Are you feeling overwhelmed trying to choose the perfect website template? Maybe it’s your first, maybe it’s your twentieth. You love certain elements in one template and different features in another, and you’re finding it impossible to choose the best Showit template for your business.
Is this you? You’ve spent hours flipping between browser tabs, analyzing every page of every template, and asking others for opinions—only to feel more unsure. If choosing a website template feels challenging, you’re not alone. It’s a big decision, and it’s normal to feel overwhelmed. I’ve been a website template designer on Showit for six years, and this is one of the most common questions I get from potential customers: "How do I choose the right template?"
If this sounds like you, I want to help. In this episode, I’ll share straightforward tips to make selecting a template easier. You might even learn a few things about templates that can clarify your decision-making process. Often, the difficulty in choosing and indecision comes from not fully understanding what’s customizable, what’s fixed, what’s easier to change, and what’s more challenging.
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Okay, before I get to these simple seven tips to choose your Showit template, I want to say if you're listening to this live-ish think congrats my friend, because you have found the best time of year to buy a template for my shop! It’s Black Friday time and my sale officially starts on November 22nd, 2024, and it goes until December 2nd. It's the biggest sale of the year so if you want to choose a Showit template, this is definitely the time to buy. Get all the details here!
1. Focus On the Layout and Structure of the Site More Than the Colors and the Business It’s Modeled For
The first thing to think about when choosing a template is to focus on the layout and structure over colors or the specific business it’s modeled for. Layout and structure are the core elements you’re actually buying in a template. Colors, fonts, and images can be easily swapped out later—I'll talk about that later. And as for the template’s "business model," you might see a template designed with filler content for, say, a business coach, even if you're a photographer. This doesn’t mean it isn’t a great fit for you. There’s a good chance the components you need are all still there; they’re just presented in a different style.
So, pick the layout that feels right for your business. Everything in Showit is fully editable. If you haven’t used it before, think of it as more similar to Canva than a rigid website builder. Unlike some platforms where it’s challenging to move elements like logos or headers, Showit allows you to rearrange everything as you like.
That’s why I think it’s important to focus on layout and structure: these are the elements you probably don’t want to alter much, which is the main reason you’re choosing a template rather than building from scratch.
For instance, the layout of the contact or about page is already optimized. You might make minor adjustments—remove a section or reorder something slightly—but the core layout is what you’re investing in.
Read more: Redesigning Your Showit Website? 6 Tips For Making The Process As Easy (And Fun) As Possible
2. Changing Out the Colors Is Insanely Easy (So the Colors Should Not Be Part of Your Buying Decision).
Next thing to know as you choose a Showit website template, is that changing the colors on your website template is super easy, so don't let that hold you back from choosing a design you love. While I obviously love the colors I choose for my templates, they really don’t need to be a big part of your decision. If you happen to find a template and think, “Wow, I love these colors!” that’s awesome. But if you like a template's layout but think, “This is way too bright; I want something moodier,” don’t stress. You can change any color to suit your style in just a few clicks.
In Showit, you can adjust all the colors through a feature called "Global Design Settings." Most templates use about eight colors, with white almost always included. So really, you're working with seven main colors, usually set from darkest to lightest. For example, color slot one might be black or dark gray, and slot eight is typically white.
To change colors, just swap out the hex code (a color’s code for the web) or use a color wheel to find your shade. Hit save, and voilà—the template updates wherever that color appears! So if pink was set as color number three and you change it to blue, every pink element instantly becomes blue. It’s fast and super cool.
If you’re torn between templates because you love one color palette but prefer another template’s structure, reach out to us! For example, if you like the colors in the "Jena" template but prefer the layout of the "Gabby" template, email us. We’ll happily send you the color and font info for one template, so you can easily apply it to the other. It takes just a few minutes, and you get the best of both worlds without compromising on design.
Read more: The Most Important Step in my Design Process – Brand Strategy Questions (Free Workbook!)
3. Changing the Fonts Is Also Easy, but Will Require Some Realigning and Resizing
Third thing to know when choosing the best Showit template for your business: changing the fonts is also easy, though it requires a bit more tweaking than colors. Like with colors, you’ll find font settings in the same "Global Design Settings" area, where you can switch them out with one click. This change will apply across your entire website wherever that font appears.
However, fonts do render differently, so after you change them, you may need to adjust the alignment and sizing in certain areas. For example, if the title font size in the template is set to 40, it might fit perfectly with the original font but look huge or awkward with a new font. So, while fonts are easy to change, you’ll likely need to make some tweaks afterward.
