top. In fact, generally the fewer plugins you have, the better.

If you are using a self-hosted site, then I’d recommend installing the JetPack plugin to provide security & backups (along with other fun things like sharing buttons, contact forms, etc).

I’ve also written a round-up of “must have” WordPress plugins here – that includes things like Google Analytics & Redirects.

Specialized Functionality

Now – what you’ve been waiting for – specialized functionality.

Here it is important to emphasize writing down your needs. It’s easy to just randomly add things to WordPress that neither you nor your visitors need.

Once you do that, check out these resources:

• WordPress.org Repository – the official source for plugins with lots of specialized functionality that can come in handy for military sites (like job applications/portal). Do a search for specific functionality. Be sure to note the number of installs, rating, and other notes of quality.
• ThemeForest – also an excellent source for premium plugins in every industry.

6. Refine Your Design & Content

Now that you have your design & functionality setup – the fun begins.

The important point here is that whether your website is a brochure or informational site – or an interactive & constantly updated site – maintaining, revising and editing is never done.

It does not have to be time-consuming, but a good website is one that has regular updates and edits.

Editing Your Design

Using WordPress + a good template should make this process straightforward. InMotion’s BoldGrid tool brings drag and drop functionality to WordPress and WordPress.com’s Customizer tool allows for simple click & edit customization.

Here’s a guide to how WordPress Themes work – along with a tour of the WordPress Dashboard.

When planning & editing your site, be sure to keep the features that your customers want in mind. Even if you like a certain look or feel – that might be frustrating for visitors.

Marketing Your Military Website

Ahh – now the real fun. There are no right answers here.

But here’s the thing. You can’t do real, long-term marketing / community-building without a website. Social networks come and go. But a good website is something that *you* own.

If you lock onto your best visitors and identify how they find you, you’ll be able to position your site for whatever comes.

I cover this topic in my guide to planning a local marketing strategy.

Next Steps

Walk through your budget & needs.

If self-hosted WordPress fits your needs, purchase a Business Hosting Plan with WordPress auto-install here.

If bundled WordPress services fit your needs, purchase a WordPress.com Business Plan here.

Keep Exploring & Learning!

• How To Setup a WordPress Website from Scratch
• Beginner’s Guide To Using WordPress
• How To Map Your Keywords for SEO
• Planning a Local Marketing Strategy
• Must Have Features for a Local Business Website
• How To Advertise Online Effectively

So you need to build an elderly / home care website, and you have a certain look and specific functionality in mind.

Fortunately, website design has come a long way in the last few years.

Free templates, ready-made designs, and website builders allow anybody to get their website up and running relatively easily.

In a world where your digital presence is just as important to your credibility as your physical one, this shift has been incredible.

But starting the process of building your website with a elderly / home care website template can be a shortcut to some bad website choices.

Starting with a template or pre-made design is like starting your home search based on an existing paint job.

Sure, a good existing paint job is great. But it doesn’t really matter if your location, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and lease or mortgage terms don’t make any sense.

Here’s the open secret among professional web designers: web pages are made of HTML & CSS with a few scripts thrown in. This means that…

…any website template can exist on any good web platform.

With that in mind, here’s a brief 6 step guide to choosing the right elderly & home care website template on the right web platform so that you can build the design & functionality that your business needs.

1. Define Your Needs, Budget & Assets

Since any generic template can transform into an elderly / home care template with a little editing, they are very easy to market (and easy to mislead). It’s important to take stock of what you truly need, what your budget is, and what website assets you already own.

Needs

What functionality does your website need? Is it simply a “brochure site”, or does it need to be interactive? Do you need it to be easily edited? How should it display your care services (i.e. PDF or HTML)? Do you need to take contact requests? If you’re creating a website for an elderly home, do you want visitors to be able to book tours / informational visits through your website? Do you want to frequently publish educational content about elderly care?

There are no right answers, but it’s important to at least think about them before reading template sales features.

Budget

Price is powerful, but it’s important to not only pay for value but to also pay for what matters.

What is a successful project worth? How much do you want to grow? How long do you expect this website to last? How much is your time worth – and how much will getting your website right save time? How much is your staff’s time worth – can a good website help them?

There are no right answers, but it’s important to at least think about them before shopping for a design/designer/template.

Assets

Pre-made elderly / home care templates can go a long way… but the site still needs to be yours. What photography do you have? Do you have a digitized logo? Do you know your fonts and exact colors? Do you have descriptions of your history, services, location (if applicable), etc? Do you have partnerships with other local businesses or elderly care organizations? Do you have educational content written? Do you have established social profiles & reviews?

There are no right answers, but it’s important to at least think about them before getting swayed by nice mock-ups.

2. Understand Terminology & Options

Website terminology can be daunting and frustrating with so many companies mixing, matching, & misusing jargon to sell their product. Here are the 5 core things you need to have a website on the Internet nowadays.

Domain Name

A domain is your “address” on the Internet. You lease it for a certain amount of time from ICANN via accredited “domain registrars”. You can buy one now and “point” it to your website later. Many website hosting companies also resell domain names to provide convenience.

Website Hosting

Your website is made up of computer files. And those files have to “live” somewhere. Website hosting companies rent space on specialized servers that store & serve your website files whenever someone goes to your website.

Website Software

A modern website usually consists of a lot of different files. While not 100% necessary, websites usually need software (ie, a “content management system”) to manage all the files – and make it easy for a human to edit & maintain.

There are hundreds of thousands of website software options.

For our purposes, we’ll be looking at WordPress.

WordPress powers more than 25% of the Internet. It has its critics and its evangelists. But it’s still the go-to solution for most elderly / home care websites.

Why? Because WordPress is kind of like the 4 door sedan or light SUV of website software.

Yes, it is popular. But it’s popular because it fits most people’s needs. It’s versatile, manageable and suitable for so much.

If you hear people saying that “WordPress gets hacked” or “WordPress is not fast”,  that is like someone saying that “sedans get broken into more often than semi-trucks” or “well, your Honda Accord can’t beat my Ferrari off the line.”

Sure, those criticisms are true… but not.

Plus, as we’ll see, there are ways to mitigate/eliminate WordPress’ disadvantages while keeping its advantages for building an elderly / home care website (ie, ownership, accessibility, publishing, marketing, etc).

*WordPress is for most, but not everyone. It does have a learning curve. Here’s how WordPress compares to Wix, how WordPress compares to Squarespace, and how WordPress compares to Weebly. Your end goal should be a website that is best for *you* and your goals. The general strategies below work regardless of platform.

Website Templates

As we saw in the introduction, templates are simply pre-made HTML & CSS (the computer languages that browsers use to yield a webpage). While not 100% necessary, mobile devices and different browsers make good design nearly impossible to do well from scratch. All good web designers use some sort of template/framework to start.

And there is a whole universe of pre-made elderly / home care website templates that range from free templates to paid to bundled with custom design services.

The thing to remember about templates, however, is that they should focus on design, layout & content presentation — and not on functionality.

Website Plugins / Extensions

Plugins / extensions / apps are specific pieces of software that work with your website software to add functions or features to your website.

Possibly the biggest advantage of WordPress is how “extensible” it is. WordPress has a whole universe of free & premium plugins. These allow even small elderly / home care websites to have very advanced functionality on their websites.

3. Choose & Setup Your Elderly / Home Care Website Platform

There are a lot of excellent website platforms. There are infinite ways to combine, mix & match the 5 different pieces you need for a modern website.

But this guide would be worthless if it did not actually help you find a template & build a website that works.

We’ve already narrowed the website software down to WordPress. Now we need to pick where your WordPress software will live & how it will work with your templates & plugins.

There are two main options here: “self-hosted” WordPress and WordPress.com.

Disclosure – I receive customer referral fees from companies mentioned on this website. All data & opinions are based on my professional experience as a paying customer or consultant to paying customers.

Self-hosted WordPress

WordPress is free, open-source, community supported software. You can download it, install it anywhere, and use it however you like.

When you self-host WordPress, you get complete freedom but also have complete responsibility. It’s like owning your own building. You can do whatever you want… but you’re also the one to call the plumber.

That said, installing WordPress with a good business hosting company makes all the difference. A good hosting company can provide the support, security & services that can minimize the risks of maintaining your own self-hosted WordPress.

For businesses, I use & recommend InMotion Hosting for a few reasons. I wrote a full review of InMotion here.

1. InMotion provides excellent support services via phone, chat, email & knowledgebase.
2. InMotion operates at a slightly higher price point to focus on businesses (not hobby bloggers).
3. InMotion provides WordPress auto-install at checkout in addition to an (optional) free, drag & drop design tool called BoldGrid.
4. InMotion can provide custom web design services to minimize the search for a random freelancer.

See InMotion Hosting’s current Business Hosting Plans here.

Upside: If you self-host your WordPress software, you can download & use basically any theme or plugin that you want. Developers & consultants are used to the setup. It is future-proof, and it saves a good bit of money compared to other options.

Downside: You are in charge of technical aspects. Sure – InMotion provides support and consultants can provide expertise, but you are ultimately in charge of everything. For anyone who doesn’t want to deal with technical issues at all – self-hosting WordPress is not ideal.

WordPress.com

WordPress.com is a “hosted service” run by the originator of WordPress software. It’s an all-in-one service that bundles a limited version of WordPress software with hosting, software, support, and services all into one monthly plan.

If self-hosting WordPress is like owning your own building, then using WordPress.com is like leasing a pre-built storefront. You can do all the customizations that you want “inside” your building, but the maintenance and boring bits are not your responsibility.

For businesses, I use & recommend WordPress.com for a few reasons.

1. WordPress.com takes care of *all* speed, security & technical concerns while still benefitting from the advantages of WordPress software.
2. WordPress.com’s Business Plan is expensive, but it is predictable. There will never be a big consultant’s fee for maintenance.
3. WordPress.com provides a full directory of premium design templates with simple installation.
4. WordPress.com still allows you to install vetted 3rd party plugins – which is huge for a custom elderly / home care website.

See WordPress.com’s Business Plan here.

Upside: If you use WordPress.com, then you get most of the upside of WordPress software without any potential technical headaches.

Downside: You have a limited version of WordPress – and will inevitably miss out on some functionality and design options.

Your Next Steps

Remember that there is no wrong choice. It all depends on your goals and needs.

Sign up for InMotion Hosting’s Business Plan w/ WordPress auto-install.

Sign up for WordPress.com’s Business Plan.

4. Choose & Setup Your Elderly / Home Care Website Template

Now that you know what you have and you know what you need, you can dive in finding the right pre-made elderly / home care template for your website.

When you are shopping, keep a few things in mind:

1. Ignore the mock-up photography and logo designs. Often, a template will only look a certain way due to the mock-up photography, and you’ll be replacing all creative assets with your own.
2. Focus on the layout of a given template.
3. Look beyond the homepage. Look at how the subpages and unique pages are presented.
4. Remember that any template can be reproduced as a WordPress Theme or template. If you see a Squarespace, Weebly, Wix, Drupal, etc template, it is better to convert that template to WordPress than to lock into that platform simply for the design.

Self-hosted WordPress Templates

With a self-hosted WordPress install, you have a basically unlimited choice of templates. Here are a few places to look for high-quality options.

• My round-up of WordPress Theme Frameworks – basically amazing foundational templates that can produce great websites with good photos & colors.
• ThemeForest – a huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• MOJO Themes – another huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• TemplateMonster – another huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• WordPress.org Repository – the official marketplace for WordPress themes & templates. All templates are free to download & install directly into your WordPress website.

If you used InMotion Hosting, then you’ll also have access to their BoldGrid templates that have drag & drop functionality. You can also use their design services to convert a template you love to WordPress + your brand.

WordPress.com Templates

With a WordPress.com Business Plan, you can not only upload template choices from sites listed above, you also get unlimited access to WordPress.com’s premium templates. These all have advanced customization options so that you can edit them.

You can browse them here.

5. Choose & Setup Your Elderly / Home Care Website Functionality

Many template & theme makers bundle functionality with design. That can be great, but it can also have downsides.

If your theme has too much functionality built-in, then you are locked into that template. But if you separate out design & functionality, you can easily edit both.

Either way, WordPress allows additional functionality via plugins.

Everyday Functionality

WordPress works out of the box and needs very little installed on top. In fact, generally the fewer plugins you have, the better.

If you are using a self-hosted site, then I’d recommend installing the JetPack plugin to provide security & backups (along with other fun things like sharing buttons, contact forms, etc).

I’ve also written a round-up of “must have” WordPress plugins here – that includes things like Google Analytics & Redirects.

Specialized Functionality

Now – what you’ve been waiting for – specialized functionality.

Here it is important to emphasize writing down your needs. It’s easy to just randomly add things to WordPress that neither you nor your visitors need.

Once you do that, check out these resources:

• WordPress.org Repository – the official source for plugins. Do a search for specific functionality. Be sure to note the number of installs, rating, and other notes of quality.
• ThemeForest – also an excellent source for premium plugins in every industry.

6. Refine Your Design & Content

Now that you have your design & functionality setup – the fun begins.

The important point here is that whether your website is a brochure or informational site – or an interactive & constantly updated site – maintaining, revising and editing is never done.

It does not have to be time-consuming, but a good website is one that has regular updates and edits.

Editing Your Design

Using WordPress + a good template should make this process straightforward. InMotion’s BoldGrid tool brings drag and drop functionality to WordPress and WordPress.com’s Customizer tool allows for simple click & edit customization.

Here’s a guide to how WordPress Themes work – along with a tour of the WordPress Dashboard.

When planning & editing your site, be sure to keep the features that your customers want in mind. Even if you like a certain look or feel – that might be frustrating for visitors.

Marketing Your Elderly / Home Care Website

Ahh, now the real fun. There are no right answers here.

But here’s the thing. You can’t do real, long-term brand building without a website. Social networks come and go. But a good website is something that *you* own.

If you lock onto your best customers and identify how they find you, you’ll be able to position your site for whatever comes.

I cover this topic in my guide to planning a local marketing strategy.

Next Steps

Walk through your budget & needs.

If self-hosted WordPress fits your needs, purchase a Business Hosting Plan with WordPress auto-install here.

If bundled WordPress services fit your needs, purchase a WordPress.com Business Plan here.

Keep Exploring & Learning!

• How To Setup a WordPress Website from Scratch
• Beginner’s Guide To Using WordPress
• How To Map Your Keywords for SEO
• Planning a Local Marketing Strategy
• Must Have Features for a Local Business Website
• How To Advertise Online Effectively

So you need to build a website for your car club, and you have a certain look and functionality in mind. Perhaps you’ve even been searching for car club website templates.

Fortunately, website design has come a long way in the last few years.

Free templates, ready-made designs, and website builders allow anybody to get their website up and running relatively easily. It allows professional designers to think more about brand voice rather than counting pixels.

In the modern digital world, this shift is huge.

But starting the process of building a car club website with a car club website template can be a shortcut to some bad website choices.

Starting with a template or pre-made design is like choosing a house search based on solely on the existing paint job.

Sure, a move-in ready paint job is great. But it doesn’t really matter if your location, building, lease terms, and living options do not make any sense.

Here’s the open secret among professional web designers: all web pages are made of HTML & CSS with a few scripts thrown in. This means that…

…any website template can exist on any good web platform.

In other words – you aren’t limited to “Squarespace templates” or “Wix templates” or “BrandYourself Templates.”

With that in mind, here’s a brief 6 step guide to choosing the right car club website template on the right web platform so that you can build the design & functionality that your website needs.

1. Define Your Needs, Budget & Assets

Since any generic template can transform into a car club template with a little editing, they are very easy to market (and easy to mislead). It’s important to take stock of what you truly need, what your budget is, and what website assets you already own.

Needs

What functionality does your website need? Is it simply a brochure site, or does it need to be interactive? Do you need it to be easily edited? Do you need to display information about meet ups and other events? Do you need to have forums and social network capabilities? How many people should be able to add content to the site?

There are no right answers, but it’s important to at least think about them before reading template sales features.

Budget

Price is powerful, but it’s important to not only pay for value but to also pay for what matters.

What is a successful project worth? How much do you want to grow? How many new members do you want to attract? How long do you expect this website to last? How much is your time worth – and how much will getting your website right save time?

There are no right answers, but it’s important to at least think about them before shopping for a design/designer/template.

Assets

Pre-made car club templates can go a long way… but the site still needs to be yours. What photography do you have? Do you have a digitized logo? Do you know your fonts and exact colors? Do you have descriptions of your club, upcoming events, etc? Do you have marketing partnerships with other local organizations? Do you already have established social profiles?

There are no right answers, but it’s important to at least think about them before getting swayed by nice mock-ups.

2. Understand Terminology & Options

Website terminology can be daunting and frustrating with so many companies mixing, matching, & misusing jargon to sell their product. Here are the 5 core things you need to have a website on the Internet nowadays:

Domain Name

A domain is your “address” on the Internet. You lease it for a certain amount of time from ICANN via accredited “domain registrars”. You can buy one now and “point” it to your website later. Many website hosting companies also resell domain names to provide convenience.

Website Hosting

Your website is made up of computer files. And those files have to “live” somewhere. Website hosting companies rent space on specialized servers that store & serve your website files whenever someone goes to your website.

Website Software

A modern website usually consists of a lot of different files. While not 100% necessary, websites usually need software (ie, a “content management system”) to manage all the files – and make it easy for a human to edit & maintain.

There are hundreds of thousands of website software options.

For our purposes, we’ll be looking at WordPress.

WordPress powers more than 25% of the Internet. It has its critics and its evangelists. But it’s still the go-to solution for most car club websites.

Why? Because WordPress is kind of like the 4 door sedan or light SUV of website software.

Yes, it is popular. But it’s popular because it fits most people’s needs. It’s versatile, manageable and suitable for so much. If you hear people saying that “WordPress gets hacked” or “WordPress is not fast”, that is like someone saying that “sedans get broken into more often than semi-trucks” or “well, your Honda Accord can’t beat my Ferrari off the line.”

Yes, those criticisms are true… but not. Plus, as we’ll see,  there are ways to mitigate/eliminate WordPress’ disadvantages while keeping its advantages for building a car club website – especially its “plugin” functionality.

*WordPress is for most, but not everyone. It does have a learning curve. Here’s how WordPress compares to Wix, how WordPress compares to Squarespace, and how WordPress compares to Weebly. Your end goal should be a website that is best for *you* and your goals. The general strategies below work regardless of platform.

Website Templates

As we saw in the introduction, templates are simply pre-made HTML & CSS (the computer languages that browsers use to yield a webpage). While not 100% necessary, mobile devices and different browsers make good design nearly impossible to do well from scratch. All good web designers use some sort of template/framework to start.

And there is a whole universe of pre-made car club website templates that range from free templates to paid to bundled with custom design services.

There is one item to remember about templates, however Website templates should focus on design, layout & content presentation, and not on functionality. When they bundle functionality with design, you can get boxed in when you go to tweak the functionality.

Website Plugins / Extensions

Plugins / extensions / apps are specific pieces of software that work with your website software to add functions or features to your website.

Possibly the biggest advantage of WordPress is how “extensible” it is. WordPress has a whole universe of free & premium plugins. These allow even small car club websites to have very advanced functionality on their websites. You can do everything from building social networks to to selling tickets for upcoming events  to anything else you can dream up.

3. Choose & Setup Your Car Club Website Platform

There are a lot of excellent website platforms. There are infinite ways to combine, mix & match the 5 different pieces you need for a modern website.

But this guide would be worthless if it did not actually help you find a template & build a website that works.

We’ve already narrowed the website software down to WordPress. Now we need to pick where your WordPress software will live & how it will work with your templates & plugins.

There are two main options here: “self-hosted” WordPress and WordPress.com.

Disclosure -I receive customer referral fees from companies mentioned on this website. All data & opinions are based on my professional experience as a paying customer or consultant to paying customers.

Self-hosted WordPress

WordPress is free, open-source, community supported software. You can download it, install it anywhere, and use it however you like.

When you self-host WordPress, you get complete freedom but also have complete responsibility. It’s like owning your own building. You can do whatever you want…but you’re also the one to call the plumber.

That said, installing WordPress with a good business hosting company makes all the difference. A good hosting company can provide the support, security & services that can minimize the risks of maintaining your own self-hosted WordPress.

I use & recommend InMotion Hosting for a few reasons. I wrote a full review of InMotion here.

1. InMotion provides excellent support services via phone, chat, email & knowledgebase.
2. InMotion operates at a slightly higher price point to focus on businesses (not hobby bloggers).
3. InMotion provides WordPress auto-install at checkout in addition to an (optional) free, drag & drop design tool called BoldGrid.
4. InMotion can provide custom web design services to minimize the search for a random freelancer.

See InMotion Hosting’s current Business Hosting Plans here.

Upside: If you self-host your WordPress software, you can download & use basically any theme or plugin that you want. Developers & consultants are used to the setup. It is future-proof, and it saves a good bit of money compared to other options.

Downside: You are in charge of technical aspects. Sure – InMotion provides support and consultants can provide expertise, but you are ultimately in charge of everything. For anyone who doesn’t want to deal with technical issues at all – self-hosting WordPress is not ideal.

WordPress.com

WordPress.com is a “hosted service” run by the originator of WordPress software. It’s an all-in-one service that bundles a limited version of WordPress software with hosting, software, support, and services all into one monthly plan.

If self-hosting WordPress is like owning your own building, then using WordPress.com is like leasing a pre-built storefront. You can do all the customizations that you want “inside” your building, but the maintenance and boring bits are not your responsibility.

For businesses, I use & recommend WordPress.com for a few reasons.

1. WordPress.com takes care of *all* speed, security & technical concerns while still benefitting from the advantages of WordPress software.
2. WordPress.com’s Business Plan is expensive, but it is predictable. There will never be a big consultant’s fee for maintenance.
3. WordPress.com provides a full directory of premium design templates with simple installation.
4. WordPress.com still allows you to install vetted 3rd party plugins – which is huge for a custom car club website.

See WordPress.com’s Business Plan here.

Upside: If you use WordPress.com, then you get most of the upside of WordPress software without any potential technical headaches.

Downside: You have a limited version of WordPress – and will inevitably miss out on some functionality and design options.

Your Next Steps

Remember that there is no wrong choice. It all depends on your goals and needs.

Sign up for InMotion Hosting’s Business Plan w/ WordPress auto-install.

Sign up for WordPress.com’s Business Plan.

4. Choose & Setup Your Car Club Website Template

Now that you know what you have and you know what you need, you can dive in finding the right pre-made car club template for your website.

When you are shopping, keep a few things in mind.

1. Ignore the mock-up photography and logo designs. Often, a template will only look a certain way due to the mock-up photography.
2. Focus on the layout of a given template.
3. Look beyond the homepage. Look at how the subpages and unique pages are presented.
4. Remember that any template can be reproduced as a WordPress Theme or template. If you see a Squarespace, Weebly, Wix, Drupal, etc template, it is better to convert that template to WordPress than to lock into that platform simply for the design.

Self-hosted WordPress Templates

With a self-hosted WordPress install, you have a basically unlimited choice of templates. Here are a few places to look for high-quality options.

• My round-up of WordPress Theme Frameworks – basically amazing foundational templates that can produce great websites with good photos & colors.
• ThemeForest – a huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• MOJO Themes – another huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• TemplateMonster – another huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• WordPress.org Repository – the official marketplace for WordPress themes & templates. All templates are free to download & install directly into your WordPress website.

If you used InMotion Hosting, then you’ll also have access to their BoldGrid templates that have drag & drop functionality. You can also use their design services to convert a template you love to WordPress + your brand.

WordPress.com Templates

With a WordPress.com Business Plan, you can not only upload template choices from sites listed above – you also get unlimited access to WordPress.com’s premium templates. These all have advanced customization options so that you can edit them.

You can browse them here.

5. Choose & Setup Your Car Club Website Functionality

Many template & theme makers bundle functionality with design. That can be great, but it can also have downsides.

If your theme has too much functionality built-in, then you are locked into that template. But if you separate out design & functionality, you can easily edit both.

Either way, WordPress allows additional functionality via plugins.

Everyday Functionality

WordPress works out of the box – and needs very little installed on top. In fact, generally the fewer plugins you have, the better.

If you are using a self-hosted site, then I’d recommend installing the JetPack plugin to provide security & backups (along with other fun things like sharing buttons, contact forms, etc).

I’ve also written a round-up of “must have” WordPress plugins here – that includes things like Google Analytics & Redirects.

There are also options for eCommerce like WooCommerce that work well for car clubs who want to sell event tickets or merchandise directly on their website.

Specialized Functionality

Now – what you’ve been waiting for – specialized functionality.

Here it is important to emphasize writing down your needs. It’s easy to just randomly add things to WordPress that neither you nor your visitors need.

Once you do that, check out these sources:

• WordPress.org Repository – the official source for plugins. Do a search for specific functionality. Be sure to note the number of installs, rating, and other notes of quality.
• ThemeForest – also an excellent source for premium plugins in every industry.
•  

Note that with WordPress.com Business Plans also have lots of car club functionality – see this example.

6. Refine Your Design & Content

Now that you have your design & functionality setup, the fun begins.

The important point here is that whether your website is a brochure or informational site – or an interactive & constantly updated site – maintaining, revising and editing is never done.

It does not have to be time-consuming, but a good website is one that has regular updates and edits.

Editing Your Design

Using WordPress + a good template should make this process straightforward. InMotion’s BoldGrid tool brings drag and drop functionality to WordPress and WordPress.com’s Customizer tool allows for simple click & edit customization.

Here’s a guide to how WordPress Themes work – along with a tour of the WordPress Dashboard.

When planning & editing your site, be sure to keep the features that your customers want in mind. Even if you like a certain look or feel – that might be frustrating for visitors.

Marketing Your Car Club Website

Ahh, now the real fun. There are no right answers here.

But here’s the thing: you can’t do real, long-term brand building without a website. Social networks come and go. But a good website is something that *you* own.

If you lock onto your best customers and identify how they find you, you’ll be able to position your site for whatever comes.

I cover this topic in my guide to planning a local marketing strategy.

Next Steps

Walk through your budget & needs.

If self-hosted WordPress fits your needs, purchase a Business Hosting Plan with WordPress auto-install here.

