Finding the perfect Showit template can definitely be a struggle. Especially when there are so many options out there. It can be overwhelming to make the right choice from the right template shop. In this guide, I’m going to take you through the 4 steps to choosing a Showit template and a template shop.
Step One: Find a Reputable Showit Template Shop
There are SO many “designers” out there. I put designers in quotes because there are people that can make pretty websites, but they aren’t strategically designed. Although a template looks nice, there could be missing pieces that you may not even notice at first glance.
Finding a reputable Showit Designer is the first step in selecting a Showit template for your business. The first place I would go is the Showit website itself. They have a directory of Showit Design Partners that have been completely vetted by them through an extensive application process. You can filter the list by services, style, and industry. You can also filter the list to see just the designers that have templates for sale.
After you choose a few designers, visit their own personal websites to purchase a template directly through their site. You can click on their templates for sale within Showit, but I always think it’s best to go directly to the designer’s website for purchase.
👉 Check out Tonic Site Shop (here’s a coupon for 15% off!) and Elizabeth McCravy (this coupon will give you 12% off!) – they are two of my favorites!
Step Two: What is Included With Your Showit Template Purchase?
Once you have narrowed your search, it’s time to look and see what is included with your purchase. Each template shop has different offerings. Here is a quick list of things to look for:
What is their customer support like?
If you are customizing the site yourself, this is going to be important. Although Showit has customer support within the builder, sometimes the help through a template shop can be easier and more personal. Do they have email support? Do they have chat support? These are questions you want to find out before purchasing from a template shop.
Do they include any courses or documentation with your purchase?
Some template shops have how-to videos or getting started videos. I personally know that Elizabeth McCravy’s template shop comes with a VERY thorough course taking you through the Showit platform. This course is SO good. Tonic Site Shop has a tutorial library that you can access and an entire email series walking you through the process. Every template shop will be different, but I highly suggest choosing one that has tutorial libraries or courses that will support you through the DIY process.
Do they mention their templates being SEO friendly?
This is huge. If you are updating a template yourself, you are probably not going to have any idea what makes a website “SEO friendly”. One of the pros of purchasing a Showit template is to make sure they are set up strategically for Google so you don’t have to even think about it. For example, the template shop for Tonic clearly states that their templates are SEO optimized.
Step Three: Choosing Your Showit Template
At this point you have chosen a Showit Template Shop and now it’s time to choose an actual template. This is SUCH a hard decision (and overwhelming!). One piece of advice I can give you is to not get distracted by the colors and the fonts of the template. You can change the colors and the fonts SO easily with any Showit template. You don’t want to focus on this. Focus on these things instead:
- What pages do you need right now to launch your website?
- What pages will you need in the future?
- When you demo the site, is it responsive and looks great on all device sizes?
Keep in mind, when you choose a template you can hide any section that you don’t need right now and easily bring it back. For example, if you have a very detailed Showit template but you don’t offer any freebies currently, you can hide all of those sections until you need them! Choosing a template that has everything you ‘might’ need so it can grow with your business, will be a great option for you.
Also keep in mind that you can always purchase add-on pages down the line while you grow your business. For example, if you think you will have a podcast eventually, you can always add that on later when you are ready.
Step Four: DIY or Hire a Designer?
This is a personal decision I believe. It depends on how techy you are and how quickly you want to launch your site. Some business owners can jump into a template, customize it and launch it quickly, while others are constantly working on it for months. My thought is if you aren’t sure, just jump in customize it yourself. Then if you find that it’s too hard or taking too long, then you can hire a designer.
👉 Sign up with Showit and get a 14 day free-trial to try it out and see if you like working in the platform! My link will give you a free month if you end up signing up for a subscription after the trial!
When you hire a designer, you are going to get a professional website designer that can add a custom touch to your template. Sometimes it is way more time efficient to provide the copy and images to a designer, and have them run with it. Here are a few examples of template customizations that I have done:
Template customization pricing can range from designer to designer. The template shop where you purchased your template can usually provide recommendations for designers that are familiar with their templates as well.
Final Thoughts and Advice
You are starting the first step in creating an online home that will reflect your brand and attract ideal customers. It is important to take your time exploring options with template shops and the different templates they offer. If you need help choosing a template shop or a template, don’t hesitate to reach out. I have worked with lots of different templates and template shops and know what to look for. Congrats on taking the initiative to find the perfect Showit template for your website!
If you haven’t signed up for Showit yet, be sure to use my code to get a free month!
