I don't get it.

How could a hosting company expect to be considered a professional/serious one when it uses templates that can be found all over the internet??

I would never trust a hosting company that doesn't have the means to have its own design/corporate image.

I don't see why. If I hire a hosting company, I want them to be able to manage their server, not design websites. ;)

i don't use template and i totally agree with you. I don't wish to see another site having the same design as us.. pretty turn off.

I don't see why. If I hire a hosting company, I want them to be able to manage their server, not design websites. ;)

Well, if they are really good at hosting websites, they are supposed to earn enough money to pay a professional designer, don't you think?

When I see a template based web host, I imagine a high-school student trying to get some pocket money with some UNIX knowledge.

Well, if they are really good at hosting websites, they are supposed to earn enough money to pay a professional designer, don't you think?

When I see a template based web host, I imagine a high-school student trying to get some pocket money with some UNIX knowledge.

I can understand that, but I've seen many hosts with template sites that far exceed many unique website host's support and professionalism. It's less likely, but possible.

It's less likely

That's the key point.
Because it's less likely, they lose potential clients.

You may know it's a template, but I imagine 95% of their client base wont.

I agree a unique website is a very smart move for hosting companies, and chances are much greater that you're running into a hobby host, but that is certainly not always the case. Like someone said above, they focus on hosting, not design. Now if they offered design services as well, that'd be pretty funny! :)

... Like someone said above, they focus on hosting, not design....

This argument is totally irrelevant.
A company like hmmm let's say FedEx doesn't focus on design right?
Still, they have their own corporate image, they don't use templates for their sites. Why? Simply because they are professionals.

You may know it's a template, but I imagine 95% of their client base wont.

I agree a unique website is a very smart move for hosting companies, and chances are much greater that you're running into a hobby host, but that is certainly not always the case. Like someone said above, they focus on hosting, not design. Now if they offered design services as well, that'd be pretty funny! :)
What if they offer template based design services?

What I've personally found is that 99% of people outside of WHT really don't care if a website uses a purchased template. If it means a website can be designed for an initial fee of $350 instead of $700 or more, they'd rather just take a template based approach. It saves time, gives them a good idea of what it will look like in the end from the start, and it requires less skill.

I've been designing websites for people for a while now, and simply tell them to go to either templatemonster.com, or 4templates.com, and pick a template. I'll purchase it as a part of that $350 and create the website, which will be up within a week of their request. I also charge a monthly fee which includes hosting and 1 hour of labor per month. It's easier to just include that in a small monthly fee rather than always trying to send an invoice out for $40 or $80 when they request something to be changed.

There is a relatively large webdesign business I found lately with 30 or 40 full time members, and they simply have templatemonster's choices on their website. They actually call it a "Custom Design" and so you pick a template, tell them which one, and then they package up a total price for you. If there are 40+ employees full time at a business that generates all it's revenue off of template based web design, there has to be a reason they do this. It keeps going back to how people just want a simple and easy to use service, templates are quick and easy, so why not use them?

And then there are all those cheap people who used cheap webhosts that just have enough money to buy a cheap template.
All of them complaining about how "unprofessional" their host is.

Maybe a little bit of visual training would prevent them from giving money to wannabe hosts.

And then there are all those cheap people who used cheap webhosts that just have enough money to buy a cheap template.
All of them complaining about how "unprofessional" their host is.

Maybe a little bit of visual training would prevent them from giving money to wannabe hosts.
I would recommend just ignoring them, or trying to get them as clients. When they have an issue, approach them and say, "It looks like you're unsatisfied, so I tell you what, let me show you some designs and walk you through what I can do for you, I've done this for over XXX people and I have an established process and procedure to help you create an excellent website."

A lot of business owners are clueless on what to do for web design work, and if you reach out to them, it's a gold mine. They will pay you well and refer you as well. I recently started a web design project for someone, who then told me that he needs me to get working on another because he's a part of another business. Word spreads fast if you can provide a service people want.

Most users do not care some are even attracted to these template monster sites. Would you see a difference in the # of orders between a custom design or a monster template? I doubt it unless 100% of your traffic came from a site that was aware of template monster.


In fact I know of web design firms (so they claim) that are semi local to me that actually just plop in monster templates for their customers.