I am thinking about taking the plunge on the webdesign template deal, anyone have and pros and cons?

I have very little html experience......

Templates can give you a good base, and get you started, but the best thing you can do is either start playing with HTML and pick up what you can or hire someone to design something for you.

There are so many MC merchants and so few templates that it is easy to pick out when you visit different sites. There is so much that can be done that the templates dont even scratch the surface.

HTML is not that difficult and the basics can take you a long way. Do a Google search for some HTML tutorials and see how it goes, you may find that it is easier, and you can do more yourself, than you think.

I paid the 500.00 bucks or what ever it was for the web template and design help. It was OK, and they did what I asked but i really was not prepared to ask the right questions or give good information.

Make sure that you know exactly what you want out of the template before choosing one. For example, not all templates have a right column built in the code, yet their design looks like they do. If you want a right column, make sure that you ask for it. It makes it easier for adding things from your admin panel.

If you are going to customize the template then it may not matter.

Just ask questions. Look at your competitors sites and get a good idea as to what you want in your template and what you expect from the design team.

Honestly I think the template is a good way to start but no matter what... HTML experience IS in your future.

Doug

Java hit it right on the button!
Good luck,
Ben N

I have had two HTML books burried in front of me for the last 2 weeks. Give me a blank page and I can write it, to use is in this software is too hard. This is my last resort before I throw in the towel and dump the whole deal. I have tried to make my own homepage design with the html that I know, doesnt work... I think there is too much to know for a beginner to start out.

I am hoping by using the templates that I will be able to build upon them eventually and start to phase them out into my own, but I need to start somewhere.....

Yup, Doug also made excellent points.
I'd start with a template, add your products, text etc., get your business up and running. Once you have a feel for what your customer base is etc., then you can tailor your site to fit your needs.

Don't get me wrong, link Ben said, templates can get the ball rolling and give you the time needed to come up with something unique.

As for your site think of it in blocks. Top, Left Side, Center, Right Side, and Footer (bottom). When you design you are designing 1 block at a time. The center is really the only block that you do not have to hand code as this is where your dynamic content will reside.

Also, you can use the asp calls to help with your design (If anyone has a link to these calls that would help). Instead of hard coding all your cat. links you can use <%DRAWCATEGORIES%> (not sure if that is the EXACT function call) and they will auto draw for you. Insert that into a table or cell and you are good to go. You can literally create your entire left column with 20 or so lines of code and have everything you need.

If all fails and you are about to give up Im sure there are folks around that can provide a needed service for you.

Donna.

It does seem overwhelming. I was there and so were Ben and Java and many other MC Merchants at one time.

Go with the template. You can learn HTML and verything else much easier that way and have your site up and running much quicker. You can look and examine the code in the template and learn tricks that way.

Like Java said: "One Block at a time".

Take it in little steps and it will not everwhelm you. And you can tell by the responses that you have received, there are people here who will help you...

Thank you very much. I think I am going to choose that and still study the books also..... So far the posts have been quite helpful....

I am running out of printer ink printing them all

As was stated Donna just find a template you like and fits for now.......
Load your products, and then start playing from there.

So for example .... I design a page layout design in Photoshop. It's not a simple "block" design - but rather has some "flowing" features that give the page a nice unique feel to it.

In theory, I should be able to slice the design up into sections that I can simply place into the top, left side, right side, etc. sections in MC ... adn it should all piece together just as if I were doing it in Dreamweaver - right ??