If bundled WordPress services fit your needs, purchase a WordPress.com Business Plan here.

Keep Exploring & Learning!

• How To Setup a WordPress Website from Scratch
• Beginner’s Guide To Using WordPress
• How To Map Your Keywords for SEO
• Planning a Local Marketing Strategy
• Must Have Features for a Local Business Website
• How To Advertise Online Effectively

So you need to build a martial arts website — perhaps for a camp, local club, online fitness, etc. Chances are you landed here because you have a certain “look” in mind. Perhaps you’re even searching for martial arts website templates.

Fortunately, website design has come a long way in the last few years.

Free templates, ready-made designs, and website builders allow anybody to get their website up and running relatively easily.

However, starting the process of building your website with a martial arts website template can be a shortcut to some bad website choices. Why?

Because starting the process of building a website with a website template tends to pigeonhole people into choosing a certain website platform just because they like the template that platform offers.

But here’s the open secret among professional web designers: web pages are made of HTML & CSS with a few scripts thrown in. This means that…

…any website template can exist on any good web platform.

So if you were to find a martial arts template you like on, say, Wix, you’re not actually tied to using Wix. In fact, you should only choose that website platform if it supports all of your needs, such as integrating with software to give you the functionality you need, meeting your price point, having adequate support options, etc.

With that in mind, here’s a brief 6 step guide to choosing the right martial arts website template on the right web platform so that you can build the design & functionality that your website needs.

1. Define Your Needs, Budget & Assets

Any generic template can transform into a martial arts template with a little editing, which makes website templates very easy to market… and easy to mislead. It’s important to take stock of what you truly need, what your budget is, and what website assets you already own before you start shopping.

Needs

What does your website actually need to be able to do? Is it simply a “brochure site”, or does it need to be interactive? Do you need it to be easily edited? Do you need to be able to display class information, membership options, video tutorials, etc.? Do you want to accept registrations or sell lesson packages online?

There are no right answers, but it’s important to at least think about them before reading template sales features.

Budget

Price is powerful, but it’s important to not only pay for value but to also pay for what matters. What do you need to spend money on, and where can you cut back?

How can your martial arts website contribute monetarily to your studio/club/camp/etc.? How long do you expect this website to last? How much is your time worth – and how much will getting your website right save time? How much is your staff’s time worth – can a good website help them?

There are no right answers, but it’s important to at least think about budget before shopping for a design/designer/template.

Assets

Pre-made martial arts templates can go a long way… but the site still needs to be yours. When you’re shopping for templates, you’ll be seeing mock-up photography, fonts, colors, etc, which you’ll be replacing with your own assets. So what do you have and what do you need?

What photography do you have? Do you have a digitized logo? Do you know your fonts and exact colors? Do you have descriptions of your  location, membership/class options, etc? Do you have marketing partnerships with other local businesses or sports organizations? Do you already have established social profiles and reviews?

Knowing what you bring to the table with help keep you from getting swayed by nice mock-ups.

2. Understand Terminology & Options

Website terminology can be daunting and frustrating with so many companies mixing, matching, & misusing jargon to sell their product. Here are the 5 core things you need to have a website nowadays:

Domain Name

A domain is your “address” on the Internet. You lease it for a certain amount of time from ICANN via accredited “domain registrars”. You can buy one now and “point” it to your website later. Many website hosting companies also resell domain names to provide convenience.

Website Hosting

Your website is made up of computer files. And those files have to “live” somewhere. Website hosting companies rent space on specialized servers that store & serve your website files whenever someone goes to your website.

Website Software

A modern website usually consists of a lot of different files. While not 100% necessary, websites usually need software (ie, a “content management system”) to manage all the files and make it easy for a human to edit & maintain.

There are hundreds of thousands of website software options.

For our purposes, we’ll be looking at WordPress.

WordPress powers more than 25% of the Internet. It has its critics and its evangelists. But it’s still the go-to solution for most martial arts websites, especially due to its integration capabilities (more on that in a minute).

Here’s the thing: WordPress is kind of like the 4 door sedan or light SUV of website software.

Yes – it is popular. But it’s popular because it fits most people’s needs. It’s versatile, manageable and suitable for so much. If you hear people saying that “WordPress gets hacked” or “WordPress is not fast”, that’s like someone saying that “sedans get broken into more often than semi-trucks” or “well, your Honda Accord can’t beat my Ferrari off the line.”

Yes – those criticisms are true… but not. Plus, as we’ll see, there are ways to mitigate/eliminate WordPress’ disadvantages while keeping its advantages for building a martial arts website (ie, ownership, marketing, integrations, etc).

*WordPress is for most, but not everyone. It does have a learning curve. Here’s how WordPress compares to Wix, how WordPress compares to Squarespace, and how WordPress compares to Weebly. Your end goal should be a website that is best for *you* and your goals. The general strategies below work regardless of platform.

Website Templates

As we saw in the introduction, templates are simply pre-made HTML & CSS (the computer languages that browsers use to yield a webpage). While not 100% necessary, mobile devices and different browsers make good design nearly impossible to do well from scratch. All good web designers use some sort of template/framework to start.

And there is a whole universe of pre-made martial arts website templates that range from free templates to paid to bundled with custom design services. The thing to remember is that website templates should focus on design, layout & content presentation — and not on functionality.

Functionality should be left to software, which brings us to…

Website Plugins / Extensions

Plugins / extensions / apps are specific pieces of software that work with your website software to add functions or features to your website.

Possibly the biggest advantage of WordPress is how “extensible” it is. WordPress has a whole universe of free & premium plugins. These allow even small martial arts websites to have very advanced functionality on their websites. In fact, many sport software providers make WordPress plugins & compatible scripts that can drop right into a WordPress-powered site.

3. Choose & Setup Your Martial Arts Website Platform

There are a lot of excellent website platforms. There are infinite ways to combine, mix & match the 5 different pieces you need for a modern website.

But this guide would be worthless if it did not actually help you find a template & build a website that works.

We’ve already narrowed the website software down to WordPress. Now we need to pick where your WordPress software will live & how it will work with your templates & plugins.

There are two main options here: “self-hosted” WordPress and WordPress.com.

Disclosure – I receive customer referral fees from companies mentioned on this website. All data & opinions are based on my professional experience as a paying customer or consultant to paying customers.

Self-hosted WordPress

WordPress is free, open-source, community supported software. You can download it, install it anywhere, and use it however you like.

When you self-host WordPress, you get complete freedom but also have complete responsibility. It’s like owning your own building. You can do whatever you want… but you’re also the one to call the plumber.

That said, installing WordPress with a good business hosting company makes all the difference. A good hosting company can provide the support, security & services that can minimize the risks of maintaining your own self-hosted WordPress.

For businesses, I use & recommend InMotion Hosting for a few reasons. I wrote a full review of InMotion here.

1. InMotion provides excellent support services via phone, chat, email & knowledgebase.
2. InMotion operates at a slightly higher price point to focus on businesses (not hobby bloggers).
3. InMotion provides WordPress auto-install at checkout in addition to an (optional) free, drag & drop design tool called BoldGrid.
4. InMotion can provide custom web design services to minimize the search for a random freelancer.

See InMotion Hosting’s current Business Hosting Plans here.

Upside: If you self-host your WordPress software, you can download & use basically any theme or plugin that you want. Developers & consultants are used to the setup. It is future-proof, and it saves a good bit of money compared to other options.

Downside: You are in charge of technical aspects. Sure – InMotion provides support and consultants can provide expertise, but you are ultimately in charge of everything. For anyone who doesn’t want to deal with technical issues at all – self-hosting WordPress is not ideal.

WordPress.com

WordPress.com is a “hosted service” run by the originator of WordPress software. It’s an all-in-one service that bundles a limited version of WordPress software with hosting, software, support, and services all into one monthly plan.

If self-hosting WordPress is like owning your own building, then using WordPress.com is like leasing a pre-built storefront. You can do all the customizations that you want “inside” your building, but the maintenance and boring bits are not your responsibility.

For businesses, I use & recommend WordPress.com for a few reasons.

1. WordPress.com takes care of *all* speed, security & technical concerns while still benefiting from the advantages of WordPress software.
2. WordPress.com’s Business Plan is expensive, but it is predictable. There will never be a big consultant’s fee for maintenance.
3. WordPress.com provides a full directory of premium design templates with simple installation.
4. WordPress.com still allows you to install vetted 3rd party plugins – which is huge for a custom martial arts website.

See WordPress.com’s Business Plan here.

Upside: If you use WordPress.com, then you get most of the upside of WordPress software without any potential technical headaches.

Downside: You have a limited version of WordPress, and will inevitably miss out on some functionality and design options.

Your Next Steps

Remember that there is no wrong choice. It all depends on your goals and needs.

Sign up for InMotion Hosting’s Business Plan w/ WordPress auto-install.

Sign up for WordPress.com’s Business Plan.

4. Choose & Setup Your Martial Arts Website Template

Now that you know what you have and you know what you need, you can dive in finding the right pre-made martial arts template for your website. When you are shopping, keep a few things in mind:

1. Ignore the mock-up photography and logo designs. Often, a template will only look a certain way due to the mock-up photography, and you’ll be replacing this with all of your own assets.
2. Focus on the layout of a given template.
3. Look beyond the homepage. Look at how the subpages and unique pages are presented.
4. Remember that any template can be reproduced as a WordPress Theme or template. If you see a Squarespace, Weebly, Wix, Drupal, etc template, it is better to convert that template to WordPress than to lock into that platform simply for the design.

Self-hosted WordPress Templates

With a self-hosted WordPress install, you have a basically unlimited choice of templates. Here are a few places to look for high-quality options.

• My round-up of WordPress Theme Frameworks – basically amazing foundational templates that can produce great websites with good photos & colors.
• ThemeForest – a huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• MOJO Themes – another huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• TemplateMonster – another huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• WordPress.org Repository – the official marketplace for WordPress themes & templates. All templates are free to download & install directly into your WordPress website.

If you used InMotion Hosting, then you’ll also have access to their BoldGrid templates that have drag & drop functionality. You can also use their design services to convert a template you love to WordPress + your brand.

WordPress.com Templates

With a WordPress.com Business Plan, you can not only upload template choices from sites listed above – you also get unlimited access to WordPress.com’s premium templates. These all have advanced customization options so that you can edit them.

You can browse them here.

5. Choose & Setup Your Martial Arts Website Functionality

Many template & theme makers bundle functionality with design. That can be great, but it can also have downsides.

If your theme has too much functionality built-in, then you are locked into that template. But if you separate out design & functionality, you can easily edit both.

Either way, WordPress allows additional functionality via plugins.

Everyday Functionality

WordPress works out of the box and needs very little installed on top. In fact, generally the fewer plugins you have, the better.

If you are using a self-hosted site, then I’d recommend installing the JetPack plugin to provide security & backups (along with other fun things like sharing buttons, contact forms, etc).

I’ve also written a round-up of “must have” WordPress plugins here – that includes things like Google Analytics & Redirects.

There are also options for eCommerce like WooCommerce that work well for martial arts studios that want to sell classes, lessons, camp registrations, etc. directly on their website.

Specialized Functionality

Now what you’ve been waiting for: specialized functionality.

Here it is important to emphasize writing down your needs. It’s easy to just randomly add things to WordPress that neither you nor your visitors need.

Once you do that, check out these excellent resources:

• WordPress.org Repository – the official source for plugins. Do a search for specific functionality. Be sure to note the number of installs, rating, and other notes of quality.
• ThemeForest – also an excellent source for premium plugins in every industry.
• Sports / Athletic Software Providers – since WordPress is such a popular CMS, your favorite software providers probably have an integration. Do a Google Search!

6. Refine Your Design & Content

Now that you have your design & functionality setup, the fun begins.

The important point here is that whether your website is a brochure or informational site – or an interactive & constantly updated site – maintaining, revising and editing is never done.

It does not have to be time-consuming, but a good website is one that has regular updates and edits.

Editing Your Design

Using WordPress + a good template should make this process straightforward. InMotion’s BoldGrid tool brings drag and drop functionality to WordPress and WordPress.com’s Customizer tool allows for simple click & edit customization.

Here’s a guide to how WordPress Themes work – along with a tour of the WordPress Dashboard.

When planning & editing your site, be sure to keep the features that your customers want in mind. Even if you like a certain look or feel, it might be frustrating for visitors.

Marketing Your Martial Arts Website

Ahh, now the real fun! There are no right answers here.

But here’s the thing: you can’t do real, long-term brand building without a website. Social networks come and go. But a good website is something that *you* own.

If you lock onto your best customers and identify how they find you, you’ll be able to position your site for whatever comes.

I cover this topic in my guide to planning a local marketing strategy.

Next Steps

Walk through your budget & needs.

If self-hosted WordPress fits your needs, purchase a Business Hosting Plan with WordPress auto-install here.

If bundled WordPress services fit your needs, purchase a WordPress.com Business Plan here.

Keep Exploring & Learning!

• How To Setup a WordPress Website from Scratch
• Beginner’s Guide To Using WordPress
• How To Map Your Keywords for SEO
• Planning a Local Marketing Strategy
• Must Have Features for a Local Business Website
• How To Advertise Online Effectively

So you need to build a grocery store website, and you have a certain “look” and functionality in mind.

Fortunately, website design has come a long way in the last few years.

Free templates, ready-made designs, and website builders allow anybody to get their business online. It allows professional designers to think more about brand voice rather than counting pixels.

But starting the process of building a website with a grocery store website template can be a shortcut to some bad website choices.

Starting with a template or pre-made design is like starting your grocery store building search based on existing checkout area layouts.

Sure – a good existing checkout area is great. But it doesn’t really matter if your location, building, lease terms, and expansion options don’t make any sense.

Here’s the open secret among professional web designers: web pages are made of HTML & CSS with a few scripts thrown in. This means that…

… any website template can exist on any good web platform.

With that in mind, here’s a brief 6 step guide to choosing the right grocery website template on the right web platform so that you can build the design & functionality that your business needs.

1. Define Your Needs, Budget & Assets

Since any generic template can transform into a grocery template with a little editing, they are very easy to market (and easy to mislead). It’s important to take stock of what you truly need, what your budget is, and what website assets you already own.

Needs

What functionality does your website need? Is it simply a “brochure site” or does it need to be interactive? Do you need it to be easily edited? How should it display your location and store information (i.e. PDF or HTML)? Do you want to offer coupons that customers can download and redeem in store? Do you need to add weekly specials?

There are no right answers, but it’s important to at least think about them before reading template sales features.

Budget

Price is powerful, but it’s important to not only pay for value but to also pay for what matters. Think about your physical business location. What do you spend money on and where do you cut back?

What is a new, repeat customer worth? How much do you want to grow? How long do you expect this website to last? How much is your time worth – and how much will getting your website right save time? How much is your staff’s time worth – can a good website help them?

There are no right answers, but it’s important to at least think about them before shopping for a design/designer/template.

Assets

Pre-made grocery store templates can go a long way…but the site still needs to be yours. What photography do you have? Do you have a digitized logo? Do you know your fonts and exact colors? Do you have descriptions of your history, location, etc? Do you have marketing partnerships with other local businesses or organizations? Do you already have established social profiles & reviews?

There are no right answers, but it’s important to at least think about them before getting swayed by nice mock-ups.

2. Understand Terminology & Options

Website terminology can be daunting and frustrating with so many companies mixing, matching, & misusing jargon to sell their product. Here are the 5 core things you need to have a website on the Internet nowadays.

Domain Name

A domain is your “address” on the Internet. You lease it for a certain amount of time from ICANN via accredited “domain registrars”. You can buy one now and “point” it to your website later. Many website hosting companies also resell domain names to provide convenience.

Website Hosting

Your website is made up of computer files. And those files have to “live” somewhere. Website hosting companies rent space on specialized servers that store & serve your website files whenever someone goes to your website.

Website Software

A modern website usually consists of a lot of different files. While not 100% necessary, websites usually need software (ie, a “content management system”) to manage all the files – and make it easy for a human to edit & maintain.

There are hundreds of thousands of website software options.

For our purposes, we’ll be looking at WordPress.

WordPress powers more than 25% of the Internet. It has its critics and its evangelists. But it’s still the go-to solution for most grocery store websites.

Here’s the thing —WordPress is kind of like the 4 door sedan or light SUV of website software.

Yes, it is popular. But it’s popular because it fits most people’s needs. It’s versatile, manageable and suitable for so much. If you hear people saying that “WordPress gets hacked” or “WordPress is not fast” – that is like someone saying that “sedans get broken into more often than semi-trucks” or “well, your Honda Accord can’t beat my Ferrari off the line.”

Yes, those criticisms are true… but not.

Plus, as we’ll see, there are ways to mitigate/eliminate WordPress’ disadvantages while keeping its advantages for building a grocery store website (ie, ownership, accessibility, integrations, etc).

*WordPress is for most, but not everyone. It does have a learning curve. Here’s how WordPress compares to Wix, how WordPress compares to Squarespace, and how WordPress compares to Weebly. Your end goal should be a website that is best for *you* and your goals. The general strategies below work regardless of platform.

Website Templates

As we saw in the introduction, templates are simply pre-made HTML & CSS (the computer languages that browsers use to yield a webpage). While not 100% necessary, mobile devices and different browsers make good design nearly impossible to do well from scratch. All good web designers use some sort of template/framework to start.

And there is a whole universe of pre-made grocery store website templates that range from free templates to paid to bundled with custom design services.

There is one item to remember about templates, however. Website templates should focus on design, layout & content presentation – and not on functionality.

Website Plugins / Extensions

Plugins / extensions / apps are specific pieces of software that work with your website software to add functions or features to your website.

Possibly the biggest advantage of WordPress is how “extensible” it is. WordPress has a whole universe of free & premium plugins. These allow even small grocery store websites to have very advanced functionality on their websites. In fact, many software providers make WordPress plugins & compatible scripts that can drop right into a WordPress-powered site, meaning you can get almost any functionality you want, from digital coupons to event listings to e-commerce functionality.

3. Choose & Setup Your Grocery Store Website Platform

There are a lot of excellent website platforms. There are infinite ways to combine, mix & match the 5 different pieces you need for a modern website.

But this guide would be worthless if it did not actually help you find a template & build a website that works.

We’ve already narrowed the website software down to WordPress. Now we need to pick where your WordPress software will live & how it will work with your templates & plugins.

There are two main options here: “self-hosted” WordPress and WordPress.com.

Disclosure – I receive customer referral fees from companies mentioned on this website. All data & opinions are based on my professional experience as a paying customer or consultant to paying customers.

Self-hosted WordPress

WordPress is free, open-source, community supported software. You can download it, install it anywhere, and use it however you like.

When you self-host WordPress, you get complete freedom but also have complete responsibility. It’s like owning your own building. You can do whatever you want…but you’re also the one to call the plumber.

That said, installing WordPress with a good business hosting company makes all the difference. A good hosting company can provide the support, security & services that can minimize the risks of maintaining your own self-hosted WordPress.

For businesses, I use & recommend InMotion Hosting for a few reasons. I wrote a full review of InMotion here.

1. InMotion provides excellent support services via phone, chat, email & knowledgebase.
2. InMotion operates at a slightly higher price point to focus on businesses (not hobby bloggers).
3. InMotion provides WordPress auto-install at checkout in addition to an (optional) free, drag & drop design tool called BoldGrid.
4. InMotion can provide custom web design services to minimize the search for a random freelancer.

See InMotion Hosting’s current Business Hosting Plans here.

Upside: If you self-host your WordPress software, you can download & use basically any theme or plugin that you want. Developers & consultants are used to the setup. It is future-proof, and it saves a good bit of money compared to other options.

Downside: You are in charge of technical aspects. Sure – InMotion provides support and consultants can provide expertise, but you are ultimately in charge of everything. For anyone who doesn’t want to deal with technical issues at all – self-hosting WordPress is not ideal.

WordPress.com

WordPress.com is a “hosted service” run by the originator of WordPress software. It’s an all-in-one service that bundles a limited version of WordPress software with hosting, software, support, and services all into one monthly plan.

If self-hosting WordPress is like owning your own building, then using WordPress.com is like leasing a pre-built storefront. You can do all the customizations that you want “inside” your building, but the maintenance and boring bits are not your responsibility.

For businesses, I use & recommend WordPress.com for a few reasons.

1. WordPress.com takes care of *all* speed, security & technical concerns while still benefitting from the advantages of WordPress software.
2. WordPress.com’s Business Plan is expensive, but it is predictable. There will never be a big consultant’s fee for maintenance.
3. WordPress.com provides a full directory of premium design templates with simple installation.
4. WordPress.com still allows you to install vetted 3rd party plugins – which is huge for a custom grocery store website.

See WordPress.com’s Business Plan here.

Upside: If you use WordPress.com, then you get most of the upside of WordPress software without any potential technical headaches.

Downside: You have a limited version of WordPress – and will inevitably miss out on some functionality and design options.

Your Next Steps

Remember that there is no wrong choice. It all depends on your goals and needs.

Sign up for InMotion Hosting’s Business Plan w/ WordPress auto-install.

Sign up for WordPress.com’s Business Plan.

4. Choose & Setup Your Grocery Store Website Template

Now that you know what you have and you know what you need, you can dive in finding the right pre-made grocery store template for your website.

When you are shopping, keep a few things in mind:

1. Ignore the mock-up photography and logo designs. Often, a template will only look a certain way due to the mock-up photography.
2. Focus on the layout of a given template.
3. Look beyond the homepage. Look at how the subpages and unique pages are presented.
4. Remember that any template can be reproduced as a WordPress Theme or template. If you see a Squarespace, Weebly, Wix, Drupal, etc template, it is better to convert that template to WordPress than to lock into that platform simply for the design. Again, that would be like choosing your grocery store building based on existing checkout lane layouts. Better to find a building and location that fits your needs and spend money renovating the checkout area.

Self-hosted WordPress Templates

With a self-hosted WordPress install, you have a basically unlimited choice of templates. Here are a few places to look for high-quality options.

• My round-up of WordPress Theme Frameworks – basically amazing foundational templates that can produce great websites with good photos & colors.
• ThemeForest – a huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• MOJO Themes – another huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• TemplateMonster – another huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• WordPress.org Repository – the official marketplace for WordPress themes & templates. All templates are free to download & install directly into your WordPress website.

If you used InMotion Hosting, then you’ll also have access to their BoldGrid templates that have drag & drop functionality. You can also use their design services to convert a template you love to WordPress + your brand.

WordPress.com Templates

With a WordPress.com Business Plan, you can not only upload template choices from sites listed above – you also get unlimited access to WordPress.com’s premium templates. These all have advanced customization options so that you can edit them.

You can browse them here.

5. Choose & Setup Your Grocery Store Website Functionality

Many template & theme makers bundle functionality with design. That can be great, but it can also have downsides.

If your theme has too much functionality built-in, then you are locked into that template. But if you separate out design & functionality, you can easily edit both.

Either way, WordPress allows additional functionality via plugins.

Everyday Functionality

WordPress works out of the box – and needs very little installed on top. In fact, generally the fewer plugins you have, the better.

If you are using a self-hosted site, then I’d recommend installing the JetPack plugin to provide security & backups (along with other fun things like sharing buttons, contact forms, etc).

I’ve also written a round-up of “must have” WordPress plugins here – that includes things like Google Analytics & Redirects.

There are also options for eCommerce like WooCommerce that work well for grocery stores that want to sell goods or specials directly online.

Specialized Functionality

Now – what you’ve been waiting for – specialized functionality.

Here it is important to emphasize writing down your needs. It’s easy to just randomly add things to WordPress that neither you nor your visitors need.

Once you do that, check out these resources:

• WordPress.org Repository – the official source for plugins. Do a search for specific functionality. Be sure to note the number of installs, rating, and other notes of quality.
• ThemeForest – also an excellent source for premium plugins in every industry.

6. Refine Your Design & Content

Now that you have your design & functionality setup – the fun begins.

The important point here is that whether your website is a brochure or informational site – or an interactive & constantly updated site – maintaining, revising and editing is never done.

It does not have to be time-consuming, but a good website is one that has regular updates and edits.

Editing Your Design

Using WordPress + a good template should make this process straightforward. InMotion’s BoldGrid tool brings drag and drop functionality to WordPress and WordPress.com’s Customizer tool allows for simple click & edit customization.

Here’s a guide to how WordPress Themes work – along with a tour of the WordPress Dashboard.

When planning & editing your site, be sure to keep the features that your customers want in mind. Even if you like a certain look or feel – that might be frustrating for visitors.

For grocery stores, your location page is the top priority. Your visitors are likely on mobile devices – that means scannable content and minimal navigation.

Marketing Your Grocery Store Website

Ahh – now the real fun. There are no right answers here.

But here’s the thing… you can’t do real, long-term brand building without a website. Social networks come and go. But a good website is something that *you* own.

If you lock onto your best customers and identify how they find you, you’ll be able to position your site for whatever comes.

I cover this topic in my guide to planning a local marketing strategy.

Next Steps

Walk through your budget & needs.

If self-hosted WordPress fits your needs, purchase a Business Hosting Plan with WordPress auto-install here.

If bundled WordPress services fit your needs, purchase a WordPress.com Business Plan here.

Keep Exploring & Learning!

• How To Setup a WordPress Website from Scratch
• Beginner’s Guide To Using WordPress
• How To Map Your Keywords for SEO
• Planning a Local Marketing Strategy
• Must Have Features for a Local Business Website
• How To Advertise Online Effectively

So you need to build an industrial website, and you have a certain “look” and specific functionality in mind.

Fortunately, website design has come a long way in the last few years.

Free templates, ready-made designs, and website builders allow anybody to get their business online.

In the high-churn, cutthroat, rapidly digitizing manufacturing industry, this shift has been incredible.

But starting the process of building a website with an industrial website template can be a shortcut to some bad website choices.

Starting with a template or pre-made design is like starting your office building search based on existing office layouts.

Sure, a good existing office layout is great. But it doesn’t really matter if your location, building, lease terms, and expansion options do not make any sense.

Here’s the open secret among professional web designers: web pages are made of HTML & CSS with a few scripts thrown in. This means that…

… any website template can exist on any good web platform.

