If you’re going to create a new website, the choice of content management system (CMS) is pretty important. Once you have chosen a CMS, you then develop the website using the CMS as a structure. Generally speaking, it is well worth using an already existing CMS as the basis for your website. It makes no sense to code up a whole new website from scratch when so many different web based software packages exist, most available for free.

For example if you are starting a news-based website or blog, then you can use the freely available WordPress CMS. If you are creating a e-shop or e-commerce website, then you can use ZenCart or CubeCart to get you started. The huge advantage of using a popular and existing CMS is that you grab a free website template that will take care of the majority of the design for you. Why reinvent the wheel?

They are truly thousands of website templates you can download freely from the Web, which usually look just as good as the expensive or “premium” website templates. Although if you are going to spend money on a template, it is worth hiring a designer to give you the exact look that you are after. However, custom template designs come at a huge price, starting at around $500. For minisites, you typically have a mini budget, and that’s where free templates are great value for money. Dream Template has become a new favourite site of mine for free templates, as they have a number of CSS-centric (i.e. table-less) designs.

I’m personally not a graphic designer, but I will happily modify an existing template to get the look I want. So although I have trouble coming up with a colourful and attractive design from scratch, I don’t have any trouble taking a great looking template and customizing it for my needs.

Taking a virgin template, I will typically customize the title, the meta tags, the images, the navigation structure, as well as adding advertising hotspots. In addition to that, with WordPress themes I adjust the colour scheme, the RSS URL, and introduce an eye-catching RSS icon. Everyone has their own style, but even if I take a free template, I make it my own with customisations.

If you are not naturally a graphic designer, then it could take considerable time to create a brand-new template from scratch. If you are trying to implement your money making idea, why waste the time? That time could be better spent building back links, creating content and making the site worth visiting.

It is scary how many times I meet someone who is obsessed with creating a website from scratch, and not using free resources available on the web! That’s my little soapbox moment over!