The Myth About Multi-Page Template Packages

This article is the second in a series where we will discuss common myths about shopping for a web site template. We felt that consumers should be aware of what to look for in a quality design that encompasses everything from metas right down to copyright footers. Naturally, we would love for our visitors to purchase our templates, but the long-term goal of this series is to educate consumers about what templates are, what they should provide the end-user, and what to be wary of when shopping.

If you have not read our first article, "How to Spot a Good Web Template Design", you may want to read it first.

Many people believe that when they shop for a template they need to buy a package that contains 5-10-25+ pages which may already include an about page, FAQ, contact page, ordering, etc. This is simply not true at all. Why pay $15-$25-$50-$100+ for a multi-page template package when all you have to do is open the initial template page into your HTML editor just like they did and change the links in the HTML source code to the links you will name your pages. Then do a File > Save As > about.html or whatever other name you want to use. All your links are already in place on all your pages without manipulating individual pages which is a big time waster. The next step is to add your body content which will mostly likely be different on every page anyway.

Purchasing this type of multi-page package can be a big mistake. And here is why:

1. If you have other pages you need to add that are not already included or if you need to delete pages you will not be using, you have to add links and/or change links in the HTML source code on all the pages the designer created for you.
2. Think of the money you would be wasting purchasing a product that literally takes a few *seconds* to do once the initial template is created.
3. Often times these designers stuff these unnecessary pages full of filler text that you have to delete - on each page - prior to adding your own page content. Or worse {yikes!} ... they put instructions inside these pages and YOU have to delete your instructions before you can add your own text! Wow!
4. Why pay $50 for a 10 page package when that money could be better spent on a BasicTemplates.com membership where you will have access to 800+ web templates that are designed correctly? If you have no reason to have access to such a quantity, then by all means ... browse the complete Web Template Gallery where you can buy ANY of these templates for ONLY $5.00 EACH. Doesn't that sound more economical and easier on your wallet? ;) If not, we can provide you with a list of other template designers who are honest, experienced in their field and deliver a properly designed web template.

So why are template designers selling these multi-page package? The answer is very simple ... they think it justifies an extra cost. Obviously, it initially sounds better to those who don't know that it isn't necessary and can actually cause much more work than required with a properly designed template. Why are we telling you this? We obviously would like you to subscribe to a membership; however, after exclusively designing web templates since 1994, we cringe when we see the scams taking place online now. To us this is simply soooo - not right.

We are certainly not saying that all web template multi-page packages are a scam. The majority of those we have seen certainly are and from the experienced designers' perspective it is completely unnecessary. The type of multi-page template packages you might need (although 50% of the sites would still not need especially those folks who have an average amount of web design experience) would be those that have *extensive* variation layouts of the main template page. We are merely advising the consumer to be cautious. Now that you have been armed with this bit of little known information, we encourage you to shop around for the best price vs. the type of quality you should expect in your site's design.