With that in mind, here’s a brief 6 step guide to choosing the right industrial website template on the right web platform so that you can build the design & functionality that your business needs.

1. Define Your Needs, Budget & Assets

Since any generic template can transform into an industrial template with a little editing, they are very easy to market (and easy to mislead). It’s important to take stock of what you truly need, what your budget is, and what website assets you already own.

Needs

What functionality does your website need? Is it simply a “brochure site” or does it need to be interactive? Do you need to be able to easily edit specific information? Do you need to integrate with your CRM? Quickly edit links to inventory and Intranets?

There are no right answers, but it’s important to at least think about them before reading template sales features.

Budget

Price is powerful, but it’s important to not only pay for value but to also pay for what matters. Think about your physical business location. What do you spend money on and where do you cut back?

What is a new customer worth? How much do you want to grow? How long do you expect this website to last? How much is your time worth – and how much will getting your website right save time? How much is your staff’s time worth – can a good website help them?

There are no right answers, but it’s important to at least think about them before shopping for a design/designer/template.

Assets

Pre-made industrial templates can go a long way… but the site still needs to be yours. What photography do you have? Do you have a digitized logo? Do you know your fonts and exact colors? Do you have descriptions of your services and company history? Do you have marketing partnerships with other local businesses or organizations?

There are no right answers, but it’s important to at least think about them before getting swayed by nice mock-ups.

2. Understand Terminology & Options

Website terminology can be daunting and frustrating with so many companies mixing, matching, & misusing jargon to sell their product. Here are the 5 core things you need to have a website on the Internet nowadays:

Domain Name

A domain is your “address” on the Internet. You lease it for a certain amount of time from ICANN via accredited “domain registrars”. You can buy one now and “point” it to your website later. Many website hosting companies also resell domain names to provide convenience.

Website Hosting

Your website is made up of computer files. And those files have to “live” somewhere. Website hosting companies rent space on specialized servers that store & serve your website files whenever someone goes to your website.

Website Software

A modern website usually consists of a lot of different files. While not 100% necessary, websites usually need software (ie, a “content management system”) to manage all the files and make it easy for a human to edit & maintain.

There are hundreds of thousands of website software options.

For our purposes, we’ll be looking at WordPress.

WordPress powers more than 25% of the Internet. It has its critics and its evangelists. But it’s still the go-to solution for most industrial websites.

Here’s the thing: WordPress is kind of like the 4 door sedan or light SUV of website software.

Yes, it is popular. But it’s popular because it fits most people’s needs. It’s versatile, manageable and suitable for so much. If you hear people saying that “WordPress gets hacked” or “WordPress is not fast”, that is like someone saying that “sedans get broken into more often than semi-trucks” or “well, your Honda Accord can’t beat my Ferrari off the line.”

Yes, those criticisms are true… but not.

Plus, as we’ll see, there are ways to mitigate/eliminate WordPress’ disadvantages while keeping its advantages for building a industrial website (ie, ownership, integrations, ease of editing/uploading documents, etc).

*WordPress is for most, but not everyone. It does have a learning curve. Here’s how WordPress compares to Wix, how WordPress compares to Squarespace, and how WordPress compares to Weebly. Your end goal should be a website that is best for *you* and your goals. The general strategies below work regardless of platform.

Website Templates

As we saw in the introduction, templates are simply pre-made HTML & CSS (the computer languages that browsers use to yield a webpage). While not 100% necessary, mobile devices and different browsers make good design nearly impossible to do well from scratch. All good web designers use some sort of template/framework to start.

And there is a whole universe of pre-made industrial website templates that range from free templates to paid to bundled with custom design services.

There is one item to remember about templates, however…  website templates should focus on design, layout & content presentation, not on functionality.

Website Plugins / Extensions

Plugins / extensions / apps are specific pieces of software that work with your website software to add functions or features to your website.

Possibly the biggest advantage of WordPress is how “extensible” it is. WordPress has a whole universe of free & premium plugins. These allow even small industrial websites to have very advanced functionality on their websites. From CRM integrations to landing pages for prospects to anything else you can dream up, WordPress can either do it on its own, or has a plugin / integration that exists or can be developed to give you the functionality you need.

3. Choose & Setup Your Industrial Website Platform

There are a lot of excellent website platforms. There are infinite ways to combine, mix & match the 5 different pieces you need for a modern website.

But this guide would be worthless if it did not actually help you find a template & build a website that works.

We’ve already narrowed the website software down to WordPress. Now we need to pick where your WordPress software will live & how it will work with your templates & plugins.

There are two main options here: “self-hosted” WordPress and WordPress.com.

Disclosure – I receive customer referral fees from companies mentioned on this website. All data & opinions are based on my professional experience as a paying customer or consultant to paying customers.

Self-hosted WordPress

WordPress is free, open-source, community supported software. You can download it, install it anywhere, and use it however you like.

When you self-host WordPress, you get complete freedom but also have complete responsibility. It’s like owning your own building. You can do whatever you want…but you’re also the one to call the plumber.

That said, installing WordPress with a good business hosting company makes all the difference. A good hosting company can provide the support, security & services that can minimize the risks of maintaining your own self-hosted WordPress.

For businesses, I use & recommend InMotion Hosting for a few reasons. I wrote a full review of InMotion here.

1. InMotion provides excellent support services via phone, chat, email & knowledgebase.
2. InMotion operates at a slightly higher price point to focus on businesses (not hobby bloggers).
3. InMotion provides WordPress auto-install at checkout in addition to an (optional) free, drag & drop design tool called BoldGrid.
4. InMotion can provide custom web design services to minimize the search for a random freelancer.

See InMotion Hosting’s current Business Hosting Plans here.

Upside: If you self-host your WordPress software, you can download & use basically any theme or plugin that you want. Developers & consultants are used to the setup. It is future-proof, and it saves a good bit of money compared to other options.

Downside: You are in charge of technical aspects. Sure – InMotion provides support and consultants can provide expertise, but you are ultimately in charge of everything. For anyone who doesn’t want to deal with technical issues at all – self-hosting WordPress is not ideal.

WordPress.com

WordPress.com is a “hosted service” run by the originator of WordPress software. It’s an all-in-one service that bundles a limited version of WordPress software with hosting, software, support, and services all into one monthly plan.

If self-hosting WordPress is like owning your own building, then using WordPress.com is like leasing a pre-built storefront. You can do all the customizations that you want “inside” your building, but the maintenance and boring bits are not your responsibility.

For businesses, I use & recommend WordPress.com for a few reasons.

1. WordPress.com takes care of *all* speed, security & technical concerns while still benefitting from the advantages of WordPress software.
2. WordPress.com’s Business Plan is expensive, but it is predictable. There will never be a big consultant’s fee for maintenance.
3. WordPress.com provides a full directory of premium design templates with simple installation.
4. WordPress.com still allows you to install vetted 3rd party plugins – which is huge for a custom industrial website.

See WordPress.com’s Business Plan here.

Upside: If you use WordPress.com, then you get most of the upside of WordPress software without any potential technical headaches.

Downside: You have a limited version of WordPress – and will inevitably miss out on some functionality and design options.

Your Next Steps

Remember that there is no wrong choice. It all depends on your goals and needs.

Sign up for InMotion Hosting’s Business Plan w/ WordPress auto-install.

Sign up for WordPress.com’s Business Plan.

4. Choose & Setup Your Industrial Website Template

Now that you know what you have and you know what you need, you can dive in finding the right pre-made industrial template for your website.

When you are shopping, keep a few things in mind.

1. Ignore the mock-up photography and logo designs. Often, a template will only look a certain way due to the mock-up photography.
2. Focus on the layout of a given template.
3. Look beyond the homepage. Look at how the subpages and unique pages are presented.
4. Remember that any template can be reproduced as a WordPress Theme or template. If you see a Squarespace, Weebly, Wix, Drupal, etc template, it is better to convert that template to WordPress than to lock into that platform simply for the design.

Self-hosted WordPress Templates

With a self-hosted WordPress install, you have a basically unlimited choice of templates. Here are a few places to look for high-quality options.

• My round-up of WordPress Theme Frameworks – basically amazing foundational templates that can produce great websites with good photos & colors.
• ThemeForest – a huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• MOJO Themes – another huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• TemplateMonster – another huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• WordPress.org Repository – the official marketplace for WordPress themes & templates. All templates are free to download & install directly into your WordPress website.

If you used InMotion Hosting, then you’ll also have access to their BoldGrid templates that have drag & drop functionality. You can also use their design services to convert a template you love to WordPress + your brand.

WordPress.com Templates

With a WordPress.com Business Plan, you can not only upload template choices from sites listed above – you also get unlimited access to WordPress.com’s premium templates. These all have advanced customization options so that you can edit them.

You can browse them here.

5. Choose & Setup Your Industrial Website Functionality

Many template & theme makers bundle functionality with design. That can be great, but it can also have downsides.

If your theme has too much functionality built-in, then you are locked into that template. But if you separate out design & functionality, you can easily edit both.

Either way, WordPress allows additional functionality via plugins.

Everyday Functionality

WordPress works out of the box and needs very little installed on top. In fact, generally the fewer plugins you have, the better.

If you are using a self-hosted site, then I’d recommend installing the JetPack plugin to provide security & backups (along with other fun things like sharing buttons, contact forms, etc).

I’ve also written a round-up of “must have” WordPress plugins here – that includes things like Google Analytics & Redirects.

Specialized Functionality

Now – what you’ve been waiting for – specialized functionality.

Here it is important to emphasize writing down your needs. It’s easy to just randomly add things to WordPress that neither you nor your visitors need.

Once you do that, check out these resources:

• WordPress.org Repository – the official source for plugins. Do a search for specific functionality. Be sure to note the number of installs, rating, and other notes of quality.
• ThemeForest – also an excellent source for premium plugins in every industry.
• Software Providers – since WordPress is such a popular CMS, your favorite software providers probably have an integration. Do a Google Search!

6. Refine Your Design & Content

Now that you have your design & functionality setup – the fun begins.

The important point here is that whether your website is a brochure or informational site – or an interactive & constantly updated site – maintaining, revising and editing is never done.

It does not have to be time-consuming, but a good website is one that has regular updates and edits.

Editing Your Design

Using WordPress + a good template should make this process straightforward. InMotion’s BoldGrid tool brings drag and drop functionality to WordPress and WordPress.com’s Customizer tool allows for simple click & edit customization.

Here’s a guide to how WordPress Themes work – along with a tour of the WordPress Dashboard.

When planning & editing your site, be sure to keep the features that your customers want in mind. Even if you like a certain look or feel – that might be frustrating for visitors.

Marketing Your Industrial Website

Ahh – now the real fun. There are no right answers here.

But here’s the thing… you can’t do real, long-term brand building without a website. Social networks come and go. But a good website is something that *you* own.

If you lock onto your best customers and identify how they find you, you’ll be able to position your site for whatever comes.

I cover this topic in my guide to planning a local marketing strategy.

Next Steps

Walk through your budget & needs.

If self-hosted WordPress fits your needs, purchase a Business Hosting Plan with WordPress auto-install here.

If bundled WordPress services fit your needs, purchase a WordPress.com Business Plan here.

Keep Exploring & Learning!

• How To Setup a WordPress Website from Scratch
• Beginner’s Guide To Using WordPress
• How To Map Your Keywords for SEO
• Planning a Local Marketing Strategy
• Must Have Features for a Local Business Website
• How To Advertise Online Effectively

So you need to build a mortgage website, and you have a certain “look” and functionality in mind.

Fortunately, website design has come a long way in the last few years.

Free templates, ready-made designs, and website builders allow anybody to get their business online.

In the high-churn, cutthroat, rapidly digitizing mortgage industry, this shift has been incredible (just think of all of the online mortgage lenders + real estate apps).

But starting the process of building your website with a mortgage website template can be a shortcut to some bad website choices.

Starting with a template or pre-made design is like starting your home search based on existing paint jobs.

Sure, a good existing paint job is great. But it doesn’t really matter if your location, number of bedrooms, price, etc. don’t make any sense.

Here’s the open secret among professional web designers: web pages are made of HTML & CSS with a few scripts thrown in. This means that…

… any website template can exist on any good web platform.

With that in mind, here’s a brief 6 step guide to choosing the right mortgage website template on the right web platform so that you can build the design & functionality that your business needs.

1. Define Your Needs, Budget & Assets

Since any generic template can transform into a mortgage template with a little editing, they are very easy to market (and easy to mislead). It’s important to take stock of what you truly need, what your budget is, and what website assets you already own.

Needs

What functionality does your website need? Is it simply a “brochure site” or does it need to be interactive? Do you need it to be easily edited? Do you want to include a mortgage calculator, quick quote options, and online applications?

There are no right answers, but it’s important to at least think about them before reading template sales features.

Budget

Price is powerful, but it’s important to not only pay for value but to also pay for what matters. Think about your personal budget. What do you spend money on and where do you cut back?

What is a new customer worth? How much do you want to grow? How long do you expect this website to last? How much is your time worth, and how much will getting your website right save time? How much is your staff’s time worth? Can a good website help them?

There are no right answers, but it’s important to at least think about them before shopping for a design/designer/template.

Assets

Pre-made mortgage templates can go a long way… but the site still needs to be yours. What photography do you have? Do you have a digitized logo? Do you know your fonts and exact colors? What content do you have written? Do you have marketing partnerships with other local businesses or organizations? Do you already have established social profiles & reviews?

There are no right answers, but it’s important to at least think about them before getting swayed by nice mock-ups.

2. Understand Terminology & Options

Website terminology can be daunting and frustrating with so many companies mixing, matching, & misusing jargon to sell their product. Here are the 5 core things you need to have a website on the Internet nowadays:

Domain Name

A domain is your “address” on the Internet. You lease it for a certain amount of time from ICANN via accredited “domain registrars”. You can buy one now and “point” it to your website later. Many website hosting companies also resell domain names to provide convenience.

Website Hosting

Your website is made up of computer files. And those files have to “live” somewhere. Website hosting companies rent space on specialized servers that store & serve your website files whenever someone goes to your website.

Website Software

A modern website usually consists of a lot of different files. While not 100% necessary, websites usually need software (ie, a “content management system”) to manage all the files – and make it easy for a human to edit & maintain.

There are hundreds of thousands of website software options.

For our purposes, we’ll be looking at WordPress.

WordPress powers more than 25% of the Internet. It has its critics and its evangelists. But it’s still the go-to solution for most mortgage websites.

Why? Because WordPress is kind of like the 4 door sedan or light SUV of website software.

Yes, it is popular. But it’s popular because it fits most people’s needs. It’s versatile, manageable and suitable for so much.

If you hear people saying that “WordPress gets hacked” or “WordPress is not fast”, that is like someone saying that “sedans get broken into more often than semi-trucks” or “well, your Honda Accord can’t beat my Ferrari off the line.”

Sure, those criticisms are true… but not.

Plus, as we’ll see, there are ways to mitigate/eliminate WordPress’ disadvantages while keeping its advantages for building a mortgage website (ie, ownership, integrations, marketing, etc).

*WordPress is for most, but not everyone. It does have a learning curve. Here’s how WordPress compares to Wix, how WordPress compares to Squarespace, and how WordPress compares to Weebly. Your end goal should be a website that is best for *you* and your goals. The general strategies below work regardless of platform.

Website Templates

As we saw in the introduction, templates are simply pre-made HTML & CSS (the computer languages that browsers use to yield a webpage). While not 100% necessary, mobile devices and different browsers make good design nearly impossible to do well from scratch. All good web designers use some sort of template/framework to start.

And there is a whole universe of pre-made mortgage website templates that range from free templates to paid to bundled with custom design services.

There is one item to remember about templates, however. Website templates should focus on design, layout & content presentation… and not on functionality.

Website Plugins / Extensions

Plugins / extensions / apps are specific pieces of software that work with your website software to add functions or features to your website.

Possibly the biggest advantage of WordPress is how “extensible” it is. WordPress has a whole universe of free & premium plugins. These allow even small mortgage companies to have very advanced functionality on their websites. From interactive quizzes to calculators to anything else you can dream up, it can be built for WordPress (if it doesn’t already exist).

3. Choose & Setup Your Mortgage Website Platform

There are a lot of excellent website platforms. There are infinite ways to combine, mix & match the 5 different pieces you need for a modern website.

But this guide would be worthless if it did not actually help you find a template & build a website that works.

We’ve already narrowed the website software down to WordPress. Now we need to pick where your WordPress software will live & how it will work with your templates & plugins.

There are two main options here: “self-hosted” WordPress and WordPress.com.

Disclosure – I receive customer referral fees from companies mentioned on this website. All data & opinions are based on my professional experience as a paying customer or consultant to paying customers.

Self-hosted WordPress

WordPress is free, open-source, community supported software. You can download it, install it anywhere, and use it however you like.

When you self-host WordPress, you get complete freedom but also have complete responsibility. It’s like owning your own building. You can do whatever you want…but you’re also the one to call the plumber.

That said, installing WordPress with a good business hosting company makes all the difference. A good hosting company can provide the support, security & services that can minimize the risks of maintaining your own self-hosted WordPress.

For businesses, I use & recommend InMotion Hosting for a few reasons. I wrote a full review of InMotion here.

1. InMotion provides excellent support services via phone, chat, email & knowledgebase.
2. InMotion operates at a slightly higher price point to focus on businesses (not hobby bloggers).
3. InMotion provides WordPress auto-install at checkout in addition to an (optional) free, drag & drop design tool called BoldGrid.
4. InMotion can provide custom web design services to minimize the search for a random freelancer.

See InMotion Hosting’s current Business Hosting Plans here.

Upside: If you self-host your WordPress software, you can download & use basically any theme or plugin that you want. Developers & consultants are used to the setup. It is future-proof, and it saves a good bit of money compared to other options.

Downside: You are in charge of technical aspects. Sure – InMotion provides support and consultants can provide expertise, but you are ultimately in charge of everything. For anyone who doesn’t want to deal with technical issues at all – self-hosting WordPress is not ideal.

WordPress.com

WordPress.com is a “hosted service” run by the originator of WordPress software. It’s an all-in-one service that bundles a limited version of WordPress software with hosting, software, support, and services all into one monthly plan.

If self-hosting WordPress is like owning your own building, then using WordPress.com is like leasing a pre-built storefront. You can do all the customizations that you want “inside” your building, but the maintenance and boring bits are not your responsibility.

For businesses, I use & recommend WordPress.com for a few reasons.

1. WordPress.com takes care of *all* speed, security & technical concerns while still benefitting from the advantages of WordPress software.
2. WordPress.com’s Business Plan is expensive, but it is predictable. There will never be a big consultant’s fee for maintenance.
3. WordPress.com provides a full directory of premium design templates with simple installation.
4. WordPress.com still allows you to install vetted 3rd party plugins – which is huge for a custom mortgage website.

See WordPress.com’s Business Plan here.

Upside: If you use WordPress.com, then you get most of the upside of WordPress software without any potential technical headaches.

Downside: You have a limited version of WordPress – and will inevitably miss out on some functionality and design options.

Your Next Steps

Remember that there is no wrong choice. It all depends on your goals and needs.

Sign up for InMotion Hosting’s Business Plan w/ WordPress auto-install.

Sign up for WordPress.com’s Business Plan.

4. Choose & Setup Your Mortgage Website Template

Now that you know what you have and you know what you need, you can dive in finding the right pre-made mortgage template for your website.

When you are shopping, keep a few things in mind:

1. Ignore the mock-up photography and logo designs. Often, a template will only look a certain way due to the mock-up photography.
2. Focus on the layout of a given template.
3. Look beyond the homepage. Look at how the subpages and unique pages are presented.
4. Remember that any template can be reproduced as a WordPress Theme or template. If you see a Squarespace, Weebly, Wix, Drupal, etc template, it is better to convert that template to WordPress than to lock into that platform simply for the design. Again, that would be like choosing your home based on an existing paint job. Better to choose a home that fits your needs and spend money repainting.

Self-hosted WordPress Templates

With a self-hosted WordPress install, you have a basically unlimited choice of templates. Here are a few places to look for high-quality options.

• My round-up of WordPress Theme Frameworks – basically amazing foundational templates that can produce great websites with good photos & colors.
• ThemeForest – a huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• MOJO Themes – another huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• TemplateMonster – another huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• WordPress.org Repository – the official marketplace for WordPress themes & templates. All templates are free to download & install directly into your WordPress website.

If you used InMotion Hosting, then you’ll also have access to their BoldGrid templates that have drag & drop functionality. You can also use their design services to convert a template you love to WordPress + your brand.

WordPress.com Templates

With a WordPress.com Business Plan, you can not only upload template choices from sites listed above – you also get unlimited access to WordPress.com’s premium templates. These all have advanced customization options so that you can edit them.

You can browse them here.

5. Choose & Setup Your Mortgage Website Functionality

Many template & theme makers bundle functionality with design. That can be great, but it can also have downsides.

If your theme has too much functionality built-in, then you are locked into that template. But if you separate out design & functionality, you can easily edit both.

Either way, WordPress allows additional functionality via plugins.

Everyday Functionality

WordPress works out of the box and needs very little installed on top. In fact, generally the fewer plugins you have, the better.

If you are using a self-hosted site, then I’d recommend installing the JetPack plugin to provide security & backups (along with other fun things like sharing buttons, contact forms, etc).

I’ve also written a round-up of “must have” WordPress plugins here – that includes things like Google Analytics & Redirects.

Specialized Functionality

Now – what you’ve been waiting for – mortgage functionality.

Here it is important to emphasize writing down your needs. It’s easy to just randomly add things to WordPress that neither you nor your visitors need.

After you do that, check out these resources:

• WordPress.org Repository – the official source for plugins. Do a search for specific functionality. Be sure to note the number of installs, rating, and other notes of quality.
• ThemeForest – also an excellent source for premium plugins in every industry.
• Mortgage Software Providers – since WordPress is such a popular CMS, your favorite software providers probably have an integration. Do a Google Search!

6. Refine Your Design & Content

Now that you have your design & functionality setup, the fun begins.

The important point here is that whether your website is a brochure or informational site – or an interactive & constantly updated site – maintaining, revising and editing is never done.

It does not have to be time-consuming, but a good website is one that has regular updates and edits.

Editing Your Design

Using WordPress + a good template should make this process straightforward. InMotion’s BoldGrid tool brings drag and drop functionality to WordPress and WordPress.com’s Customizer tool allows for simple click & edit customization.

Here’s a guide to how WordPress Themes work – along with a tour of the WordPress Dashboard.

When planning & editing your site, be sure to keep the features that your customers want in mind. Even if you like a certain look or feel – that might be frustrating for visitors.

Marketing Your Mortgage Website

Ahh – now the real fun. There are no right answers here.

But here’s the thing: you can’t do real, long-term brand building without a website. Social networks come and go. But a good website is something that *you* own.

If you lock onto your best customers and identify how they find you, you’ll be able to position your site for whatever comes.

I cover this topic in my guide to planning a local marketing strategy.

Next Steps

Walk through your budget & needs.

If self-hosted WordPress fits your needs, purchase a Business Hosting Plan with WordPress auto-install here.

If bundled WordPress services fit your needs, purchase a WordPress.com Business Plan here.

Keep Exploring & Learning!

• How To Setup a WordPress Website from Scratch
• Beginner’s Guide To Using WordPress
• How To Map Your Keywords for SEO
• Planning a Local Marketing Strategy
• Must Have Features for a Local Business Website
• How To Advertise Online Effectively

So you need to build a laundry website, and you have a certain “look” and functionality in mind.

Fortunately, website design has come a long way in the last few years.

Free templates, ready-made designs, and website builders allow anybody to get their business online. It allows professional designers to think more about brand voice rather than counting pixels.

But starting the process of building a laundry website with a laundry website template can be a shortcut to some bad website choices.

Starting with a template or pre-made design is like starting your home search based on an existing paint job.

Sure, a good existing paint job is great. But it doesn’t really matter if your location, number of bedrooms / bathrooms, lease or mortgage terms, etc. do not make any sense.

Here’s the open secret among professional web designers: web pages are made of HTML & CSS with a few scripts thrown in. This means that…

…any website template can exist on any good web platform.

With that in mind, here’s a brief 6 step guide to choosing the right laundry website template on the right web platform so that you can build the design & functionality that your business needs.

1. Define Your Needs, Budget & Assets

Since any generic template can transform into a laundry template with a little editing, they are very easy to market (and easy to mislead). It’s important to take stock of what you truly need, what your budget is, and what website assets you already own.

Needs

What functionality does your website need? Is it simply a “brochure site”, or does it need to be interactive? Do you need it to be easily edited? How should it display your services and prices? Do you want to sell wash packages directly on your site?

There are no right answers, but it’s important to at least think about them before reading template sales features.

Budget

Price is powerful, but it’s important to not only pay for value but to also pay for what matters. Think about your physical business location. What do you spend money on and where do you cut back?

What is a new, repeat customer worth? How much do you want to grow? How long do you expect this website to last? How much is your time worth – and how much will getting your website right save time? How much is your staff’s time worth – can a good website help them?

There are no right answers, but it’s important to at least think about them before shopping for a design/designer/template.

Assets

Pre-made laundry templates can go a long way… but the site still needs to be yours. Do you have photography? Do you have a digitized logo? Do you know your fonts and exact colors? Do you have descriptions of your history, location, packages, etc? Do you have marketing partnerships with other local businesses or organizations? Do you already have established social profiles & reviews?

There are no right answers, but it’s important to at least think about them before getting swayed by nice mock-ups.

2. Understand Terminology & Options

Website terminology can be daunting and frustrating with so many companies mixing, matching, & misusing jargon to sell their product. Here are the 5 core things you need to have a website on the Internet nowadays:

Domain Name

A domain is your “address” on the Internet. You lease it for a certain amount of time from ICANN via accredited “domain registrars”. You can buy one now and “point” it to your website later. Many website hosting companies also resell domain names to provide convenience.

Website Hosting

Your website is made up of computer files, and those files have to “live” somewhere. Website hosting companies rent space on specialized servers that store & serve your website files whenever someone goes to your website.

Website Software

A modern website usually consists of a lot of different files. While not 100% necessary, websites usually need software (ie, a “content management system”) to manage all the files – and make it easy for a human to edit & maintain.