That said, you might want to weigh fonts a bit more in your decision than colors. My templates usually come with free fonts, but when I use a paid font, I always include info for purchasing the web license, typically under $40. So, you won’t face any surprises or need to spend much extra. Just be mindful that, if you’re shopping around, some templates could require expensive paid fonts, which might unexpectedly add to your overall cost.
4. Think About Your Own Content and Photos in the Template and Which One Feels Like a Better Fit for You
Next, think about how your own content and photos will look in the template. Imagine how the structure and fonts align with your brand style. Photos especially play a big role in shaping a template’s vibe, and people don’t talk about this enough. Try to picture your brand photos in the template—whether you’re planning a photoshoot or using existing images—and see if they’ll complement the design.
If you want inspiration, check out my showcase page. You’ll find hundreds of examples of customers using various templates. Plus, you can filter by template name or industry to see how people have customized colors, fonts, and photos. For instance, if you like the "Gabby" template, you can browse examples to see how others have adapted it for their brand.
Remember, it’s all customizable, so if there’s one small thing you’re not in love with, it’s probably an easy fix.
Read more: Get a New Website By New Years: How to Customize Your Showit Website Template Really Fast
5. Ignore The Order Of A Page, How a Page is Being Used, Or If A Specific Page is Missing
Let me explain this one. Remember, while you're focusing on layout, structure, and fonts, don’t get too hung up on the exact order of sections on a page, how each page is used, or even if a page you need is missing from the template.
Here’s why:
Showit templates are organized by pages, and within each page are sections called “canvases.” Canvases are like building blocks for each page—they’re super easy to move around, delete, or even transfer to different pages. So if you see a service page, for example, and think, “I’d rather have this section at the bottom,” no problem! You can drag and drop canvases in seconds to customize your layout.
Also, don’t worry about how the template uses a page. If the service page, for instance, has filler content geared toward a different service, just remember that everything is customizable, and you can make it your own.
And if you need more pages than the template includes, Showit lets you add as many as you want. For example, if you want separate portfolio pages for each photography style but the template only has one, you can duplicate that page layout as many times as you need. You could even take the structure of your About page and repurpose it for something entirely different, like a podcast page.
In short, you have complete flexibility. Even though a template might start with 15 pages, you’re never limited to that. With Showit, customization is easy and nearly endless!
6. Take My Website Personality Quiz
If you’ve been following the podcast for a while, you’ve probably heard me mention this, but I created a quiz to match you with a website personality profile. Based on your results, you’ll get template recommendations that fit your style, plus free Canva templates and a discount code for my Showit templates.
The quiz is designed not just around your personal style but ALSO around what will appeal to your clients and potential customers. I also include tips for each personality type to help you get the most out of your choice.
As a bonus tip, if you’re stuck between a few templates or need more personalized advice, feel free to email us! We offer awesome support, even if you’re not a customer yet.
7. Sometimes Choosing a Designer Who You Trust and Like Their Style Is a Good First Step
Seventh tip for picking the best Showit template: sometimes it’s easier to choose a designer you trust first, and then select from their templates. Rather than searching through all the Showit templates available and feeling overwhelmed, finding a designer whose style you connect with can narrow down your options and make the process a lot smoother.
Not all good-looking templates are functional behind the scenes. Some cheap templates may look amazing but are tough to customize or lack quality in design. Plus, many of these templates don’t support good SEO, don’t come with training, and offer no customer support. This can turn a seemingly great-looking template into a frustrating purchase. I talked about that last week!
By starting with a designer you trust, you can feel more confident that their templates are well-made, user-friendly, and come with the resources and support you need.
Choosing the Best Showit Website Template
In the end, choosing the right template comes down to picking a designer you trust, finding a layout you like, and remembering that most other elements can be customized.
When all else fails, go with your gut. If there’s a template you keep coming back to, even if another one has a single feature that’s tempting you, trust your instincts and go for the one that feels right.
Lastly, I also have a Black Friday surprise for you! If you’re excited to shop but don’t feel ready to pick a template by the end of the sale, you can use my new “Save Now, Choose Later” option. This lets you lock in Black Friday discounts and bonuses but delay your choice until as late as 2025! So, you can take advantage of the deal now, enjoy the holiday season, and pick your template whenever you’re ready. For more info, head here!
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