I am currently setting up a new hosting co and have been thinking, lately i have been using templates for my sites which i like and a lot of my customers like. I have also been using either Zaygo or whois cart for ordering.

What i have noticed is that my site from a couple of years ago when i had a template custom made for me actually seemed to receive a lot more new sign ups than "flashy" template sites, the old site also just had a normal straight forward ordering form.

What experiences have people had with site design v signups? and ordering software v a plain order form?

i recommend, simple for colocation/dedicated server providers.
flashy for webhost providers.

tagging along

In my experience, simple designs have better conversion.

Simplicity is the key to getting your message or product across without appearing too eager or too cool.

I personally like the flash at http://hotlinkhosting.com or http://cpanel.net. It is flashy while not overly complicated. Just a flash header, to give it some jazz.

Also look back and see whether your custom template looked like all the 'premade' templates you were using earlier. There's probably a hundred hosts on WHT alone who use those, so your company doesn't have any edge over them.

i hate flash.

i hate flash too

ick

It depends on your target audience. It sounds stereotypical, but I think teens are more attracted to flashy websites, while their parents prefer a simple straight-forward design. Artists may like flashy, while computer geeks prefer straight, etc. Regardless of the design you choose, the order process should be simple and easy.

I wouldn't say artists like flashy.. I'd guess that they would be more inclined to something aesthetically pleasing.

Originally posted by DanX
I wouldn't say artists like flashy.. I'd guess that they would be more inclined to something aesthetically pleasing.

I know, I was just trying to give an example of how different things appeal to different types of people. Artists were a bad example because their preferences are as varied as the human population itself :)