There are hundreds of thousands of website software options.

For our purposes, we’ll be looking at WordPress.

WordPress powers more than 25% of the Internet. It has its critics and its evangelists. But it’s still the go-to solution for most laundry websites.

Why? Because WordPress is kind of like the 4 door sedan or light SUV of website software.

Yes, it is popular. But it’s popular because it fits most people’s needs. It’s versatile, manageable and suitable for so much.

If you hear people saying that “WordPress gets hacked” or “WordPress is not fast”, that is like someone saying that “sedans get broken into more often than semi-trucks” or “well, your Honda Accord can’t beat my Ferrari off the line.”

Sure, those criticisms are true… but not.

Plus, as we’ll see, there are ways to mitigate/eliminate WordPress’ disadvantages while keeping its advantages for building a laundry website (ie, integrations, marketing, scalability, etc).

*WordPress is for most, but not everyone. It does have a learning curve. Here’s how WordPress compares to Wix, how WordPress compares to Squarespace, and how WordPress compares to Weebly. Your end goal should be a website that is best for *you* and your goals. The general strategies below work regardless of platform.

Website Templates

As we saw in the introduction, templates are simply pre-made HTML & CSS (the computer languages that browsers use to yield a webpage). While not 100% necessary, mobile devices and different browsers make good design nearly impossible to do well from scratch. All good web designers use some sort of template/framework to start.

And there is a whole universe of pre-made laundry website templates that range from free templates to paid to bundled with custom design services.

There is one item to remember about templates, however. Website templates should focus on design, layout & content presentation… and not on functionality.

Website Plugins / Extensions

Plugins / extensions / apps are specific pieces of software that work with your website software to add functions or features to your website.

Possibly the biggest advantage of WordPress is how “extensible” it is. WordPress has a whole universe of free & premium plugins. These allow even small laundry websites to have very advanced functionality on their websites. From taking reservations to selling wash packages to whatever else you can dream up, plugins can make it happen.

3. Choose & Setup Your Laundry Website Platform

There are a lot of excellent website platforms. There are infinite ways to combine, mix & match the 5 different pieces you need for a modern website.

But this guide would be worthless if it did not actually help you find a template & build a website that works.

We’ve already narrowed the website software down to WordPress. Now we need to pick where your WordPress software will live & how it will work with your templates & plugins.

There are two main options here: “self-hosted” WordPress and WordPress.com.

Disclosure – I receive customer referral fees from companies mentioned on this website. All data & opinions are based on my professional experience as a paying customer or consultant to paying customers.

Self-hosted WordPress

WordPress is free, open-source, community supported software. You can download it, install it anywhere, and use it however you like.

When you self-host WordPress, you get complete freedom but also have complete responsibility. It’s like owning your own building. You can do whatever you want…but you’re also the one to call the plumber.

That said, installing WordPress with a good business hosting company makes all the difference. A good hosting company can provide the support, security & services that can minimize the risks of maintaining your own self-hosted WordPress.

For businesses, I use & recommend InMotion Hosting for a few reasons. I wrote a full review of InMotion here.

1. InMotion provides excellent support services via phone, chat, email & knowledgebase.
2. InMotion operates at a slightly higher price point to focus on businesses (not hobby bloggers).
3. InMotion provides WordPress auto-install at checkout in addition to an (optional) free, drag & drop design tool called BoldGrid.
4. InMotion can provide custom web design services to minimize the search for a random freelancer.

See InMotion Hosting’s current Business Hosting Plans here.

Upside: If you self-host your WordPress software, you can download & use basically any theme or plugin that you want. Developers & consultants are used to the setup. It is future-proof, and it saves a good bit of money compared to other options.

Downside: You are in charge of technical aspects. Sure – InMotion provides support and consultants can provide expertise, but you are ultimately in charge of everything. For anyone who doesn’t want to deal with technical issues at all – self-hosting WordPress is not ideal.

WordPress.com

WordPress.com is a “hosted service” run by the originator of WordPress software. It’s an all-in-one service that bundles a limited version of WordPress software with hosting, software, support, and services all into one monthly plan.

If self-hosting WordPress is like owning your own building, then using WordPress.com is like leasing a pre-built storefront. You can do all the customizations that you want “inside” your building, but the maintenance and boring bits are not your responsibility.

For businesses, I use & recommend WordPress.com for a few reasons.

1. WordPress.com takes care of *all* speed, security & technical concerns while still benefitting from the advantages of WordPress software.
2. WordPress.com’s Business Plan is expensive, but it is predictable. There will never be a big consultant’s fee for maintenance.
3. WordPress.com provides a full directory of premium design templates with simple installation.
4. WordPress.com still allows you to install vetted 3rd party plugins – which is huge for a custom laundry website.

See WordPress.com’s Business Plan here.

Upside: If you use WordPress.com, then you get most of the upside of WordPress software without any potential technical headaches.

Downside: You have a limited version of WordPress – and will inevitably miss out on some functionality and design options.

Your Next Steps

Remember that there is no wrong choice. It all depends on your goals and needs.

Sign up for InMotion Hosting’s Business Plan w/ WordPress auto-install.

Sign up for WordPress.com’s Business Plan.

4. Choose & Setup Your Laundry Website Template

Now that you know what you have and you know what you need, you can dive in finding the right pre-made laundry template for your website.

When you are shopping, keep a few things in mind:

1. Ignore the mock-up photography and logo designs. Often, a template will only look a certain way due to the mock-up photography.
2. Focus on the layout of a given template.
3. Look beyond the homepage. Look at how the subpages and unique pages are presented.
4. Remember that any template can be reproduced as a WordPress Theme or template. If you see a Squarespace, Weebly, Wix, Drupal, etc template, it is better to convert that template to WordPress than to lock into that platform simply for the design. Again, that would be like choosing your home based on an existing paint job. Better to find a home that meets all of your needs and spend money repainting.

Self-hosted WordPress Templates

With a self-hosted WordPress install, you have a basically unlimited choice of templates. Here are a few places to look for high-quality options.

• My round-up of WordPress Theme Frameworks – basically amazing foundational templates that can produce great websites with good photos & colors.
• ThemeForest – a huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• MOJO Themes – another huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• TemplateMonster – another huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• WordPress.org Repository – the official marketplace for WordPress themes & templates. All templates are free to download & install directly into your WordPress website.

If you used InMotion Hosting, then you’ll also have access to their BoldGrid templates that have drag & drop functionality. You can also use their design services to convert a template you love to WordPress + your brand.

WordPress.com Templates

With a WordPress.com Business Plan, you can not only upload template choices from sites listed above – you also get unlimited access to WordPress.com’s premium templates. These all have advanced customization options so that you can edit them.

You can browse them here.

5. Choose & Setup Your Laundry Website Functionality

Many template & theme makers bundle functionality with design. That can be great, but it can also have downsides.

If your theme has too much functionality built-in, then you are locked into that template. But if you separate out design & functionality, you can easily edit both.

Either way, WordPress allows additional functionality via plugins.

Everyday Functionality

WordPress works out of the box and needs very little installed on top. In fact, generally the fewer plugins you have, the better.

If you are using a self-hosted site, then I’d recommend installing the JetPack plugin to provide security & backups (along with other fun things like sharing buttons, contact forms, etc).

I’ve also written a round-up of “must have” WordPress plugins here – that includes things like Google Analytics & Redirects.

There are also options for eCommerce like WooCommerce that work well for laundry websites.

Specialized Functionality

Now – what you’ve been waiting for – specialized functionality.

Here it is important to emphasize writing down your needs. It’s easy to just randomly add things to WordPress that neither you nor your visitors need.

Once you do that, check out these resources:

• WordPress.org Repository – the official source for plugins. Do a search for specific functionality. Be sure to note the number of installs, rating, and other notes of quality.
• ThemeForest – also an excellent source for premium plugins in every industry.

6. Refine Your Design & Content

Now that you have your design & functionality setup – the fun begins.

The important point here is that whether your website is a brochure or informational site – or an interactive & constantly updated site – maintaining, revising and editing is never done.

It does not have to be time-consuming, but a good website is one that has regular updates and edits.

Editing Your Design

Using WordPress + a good template should make this process straightforward. InMotion’s BoldGrid tool brings drag and drop functionality to WordPress and WordPress.com’s Customizer tool allows for simple click & edit customization.

Here’s a guide to how WordPress Themes work – along with a tour of the WordPress Dashboard.

When planning & editing your site, be sure to keep the features that your customers want in mind. Even if you like a certain look or feel – that might be frustrating for visitors.

For laundromats, your service menu and location pages are the top priority. Your visitors are likely on mobile devices – that means scannable content and minimal navigation.

Marketing Your Laundry Website

Ahh – now the real fun. There are no right answers here.

But here’s the thing… you can’t do real, long-term brand building without a website. Social networks come and go. But a good website is something that *you* own.

If you lock onto your best customers and identify how they find you, you’ll be able to position your site for whatever comes.

I cover this topic in my guide to planning a local marketing strategy.

Next Steps

Walk through your budget & needs.

If self-hosted WordPress fits your needs, purchase a Business Hosting Plan with WordPress auto-install here.

If bundled WordPress services fit your needs, purchase a WordPress.com Business Plan here.

Keep Exploring & Learning!

• How To Setup a WordPress Website from Scratch
• Beginner’s Guide To Using WordPress
• How To Map Your Keywords for SEO
• Planning a Local Marketing Strategy
• Must Have Features for a Local Business Website
• How To Advertise Online Effectively

So you need to build a property management website, and you have a certain “look” and functionality in mind.

Fortunately, website design has come a long way in the last few years.

Free templates, ready-made designs, and website builders allow anybody to get their business online. It allows professional designers to think more about brand voice rather than counting pixels.

In the high-churn, cutthroat, rapidly digitizing real estate industry, this shift has been incredible.

But starting the process of building your website with a property management website template can be a shortcut to some bad website choices.

Starting with a template or pre-made design is like starting your office building search based on existing office layouts.

Sure, a good existing office layout is great. But it doesn’t really matter if your location, building, lease terms, and expansion options don’t make any sense.

Here’s the open secret among professional web designers: web pages are made of HTML & CSS with a few scripts thrown in. This means that…

…any website template can exist on any good web platform.

With that in mind, here’s brief a 6 step guide to choosing the right property management website template on the right web platform so that you can build the design & functionality that your business needs.

1. Define Your Needs, Budget & Assets

Since any generic template can transform into a property management template with a little editing, they are very easy to market (and easy to mislead). It’s important to take stock of what you truly need, what your budget is, and what website assets you already own.

Needs

What functionality does your website need? Is it simply a “brochure site” or does it need to be interactive? Do you need it to be easily edited? Do you need to include a resident portal and owner portal? Do you want to have interactive renter applications that can be filled out and submitted online? Do you want owners to be able to submit maintenance requests? Do you want to display available properties?

There are no right answers, but it’s important to at least think about them before reading template sales features.

Budget

Price is powerful, but it’s important to not only pay for value but to also pay for what matters. Think about your physical business location. What do you spend money on and where do you cut back?

What is a new client worth? How much do you want to grow? How long do you expect this website to last? How much is your time worth – and how much will getting your website right save time? How much is your staff’s time worth – can a good website help them?

There are no right answers, but it’s important to at least think about them before shopping for a design/designer/template.

Assets

Pre-made property management templates can go a long way… but the site still needs to be yours. What photography do you have? Do you have a digitized logo? Do you know your fonts and exact colors? Do you have content already written (i.e. about page information, services for owners and renters, etc)?

There are no right answers, but it’s important to at least think about them before getting swayed by nice mock-ups.

2. Understand Terminology & Options

Website terminology can be daunting and frustrating with so many companies mixing, matching, & misusing jargon to sell their product. Here are the 5 core things you need to have a website on the Internet nowadays.

Domain Name

A domain is your “address” on the Internet. You lease it for a certain amount of time from ICANN via accredited “domain registrars”. You can buy one now and “point” it to your website later. Many website hosting companies also resell domain names to provide convenience.

Website Hosting

Your website is made up of computer files. And those files have to “live” somewhere. Website hosting companies rent space on specialized servers that store & serve your website files whenever someone goes to your website.

Website Software

A modern website usually consists of a lot of different files. While not 100% necessary, websites usually need software (ie, a “content management system”) to manage all the files and make it easy for a human to edit & maintain.

There are hundreds of thousands of website software options.

For our purposes, we’ll be looking at WordPress.

WordPress powers more than 25% of the Internet. It has its critics and its evangelists. But it’s still the go-to solution for most property management websites.

Here’s the thing: WordPress is kind of like the 4 door sedan or light SUV of website software.

Yes,  it is popular. But it’s popular because it fits most people’s needs. It’s versatile, manageable and suitable for so much. If you hear people saying that “WordPress gets hacked” or “WordPress is not fast”, that’s like someone saying that “sedans get broken into more often than semi-trucks” or “well, your Honda Accord can’t beat my Ferrari off the line.”

Sure, those criticisms are true… but not.

Plus, as we’ll see, there are ways to mitigate/eliminate WordPress’ disadvantages while keeping its advantages for building a property management website (ie, ownership, marketing, integrations, etc).

*WordPress is for most, but not everyone. It does have a learning curve. Here’s how WordPress compares to Wix, how WordPress compares to Squarespace, and how WordPress compares to Weebly. Your end goal should be a website that is best for *you* and your goals. The general strategies below work regardless of platform.

Website Templates

As we saw in the introduction, templates are simply pre-made HTML & CSS (the computer languages that browsers use to yield a webpage). While not 100% necessary, mobile devices and different browsers make good design nearly impossible to do well from scratch. All good web designers use some sort of template/framework to start.

And there is a whole universe of pre-made property management website templates that range from free templates to paid to bundled with custom design services.

There is one item to remember about templates, however. Website templates should focus on design, layout & content presentation… and not on functionality.

Website Plugins / Extensions

Plugins / extensions / apps are specific pieces of software that work with your website software to add functions or features to your website.

Possibly the biggest advantage of WordPress is how “extensible” it is. WordPress has a whole universe of free & premium plugins. These allow even small property management websites to have very advanced functionality. In fact, many property management software providers make WordPress plugins & compatible scripts that can drop right into a WordPress-powered site.

3. Choose & Setup Your Property Management Website Platform

There are a lot of excellent website platforms. There are infinite ways to combine, mix & match the 5 different pieces you need for a modern website.

But this guide would be worthless if it did not actually help you find a template & build a website that works.

We’ve already narrowed the website software down to WordPress. Now we need to pick where your WordPress software will live & how it will work with your templates & plugins.

There are two main options here: “self-hosted” WordPress and WordPress.com.

Disclosure -I receive customer referral fees from companies mentioned on this website. All data & opinions are based on my professional experience as a paying customer or consultant to paying customers.

Self-hosted WordPress

WordPress is free, open-source, community supported software. You can download it, install it anywhere, and use it however you like.

When you self-host WordPress, you get complete freedom but also have complete responsibility. It’s like owning your own building. You can do whatever you want…but you’re also the one to call the plumber.

That said, installing WordPress with a good business hosting company makes all the difference. A good hosting company can provide the support, security & services that can minimize the risks of maintaining your own self-hosted WordPress.

For businesses, I use & recommend InMotion Hosting for a few reasons. I wrote a full review of InMotion here.

1. InMotion provides excellent support services via phone, chat, email & knowledgebase.
2. InMotion operates at a slightly higher price point to focus on businesses (not hobby bloggers).
3. InMotion provides WordPress auto-install at checkout in addition to an (optional) free, drag & drop design tool called BoldGrid.
4. InMotion can provide custom web design services to minimize the search for a random freelancer.

See InMotion Hosting’s current Business Hosting Plans here.

Upside: If you self-host your WordPress software, you can download & use basically any theme or plugin that you want. Developers & consultants are used to the setup. It is future-proof, and it saves a good bit of money compared to other options.

Downside: You are in charge of technical aspects. Sure – InMotion provides support and consultants can provide expertise, but you are ultimately in charge of everything. For anyone who doesn’t want to deal with technical issues at all – self-hosting WordPress is not ideal.

WordPress.com

WordPress.com is a “hosted service” run by the originator of WordPress software. It’s an all-in-one service that bundles a limited version of WordPress software with hosting, software, support, and services all into one monthly plan.

If self-hosting WordPress is like owning your own building, then using WordPress.com is like leasing a pre-built storefront. You can do all the customizations that you want “inside” your building, but the maintenance and boring bits are not your responsibility.

For businesses, I use & recommend WordPress.com for a few reasons.

1. WordPress.com takes care of *all* speed, security & technical concerns while still benefitting from the advantages of WordPress software.
2. WordPress.com’s Business Plan is expensive, but it is predictable. There will never be a big consultant’s fee for maintenance.
3. WordPress.com provides a full directory of premium design templates with simple installation.
4. WordPress.com still allows you to install vetted 3rd party plugins – which is huge for a custom property management website.

See WordPress.com’s Business Plan here.

Upside: If you use WordPress.com, then you get most of the upside of WordPress software without any potential technical headaches.

Downside: You have a limited version of WordPress – and will inevitably miss out on some functionality and design options.

Your Next Steps

Remember that there is no wrong choice. It all depends on your goals and needs.

Sign up for InMotion Hosting’s Business Plan w/ WordPress auto-install.

Sign up for WordPress.com’s Business Plan.

4. Choose & Setup Your Property Management Website Template

Now that you know what you have and you know what you need, you can dive in finding the right pre-made property management template for your website.

When you are shopping, keep a few things in mind.

1. Ignore the mock-up photography and logo designs. Often, a template will only look a certain way due to the mock-up photography.
2. Focus on the layout of a given template.
3. Look beyond the homepage. Look at how the subpages and unique pages are presented.
4. Remember that any template can be reproduced as a WordPress Theme or template. If you see a Squarespace, Weebly, Wix, Drupal, etc template, it is better to convert that template to WordPress than to lock into that platform simply for the design. Again, that would be like choosing your office building based on existing office spaces. Better to choose the right building and location and spend money renovating the offices.

Self-hosted WordPress Templates

With a self-hosted WordPress install, you have a basically unlimited choice of templates. Here are a few places to look for high-quality options.

• My round-up of WordPress Real Estate Themes – self-explanatory :)
• My round-up of WordPress Theme Frameworks – basically amazing foundational templates that can produce great websites with good photos & colors.
• ThemeForest – a huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• MOJO Themes – another huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• TemplateMonster – another huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• WordPress.org Repository – the official marketplace for WordPress themes & templates. All templates are free to download & install directly into your WordPress website.

If you used InMotion Hosting, then you’ll also have access to their BoldGrid templates that have drag & drop functionality. You can also use their design services to convert a template you love to WordPress + your brand.

WordPress.com Templates

With a WordPress.com Business Plan, you can not only upload template choices from sites listed above – you also get unlimited access to WordPress.com’s premium templates. These all have advanced customization options so that you can edit them.

You can browse them here.

5. Choose & Setup Your Property Management Website Functionality

Many template & theme makers bundle functionality with design. That can be great – but it can also have downsides.

If your theme has too much functionality built-in, then you are locked into that template. But if you separate out design & functionality, you can easily edit both.

Either way, WordPress allows additional functionality via plugins.

Everyday Functionality

WordPress works out of the box – and needs very little installed on top. In fact, generally the fewer plugins you have, the better.

If you are using a self-hosted site, then I’d recommend installing the JetPack plugin to provide security & backups (along with other fun things like sharing buttons, contact forms, etc).

I’ve also written a round-up of “must have” WordPress plugins here – that includes things like Google Analytics & Redirects.

Specialized Functionality

Now – what you’ve been waiting for – property management functionality.

Here it is important to emphasize writing down your needs. It’s easy to just randomly add things to WordPress that neither you nor your visitors need.

There are a few excellent sources.

• WordPress.org Repository – the official source for plugins. Do a search for specific functionality. Be sure to note the number of installs, rating, and other notes of quality.
• ThemeForest – also an excellent source for premium plugins in every industry.
• Property Management Software Providers – since WordPress is such a popular CMS, your favorite software providers probably have an integration. Do a Google Search!

6. Refine Your Design & Content

Now that you have your design & functionality setup – the fun begins.

The important point here is that whether your website is a brochure or informational site – or an interactive & constantly updated site – maintaining, revising and editing is never done.

It does not have to be time-consuming, but a good website is one that has regular updates and edits.

Editing Your Design

Using WordPress + a good template should make this process straightforward. InMotion’s BoldGrid tool brings drag and drop functionality to WordPress and WordPress.com’s Customizer tool allows for simple click & edit customization.

Here’s a guide to how WordPress Themes work – along with a tour of the WordPress Dashboard.

When planning & editing your site, be sure to keep the features that your customers want in mind. Even if you like a certain look or feel – that might be frustrating for visitors.

Marketing Your Property Management Website

Ahh – now the real fun. There are no right answers here.

But here’s the thing… you can’t do real, long-term brand building without a website. Social networks come and go. But a good website is something that *you* own.

If you lock onto your best customers and identify how they find you, you’ll be able to position your site for whatever comes.

I cover this topic in my guide to planning a local marketing strategy.

Next Steps

Walk through your budget & needs.

If self-hosted WordPress fits your needs, purchase a Business Hosting Plan with WordPress auto-install here.

If bundled WordPress services fit your needs, purchase a WordPress.com Business Plan here.

Keep Exploring & Learning!

• How To Setup a WordPress Website from Scratch
• Beginner’s Guide To Using WordPress
• How To Map Your Keywords for SEO
• Planning a Local Marketing Strategy
• Must Have Features for a Local Business Website
• How To Advertise Online Effectively

So you want to build an astrology website, and you have a certain “look” in mind.

Fortunately, website design has come a long way in the last few years.

Free templates, ready-made designs, and website builders allow anybody to get their content online relatively easily.

For content publishers / individuals hoping to DIY their websites, this shift has been incredible.

But starting the process of building an astrology website with an astrology website template can be a shortcut to some bad website choices.

Starting with a template or pre-made design is like starting your home search based on existing paint jobs.

Sure – a good existing paint job is great. But it doesn’t really matter if your location, number of bedrooms, lease terms, etc do not make any sense.

Here’s the open secret among professional web designers: web pages are made of HTML & CSS with a few scripts thrown in. This means that…

…any website template can exist on any good web platform.

With that in mind, here’s a brief 6 step guide to choosing the right astrology website template on the right web platform so that you can build the design & functionality that your business needs.

1. Define Your Needs, Budget & Assets

Since any generic template can transform into an astrology template with a little editing, they are very easy to market (and easy to mislead). It’s important to take stock of what you truly need, what your budget is, and what website assets you already own.

Needs

What functionality does your website need? Is it simply a “brochure site” or does it need to be interactive? Do you need it to be easily edited? Do you want to include interactive quizzes on the website? Should there be a forum or social network functionality? How many people need to be able to edit the site or add content? How often do you want to publish new content?

There are no right answers, but it’s important to at least think about them before reading template sales features.

Budget

Price is powerful, but it’s important to not only pay for value but to also pay for what matters. Think about your personal budget. What do you spend money on and where do you cut back?

What is a successful project worth? How much do you want to grow? How long do you expect this website to last? How much is your time worth – and how much will getting your website right save time?

There are no right answers, but it’s important to at least think about them before shopping for a design/designer/template.

Assets

Pre-made astrology templates can go a long way… but the site still needs to be yours. What photography do you have? What content have you written? What brand assets do you have (logos, fonts, colors, etc)?

There are no right answers, but it’s important to at least think about them before getting swayed by nice mock-ups.

2. Understand Terminology & Options

Website terminology can be daunting and frustrating with so many companies mixing, matching, & misusing jargon to sell their product. Here are the 5 core things you need to have a website on the Internet nowadays.

Domain Name

A domain is your “address” on the Internet. You lease it for a certain amount of time from ICANN via accredited “domain registrars”. You can buy one now and “point” it to your website later. Many website hosting companies also resell domain names to provide convenience.

Website Hosting

Your website is made up of computer files. And those files have to “live” somewhere. Website hosting companies rent space on specialized servers that store & serve your website files whenever someone goes to your website.

Website Software

A modern website usually consists of a lot of different files. While not 100% necessary, websites usually need software (ie, a “content management system”) to manage all the files – and make it easy for a human to edit & maintain.

There are hundreds of thousands of website software options.

For our purposes, we’ll be looking at WordPress.

WordPress powers more than 25% of the Internet. It has its critics and its evangelists. But it’s still the go-to solution for most astrology websites.

Here’s the thing: WordPress is kind of like the 4 door sedan or light SUV of website software.

Yes – it is popular. But it’s popular because it fits most people’s needs. It’s versatile, manageable and suitable for so much. If you hear people saying that “WordPress gets hacked” or “WordPress is not fast” – that is like someone saying that “sedans get broken into more often than semi-trucks” or “well, your Honda Accord can’t beat my Ferrari off the line.”

Yes – those criticisms are true… but not.

Plus, as we’ll see, there are ways to mitigate/eliminate WordPress’ disadvantages while keeping its advantages for building a astrology website– especially its “plugin” functionality.

*WordPress is for most, but not everyone. It does have a learning curve. Here’s how WordPress compares to Wix, how WordPress compares to Squarespace, and how WordPress compares to Weebly. Your end goal should be a website that is best for *you* and your goals. The general strategies below work regardless of platform.

Website Templates

As we saw in the introduction, templates are simply pre-made HTML & CSS (the computer languages that browsers use to yield a webpage). While not 100% necessary, mobile devices and different browsers make good design nearly impossible to do well from scratch. All good web designers use some sort of template/framework to start.

And there is a whole universe of pre-made astrology website templates that range from free templates to paid to bundled with custom design services.

There is one item to remember about templates, however. Website templates should focus on design, layout & content presentation — and not on functionality.

Website Plugins / Extensions

Plugins / extensions / apps are specific pieces of software that work with your website software to add functions or features to your website.

Possibly the biggest advantage of WordPress is how “extensible” it is. WordPress has a whole universe of free & premium plugins. These allow even small astrology websites to have very advanced functionality on their websites.  You can build everything from interactive quizzes to social networks to anything you can dream up.

