Today choosing a right template for business seems not a big deal. Passed those times when one would need to hire a web designer create a website. There are so many templates in the market that it is hard to even make a right choice. Abundance of site builders makes it possible to create a fully functional website in no time by yourself.  That would not cost you anything.

Let’s look at Wix templates. Anybody can create a website using Wix tools.  At the same time there are Wix premium templates on the market. These templates were created by designers to stand out. Wix was one of the pioneers among site builders.

Overtime Wix developed great functionality that allowed to implement whole bunch of features that were previously unavailable.  They were actually available through hard coding only. Constant updates made Wix user interface be easy to understand.  

Another option is to get a one of free template that are available. Lots of Wix free templates have great functionality and astonishing design. Would it be worth it to by one of Wix premium templates when you have such an alternative. Let’s compare pros and cons to find out whether you need a premium or free Wix template.

What are the differences between Free and Premium Wix template?

 Most of the people would think that the main difference between DIY or free Wix template with its premium counterpart is the design. This is just a partial truth.  Yes, design place a crucial role but there is much more.

It is layout, functionality and customization along within optimized performance for SEO. All these options are making difference between Wix premium templates and other websites. But do you really need all this options?

What do you need your website for?

Before setting up a template it is important to understand what you need your website for. There are several major goals that people follow when they set up the website.  One goal is to provide contact information to your offline audience. Usually this is done by businesses who have a fancy offline location to facilitate the search for the customers. For example, a convenient store or a hardware repair point.

 In this case the actual design of the website would not matter, as visitor are looking for contact information rather than the design and functionality.

At the same time if the website is used for selling items where demand is presetup there is no need for design either. Let’s say website is selling smartphones, or cameras. Visitors who are coming to its website already know what they want to buy. In this very case, the design and layout would not play a big role.

It is completely different scenario if you are planning to attract customers through your website. Then the design and layout would play a crucial role. Here is when you may need to purchase one of Wix premium templates. To ensure that stunning design and convenient layout would add up to convert your visitor into a customer.

Do I need Wix premium template if my site is just business card?

The choice between Free and Premium Wix templates does not lay in the scope of functionality. The most functional websites do not require heavy accent on the design. On the contrary. The lower functionality of the site is the bigger part is attributed to the design to make the website stand out from the others.

 When there are no functions the only thing visitor can judge is the design and layout or texts.  Another major discrepancy in understanding of the business site needs is the size of the website. Many people think that if their website is not big there is no need in getting Wix premium template. This is a huge mistake.

The design is especially important for small websites where you need to make an instant impression with a concise information given on a front page.

Having a small site, you have limited tools to attract visitors’ attention and convince him to convert into customer. That is where design will play a major role.

Another trap future site owners are falling with is customization issues. Many people think that they are going to make amendments to their template anyway. In this case why do they need to spend extra cash on Wix premium templates? It is much easier to buy a free one or design it yourself for future customization. This is not true as premium templates are specifically created to allow for wide range of customization options.   A premium template is usually done to satisfy the need of wide range of customers.

A free template is usually designed in the way to satisfy the basic needs of its users. Thus, it has far more rigid structure and weigh less options for deep customization. The same thing happens with DIY designs. Although Wix has a friendly user interface it is still complex. To be able to create a reputable customizable template you need to spend more time and money than a freelancer who is doing it on a constant level.

Final Thoughts.

There are different pros and cons while picking an option of Wix premium template vs creating your own.

What we did not factor is your time and energy that need to be invested in case you decide to set up the template on your own.   Premium templates would always be superior to the DIY or free templates on the market. Especially it relates to service industries.

A visitor who accesses the website of the beauty salon or a restaurant gets first impression about the place based on the design.   The same relates to other service providers. Even in the place where design is not that important, a premium template gives you upper hand advantage in customizing your website.

Another question is if you do not know what type of template you need. In this case you may start with a free template and develop it over time. Working on site more and more you will get better feelings of what kind of template you would really want. Once you are sure what template you need, you can start search for a premium template that corresponds the mot to your wishes.