3. Choose & Setup Your Astrology Website Platform

There are a lot of excellent website platforms. There are infinite ways to combine, mix & match the 5 different pieces you need for a modern website.

But this guide would be worthless if it did not actually help you find a template & build a website that works.

We’ve already narrowed the website software down to WordPress. Now we need to pick where your WordPress software will live & how it will work with your templates & plugins.

There are two main options here – “self-hosted” WordPress and WordPress.com.

Disclosure -I receive customer referral fees from companies mentioned on this website. All data & opinions are based on my professional experience as a paying customer or consultant to paying customers.

Self-hosted WordPress

WordPress is free, open-source, community supported software. You can download it, install it anywhere, and use it however you like.

When you self-host WordPress, you get complete freedom but also have complete responsibility. It’s like owning your own building. You can do whatever you want…but you’re also the one to call the plumber.

That said, installing WordPress with a good business hosting company makes all the difference. A good hosting company can provide the support, security & services that can minimize the risks of maintaining your own self-hosted WordPress.

For businesses, I use & recommend InMotion Hosting for a few reasons. I wrote a full review of InMotion here.

1. InMotion provides excellent support services via phone, chat, email & knowledgebase.
2. InMotion operates at a slightly higher price point to focus on businesses (not hobby bloggers).
3. InMotion provides WordPress auto-install at checkout in addition to an (optional) free, drag & drop design tool called BoldGrid.
4. InMotion can provide custom web design services to minimize the search for a random freelancer.

See InMotion Hosting’s current Business Hosting Plans here.

Upside: If you self-host your WordPress software, you can download & use basically any theme or plugin that you want. Developers & consultants are used to the setup. It is future-proof, and it saves a good bit of money compared to other options.

Downside: You are in charge of technical aspects. Sure – InMotion provides support and consultants can provide expertise, but you are ultimately in charge of everything. For anyone who doesn’t want to deal with technical issues at all – self-hosting WordPress is not ideal.

WordPress.com

WordPress.com is a “hosted service” run by the originator of WordPress software. It’s an all-in-one service that bundles a limited version of WordPress software with hosting, software, support, and services all into one monthly plan.

If self-hosting WordPress is like owning your own building, then using WordPress.com is like leasing a pre-built storefront. You can do all the customizations that you want “inside” your building, but the maintenance and boring bits are not your responsibility.

For businesses, I use & recommend WordPress.com for a few reasons.

1. WordPress.com takes care of *all* speed, security & technical concerns while still benefitting from the advantages of WordPress software.
2. WordPress.com’s Business Plan is expensive, but it is predictable. There will never be a big consultant’s fee for maintenance.
3. WordPress.com provides a full directory of premium design templates with simple installation.
4. WordPress.com still allows you to install vetted 3rd party plugins – which is huge for a custom astrology website.

See WordPress.com’s Business Plan here.

Upside: If you use WordPress.com, then you get most of the upside of WordPress software without any potential technical headaches.

Downside: You have a limited version of WordPress – and will inevitably miss out on some functionality and design options.

Your Next Steps

Remember that there is no wrong choice. It all depends on your goals and needs.

Sign up for InMotion Hosting’s Business Plan w/ WordPress auto-install.

Sign up for WordPress.com’s Business Plan.

4. Choose & Setup Your Astrology Website Template

Now that you know what you have and you know what you need, you can dive in finding the right pre-made astrology template for your website.

When you are shopping, keep a few things in mind:

1. Ignore the mock-up photography and logo designs. Often, a template will only look a certain way due to the mock-up photography.
2. Focus on the layout of a given template.
3. Look beyond the homepage. Look at how the subpages and unique pages are presented.
4. Remember that any template can be reproduced as a WordPress Theme or template. If you see a Squarespace, Weebly, Wix, Drupal, etc template, it is better to convert that template to WordPress than to lock into that platform simply for the design. Again, that would be like choosing your home based on an existing paint job. Better to find the right home and spend money repainting.

Self-hosted WordPress Templates

With a self-hosted WordPress install, you have a basically unlimited choice of templates. Here are a few places to look for high-quality options.

• My round-up of WordPress Theme Frameworks – basically amazing foundational templates that can produce great websites with good photos & colors.
• ThemeForest – a huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• MOJO Themes – another huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• TemplateMonster – another huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• WordPress.org Repository – the official marketplace for WordPress themes & templates. All templates are free to download & install directly into your WordPress website.

If you used InMotion Hosting, then you’ll also have access to their BoldGrid templates that have drag & drop functionality. You can also use their design services to convert a template you love to WordPress + your brand.

WordPress.com Templates

With a WordPress.com Business Plan, you can not only upload template choices from sites listed above – you also get unlimited access to WordPress.com’s premium templates. These all have advanced customization options so that you can edit them.

You can browse them here.

5. Choose & Setup Your Astrology Website Functionality

Many template & theme makers bundle functionality with design. That can be great – but it can also have downsides.

If your theme has too much functionality built-in, then you are locked into that template. But if you separate out design & functionality, you can easily edit both.

Either way, WordPress allows additional functionality via plugins.

Everyday Functionality

WordPress works out of the box – and needs very little installed on top. In fact, generally the fewer plugins you have, the better.

If you are using a self-hosted site, then I’d recommend installing the JetPack plugin to provide security & backups (along with other fun things like sharing buttons, contact forms, etc).

I’ve also written a round-up of “must have” WordPress plugins here – that includes things like Google Analytics & Redirects.

There are also options for eCommerce like WooCommerce that work well for astrology websites that want to sell products like readings or tarot cards.

Specialized Functionality

Now – what you’ve been waiting for – specialized functionality.

Here it is important to emphasize writing down your needs. It’s easy to just randomly add things to WordPress that neither you nor your visitors need.

There are a few excellent sources.

• WordPress.org Repository – the official source for plugins. Do a search for specific functionality. Be sure to note the number of installs, rating, and other notes of quality.
• ThemeForest – also an excellent source for premium plugins in every industry.

6. Refine Your Design & Content

Now that you have your design & functionality setup – the fun begins.

The important point here is that whether your website is a brochure or informational site – or an interactive & constantly updated site – maintaining, revising and editing is never done.

It does not have to be time-consuming, but a good website is one that has regular updates and edits.

Editing Your Design

Using WordPress + a good template should make this process straightforward. InMotion’s BoldGrid tool brings drag and drop functionality to WordPress and WordPress.com’s Customizer tool allows for simple click & edit customization.

Here’s a guide to how WordPress Themes work – along with a tour of the WordPress Dashboard.

When planning & editing your site, be sure to keep the features that your customers want in mind. Even if you like a certain look or feel – that might be frustrating for visitors.

Marketing Your Astrology Website

Ahh – now the real fun. There are no right answers here.

But here’s the thing… you can’t do real, long-term brand building without a website. Social networks come and go. But a good website is something that *you* own.

If you lock onto your best visitors and identify how they find you, you’ll be able to position your site for whatever comes.

I cover this topic in my guide to generating content ideas and my guide to Yoast SEO plugin for WordPress.

Next Steps

Walk through your budget & needs.

If self-hosted WordPress fits your needs, purchase a Business Hosting Plan with WordPress auto-install here.

If bundled WordPress services fit your needs, purchase a WordPress.com Business Plan here.

Keep Exploring & Learning!

• How To Setup a WordPress Website from Scratch
• Beginner’s Guide To Using WordPress
• How To Map Your Keywords for SEO
• Must Have Features for a Local Business Website
• How To Blog & Make Money
• How To Run A Fashion Blog
• How To Run a Beauty Blog

So you need to build a music school website, and you have a certain “look” (and functionality) in mind. There’s not a lot of budget or defined scope for a professional design firm – so you’re going DIY.

Fortunately, website design has come a long way in the last few years.

Free templates, ready-made designs, and website builders allow anybody to get their website & material online.

In the high-churn, cutthroat, rapidly digitizing education and entertainment industry, this shift has been incredible (think about the rise & domination of MOOCs).

But starting the process of building a music school website with a music school website template can be a shortcut to some bad website choices.

Starting with a template or pre-made design is like starting a home search based on existing paint jobs.

Sure – a good existing paint job is great. But it doesn’t really matter if your location, building, lease / mortgage terms, etc do not make any sense.

Here’s the open secret among professional web designers: web pages are made of HTML & CSS with a few scripts thrown in. This means that…

…any website template can exist on any good web platform.

With that in mind, here’s a brief 6 step guide to choosing the right music school website template on the right web platform so that you can build the design and functionality that your website needs.

1. Define Your Needs, Budget & Assets

Since any generic template can transform into an music school template with a little editing, they are very easy to market (and easy to mislead). It’s important to take stock of what you truly need, what your budget is, and what website assets you already own.

Needs

What functionality does your website need? Is it simply a “brochure site” – or does it need to be interactive? Do you need it to be easily edited? Do you want to present lessons, tutorials, quizzes & tests on the website? If you have a physical location, how do you want to display lesson enrollment information? Should there be a forum or social network functionality so students can engage with one another? How many people need to be able to edit the site or add content?

There are no right answers, but it’s important to at least think about them before reading sales features.

Budget

Price is powerful, but it’s important to not only pay for value but to also pay for what matters. Think about your household budget. What do you spend money on and where do you cut back?

What is a successful project worth? How much do you want to grow? How long do you expect this website to last? How much is your time worth – and how much will getting your website right save time? How much is your staff’s time worth – can a good website help them?

There are no right answers, but it’s important to at least think about them before shopping for a design/designer/template.

Assets

Pre-made music school templates can go a long way…but the site still needs to be yours. What photography do you have? What content do you have (i.e. school history, teacher information, enrollment / lesson information, etc)? What brand assets do you have (logos, fonts, colors, etc)?

There are no right answers, but it’s important to at least think about them before getting swayed by nice mock-ups.

2. Understand Terminology & Options

Website terminology can be daunting and frustrating with so many companies mixing, matching, & misusing jargon to sell their product. Here are the 5 core things you need to have a website on the Internet nowadays.

Domain Name

A domain is your “address” on the Internet. You lease it for a certain amount of time from ICANN via accredited “domain registrars”. You can buy one now and “point” it to your website later. Many website hosting companies also resell domain names to provide convenience.

Website Hosting

Your website is made up of computer files. And those files have to “live” somewhere. Website hosting companies rent space on specialized servers that store & serve your website files whenever someone goes to your website.

Website Software

A modern website usually consists of a lot of different files. While not 100% necessary, websites usually need software (ie, a “content management system”) to manage all the files – and make it easy for a human to edit & maintain.

There are hundreds of thousands of website software options.

For our purposes, we’ll be looking at WordPress.

WordPress powers more than 25% of the Internet. It has its critics and its evangelists. But it’s still the go-to solution for most music school websites.

Why? Because WordPress is kind of like the 4 door sedan or light SUV of website software.

Yes – it is popular. But it’s popular because it fits most people’s needs. It’s versatile, manageable and suitable for so much.

If you hear people saying that “WordPress gets hacked” or “WordPress is not fast”, that’s like someone saying that “sedans get broken into more often than semi-trucks” or “well, your Honda Accord can’t beat my Ferrari off the line.”

Yes – those criticisms are true… but not.

Plus, as we’ll see, there are ways to mitigate/eliminate WordPress’ disadvantages while keeping its advantages for building a music school website – especially its “plugin” functionality.

*WordPress is for most, but not everyone. It does have a learning curve. Here’s how WordPress compares to Wix, how WordPress compares to Squarespace, and how WordPress compares to Weebly. Your end goal should be a website that is best for *you* and your goals. The general strategies below work regardless of platform.

Website Templates

As we saw in the introduction, templates are simply pre-made HTML & CSS (the computer languages that browsers use to yield a webpage). While not 100% necessary, mobile devices and different browsers make good design nearly impossible to do well from scratch. All good web designers use some sort of template/framework to start.

And there is a whole universe of pre-made music school website templates that range from free templates to paid to bundled with custom design services.

There is one item to remember about templates, however — website templates should focus on design, layout & content presentation, not on functionality.

Many music school website templates try to do too much. When they bundle functionality with design, you can get boxed in when you go to tweak the functionality.

Website Plugins / Extensions

Plugins / extensions / apps are specific pieces of software that work with your website software to add functions or features to your website.

Possibly the biggest advantage of WordPress is how “extensible” it is. WordPress has a whole universe of free & premium plugins. These allow even small music school websites to have very advanced functionality on their websites. You can build everything from interactive tutorials and courses to social networks to tests to anything else you can dream up.

3. Choose & Setup Your Music School Website Platform

There are a lot of excellent website platforms. There are infinite ways to combine, mix & match the 5 different pieces you need for a modern website.

But this guide would be worthless if it did not actually help you find a template & build a website that works.

We’ve already narrowed the website software down to WordPress. Now we need to pick where your WordPress software will live & how it will work with your templates & plugins.

There are two main options here – “self-hosted” WordPress and WordPress.com.

Disclosure – I receive customer referral fees from companies mentioned on this website. All data & opinions are based on my professional experience as a paying customer or consultant to paying customers.

Self-hosted WordPress

WordPress is free, open-source, community supported software. You can download it, install it anywhere, and use it however you like.

When you self-host WordPress, you get complete freedom but also have complete responsibility. It’s like owning your own building. You can do whatever you want…but you’re also the one to call the plumber.

That said, installing WordPress with a good business hosting company makes all the difference. A good hosting company can provide the support, security & services that can minimize the risks of maintaining your own self-hosted WordPress.

For businesses, I use & recommend InMotion Hosting for a few reasons. I wrote a full review of InMotion here.

1. InMotion provides excellent support services via phone, chat, email & knowledgebase.
2. InMotion operates at a slightly higher price point to focus on businesses (not hobby bloggers).
3. InMotion provides WordPress auto-install at checkout in addition to an (optional) free, drag & drop design tool called BoldGrid.
4. InMotion can provide custom web design services to minimize the search for a random freelancer.

See InMotion Hosting’s current Business Hosting Plans here.

Upside: If you self-host your WordPress software, you can download & use basically any theme or plugin that you want. Developers & consultants are used to the setup. It is future-proof, and it saves a good bit of money compared to other options.

Downside: You are in charge of technical aspects. Sure – InMotion provides support and consultants can provide expertise, but you are ultimately in charge of everything. For anyone who doesn’t want to deal with technical issues at all – self-hosting WordPress is not ideal.

WordPress.com

WordPress.com is a “hosted service” run by the originator of WordPress software. It’s an all-in-one service that bundles a limited version of WordPress software with hosting, software, support, and services all into one monthly plan.

If self-hosting WordPress is like owning your own building, then using WordPress.com is like leasing a pre-built storefront. You can do all the customizations that you want “inside” your building, but the maintenance and boring bits are not your responsibility.

For businesses, I use & recommend WordPress.com for a few reasons.

1. WordPress.com takes care of *all* speed, security & technical concerns while still benefitting from the advantages of WordPress software.
2. WordPress.com’s Business Plan is expensive, but it is predictable. There will never be a big consultant’s fee for maintenance.
3. WordPress.com provides a full directory of premium design templates with simple installation.
4. WordPress.com still allows you to install vetted 3rd party plugins – which is huge for a custom music school website.

See WordPress.com’s Business Plan here.

Upside: If you use WordPress.com, then you get most of the upside of WordPress software without any potential technical headaches. You also have the option to export and migrate to a self-hosted version in the future.

Downside: You have a limited version of WordPress – and will inevitably miss out on some functionality and design options – which is one thing to double-check with specialized functionality.

Your Next Steps

Remember that there is no wrong choice. It all depends on your goals and needs.

Sign up for InMotion Hosting’s Business Plan w/ WordPress auto-install.

Sign up for WordPress.com’s Business Plan.

4. Choose & Setup Your Music School Website Template

Now that you know what you have and you know what you need, you can dive in finding the right pre-made music school template for your website.

When you are shopping, keep a few things in mind:

1. Ignore the mock-up photography and logo designs. Often, a template will only look a certain way due to the mock-up photography, and you’ll be replacing all of the mock-ups with your own assets.
2. Focus on the layout of a given template.
3. Look beyond the homepage. Look at how the subpages and unique pages are presented.
4. Remember that any template can be reproduced as a WordPress Theme or template. If you see a Squarespace, Weebly, Wix, Drupal, etc template, it is better to convert that template to WordPress than to lock into that platform simply for the design. Again, that would be like choosing your home based on an existing paint job. Better to find the right home and spend money repainting.

Self-hosted WordPress Templates

With a self-hosted WordPress install, you have a basically unlimited choice of templates. Here are a few places to look for high-quality options.

• My round-up of WordPress School & Educational Themes – self-explanatory :)
• My round-up of WordPress Theme Frameworks – basically amazing foundational templates that can produce great websites with good photos & colors.
• ThemeForest – a huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• MOJO Themes – another huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• TemplateMonster – another huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• WordPress.org Repository – the official marketplace for WordPress themes & templates. All templates are free to download & install directly into your WordPress website.

If you used InMotion Hosting, then you’ll also have access to their BoldGrid templates that have drag & drop functionality. You can also use their design services to convert a template you love to WordPress + your brand.

WordPress.com Templates

With a WordPress.com Business Plan, you can not only upload template choices from sites listed above – you also get unlimited access to WordPress.com’s premium templates. These all have advanced customization options so that you can edit them.

You can browse them here.

5. Choose & Setup Your Music School Website Functionality

Many template & theme makers bundle functionality with design. That can be great – but it can also have downsides.

If your theme has too much functionality built-in, then you are locked into that template. But if you separate out design & functionality, you can easily edit both.

Either way, WordPress allows additional functionality via plugins.

Everyday Functionality

WordPress works out of the box – and needs very little installed on top. In fact, generally the fewer plugins you have, the better.

If you are using a self-hosted site, then I’d recommend installing the JetPack plugin to provide security & backups (along with other fun things like sharing buttons, contact forms, etc).

I’ve also written a round-up of “must have” WordPress plugins here – that includes things like Google Analytics & Redirects.

If you want a social network, you can install plugins like BuddyPress or bbPress for forums.

There are also options for eCommerce like WooCommerce that work well for schools.

Specialized Functionality

Now – what you’ve been waiting for – education functionality.

Here it is important to emphasize writing down your needs. It’s easy to just randomly add things to WordPress that neither you nor your visitors need.

There are a few excellent sources.

• WordPress.org Repository – the official source for plugins. Do a search for specific functionality. Be sure to note the number of installs, rating, and other notes of quality.
• ThemeForest – also an excellent source for premium plugins in every industry.
• WPMUdev – a premium plugin provider that started out focused solely on schools. Excellent course building software.

6. Refine Your Design & Content

Now that you have your design & functionality setup, the fun begins.

The important point here is that whether your website is a brochure or informational site – or an interactive & constantly updated site – maintaining, revising and editing is never done.

It does not have to be time-consuming, but a good website is one that has regular updates and edits.

Editing Your Design

Using WordPress + a good template should make this process straightforward. InMotion’s BoldGrid tool brings drag and drop functionality to WordPress and WordPress.com’s Customizer tool allows for simple click & edit customization.

Here’s a guide to how WordPress Themes work – along with a tour of the WordPress Dashboard.

When planning & editing your site, be sure to keep the features that your customers want in mind. Even if you like a certain look or feel – that might be frustrating for visitors.

For music school websites, your information, content & navigation are the top priority. Your visitors are likely on mobile devices – that means scannable content and minimal navigation.

Marketing Your Music School Website

Ahh – now the real fun. There are no right answers here.

But here’s the thing. You can’t do real, long-term brand building without a website. Social networks come and go. But a good website is something that *you* own.

If you lock onto your best customers and identify how they find you, you’ll be able to position your site for whatever comes.

I cover this topic in my guide to planning a local marketing strategy.

Next Steps

Walk through your budget & needs.

If self-hosted WordPress fits your needs, purchase a Business Hosting Plan with WordPress auto-install here.

If bundled WordPress services fit your needs, purchase a WordPress.com Business Plan here.

So you need to build a language school website, and you have a certain “look” (and functionality) in mind. There’s not a lot of budget or defined scope for a professional design firm – so you’re going DIY.

Fortunately, website design has come a long way in the last few years.

Free templates, ready-made designs, and website builders allow anybody to get their website & educational material online.

In the high-churn, cutthroat, rapidly digitizing education industry, this shift has been incredible (think about the rise & domination of MOOCs).

But starting the process of building a language school website with a language school website template can be a shortcut to some bad website choices.

Starting with a template or pre-made design is like choosing an office building search based on existing office layouts.

Sure – a good existing office layout is great. But it doesn’t really matter if your location, building, lease terms, and expansion options do not make any sense.

Here’s the open secret among professional web designers: web pages are made of HTML & CSS with a few scripts thrown in. This means that…

…any website template can exist on any good web platform.

With that in mind, here’s a brief 6 step guide to choosing the right language school website template on the right web platform so that you can build the design and functionality that your website needs.

1. Define Your Needs, Budget & Assets

Since any generic template can transform into an language school template with a little editing, they are very easy to market (and easy to mislead). It’s important to take stock of what you truly need, what your budget is, and what website assets you already own.

Needs

What functionality does your website need? Is it simply a “brochure site” – or does it need to be interactive? Do you need it to be easily edited? Do you want to present lessons, quizzes & tests on the website? If you have a physical location, how do you want to display enrollment information? Should there be a forum or social network functionality so students can engage with one another? How many people need to be able to edit the site or add content?

There are no right answers, but it’s important to at least think about them before reading sales features.

Budget

Price is powerful, but it’s important to not only pay for value but to also pay for what matters. Think about your household budget. What do you spend money on and where do you cut back?

What is a successful project worth? How much do you want to grow? How long do you expect this website to last? How much is your time worth – and how much will getting your website right save time? How much is your staff’s time worth – can a good website help them?

There are no right answers, but it’s important to at least think about them before shopping for a design/designer/template.

Assets

Pre-made language school templates can go a long way…but the site still needs to be yours. What photography do you have? What content have you written? What brand assets do you have (logos, fonts, colors, etc)?

There are no right answers, but it’s important to at least think about them before getting swayed by nice mock-ups.

2. Understand Terminology & Options

Website terminology can be daunting and frustrating with so many companies mixing, matching, & misusing jargon to sell their product. Here are the 5 core things you need to have a website on the Internet nowadays.

Domain Name

A domain is your “address” on the Internet. You lease it for a certain amount of time from ICANN via accredited “domain registrars”. You can buy one now and “point” it to your website later. Many website hosting companies also resell domain names to provide convenience.

Website Hosting

Your website is made up of computer files. And those files have to “live” somewhere. Website hosting companies rent space on specialized servers that store & serve your website files whenever someone goes to your website.

Website Software

A modern website usually consists of a lot of different files. While not 100% necessary, websites usually need software (ie, a “content management system”) to manage all the files – and make it easy for a human to edit & maintain.

There are hundreds of thousands of website software options.

For our purposes, we’ll be looking at WordPress.

WordPress powers more than 25% of the Internet. It has its critics and its evangelists. But it’s still the go-to solution for most language school websites.

Why? Because WordPress is kind of like the 4 door sedan or light SUV of website software.

Yes – it is popular. But it’s popular because it fits most people’s needs. It’s versatile, manageable and suitable for so much.

If you hear people saying that “WordPress gets hacked” or “WordPress is not fast”, that’s like someone saying that “sedans get broken into more often than semi-trucks” or “well, your Honda Accord can’t beat my Ferrari off the line.”

Yes – those criticisms are true… but not.

Plus, as we’ll see, there are ways to mitigate/eliminate WordPress’ disadvantages while keeping its advantages for building a language school website – especially its “plugin” functionality.

*WordPress is for most, but not everyone. It does have a learning curve. Here’s how WordPress compares to Wix, how WordPress compares to Squarespace, and how WordPress compares to Weebly. Your end goal should be a website that is best for *you* and your goals. The general strategies below work regardless of platform.

Website Templates

As we saw in the introduction, templates are simply pre-made HTML & CSS (the computer languages that browsers use to yield a webpage). While not 100% necessary, mobile devices and different browsers make good design nearly impossible to do well from scratch. All good web designers use some sort of template/framework to start.

And there is a whole universe of pre-made language school website templates that range from free templates to paid to bundled with custom design services.

There is one item to remember about templates, however — website templates should focus on design, layout & content presentation, not on functionality.

Many language school website templates try to do too much. When they bundle functionality with design, you can get boxed in when you go to tweak the functionality.

Website Plugins / Extensions

Plugins / extensions / apps are specific pieces of software that work with your website software to add functions or features to your website.

Possibly the biggest advantage of WordPress is how “extensible” it is. WordPress has a whole universe of free & premium plugins. These allow even small language school websites to have very advanced functionality on their websites. You can build everything from interactive courses to social networks to tests to anything else you can dream up.

3. Choose & Setup Your Language School Website Platform

There are a lot of excellent website platforms. There are infinite ways to combine, mix & match the 5 different pieces you need for a modern website.

But this guide would be worthless if it did not actually help you find a template & build a website that works.

We’ve already narrowed the website software down to WordPress. Now we need to pick where your WordPress software will live & how it will work with your templates & plugins.

There are two main options here – “self-hosted” WordPress and WordPress.com.

Disclosure – I receive customer referral fees from companies mentioned on this website. All data & opinions are based on my professional experience as a paying customer or consultant to paying customers.

Self-hosted WordPress

WordPress is free, open-source, community supported software. You can download it, install it anywhere, and use it however you like.

When you self-host WordPress, you get complete freedom but also have complete responsibility. It’s like owning your own building. You can do whatever you want…but you’re also the one to call the plumber.

That said, installing WordPress with a good business hosting company makes all the difference. A good hosting company can provide the support, security & services that can minimize the risks of maintaining your own self-hosted WordPress.

For businesses, I use & recommend InMotion Hosting for a few reasons. I wrote a full review of InMotion here.

1. InMotion provides excellent support services via phone, chat, email & knowledgebase.
2. InMotion operates at a slightly higher price point to focus on businesses (not hobby bloggers).
3. InMotion provides WordPress auto-install at checkout in addition to an (optional) free, drag & drop design tool called BoldGrid.
4. InMotion can provide custom web design services to minimize the search for a random freelancer.

See InMotion Hosting’s current Business Hosting Plans here.

Upside: If you self-host your WordPress software, you can download & use basically any theme or plugin that you want. Developers & consultants are used to the setup. It is future-proof, and it saves a good bit of money compared to other options.

Downside: You are in charge of technical aspects. Sure – InMotion provides support and consultants can provide expertise, but you are ultimately in charge of everything. For anyone who doesn’t want to deal with technical issues at all – self-hosting WordPress is not ideal.

WordPress.com

WordPress.com is a “hosted service” run by the originator of WordPress software. It’s an all-in-one service that bundles a limited version of WordPress software with hosting, software, support, and services all into one monthly plan.

If self-hosting WordPress is like owning your own building, then using WordPress.com is like leasing a pre-built storefront. You can do all the customizations that you want “inside” your building, but the maintenance and boring bits are not your responsibility.

For businesses, I use & recommend WordPress.com for a few reasons.

1. WordPress.com takes care of *all* speed, security & technical concerns while still benefitting from the advantages of WordPress software.
2. WordPress.com’s Business Plan is expensive, but it is predictable. There will never be a big consultant’s fee for maintenance.
3. WordPress.com provides a full directory of premium design templates with simple installation.
4. WordPress.com still allows you to install vetted 3rd party plugins – which is huge for a custom language school website.

See WordPress.com’s Business Plan here.

Upside: If you use WordPress.com, then you get most of the upside of WordPress software without any potential technical headaches. You also have the option to export and migrate to a self-hosted version in the future.

Downside: You have a limited version of WordPress – and will inevitably miss out on some functionality and design options – which is one thing to double-check with specialized education functionality.

Your Next Steps

Remember that there is no wrong choice. It all depends on your goals and needs.

Sign up for InMotion Hosting’s Business Plan w/ WordPress auto-install.

Sign up for WordPress.com’s Business Plan.

4. Choose & Setup Your Language School Website Template

Now that you know what you have and you know what you need, you can dive in finding the right pre-made language school template for your website.

When you are shopping, keep a few things in mind:

1. Ignore the mock-up photography and logo designs. Often, a template will only look a certain way due to the mock-up photography, and you’ll be replacing all of the mock-ups with your own assets.
2. Focus on the layout of a given template.
3. Look beyond the homepage. Look at how the subpages and unique pages are presented.
4. Remember that any template can be reproduced as a WordPress Theme or template. If you see a Squarespace, Weebly, Wix, Drupal, etc template, it is better to convert that template to WordPress than to lock into that platform simply for the design. Again, that would be like choosing your office building or location based on a pre-built office layout. It’s better to choose your building or location and spend money renovating the offices.

Self-hosted WordPress Templates

With a self-hosted WordPress install, you have a basically unlimited choice of templates. Here are a few places to look for high-quality options.

• My round-up of WordPress School & Educational Themes – self-explanatory :)
• My round-up of WordPress Theme Frameworks – basically amazing foundational templates that can produce great websites with good photos & colors.
• ThemeForest – a huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• MOJO Themes – another huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• TemplateMonster – another huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• WordPress.org Repository – the official marketplace for WordPress themes & templates. All templates are free to download & install directly into your WordPress website.

If you used InMotion Hosting, then you’ll also have access to their BoldGrid templates that have drag & drop functionality. You can also use their design services to convert a template you love to WordPress + your brand.

WordPress.com Templates

With a WordPress.com Business Plan, you can not only upload template choices from sites listed above – you also get unlimited access to WordPress.com’s premium templates. These all have advanced customization options so that you can edit them.

You can browse them here.

5. Choose & Setup Your Language School Website Functionality

Many template & theme makers bundle functionality with design. That can be great – but it can also have downsides.

If your theme has too much functionality built-in, then you are locked into that template. But if you separate out design & functionality, you can easily edit both.

Either way, WordPress allows additional functionality via plugins.

Everyday Functionality

WordPress works out of the box – and needs very little installed on top. In fact, generally the fewer plugins you have, the better.

If you are using a self-hosted site, then I’d recommend installing the JetPack plugin to provide security & backups (along with other fun things like sharing buttons, contact forms, etc).

I’ve also written a round-up of “must have” WordPress plugins here – that includes things like Google Analytics & Redirects.

If you want a social network, you can install plugins like BuddyPress or bbPress for forums.

There are also options for eCommerce like WooCommerce that work well for schools.

Specialized Functionality

Now – what you’ve been waiting for – education functionality.

Here it is important to emphasize writing down your needs. It’s easy to just randomly add things to WordPress that neither you nor your visitors need.

There are a few excellent sources.

• WordPress.org Repository – the official source for plugins. Do a search for specific functionality. Be sure to note the number of installs, rating, and other notes of quality.
• ThemeForest – also an excellent source for premium plugins in every industry.
• WPMUdev – a premium plugin provider that started out focused solely on schools. Excellent course building software.

6. Refine Your Design & Content

Now that you have your design & functionality setup, the fun begins.

The important point here is that whether your website is a brochure or informational site – or an interactive & constantly updated site – maintaining, revising and editing is never done.

It does not have to be time-consuming, but a good website is one that has regular updates and edits.

Editing Your Design

Using WordPress + a good template should make this process straightforward. InMotion’s BoldGrid tool brings drag and drop functionality to WordPress and WordPress.com’s Customizer tool allows for simple click & edit customization.

Here’s a guide to how WordPress Themes work – along with a tour of the WordPress Dashboard.

When planning & editing your site, be sure to keep the features that your customers want in mind. Even if you like a certain look or feel – that might be frustrating for visitors.

For language school websites, your information, content & navigation are the top priority. Your visitors are likely on mobile devices – that means scannable content and minimal navigation.

Marketing Your Language School Website

Ahh – now the real fun. There are no right answers here.

But here’s the thing. You can’t do real, long-term brand building without a website. Social networks come and go. But a good website is something that *you* own.

If you lock onto your best customers and identify how they find you, you’ll be able to position your site for whatever comes.

I cover this topic in my guide to planning a local marketing strategy.

Next Steps

Walk through your budget & needs.

If self-hosted WordPress fits your needs, purchase a Business Hosting Plan with WordPress auto-install here.

If bundled WordPress services fit your needs, purchase a WordPress.com Business Plan here.

So you need to build a magician website, and you have a certain “look” in mind.

Fortunately, website design has come a long way in the last few years.

Free templates, ready-made designs, and website builders allow anybody to get their business online. This shift has been incredible.

But starting the process of building your website with a magician website template can be a shortcut to some bad website choices.

Starting with a template or pre-made design is like basing your entire home search on existing paint jobs.

Sure – a good existing paint job is great. But it doesn’t really matter if your location, number of bedrooms, lease terms, etc do not make any sense.

Here’s the open secret among professional web designers: web pages are made of HTML & CSS with a few scripts thrown in. This means that…

…any website template can exist on any good web platform.

With that in mind, here’s my brief 6 step guide to choosing the right magician website template on the right web platform so that you can build the design & functionality that your business needs.

1. Define Your Needs, Budget & Assets

Since any generic template can transform into a magician template with a little editing, they are very easy to market (and easy to mislead). It’s important to take stock of what you truly need, what your budget is, and what website assets you already own before you start shopping.

Needs

What does your website actually need to be able to do? Do you need to embed videos of your tricks and shows? Post information about upcoming gigs? Allow visitors to submit booking requests?

There are no right answers, but it’s important to at least think about them before reading template sales features.

Budget

Price is powerful, but it’s important to not only pay for value but to also pay for what matters.

What is a new customer worth? How much do you want to grow? How long do you expect this website to last? How much is your time worth – and how much will getting your website right save time?

There are no right answers, but it’s important to at least think about them before shopping for a design/designer/template.

Assets

Pre-made magician templates can go a long way… but the site still needs to be yours. What photography do you have? Do you have a digitized logo? Do you know your fonts and exact colors? Do you have descriptions of your show, prices, packages, etc? Do you have marketing partnerships with other local businesses? Do you already have established social profiles & reviews?

There are no right answers, but it’s important to at least think about them before getting swayed by nice mock-ups.

2. Understand Terminology & Options

Website terminology can be daunting and frustrating with so many companies mixing, matching, & misusing jargon to sell their product. Here are the 5 core things you need to have a website on the Internet nowadays.

Domain Name

A domain is your “address” on the Internet. You lease it for a certain amount of time from ICANN via accredited “domain registrars”. You can buy one now and “point” it to your website later. Many website hosting companies also resell domain names to provide convenience.

Website Hosting

Your website is made up of computer files. And those files have to “live” somewhere. Website hosting companies rent space on specialized servers that store & serve your website files whenever someone goes to your website.

Website Software

A modern website usually consists of a lot of different files. While not 100% necessary, websites usually need software (ie, a “content management system”) to manage all the files – and make it easy for a human to edit & maintain.

There are hundreds of thousands of website software options.

For our purposes, we’ll be looking at WordPress.

WordPress powers more than 25% of the Internet. It has its critics and its evangelists. But it’s still the go-to solution for most magician websites.

Why? Because WordPress is kind of like the 4 door sedan or light SUV of website software.

Yes – it is popular. But it’s popular because it fits most people’s needs. It’s versatile, manageable and suitable for so much. If you hear people saying that “WordPress gets hacked” or “WordPress is not fast”, that is like someone saying that “sedans get broken into more often than semi-trucks” or “well, your Honda Accord can’t beat my Ferrari off the line.”

Sure, those criticisms are true… but not.

Plus, as we’ll see, there are ways to mitigate/eliminate WordPress’ disadvantages while keeping its advantages for building a magician website (ie, ownership, marketing, integrations, etc).

*WordPress is for most, but not everyone. It does have a learning curve. Here’s how WordPress compares to Wix, how WordPress compares to Squarespace, and how WordPress compares to Weebly. Your end goal should be a website that is best for *you* and your goals. The general strategies below work regardless of platform.

Website Templates

As we saw in the introduction, templates are simply pre-made HTML & CSS (the computer languages that browsers use to yield a webpage). While not 100% necessary, mobile devices and different browsers make good design nearly impossible to do well from scratch. All good web designers use some sort of template/framework to start.

And there is a whole universe of pre-made magician website templates that range from free templates to paid to bundled with custom design services.

There is one item to remember about templates, however. Website templates should focus on design, layout & content presentation — and not on functionality.

Website Plugins / Extensions

Plugins / extensions / apps are specific pieces of software that work with your website software to add functions or features to your website.

Possibly the biggest advantage of WordPress is how “extensible” it is. WordPress has a whole universe of free & premium plugins. These allow even small websites to have very advanced functionality on their websites. In fact, many software providers make WordPress plugins & compatible scripts that can drop right into a WordPress-powered site, allowing your site to have functionality like an event calendar, booking systems, and even e-commerce functionality to sell tickets directly online.

3. Choose & Setup Your Magician Website Platform

There are a lot of excellent website platforms. There are infinite ways to combine, mix & match the 5 different pieces you need for a modern website.

But this guide would be worthless if it did not actually help you find a template & build a website that works.

We’ve already narrowed the website software down to WordPress. Now we need to pick where your WordPress software will live & how it will work with your templates & plugins.

There are two main options here: “self-hosted” WordPress and WordPress.com.

Disclosure – I receive customer referral fees from companies mentioned on this website. All data & opinions are based on my professional experience as a paying customer or consultant to paying customers.

Self-hosted WordPress

WordPress is free, open-source, community supported software. You can download it, install it anywhere, and use it however you like.

When you self-host WordPress, you get complete freedom but also have complete responsibility. It’s like owning your own building. You can do whatever you want… but you’re also the one to call the plumber.

That said, installing WordPress with a good business hosting company makes all the difference. A good hosting company can provide the support, security & services that can minimize the risks of maintaining your own self-hosted WordPress.

For businesses, I use & recommend InMotion Hosting for a few reasons. I wrote a full review of InMotion here.

1. InMotion provides excellent support services via phone, chat, email & knowledgebase.
2. InMotion operates at a slightly higher price point to focus on businesses (not hobby bloggers).
3. InMotion provides WordPress auto-install at checkout in addition to an (optional) free, drag & drop design tool called BoldGrid.
4. InMotion can provide custom web design services to minimize the search for a random freelancer.

See InMotion Hosting’s current Business Hosting Plans here.

Upside: If you self-host your WordPress software, you can download & use basically any theme or plugin that you want. Developers & consultants are used to the setup. It is future-proof, and it saves a good bit of money compared to other options.

Downside: You are in charge of technical aspects. Sure – InMotion provides support and consultants can provide expertise, but you are ultimately in charge of everything. For anyone who doesn’t want to deal with technical issues at all – self-hosting WordPress is not ideal.

WordPress.com

WordPress.com is a “hosted service” run by the originator of WordPress software. It’s an all-in-one service that bundles a limited version of WordPress software with hosting, software, support, and services all into one monthly plan.

If self-hosting WordPress is like owning your own building, then using WordPress.com is like leasing a pre-built storefront. You can do all the customizations that you want “inside” your building, but the maintenance and boring bits are not your responsibility.

For businesses, I use & recommend WordPress.com for a few reasons.

1. WordPress.com takes care of *all* speed, security & technical concerns while still benefitting from the advantages of WordPress software.
2. WordPress.com’s Business Plan is expensive, but it is predictable. There will never be a big consultant’s fee for maintenance.
3. WordPress.com provides a full directory of premium design templates with simple installation.
4. WordPress.com still allows you to install vetted 3rd party plugins – which is huge for a custom magician website.

See WordPress.com’s Business Plan here.

Upside: If you use WordPress.com, then you get most of the upside of WordPress software without any potential technical headaches.

Downside: You have a limited version of WordPress – and will inevitably miss out on some functionality and design options.

Your Next Steps

Remember that there is no wrong choice. It all depends on your goals and needs.

Sign up for InMotion Hosting’s Business Plan w/ WordPress auto-install.

Sign up for WordPress.com’s Business Plan.

4. Choose & Setup Your Magician Website Template

Now that you know what you have and you know what you need, you can dive in finding the right pre-made magician template for your website.

When you are shopping, keep a few things in mind:

1. Ignore the mock-up photography and logo designs. Often, a template will only look a certain way due to the mock-up photography, and you’ll be replacing all of this with your own assets.
2. Focus on the layout of a given template.
3. Look beyond the homepage. Look at how the subpages and unique pages are presented.
4. Remember that any template can be reproduced as a WordPress Theme or template. If you see a Squarespace, Weebly, Wix, Drupal, etc template, it is better to convert that template to WordPress than to lock into that platform simply for the design. Again, that would be like choosing your home based on an existing paint job. It’s better to choose your home and spend money repainting.

Self-hosted WordPress Templates

With a self-hosted WordPress install, you have a basically unlimited choice of templates. Here are a few places to look for high-quality options.

• My round-up of WordPress Theme Frameworks – basically amazing foundational templates that can produce great websites with good photos & colors.
• ThemeForest – a huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• MOJO Themes – another huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• TemplateMonster – another huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• WordPress.org Repository – the official marketplace for WordPress themes & templates. All templates are free to download & install directly into your WordPress website.

If you used InMotion Hosting, then you’ll also have access to their BoldGrid templates that have drag & drop functionality. You can also use their design services to convert a template you love to WordPress + your brand.

WordPress.com Templates

With a WordPress.com Business Plan, you can not only upload template choices from sites listed above – you also get unlimited access to WordPress.com’s premium templates. These all have advanced customization options so that you can edit them.

You can browse them here.

5. Choose & Setup Your Magician Website Functionality

Many template & theme makers bundle functionality with design. That can be great – but it can also have downsides.

If your theme has too much functionality built-in, then you are locked into that template. But if you separate out design & functionality, you can easily edit both.

Either way, WordPress allows additional functionality via plugins.

Everyday Functionality

WordPress works out of the box – and needs very little installed on top. In fact, generally the fewer plugins you have, the better.

If you are using a self-hosted site, then I’d recommend installing the JetPack plugin to provide security & backups (along with other fun things like sharing buttons, contact forms, etc).

I’ve also written a round-up of “must have” WordPress plugins here – that includes things like Google Analytics & Redirects.

There are also options for eCommerce like WooCommerce that work well for magicians who want to sell packages or tickets directly online.

Specialized Functionality

Now – what you’ve been waiting for – specialzied functionality.

Here it is important to emphasize writing down your needs. It’s easy to just randomly add things to WordPress that neither you nor your visitors need.

There are a few excellent sources.

• WordPress.org Repository – the official source for plugins. Do a search for specific functionality. Be sure to note the number of installs, rating, and other notes of quality.
• ThemeForest – also an excellent source for premium plugins in every industry.

Note that with WordPress.com Business Plans also have lots of specialized functionality that works for magicians – see this example.

6. Refine Your Design & Content

Now that you have your design & functionality setup – the fun begins.

The important point here is that whether your website is a brochure or informational site – or an interactive & constantly updated site – maintaining, revising and editing is never done.

It does not have to be time-consuming, but a good website is one that has regular updates and edits.

Editing Your Design

Using WordPress + a good template should make this process straightforward. InMotion’s BoldGrid tool brings drag and drop functionality to WordPress and WordPress.com’s Customizer tool allows for simple click & edit customization.

Here’s a guide to how WordPress Themes work – along with a tour of the WordPress Dashboard.

When planning & editing your site, be sure to keep the features that your customers want in mind. Even if you like a certain look or feel – that might be frustrating for visitors.

Marketing Your Magician Website

Ahh – now the real fun. There are no right answers here.

But here’s the thing. You can’t do real, long-term brand building without a website. Social networks come and go. But a good website is something that *you* own.

If you lock onto your best customers and identify how they find you, you’ll be able to position your site for whatever comes.

I cover this topic in my guide to planning a local marketing strategy.

Next Steps

Walk through your budget & needs.

If self-hosted WordPress fits your needs, purchase a Business Hosting Plan with WordPress auto-install here.

If bundled WordPress services fit your needs, purchase a WordPress.com Business Plan here.

Keep Exploring & Learning!

• How To Setup a WordPress Website from Scratch
• Beginner’s Guide To Using WordPress
• How To Map Your Keywords for SEO
• Planning a Local Marketing Strategy
• Must Have Features for a Local Business Website
• How To Advertise Online Effectively

So you need to build a police website, and you have a certain “look” in mind.

Fortunately, website design has come a long way in the last few years.

Free templates, ready-made designs, and website builders allow anybody to get their site up and running relatively easily.

In the modern digital world, this shift has been incredible.

But starting the process of building a police website with a police website template can be a shortcut to some bad website choices.

Starting with a template or pre-made design is like buying a house based on the paint job.

Sure – a good existing paint job is great. But it doesn’t really matter if your location, mortgage terms, number of bedrooms, etc. do not make any sense.

Here’s the open secret among professional web designers – web pages are made of HTML & CSS with a few scripts thrown in. This means that…

…any website template can exist on any good web platform.

With that in mind, here’s a brief 6 step guide to choosing the right police website template on the right web platform so that you can build the design & functionality that your business needs.

1. Define Your Needs, Budget & Assets

Since any generic template can transform into a police template with a little editing, they are very easy to market (and easy to mislead). It’s important to take stock of what you truly need, what your budget is, and what website assets you already own.

Needs

What functionality does your website need? Is it simply a “brochure site” to share information, or does it need to be interactive? Do you need it to be easily edited? How should it display your information, location, community services, etc.? Do you need applicants to be able to apply for jobs directly online?

There are no right answers, but it’s important to at least think about them before reading template sales features.

Budget

Price is powerful, but it’s important to not only pay for value but to also pay for what matters.

What are your goals for the website? Can you quantify them? How long do you expect this website to last? How much is your time worth – and how much will getting your website right save time? How much is your staff’s time worth – can a good website help them?

While the primary goal of the website may be to share information with residents, it’s still important to think about how much you’re willing to spend to make the site what you want it before shopping for a design/designer/template. You might be excited about the project now, but price usually determines whether you keep your site for a month or 10 years.

Assets

Pre-made police templates can go a long way…but the site still needs to be yours. What photography do you have? Do you have a digitized logo? Do you know your fonts and exact colors? Do you have descriptions of your station, location, community services, etc? Do you have partnerships with local businesses or organizations? Do you already have established social profiles & reviews?

There are no right answers, but it’s important to at least think about them before getting swayed by nice mock-ups.

2. Understand Terminology & Options

Website terminology can be daunting and frustrating with so many companies mixing, matching, & misusing jargon to sell their product. Here are the 5 core things you need to have a website on the Internet nowadays.

Domain Name

A domain is your “address” on the Internet. You lease it for a certain amount of time from ICANN via accredited “domain registrars”. You can buy one now and “point” it to your website later. Many website hosting companies also resell domain names to provide convenience.

Website Hosting

Your website is made up of computer files. And those files have to “live” somewhere. Website hosting companies rent space on specialized servers that store & serve your website files whenever someone goes to your website.

Website Software

A modern website usually consists of a lot of different files. While not 100% necessary, websites usually need software (ie, a “content management system”) to manage all the files – and make it easy for a human to edit & maintain.

There are hundreds of thousands of website software options.

For our purposes, we’ll be looking at WordPress.

WordPress powers more than 25% of the Internet. It has its critics and its evangelists. But it’s still the go-to solution for most police websites.

Here’s the thing: WordPress is kind of like the 4 door sedan or light SUV of website software.

Yes – it is popular. But it’s popular because it fits most people’s needs. It’s versatile, manageable and suitable for so much. If you hear people saying that “WordPress gets hacked” or “WordPress is not fast” – that is like someone saying that “sedans get broken into more often than semi-trucks” or “well, your Honda Accord can’t beat my Ferrari off the line.”

Yes – those criticisms are true… but not.

Plus, as we’ll see, there are ways to mitigate/eliminate WordPress’ disadvantages while keeping its advantages for building a police website (ie, ownership, accessibility, integrations, etc).

*WordPress is for most, but not everyone. It does have a learning curve. Here’s how WordPress compares to Wix, how WordPress compares to Squarespace, and how WordPress compares to Weebly. Your end goal should be a website that is best for *you* and your goals. The general strategies below work regardless of platform.

Website Templates

As we saw in the introduction, templates are simply pre-made HTML & CSS (the computer languages that browsers use to yield a webpage). While not 100% necessary, mobile devices and different browsers make good design nearly impossible to do well from scratch. All good web designers use some sort of template/framework to start.

And there is a whole universe of pre-made police website templates that range from free templates to paid to bundled with custom design services.

There is one item to remember about templates, however. Website templates should focus on design, layout & content presentation – and not on functionality.

Website Plugins / Extensions

Plugins / extensions / apps are specific pieces of software that work with your website software to add functions or features to your website.

Possibly the biggest advantage of WordPress is how “extensible” it is. WordPress has a whole universe of free & premium plugins. These allow even small websites to have very advanced functionality on their websites, from event calendars to donation pages to job application portals.

3. Choose & Setup Your Police Website Platform

There are a lot of excellent website platforms. There are infinite ways to combine, mix & match the 5 different pieces you need for a modern website.

But this guide would be worthless if it did not actually help you find a template & build a website that works.

We’ve already narrowed the website software down to WordPress. Now we need to pick where your WordPress software will live & how it will work with your templates & plugins.

There are two main options here – “self-hosted” WordPress and WordPress.com.

Disclosure – I receive customer referral fees from companies mentioned on this website. All data & opinions are based on my professional experience as a paying customer or consultant to paying customers.

Self-hosted WordPress

WordPress is free, open-source, community supported software. You can download it, install it anywhere, and use it however you like.

When you self-host WordPress, you get complete freedom but also have complete responsibility. It’s like owning your own building. You can do whatever you want…but you’re also the one to call the plumber.

That said, installing WordPress with a good business hosting company makes all the difference. A good hosting company can provide the support, security & services that can minimize the risks of maintaining your own self-hosted WordPress.

For businesses, I use & recommend InMotion Hosting for a few reasons. I wrote a full review of InMotion here.

1. InMotion provides excellent support services via phone, chat, email & knowledgebase.
2. InMotion operates at a slightly higher price point to focus on businesses (not hobby bloggers).
3. InMotion provides WordPress auto-install at checkout in addition to an (optional) free, drag & drop design tool called BoldGrid.
4. InMotion can provide custom web design services to minimize the search for a random freelancer.

See InMotion Hosting’s current Business Hosting Plans here.

Upside: If you self-host your WordPress software, you can download & use basically any theme or plugin that you want. Developers & consultants are used to the setup. It is future-proof, and it saves a good bit of money compared to other options.

Downside: You are in charge of technical aspects. Sure – InMotion provides support and consultants can provide expertise, but you are ultimately in charge of everything. For anyone who doesn’t want to deal with technical issues at all – self-hosting WordPress is not ideal.

WordPress.com

WordPress.com is a “hosted service” run by the originator of WordPress software. It’s an all-in-one service that bundles a limited version of WordPress software with hosting, software, support, and services all into one monthly plan.

If self-hosting WordPress is like owning your own building, then using WordPress.com is like leasing a pre-built storefront. You can do all the customizations that you want “inside” your building, but the maintenance and boring bits are not your responsibility.

For businesses, I use & recommend WordPress.com for a few reasons.

1. WordPress.com takes care of *all* speed, security & technical concerns while still benefitting from the advantages of WordPress software.
2. WordPress.com’s Business Plan is expensive, but it is predictable. There will never be a big consultant’s fee for maintenance.
3. WordPress.com provides a full directory of premium design templates with simple installation.
4. WordPress.com still allows you to install vetted 3rd party plugins – which is huge for a custom police website.

See WordPress.com’s Business Plan here.

Upside: If you use WordPress.com, then you get most of the upside of WordPress software without any potential technical headaches.

Downside: You have a limited version of WordPress – and will inevitably miss out on some functionality and design options.

Your Next Steps

Remember that there is no wrong choice. It all depends on your goals and needs.

Sign up for InMotion Hosting’s Business Plan w/ WordPress auto-install.

Sign up for WordPress.com’s Business Plan.

4. Choose & Setup Your Police Website Template

Now that you know what you have and you know what you need – you can dive in finding the right pre-made police template for your website.

When you are shopping, keep a few things in mind:

1. Ignore the mock-up photography and logo designs. Often, a template will only look a certain way due to the mock-up photography.
2. Focus on the layout of a given template.
3. Look beyond the homepage. Look at how the subpages and unique pages are presented.
4. Remember that any template can be reproduced as a WordPress Theme or template. If you see a Squarespace, Weebly, Wix, Drupal, etc template, it is better to convert that template to WordPress than to lock into that platform simply for the design.

Self-hosted WordPress Templates

With a self-hosted WordPress install, you have a basically unlimited choice of templates. Here are a few places to look for high-quality options.

• My round-up of WordPress Theme Frameworks – basically amazing foundational templates that can produce great websites with good photos & colors.
• ThemeForest – a huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• MOJO Themes – another huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• TemplateMonster – another huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• WordPress.org Repository – the official marketplace for WordPress themes & templates. All templates are free to download & install directly into your WordPress website.

If you used InMotion Hosting, then you’ll also have access to their BoldGrid templates that have drag & drop functionality. You can also use their design services to convert a template you love to WordPress + your brand.

WordPress.com Templates

With a WordPress.com Business Plan, you can not only upload template choices from sites listed above – you also get unlimited access to WordPress.com’s premium templates. These all have advanced customization options so that you can edit them.

You can browse them here.

5. Choose & Setup Your Police Website Functionality

Many template & theme makers bundle functionality with design. That can be great – but it can also have downsides.

If your theme has too much functionality built-in, then you are locked into that template. But if you separate out design & functionality, you can easily edit both.

Either way, WordPress allows additional functionality via plugins.

Everyday Functionality

WordPress works out of the box – and needs very little installed on top. In fact, generally the fewer plugins you have, the better.

If you are using a self-hosted site, then I’d recommend installing the JetPack plugin to provide security & backups (along with other fun things like sharing buttons, contact forms, etc).

I’ve also written a round-up of “must have” WordPress plugins here – that includes things like Google Analytics & Redirects.

Specialized Functionality

Now – what you’ve been waiting for – specialized functionality.

Here it is important to emphasize writing down your needs. It’s easy to just randomly add things to WordPress that neither you nor your visitors need.

There are a few excellent sources.

• WordPress.org Repository – the official source for plugins with lots of specialized functionality that can come in handy for police (like job applications/portal). Do a search for specific functionality. Be sure to note the number of installs, rating, and other notes of quality.
• ThemeForest – also an excellent source for premium plugins in every industry.

Note that with WordPress.com Business Plans also have lots of specialized functionality that can work for police departments – see this example.

6. Refine Your Design & Content

Now that you have your design & functionality setup – the fun begins.

The important point here is that whether your website is a brochure or informational site – or an interactive & constantly updated site – maintaining, revising and editing is never done.

It does not have to be time-consuming, but a good website is one that has regular updates and edits.

Editing Your Design

Using WordPress + a good template should make this process straightforward. InMotion’s BoldGrid tool brings drag and drop functionality to WordPress and WordPress.com’s Customizer tool allows for simple click & edit customization.

Here’s a guide to how WordPress Themes work – along with a tour of the WordPress Dashboard.

When planning & editing your site, be sure to keep the features that your customers want in mind. Even if you like a certain look or feel – that might be frustrating for visitors.

Marketing Your Police Website

Ahh – now the real fun. There are no right answers here.

But here’s the thing. You can’t do real, long-term marketing / community-building without a website. Social networks come and go. But a good website is something that *you* own.

If you lock onto your best visitors and identify how they find you, you’ll be able to position your site for whatever comes.

I cover this topic in my guide to planning a local marketing strategy.

Next Steps

Walk through your budget & needs.

If self-hosted WordPress fits your needs, purchase a Business Hosting Plan with WordPress auto-install here.

If bundled WordPress services fit your needs, purchase a WordPress.com Business Plan here.

Keep Exploring & Learning!

• How To Setup a WordPress Website from Scratch
• Beginner’s Guide To Using WordPress
• How To Map Your Keywords for SEO
• Planning a Local Marketing Strategy
• Must Have Features for a Local Business Website
• How To Advertise Online Effectively

So you need to build a fire department website, and you have a certain “look” in mind.

Fortunately, website design has come a long way in the last few years.

Free templates, ready-made designs, and website builders allow anybody to get their site up and running relatively easily.

In the modern digital world, this shift has been incredible.

But starting the process of building a fire department website with a fire department website template can be a shortcut to some bad website choices.

Starting with a template or pre-made design is like buying a house based on the paint job.

Sure – a good existing paint job is great. But it doesn’t really matter if your location, mortgage terms, number of bedrooms, etc. do not make any sense.

Here’s the open secret among professional web designers – web pages are made of HTML & CSS with a few scripts thrown in. This means that…

…any website template can exist on any good web platform.

With that in mind, here’s a brief 6 step guide to choosing the right fire department website template on the right web platform so that you can build the design & functionality that your business needs.

1. Define Your Needs, Budget & Assets

Since any generic template can transform into a fire department template with a little editing, they are very easy to market (and easy to mislead). It’s important to take stock of what you truly need, what your budget is, and what website assets you already own.

Needs

What functionality does your website need? Is it simply a “brochure site” to share information, or does it need to be interactive? Do you need it to be easily edited? How should it display your information, location, community services, etc.? Do you need applicants to be able to apply for jobs directly online?

There are no right answers, but it’s important to at least think about them before reading template sales features.

Budget

Price is powerful, but it’s important to not only pay for value but to also pay for what matters.

What are your goals for the website? Can you quantify them? How long do you expect this website to last? How much is your time worth – and how much will getting your website right save time? How much is your staff’s time worth – can a good website help them?

While the primary goal of the website may be to share information with residents, it’s still important to think about how much you’re willing to spend to make the site what you want it before shopping for a design/designer/template. You might be excited about the project now, but price usually determines whether you keep your site for a month or 10 years.

Assets

Pre-made fire department templates can go a long way…but the site still needs to be yours. What photography do you have? Do you have a digitized logo? Do you know your fonts and exact colors? Do you have descriptions of your station, location, community services, etc? Do you have partnerships with local businesses or organizations? Do you already have established social profiles & reviews?

There are no right answers, but it’s important to at least think about them before getting swayed by nice mock-ups.

2. Understand Terminology & Options

Website terminology can be daunting and frustrating with so many companies mixing, matching, & misusing jargon to sell their product. Here are the 5 core things you need to have a website on the Internet nowadays.

Domain Name

A domain is your “address” on the Internet. You lease it for a certain amount of time from ICANN via accredited “domain registrars”. You can buy one now and “point” it to your website later. Many website hosting companies also resell domain names to provide convenience.

Website Hosting

Your website is made up of computer files. And those files have to “live” somewhere. Website hosting companies rent space on specialized servers that store & serve your website files whenever someone goes to your website.

Website Software

A modern website usually consists of a lot of different files. While not 100% necessary, websites usually need software (ie, a “content management system”) to manage all the files – and make it easy for a human to edit & maintain.

There are hundreds of thousands of website software options.

For our purposes, we’ll be looking at WordPress.

WordPress powers more than 25% of the Internet. It has its critics and its evangelists. But it’s still the go-to solution for most fire department websites.

Here’s the thing: WordPress is kind of like the 4 door sedan or light SUV of website software.

Yes – it is popular. But it’s popular because it fits most people’s needs. It’s versatile, manageable and suitable for so much. If you hear people saying that “WordPress gets hacked” or “WordPress is not fast” – that is like someone saying that “sedans get broken into more often than semi-trucks” or “well, your Honda Accord can’t beat my Ferrari off the line.”

Yes – those criticisms are true… but not.

Plus, as we’ll see, there are ways to mitigate/eliminate WordPress’ disadvantages while keeping its advantages for building a fire department website (ie, ownership, accessibility, integrations, etc).

*WordPress is for most, but not everyone. It does have a learning curve. Here’s how WordPress compares to Wix, how WordPress compares to Squarespace, and how WordPress compares to Weebly. Your end goal should be a website that is best for *you* and your goals. The general strategies below work regardless of platform.

Website Templates

As we saw in the introduction, templates are simply pre-made HTML & CSS (the computer languages that browsers use to yield a webpage). While not 100% necessary, mobile devices and different browsers make good design nearly impossible to do well from scratch. All good web designers use some sort of template/framework to start.

And there is a whole universe of pre-made fire department website templates that range from free templates to paid to bundled with custom design services.

There is one item to remember about templates, however. Website templates should focus on design, layout & content presentation – and not on functionality.

Website Plugins / Extensions

Plugins / extensions / apps are specific pieces of software that work with your website software to add functions or features to your website.

Possibly the biggest advantage of WordPress is how “extensible” it is. WordPress has a whole universe of free & premium plugins. These allow even small websites to have very advanced functionality on their websites, from event calendars to donation pages to job application portals.

3. Choose & Setup Your Fire Department Website Platform

There are a lot of excellent website platforms. There are infinite ways to combine, mix & match the 5 different pieces you need for a modern website.

But this guide would be worthless if it did not actually help you find a template & build a website that works.

We’ve already narrowed the website software down to WordPress. Now we need to pick where your WordPress software will live & how it will work with your templates & plugins.

There are two main options here – “self-hosted” WordPress and WordPress.com.

Disclosure – I receive customer referral fees from companies mentioned on this website. All data & opinions are based on my professional experience as a paying customer or consultant to paying customers.

Self-hosted WordPress

WordPress is free, open-source, community supported software. You can download it, install it anywhere, and use it however you like.

When you self-host WordPress, you get complete freedom but also have complete responsibility. It’s like owning your own building. You can do whatever you want…but you’re also the one to call the plumber.

That said, installing WordPress with a good business hosting company makes all the difference. A good hosting company can provide the support, security & services that can minimize the risks of maintaining your own self-hosted WordPress.

For businesses, I use & recommend InMotion Hosting for a few reasons. I wrote a full review of InMotion here.

1. InMotion provides excellent support services via phone, chat, email & knowledgebase.
2. InMotion operates at a slightly higher price point to focus on businesses (not hobby bloggers).
3. InMotion provides WordPress auto-install at checkout in addition to an (optional) free, drag & drop design tool called BoldGrid.
4. InMotion can provide custom web design services to minimize the search for a random freelancer.

See InMotion Hosting’s current Business Hosting Plans here.

Upside: If you self-host your WordPress software, you can download & use basically any theme or plugin that you want. Developers & consultants are used to the setup. It is future-proof, and it saves a good bit of money compared to other options.

Downside: You are in charge of technical aspects. Sure – InMotion provides support and consultants can provide expertise, but you are ultimately in charge of everything. For anyone who doesn’t want to deal with technical issues at all – self-hosting WordPress is not ideal.

WordPress.com

WordPress.com is a “hosted service” run by the originator of WordPress software. It’s an all-in-one service that bundles a limited version of WordPress software with hosting, software, support, and services all into one monthly plan.

If self-hosting WordPress is like owning your own building, then using WordPress.com is like leasing a pre-built storefront. You can do all the customizations that you want “inside” your building, but the maintenance and boring bits are not your responsibility.

For businesses, I use & recommend WordPress.com for a few reasons.

1. WordPress.com takes care of *all* speed, security & technical concerns while still benefitting from the advantages of WordPress software.
2. WordPress.com’s Business Plan is expensive, but it is predictable. There will never be a big consultant’s fee for maintenance.
3. WordPress.com provides a full directory of premium design templates with simple installation.
4. WordPress.com still allows you to install vetted 3rd party plugins – which is huge for a custom fire department website.

See WordPress.com’s Business Plan here.

Upside: If you use WordPress.com, then you get most of the upside of WordPress software without any potential technical headaches.

Downside: You have a limited version of WordPress – and will inevitably miss out on some functionality and design options.

Your Next Steps

Remember that there is no wrong choice. It all depends on your goals and needs.

Sign up for InMotion Hosting’s Business Plan w/ WordPress auto-install.

Sign up for WordPress.com’s Business Plan.

4. Choose & Setup Your Fire Department Website Template

Now that you know what you have and you know what you need – you can dive in finding the right pre-made fire department template for your website.

When you are shopping, keep a few things in mind:

1. Ignore the mock-up photography and logo designs. Often, a template will only look a certain way due to the mock-up photography.
2. Focus on the layout of a given template.
3. Look beyond the homepage. Look at how the subpages and unique pages are presented.
4. Remember that any template can be reproduced as a WordPress Theme or template. If you see a Squarespace, Weebly, Wix, Drupal, etc template, it is better to convert that template to WordPress than to lock into that platform simply for the design.

Self-hosted WordPress Templates

With a self-hosted WordPress install, you have a basically unlimited choice of templates. Here are a few places to look for high-quality options.

• My round-up of WordPress Theme Frameworks – basically amazing foundational templates that can produce great websites with good photos & colors.
• ThemeForest – a huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• MOJO Themes – another huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• TemplateMonster – another huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• WordPress.org Repository – the official marketplace for WordPress themes & templates. All templates are free to download & install directly into your WordPress website.

If you used InMotion Hosting, then you’ll also have access to their BoldGrid templates that have drag & drop functionality. You can also use their design services to convert a template you love to WordPress + your brand.

WordPress.com Templates

With a WordPress.com Business Plan, you can not only upload template choices from sites listed above – you also get unlimited access to WordPress.com’s premium templates. These all have advanced customization options so that you can edit them.

You can browse them here.

5. Choose & Setup Your Fire Department Website Functionality

Many template & theme makers bundle functionality with design. That can be great – but it can also have downsides.

If your theme has too much functionality built-in, then you are locked into that template. But if you separate out design & functionality, you can easily edit both.

Either way, WordPress allows additional functionality via plugins.

Everyday Functionality

WordPress works out of the box – and needs very little installed on top. In fact, generally the fewer plugins you have, the better.

If you are using a self-hosted site, then I’d recommend installing the JetPack plugin to provide security & backups (along with other fun things like sharing buttons, contact forms, etc).

I’ve also written a round-up of “must have” WordPress plugins here – that includes things like Google Analytics & Redirects.

Specialized Functionality

Now – what you’ve been waiting for – specialized functionality.

Here it is important to emphasize writing down your needs. It’s easy to just randomly add things to WordPress that neither you nor your visitors need.

There are a few excellent sources.

• WordPress.org Repository – the official source for plugins with lots of specialized functionality that can come in handy for fire departments (like job applications, donations, etc). Do a search for specific functionality. Be sure to note the number of installs, rating, and other notes of quality.
• ThemeForest – also an excellent source for premium plugins in every industry.

Note that with WordPress.com Business Plans also have lots of specialized functionality that can work for fire departments – see this example.

6. Refine Your Design & Content

Now that you have your design & functionality setup – the fun begins.

The important point here is that whether your website is a brochure or informational site – or an interactive & constantly updated site – maintaining, revising and editing is never done.

It does not have to be time-consuming, but a good website is one that has regular updates and edits.

Editing Your Design

Using WordPress + a good template should make this process straightforward. InMotion’s BoldGrid tool brings drag and drop functionality to WordPress and WordPress.com’s Customizer tool allows for simple click & edit customization.

Here’s a guide to how WordPress Themes work – along with a tour of the WordPress Dashboard.

When planning & editing your site, be sure to keep the features that your customers want in mind. Even if you like a certain look or feel – that might be frustrating for visitors.

Marketing Your Fire Department Website

Ahh – now the real fun. There are no right answers here.

But here’s the thing. You can’t do real, long-term brand building without a website. Social networks come and go. But a good website is something that *you* own.

If you lock onto your best visitors and identify how they find you, you’ll be able to position your site for whatever comes.

I cover this topic in my guide to planning a local marketing strategy.

Next Steps

Walk through your budget & needs.

If self-hosted WordPress fits your needs, purchase a Business Hosting Plan with WordPress auto-install here.

If bundled WordPress services fit your needs, purchase a WordPress.com Business Plan here.

Keep Exploring & Learning!

• How To Setup a WordPress Website from Scratch
• Beginner’s Guide To Using WordPress
• How To Map Your Keywords for SEO
• Planning a Local Marketing Strategy
• Must Have Features for a Local Business Website
• How To Advertise Online Effectively

So you need to build a political website, and you have a certain “look” or “style” in mind.

Fortunately, website design has come a long way in the last few years.

Free templates, ready-made designs, and website builders allow anybody to get their site up and running relatively easily. It allows professional designers to think more about brand voice rather than counting pixels.

The shift has been incredible.

But starting the process of building your website with a political website template can be a shortcut to some bad website choices.

Starting with a template or pre-made design is like choosing a house search based on solely on the existing paint job.

Sure – a move-in ready paint job is great. But it doesn’t really matter if your location, building, lease terms, and living options do not make any sense.

Here’s the open secret among professional web designers – web pages are made of HTML & CSS with a few scripts thrown in. This means that…

…any website template can exist on any good web platform.

In other words – you aren’t limited to “Squarespace templates” or “Wix templates” or “BrandYourself Templates.”

With that in mind, here’s my brief 6 step guide to choosing the right political website template on the right web platform so that you can build the design & functionality that your site needs.

1. Define Your Needs, Budget & Assets

Since any generic template can transform into a political template with a little editing, they are very easy to market (and easy to mislead). It’s important to take stock of what you truly need, what your budget is, and what website assets you already own.

Needs

What functionality does your website need? Is it simply a “brochure site” or does it need to be interactive? Do you need it to be easily edited? How should it display your views/causes/voting information? Do you need to be able to accept donations?

There are no right answers, but it’s important to at least think about them before reading template sales features.

Budget

Price is powerful, but it’s important to not only pay for value but to also pay for what matters.

How will this website help your political cause? How long do you expect this website to last? How much is your time worth – and how much will getting your website right save time?

Again, there are no right answers, but it’s important to at least think about them before shopping for a design/designer/template.

Assets

Pre-made political templates can go a long way… but the site still needs to be yours. What photography do you have? Do you have a digitized logo? Do you know your fonts and exact colors? Do you have descriptions of your views, candidates/organizations, causes, etc? Do you have marketing partnerships with other candidates or local organizations? Do you already have established social profiles? Do you have endorsements?

There are no right answers, but it’s important to at least think about them before getting swayed by nice mock-ups.

2. Understand Terminology & Options

Website terminology can be daunting and frustrating with so many companies mixing, matching, & misusing jargon to sell their product. Here are the 5 core things you need to have a website on the Internet nowadays.

Domain Name

A domain is your “address” on the Internet. You lease it for a certain amount of time from ICANN via accredited “domain registrars”. You can buy one now and “point” it to your website later. Many website hosting companies also resell domain names to provide convenience.

Website Hosting

Your website is made up of computer files. And those files have to “live” somewhere. Website hosting companies rent space on specialized servers that store & serve your website files whenever someone goes to your website.

Website Software

A modern website usually consists of a lot of different files. While not 100% necessary, websites usually need software (ie, a “content management system”) to manage all the files – and make it easy for a human to edit & maintain.

There are hundreds of thousands of website software options.

For our purposes, we’ll be looking at WordPress.

WordPress powers more than 25% of the Internet. It has its critics and its evangelists. But it’s still the go-to solution for most political websites.

Here’s the thing: WordPress is kind of like the 4 door sedan or light SUV of website software.

Yes – it is popular. But it’s popular because it fits most people’s needs. It’s versatile, manageable and suitable for so much. If you hear people saying that “WordPress gets hacked” or “WordPress is not fast” – that is like someone saying that “sedans get broken into more often than semi-trucks” or “well, your Honda Accord can’t beat my Ferrari off the line.”

Yes – those criticisms are true… but not.

Plus, as we’ll see, there are ways to mitigate/eliminate WordPress’ disadvantages while keeping its advantages for building a political website (ie, ownership, integrations, accessibility, marketing, etc).

*WordPress is for most, but not everyone. It does have a learning curve. Here’s how WordPress compares to Wix, how WordPress compares to Squarespace, and how WordPress compares to Weebly. Your end goal should be a website that is best for *you* and your goals. The general strategies below work regardless of platform.

Website Templates

As we saw in the introduction, templates are simply pre-made HTML & CSS (the computer languages that browsers use to yield a webpage). While not 100% necessary, mobile devices and different browsers make good design nearly impossible to do well from scratch. All good web designers use some sort of template/framework to start.

And there is a whole universe of pre-made political website templates that range from free templates to paid to bundled with custom design services.

There is one item to remember about templates, however. Website templates should focus on design, layout & content presentation – and not on functionality.

Website Plugins / Extensions

Plugins / extensions / apps are specific pieces of software that work with your website software to add functions or features to your website.

Possibly the biggest advantage of WordPress is how “extensible” it is. WordPress has a whole universe of free & premium plugins. These allow even small political websites to have very advanced functionality on their websites, from fundraising / donations to testimonials and event calendars.

3. Choose & Setup Your Political Website Platform

There are a lot of excellent website platforms. There are infinite ways to combine, mix & match the 5 different pieces you need for a modern website.

But this guide would be worthless if it did not actually help you find a template & build a website that works.

We’ve already narrowed the website software down to WordPress. Now we need to pick where your WordPress software will live & how it will work with your templates & plugins.

There are two main options here – “self-hosted” WordPress and WordPress.com.

Disclosure -I receive customer referral fees from companies mentioned on this website. All data & opinions are based on my professional experience as a paying customer or consultant to paying customers.

Self-hosted WordPress

WordPress is free, open-source, community supported software. You can download it, install it anywhere, and use it however you like.

When you self-host WordPress, you get complete freedom but also have complete responsibility. It’s like owning your own building. You can do whatever you want…but you’re also the one to call the plumber.

That said, installing WordPress with a good business hosting company makes all the difference. A good hosting company can provide the support, security & services that can minimize the risks of maintaining your own self-hosted WordPress.

For businesses, I use & recommend InMotion Hosting for a few reasons. I wrote a full review of InMotion here.

1. InMotion provides excellent support services via phone, chat, email & knowledgebase.
2. InMotion operates at a slightly higher price point to focus on businesses (not hobby bloggers).
3. InMotion provides WordPress auto-install at checkout in addition to an (optional) free, drag & drop design tool called BoldGrid.
4. InMotion can provide custom web design services to minimize the search for a random freelancer.

See InMotion Hosting’s current Business Hosting Plans here.

Upside: If you self-host your WordPress software, you can download & use basically any theme or plugin that you want. Developers & consultants are used to the setup. It is future-proof, and it saves a good bit of money compared to other options.

Downside: You are in charge of technical aspects. Sure – InMotion provides support and consultants can provide expertise, but you are ultimately in charge of everything. For anyone who doesn’t want to deal with technical issues at all – self-hosting WordPress is not ideal.

WordPress.com

WordPress.com is a “hosted service” run by the originator of WordPress software. It’s an all-in-one service that bundles a limited version of WordPress software with hosting, software, support, and services all into one monthly plan.

If self-hosting WordPress is like owning your own building, then using WordPress.com is like leasing a pre-built storefront. You can do all the customizations that you want “inside” your building, but the maintenance and boring bits are not your responsibility.

For businesses, I use & recommend WordPress.com for a few reasons.

1. WordPress.com takes care of *all* speed, security & technical concerns while still benefitting from the advantages of WordPress software.
2. WordPress.com’s Business Plan is expensive, but it is predictable. There will never be a big consultant’s fee for maintenance.
3. WordPress.com provides a full directory of premium design templates with simple installation.
4. WordPress.com still allows you to install vetted 3rd party plugins – which is huge for a custom political website.

See WordPress.com’s Business Plan here.

Upside: If you use WordPress.com, then you get most of the upside of WordPress software without any potential technical headaches.

Downside: You have a limited version of WordPress – and will inevitably miss out on some functionality and design options.

Your Next Steps

Remember that there is no wrong choice. It all depends on your goals and needs.

Sign up for InMotion Hosting’s Business Plan w/ WordPress auto-install.

Sign up for WordPress.com’s Business Plan.

4. Choose & Setup Your Political Website Template

Now that you know what you have and you know what you need, you can dive in finding the right pre-made political template for your website.

When you are shopping, keep a few things in mind.

1. Ignore the mock-up photography and logo designs. Often, a template will only look a certain way due to the mock-up photography.
2. Focus on the layout of a given template.
3. Look beyond the homepage. Look at how the subpages and unique pages are presented.
4. Remember that any template can be reproduced as a WordPress Theme or template. If you see a Squarespace, Weebly, Wix, Drupal, etc template, it is better to convert that template to WordPress than to lock into that platform simply for the design. Again, that would be like choosing your home based solely on an existing paint job.

Self-hosted WordPress Templates

With a self-hosted WordPress install, you have a basically unlimited choice of templates. Here are a few places to look for high-quality options.

• My round-up of WordPress Theme Frameworks – basically amazing foundational templates that can produce great websites with good photos & colors.
• ThemeForest – a huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• MOJO Themes – another huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• TemplateMonster – another huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• WordPress.org Repository – the official marketplace for WordPress themes & templates. All templates are free to download & install directly into your WordPress website.

If you used InMotion Hosting, then you’ll also have access to their BoldGrid templates that have drag & drop functionality. You can also use their design services to convert a template you love to WordPress + your brand.

WordPress.com Templates

With a WordPress.com Business Plan, you can not only upload template choices from sites listed above – you also get unlimited access to WordPress.com’s premium templates. These all have advanced customization options so that you can edit them.

You can browse them here.

5. Choose & Setup Your Political Website Functionality

Many template & theme makers bundle functionality with design. That can be great – but it can also have downsides.

If your theme has too much functionality built-in, then you are locked into that template. But if you separate out design & functionality, you can easily edit both.

Either way, WordPress allows additional functionality via plugins.

Everyday Functionality

WordPress works out of the box – and needs very little installed on top. In fact, generally the fewer plugins you have, the better.

If you are using a self-hosted site, then I’d recommend installing the JetPack plugin to provide security & backups (along with other fun things like sharing buttons, contact forms, etc).

I’ve also written a round-up of “must have” WordPress plugins here – that includes things like Google Analytics & Redirects.

Specialized Functionality

Now – what you’ve been waiting for – political functionality.

Here it is important to emphasize writing down your needs. It’s easy to just randomly add things to WordPress that neither you nor your visitors need.

There are a few excellent sources.

• WordPress.org Repository – the official source for plugins, covers political needs with plugins like Give for fundraising. Do a search for specific functionality. Be sure to note the number of installs, rating, and other notes of quality.
• ThemeForest – also an excellent source for premium plugins in every industry.

6. Refine Your Design & Content

Now that you have your design & functionality setup – the fun begins.

The important point here is that whether your website is a brochure or informational site – or an interactive & constantly updated site – maintaining, revising and editing is never done.

It does not have to be time-consuming, but a good website is one that has regular updates and edits.

Editing Your Design

Using WordPress + a good template should make this process straightforward. InMotion’s BoldGrid tool brings drag and drop functionality to WordPress and WordPress.com’s Customizer tool allows for simple click & edit customization.

Here’s a guide to how WordPress Themes work – along with a tour of the WordPress Dashboard.

When planning & editing your site, be sure to keep the features that your customers want in mind. Even if you like a certain look or feel – that might be frustrating for visitors.

Marketing Your Political Website

Ahh – now the real fun. There are no right answers here.

But here’s the thing: you can’t do real, long-term marketing / campaigning without a website. Social networks come and go. But a good website is something that *you* own.

If you lock onto your best supporters and identify how they find you, you’ll be able to position your site for whatever comes.

I cover this topic in my guide to planning a local marketing strategy.

Next Steps

Walk through your budget & needs.

If self-hosted WordPress fits your needs, purchase a Business Hosting Plan with WordPress auto-install here.

If bundled WordPress services fit your needs, purchase a WordPress.com Business Plan here.

Keep Exploring & Learning!

• How To Setup a WordPress Website from Scratch
• Beginner’s Guide To Using WordPress
• How To Map Your Keywords for SEO
• Planning a Local Marketing Strategy
• Must Have Features for a Local Business Website
• How To Advertise Online Effectively

Build a Car Dealer Website: Templates, Design & DIY Setup Guide

So you need to build a car dealer website, and you have a certain “look” in mind.

Fortunately, website design has come a long way in the last few years.

Free templates, ready-made designs, and website builders allow anybody to get their business online.

In the competitive and rapidly digitizing car dealer industry, this shift has been incredible.

But starting the process of building your website with a car dealer website template can be a shortcut to some bad website choices.

Starting with a template or pre-made design is like starting your dealership lot search based on existing building layouts.

Sure – a good existing building layout is great; you need someplace for buyers to discuss pricing, fill out paperwork, etc. But that building doesn’t really matter if your location, lot size, lease terms, and expansion options don’t make any sense.

Here’s the open secret among professional web designers: web pages are made of HTML & CSS with a few scripts thrown in. This means that…

…any website template can exist on any good web platform.

With that in mind, here’s a brief 6 step guide to choosing the right car dealer website template on the right web platform so that you can build the design & functionality that your business needs.

1. Define Your Needs, Budget & Assets

Since any generic template can transform into a car dealer template with a little editing, they are very easy to market (and easy to mislead). It’s important to take stock of what you truly need, what your budget is, and what website assets you already own before you start shopping.

Needs

What functionality does your website need? Is it simply a “brochure site” or does it need to be interactive? Do you need it to be easily edited? How should it display your available vehicles, pricing, & location? Do you need to take appointment reservations?

There are no right answers, but it’s important to at least think about them before reading template sales features.

Budget

Price is powerful, but it’s important to not only pay for value but to also pay for what matters. Think about your physical business location. What do you spend money on and where do you cut back?

What is a new customer worth? How much do you want to grow? How long do you expect this website to last? How much is your time worth – and how much will getting your website right save time? How much is your staff’s time worth – can a good website help them?

Again, there are no right answers, but it’s important to at least think about budget before shopping for a design/designer/template.

Assets

Pre-made car dealer templates can go a long way… but the site still needs to be yours. When you’re shopping for templates, you’re going to be seeing mock-up photography, fonts, colors, etc. that you’ll be replacing with your own assets. So what do you have and what do you need?

What photography do you have? Do you have a digitized logo? Do you know your fonts and exact colors? Do you have descriptions of your history, location, available cars, financing information, etc? Do you have marketing partnerships with other local businesses or organizations? Do you already have established social profiles & reviews?

Knowing what you’re bringing to the table will help you not get swayed by nice mock-ups.

2. Understand Terminology & Options

Website terminology can be daunting and frustrating with so many companies mixing, matching, & misusing jargon to sell their product. Here are the 5 core things you need to have a website nowadays.

Domain Name

A domain is your “address” on the Internet. You lease it for a certain amount of time from ICANN via accredited “domain registrars”. You can buy one now and “point” it to your website later. Many website hosting companies also resell domain names to provide convenience.

Website Hosting

Your website is made up of computer files. And those files have to “live” somewhere. Website hosting companies rent space on specialized servers that store & serve your website files whenever someone goes to your website.

Website Software

A modern website usually consists of a lot of different files. While not 100% necessary, websites usually need software (ie, a “content management system”) to manage all the files and make it easy for a human to edit & maintain.

There are hundreds of thousands of website software options, but for our purposes, we’ll be looking at WordPress.

WordPress powers more than 25% of the Internet. It has its critics and its evangelists. But it’s still the go-to solution for most car dealer websites, especially smaller dealers looking for cost effective competition with big dealerships (more on that in a bit).

Think of WordPress as the 4 door sedan or light SUV of website software.

Yes – it is popular. But it’s popular because it fits most people’s needs. It’s versatile, manageable and suitable for so much. If you hear people saying that “WordPress gets hacked” or “WordPress is not fast”, that’s like someone saying that “sedans get broken into more often than semi-trucks” or “well, your Honda Accord can’t beat my Ferrari off the line.”

Yes – those criticisms are true… but not. Plus, as we’ll see, there are ways to mitigate/eliminate WordPress’ disadvantages while keeping its advantages for building a car dealer website (ie, ownership, marketing, integrations, etc).

*WordPress is for most, but not everyone. It does have a learning curve. Here’s how WordPress compares to Wix, how WordPress compares to Squarespace, and how WordPress compares to Weebly. Your end goal should be a website that is best for *you* and your goals. The general strategies below work regardless of platform.

Website Templates

As we saw in the introduction, templates are simply pre-made HTML & CSS (the computer languages that browsers use to yield a webpage). While not 100% necessary, mobile devices and different browsers make good design nearly impossible to do well from scratch. All good web designers use some sort of template/framework to start.

There is a whole universe of pre-made car dealer website templates that range from free templates to paid to bundled with custom design services. The thing to remember about templates is that they should focus on design, layout & content presentation — not on functionality.

Functionality should be left primarily to software, which brings us to…

Website Plugins / Extensions

Plugins / extensions / apps are specific pieces of software that work with your website software to add functions or features to your website.

Possibly the biggest advantage of WordPress is how “extensible” it is. WordPress has a whole universe of free & premium plugins. These allow even small car dealerships to have very advanced functionality on their websites and compete with larger dealerships affordably. In fact, many software providers make WordPress plugins & compatible scripts that can drop right into a WordPress-powered site.

3. Choose & Setup Your Car Dealer Website Platform

There are a lot of excellent website platforms. There are infinite ways to combine, mix & match the 5 different pieces you need for a modern website.

But this guide would be worthless if it did not actually help you find a template & build a website that works.

We’ve already narrowed the website software down to WordPress. Now we need to pick where your WordPress software will live & how it will work with your templates & plugins.

There are two main options here: “self-hosted” WordPress and WordPress.com.

Disclosure – I receive customer referral fees from companies mentioned on this website. All data & opinions are based on my professional experience as a paying customer or consultant to paying customers.

Self-hosted WordPress

WordPress is free, open-source, community supported software. You can download it, install it anywhere, and use it however you like.

When you self-host WordPress, you get complete freedom but also have complete responsibility. It’s like owning your own building. You can do whatever you want… but you’re also the one to call the plumber.

That said, installing WordPress with a good business hosting company makes all the difference. A good hosting company can provide the support, security & services that can minimize the risks of maintaining your own self-hosted WordPress.

For businesses, I use & recommend InMotion Hosting for a few reasons. I wrote a full review of InMotion here.

1. InMotion provides excellent support services via phone, chat, email & knowledgebase.
2. InMotion operates at a slightly higher price point to focus on businesses (not hobby bloggers).
3. InMotion provides WordPress auto-install at checkout in addition to an (optional) free, drag & drop design tool called BoldGrid.
4. InMotion can provide custom web design services to minimize the search for a random freelancer.

See InMotion Hosting’s current Business Hosting Plans here.

Upside: If you self-host your WordPress software, you can download & use basically any theme or plugin that you want. Developers & consultants are used to the setup. It is future-proof, and it saves a good bit of money compared to other options.

Downside: You are in charge of technical aspects. Sure – InMotion provides support and consultants can provide expertise, but you are ultimately in charge of everything. For anyone who doesn’t want to deal with technical issues at all – self-hosting WordPress is not ideal.

WordPress.com

WordPress.com is a “hosted service” run by the originator of WordPress software. It’s an all-in-one service that bundles a limited version of WordPress software with hosting, software, support, and services all into one monthly plan.

If self-hosting WordPress is like owning your own building, then using WordPress.com is like leasing a pre-built storefront. You can do all the customizations that you want “inside” your building, but the maintenance and boring bits are not your responsibility.

For businesses, I use & recommend WordPress.com for a few reasons.

1. WordPress.com takes care of *all* speed, security & technical concerns while still benefitting from the advantages of WordPress software.
2. WordPress.com’s Business Plan is expensive, but it is predictable. There will never be a big consultant’s fee for maintenance.
3. WordPress.com provides a full directory of premium design templates with simple installation.
4. WordPress.com still allows you to install vetted 3rd party plugins – which is huge for a custom car dealer website.

See WordPress.com’s Business Plan here.

Upside: If you use WordPress.com, then you get most of the upside of WordPress software without any potential technical headaches.

Downside: You have a limited version of WordPress – and will inevitably miss out on some functionality and design options.

Your Next Steps

Remember that there is no wrong choice. It all depends on your goals and needs.

Sign up for InMotion Hosting’s Business Plan w/ WordPress auto-install.

Sign up for WordPress.com’s Business Plan.

4. Choose & Setup Your Car Dealer Website Template

Now that you know what you have and you know what you need, you can dive in finding the right pre-made car dealer template for your website.

When you are shopping, keep a few things in mind:

1. Ignore the mock-up photography and logo designs. Often, a template will only look a certain way due to the mock-up photography, and you’ll be replacing these assets with your own.
2. Focus on the layout of a given template.
3. Look beyond the homepage. Look at how the subpages and unique pages are presented.
4. Remember that any template can be reproduced as a WordPress Theme or template. If you see a Squarespace, Weebly, Wix, Drupal, etc template, it is better to convert that template to WordPress than to lock into that platform simply for the design. Again, that would be like choosing your car dealership lot location based on pre-built building layout. It’s better to choose your lot or location and spend money renovating the building.

Self-hosted WordPress Templates

With a self-hosted WordPress install, you have a basically unlimited choice of templates. Here are a few places to look for high-quality options.

• My round-up of WordPress Theme Frameworks – basically amazing foundational templates that can produce great websites with good photos & colors.
• ThemeForest – a huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• MOJO Themes – another huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• TemplateMonster – another huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• WordPress.org Repository – the official marketplace for WordPress themes & templates. All templates are free to download & install directly into your WordPress website.

If you used InMotion Hosting, then you’ll also have access to their BoldGrid templates that have drag & drop functionality. You can also use their design services to convert a template you love to WordPress + your brand.

WordPress.com Templates

With a WordPress.com Business Plan, you can not only upload template choices from sites listed above – you also get unlimited access to WordPress.com’s premium templates. These all have advanced customization options so that you can edit them.

You can browse them here.

5. Choose & Setup Your Car Dealer Website Functionality

Many template & theme makers bundle functionality with design. That can be great, but it can also have downsides.

If your theme has too much functionality built-in, then you are locked into that template. But if you separate out design & functionality, you can easily edit both.

Either way, WordPress allows additional functionality via plugins.

Everyday Functionality

WordPress works out of the box – and needs very little installed on top. In fact, generally the fewer plugins you have, the better.

If you are using a self-hosted site, then I’d recommend installing the JetPack plugin to provide security & backups (along with other fun things like sharing buttons, contact forms, etc).

I’ve also written a round-up of “must have” WordPress plugins here – that includes things like Google Analytics & Redirects.

There are also options for eCommerce like WooCommerce that work well for car dealers.

Specialized Functionality

Now – what you’ve been waiting for – specialized functionality.

Here it is important to emphasize writing down your needs. It’s easy to just randomly add things to WordPress that neither you nor your visitors need.

There are a few excellent sources.

• WordPress.org Repository – the official source for plugins. Do a search for specific functionality. Be sure to note the number of installs, rating, and other notes of quality.
• ThemeForest – also an excellent source for premium plugins in every industry.

6. Refine Your Design & Content

Now that you have your design & functionality setup, the fun begins.

The important point here is that whether your website is a brochure or informational site – or an interactive & constantly updated site – maintaining, revising and editing is never done.

It does not have to be time-consuming, but a good website is one that has regular updates and edits.

Editing Your Design

Using WordPress + a good template should make this process straightforward. InMotion’s BoldGrid tool brings drag and drop functionality to WordPress and WordPress.com’s Customizer tool allows for simple click & edit customization.

Here’s a guide to how WordPress Themes work – along with a tour of the WordPress Dashboard.

When planning & editing your site, be sure to keep the features that your customers want in mind. Even if you like a certain look or feel – that might be frustrating for visitors.

For car dealerships, your cars, pricing, and location pages are the top priority. Your visitors are likely on mobile devices, so keep content scannable and navigation minimal.

Marketing Your Car Dealer Website

Ahh – now the real fun. There are no right answers here.

But here’s the thing: you can’t do real, long-term brand building without a website. Social networks come and go. But a good website is something that *you* own.

If you lock onto your best customers and identify how they find you, you’ll be able to position your site for whatever comes.

I cover this topic in my guide to planning a local marketing strategy.

Next Steps

Walk through your budget & needs.

If self-hosted WordPress fits your needs, purchase a Business Hosting Plan with WordPress auto-install here.

If bundled WordPress services fit your needs, purchase a WordPress.com Business Plan here.

Keep Exploring & Learning!

• How To Setup a WordPress Website from Scratch
• Beginner’s Guide To Using WordPress
• How To Map Your Keywords for SEO
• Planning a Local Marketing Strategy
• Must Have Features for a Local Business Website
• How To Advertise Online Effectively

So you need to build a government website, and you have a certain “look” in mind.

Fortunately, website design has come a long way in the last few years.

Free templates, ready-made designs, and website builders allow anybody to get their website up and running relatively easily. It allows professional designers to think more about brand voice rather than counting pixels.

But starting the process of building your website with a government website template can be a shortcut to some bad website choices.

Starting with a template or pre-made design is like starting your government office building search based on existing conference room layouts.

Sure – a good existing conference room layout is great. But it doesn’t really matter if your location, building, lease terms, and expansion options do not make any sense.

Here’s the open secret among professional web designers: web pages are made of HTML & CSS with a few scripts thrown in. This means that…

…any website template can exist on any good web platform.

With that in mind, here’s my brief 6 step guide to choosing the right government website template on the right web platform so that you can build the design & functionality that your business needs.

1. Define Your Needs, Budget & Assets

Since any generic template can transform into a government template with a little editing, they are very easy to market (and easy to mislead). It’s important to take stock of what you truly need, what your budget is, and what website assets you already own.

Needs

What functionality does your website need? Is it simply a “brochure site” or does it need to be interactive? Do you need it to be easily edited? What information do you need to display — city services, public safety, events, etc.? What do residents need to be able to do on the website — contact you, make payments, request assistance, etc.?

There are no right answers, but it’s important to at least think about them before reading template sales features.

Budget

Price is powerful, but it’s important to not only pay for value but to also pay for what matters.

What is a new, repeat website visitor worth? How much do you want to grow? How long do you expect this website to last? How much is your time worth – and how much will getting your website right save time? How much is your staff’s time worth – can a good website help them?

Again, there are no right answers, but it’s important to at least think about them before shopping for a design/designer/template.

Assets

Pre-made government templates can go a long way… but the site still needs to be yours. What photography do you have? Do you have a digitized logo? Do you know your fonts and exact colors? Do you have descriptions of your town’s history, your site’s purpose, services, etc? Do you have partnerships with local businesses or other government organizations? Do you already have established social profiles?

There are no right answers, but it’s important to at least think about them before getting swayed by nice mock-ups.

2. Understand Terminology & Options

Website terminology can be daunting and frustrating with so many companies mixing, matching, & misusing jargon to sell their product. Here are the 5 core things you need to have a website on the Internet nowadays.

Domain Name

A domain is your “address” on the Internet. You lease it for a certain amount of time from ICANN via accredited “domain registrars”. You can buy one now and “point” it to your website later. Many website hosting companies also resell domain names to provide convenience.

Website Hosting

Your website is made up of computer files. And those files have to “live” somewhere. Website hosting companies rent space on specialized servers that store & serve your website files whenever someone goes to your website.

Website Software

A modern website usually consists of a lot of different files. While not 100% necessary, websites usually need software (ie, a “content management system”) to manage all the files – and make it easy for a human to edit & maintain.

There are hundreds of thousands of website software options.

For our purposes, we’ll be looking at WordPress.

WordPress powers more than 25% of the Internet. It has its critics and its evangelists. But it’s still the go-to solution for most government websites.

Here’s the thing: WordPress is kind of like the 4 door sedan or light SUV of website software.

Yes – it is popular. But it’s popular because it fits most people’s needs. It’s versatile, manageable and suitable for so much. If you hear people saying that “WordPress gets hacked” or “WordPress is not fast” – that is like someone saying that “sedans get broken into more often than semi-trucks” or “well, your Honda Accord can’t beat my Ferrari off the line.”

Yes – those criticisms are true… but not.

Plus, as we’ll see, there are ways to mitigate/eliminate WordPress’ disadvantages while keeping its advantages for building a government website (ie, ownership, integrations, accessibility, etc).

*WordPress is for most, but not everyone. It does have a learning curve. Here’s how WordPress compares to Wix, how WordPress compares to Squarespace, and how WordPress compares to Weebly. Your end goal should be a website that is best for *you* and your goals. The general strategies below work regardless of platform.

Website Templates

As we saw in the introduction – templates are simply pre-made HTML & CSS (the computer languages that browsers use to yield a webpage). While not 100% necessary, mobile devices and different browsers make good design nearly impossible to do well from scratch. All good web designers use some sort of template/framework to start.

And there is a whole universe of pre-made government website templates that range from free templates to paid to bundled with custom design services.

There is one item to remember about templates however. Website templates should focus on design, layout & content presentation – and not on functionality.

Website Plugins / Extensions

Plugins / extensions / apps are specific pieces of software that work with your website software to add functions or features to your website.

Possibly the biggest advantage of WordPress is how “extensible” it is. WordPress has a whole universe of free & premium plugins. These allow even small websites to have very advanced functionality.

3. Choose & Setup Your Government Website Platform

There are a lot of excellent website platforms. There are infinite ways to combine, mix & match the 5 different pieces you need for a modern website.

But this guide would be worthless if it did not actually help you find a template & build a website that works.

We’ve already narrowed the website software down to WordPress. Now we need to pick where your WordPress software will live & how it will work with your templates & plugins.

There are two main options here – “self-hosted” WordPress and WordPress.com.

Disclosure -I receive customer referral fees from companies mentioned on this website. All data & opinions are based on my professional experience as a paying customer or consultant to paying customers.

Self-hosted WordPress

WordPress is free, open-source, community supported software. You can download it, install it anywhere, and use it however you like.

When you self-host WordPress, you get complete freedom but also have complete responsibility. It’s like owning your own building. You can do whatever you want…but you’re also the one to call the plumber.

That said, installing WordPress with a good business hosting company makes all the difference. A good hosting company can provide the support, security & services that can minimize the risks of maintaining your own self-hosted WordPress.

For businesses, I use & recommend InMotion Hosting for a few reasons. I wrote a full review of InMotion here.

1. InMotion provides excellent support services via phone, chat, email & knowledgebase.
2. InMotion operates at a slightly higher price point to focus on businesses (not hobby bloggers).
3. InMotion provides WordPress auto-install at checkout in addition to an (optional) free, drag & drop design tool called BoldGrid.
4. InMotion can provide custom web design services to minimize the search for a random freelancer.

See InMotion Hosting’s current Business Hosting Plans here.

Upside: If you self-host your WordPress software, you can download & use basically any theme or plugin that you want. Developers & consultants are used to the setup. It is future-proof, and it saves a good bit of money compared to other options.

Downside: You are in charge of technical aspects. Sure – InMotion provides support and consultants can provide expertise, but you are ultimately in charge of everything. For anyone who doesn’t want to deal with technical issues at all – self-hosting WordPress is not ideal.

WordPress.com

WordPress.com is a “hosted service” run by the originator of WordPress software. It’s an all-in-one service that bundles a limited version of WordPress software with hosting, software, support, and services all into one monthly plan.

If self-hosting WordPress is like owning your own building, then using WordPress.com is like leasing a pre-built storefront. You can do all the customizations that you want “inside” your building, but the maintenance and boring bits are not your responsibility.

For businesses, I use & recommend WordPress.com for a few reasons.

1. WordPress.com takes care of *all* speed, security & technical concerns while still benefitting from the advantages of WordPress software.
2. WordPress.com’s Business Plan is expensive, but it is predictable. There will never be a big consultant’s fee for maintenance.
3. WordPress.com provides a full directory of premium design templates with simple installation.
4. WordPress.com still allows you to install vetted 3rd party plugins – which is huge for a custom government website.

See WordPress.com’s Business Plan here.

Upside: If you use WordPress.com, then you get most of the upside of WordPress software without any potential technical headaches.

Downside: You have a limited version of WordPress – and will inevitably miss out on some functionality and design options.

Your Next Steps

Remember that there is no wrong choice. It all depends on your goals and needs.

Sign up for InMotion Hosting’s Business Plan w/ WordPress auto-install.

Sign up for WordPress.com’s Business Plan.

4. Choose & Setup Your Government Website Template

Now that you know what you have and you know what you need, you can dive in finding the right pre-made government template for your website.

When you are shopping, keep a few things in mind:

1. Ignore the mock-up photography and logo designs. Often, a template will only look a certain way due to the mock-up photography, and you’ll be replacing this with your own assets.
2. Focus on the layout of a given template.
3. Look beyond the homepage. Look at how the subpages and unique pages are presented.
4. Remember that any template can be reproduced as a WordPress Theme or template. If you see a Squarespace, Weebly, Wix, Drupal, etc template, it is better to convert that template to WordPress than to lock into that platform simply for the design. Again, that would be like choosing your office building or location based on a pre-built conference room layout. It’s better to choose your building or location and spend money renovating the conference rooms.

Self-hosted WordPress Templates

With a self-hosted WordPress install, you have a basically unlimited choice of templates. Here are a few places to look for high-quality options.

• My round-up of WordPress Theme Frameworks – basically amazing foundational templates that can produce great websites with good photos & colors.
• ThemeForest – a huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• MOJO Themes – another huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• TemplateMonster – another huge marketplace for premium themes & templates. You purchase, download and install.
• WordPress.org Repository – the official marketplace for WordPress themes & templates. All templates are free to download & install directly into your WordPress website.

If you used InMotion Hosting, then you’ll also have access to their BoldGrid templates that have drag & drop functionality. You can also use their design services to convert a template you love to WordPress + your brand.

WordPress.com Templates

With a WordPress.com Business Plan, you can not only upload template choices from sites listed above – you also get unlimited access to WordPress.com’s premium templates. These all have advanced customization options so that you can edit them.

You can browse them here.

5. Choose & Setup Your Government Website Functionality

Many template & theme makers bundle functionality with design. That can be great – but it can also have downsides.

If your theme has too much functionality built-in, then you are locked into that template. But if you separate out design & functionality, you can easily edit both.

Either way, WordPress allows additional functionality via plugins.

Everyday Functionality

WordPress works out of the box – and needs very little installed on top. In fact, generally the fewer plugins you have, the better.

If you are using a self-hosted site, then I’d recommend installing the JetPack plugin to provide security & backups (along with other fun things like sharing buttons, contact forms, etc).

I’ve also written a round-up of “must have” WordPress plugins here – that includes things like Google Analytics & Redirects.

Specialized Functionality

Now – what you’ve been waiting for – specialized functionality.

Here it is important to emphasize writing down your needs. It’s easy to just randomly add things to WordPress that neither you nor your visitors need.

There are a few excellent sources.

• WordPress.org Repository – the official source for plugins. Do a search for specific functionality. Be sure to note the number of installs, rating, and other notes of quality.
• ThemeForest – also an excellent source for premium plugins in every industry.

Note that with WordPress.com Business Plans also have lots of great functionality – see this example.

6. Refine Your Design & Content

Now that you have your design & functionality setup – the fun begins.

The important point here is that whether your website is a brochure or informational site – or an interactive & constantly updated site – maintaining, revising and editing is never done.

It does not have to be time-consuming, but a good website is one that has regular updates and edits.

Editing Your Design

Using WordPress + a good template should make this process straightforward. InMotion’s BoldGrid tool brings drag and drop functionality to WordPress and WordPress.com’s Customizer tool allows for simple click & edit customization.

Here’s a guide to how WordPress Themes work – along with a tour of the WordPress Dashboard.

When planning & editing your site, be sure to keep the features that your customers want in mind. Even if you like a certain look or feel – that might be frustrating for visitors.

Marketing Your Government Website

Ahh – now the real fun. There are no right answers here.

But here’s the thing — social networks come and go. But a good website is something that *you* own.

If you lock onto your best visitors and identify how they find you, you’ll be able to position your site for whatever comes.

I cover this topic in my guide to planning a local marketing strategy.

Next Steps

Walk through your budget & needs.

If self-hosted WordPress fits your needs, purchase a Business Hosting Plan with WordPress auto-install here.

If bundled WordPress services fit your needs, purchase a WordPress.com Business Plan here.

Keep Exploring & Learning!

• How To Setup a WordPress Website from Scratch
• Beginner’s Guide To Using WordPress
• How To Map Your Keywords for SEO
• Planning a Local Marketing Strategy
• Must Have Features for a Local Business Website
• How To Advertise Online Effectively