Before you hit “buy now,” make sure you’re not falling into these common website template purchase mistakes.
So, you’ve found a website template that looks gorgeous, and you’re seconds away from clicking purchase. Hold up, bestie! 🙋♀️
Not every website template purchase ends in happily-ever-after. In fact, I’ve seen way too many creatives buy a pretty template, only to end up frustrated, overwhelmed, or worse—stuck with something that doesn’t even work for their business.
The good news? You can totally avoid those mistakes with just a little inside knowledge. Today I’m spilling the tea on the biggest website template purchase mistakes (and exactly how to avoid them). And since I’m a designer who works exclusively with Showit, I’ll also explain why this platform helps you sidestep a lot of these struggles from the start.
Mistake #1: Choosing Based Only on Looks
This is a big one! Yes, aesthetics matter—but your website also needs to function. A template might look stunning, but if the layout doesn’t make sense for your business, you’ll struggle.
Think of your website like a house. You wouldn’t buy a home just because the front door is cute, right? You’d check the layout, storage, and whether it actually fits your lifestyle. The same is true for your website template purchase—it should be designed to help guide visitors through your services, portfolio, or products with ease, not just sit there looking polished.
👉 Avoid this mistake by: Asking yourself, Does this design support my brand and goals, or is it just pretty to look at?
✨ Showit Bonus: With Showit, templates are built to be flexible. You can swap sections, add custom pages, and move design elements around with true drag-and-drop freedom—so your site is more than just “pretty.”
Mistake #2: Ignoring Mobile Design
Here’s a hard truth: most people will see your website on their phone first. If your template looks great on desktop but clunky on mobile, you’ll lose visitors fast.
Did you know that over 60% of website traffic comes from mobile devices? Statista reports mobile accounts for the majority of online visits, which makes mobile design non-negotiable.
Mobile design isn’t just about resizing images—it’s about rethinking the user experience. A navigation bar that looks chic across the top on desktop might need to be a collapsible menu on mobile. Buttons should be thumb-friendly, text should be legible, and images shouldn’t take forever to load. Always scroll through the demo template on your phone to see if it passes the test.
👉 Avoid this mistake by: Previewing the template on multiple devices before you buy.
✨ Showit Bonus: Showit gives you separate desktop and mobile editors, meaning you can fine-tune your mobile design instead of settling for a squished version of your desktop site.
Mistake #3: Forgetting About Customization
Nobody wants their website to scream “cookie-cutter.” If the template only lets you swap photos and text, it’ll never feel like your brand.
The best part about customization is that it grows with you. Maybe you launch as a photographer and later expand into education or coaching—you’ll want a template that can evolve without needing a total rebrand. When you’re shopping, look for flexibility, not just a single “look.”
👉 Avoid this mistake by: Checking that you can update fonts, colors, layouts, and sections easily.
✨ Showit Bonus: Showit templates are endlessly customizable—you can start with a template as your foundation, then adjust literally every element until it feels like you.
Mistake #4: Picking a Platform You Can’t Use
Another one I see often! Some templates require coding knowledge, which can lead to tech headaches. If you’re not a designer, you need a user-friendly platform.
The whole point of buying a template is to make your life easier. If you’re spending hours Googling how to edit a line of code or hiring someone just to swap a photo, that template is costing you way more than the sticker price. A platform like Showit ensures your website stays manageable—even if you’re not “techy.”
👉 Avoid this mistake by: Sticking with drag-and-drop options (like Showit!) that keep things simple.
✨ Showit Bonus: Unlike WordPress or Squarespace, Showit is truly code-free. If you can drag, drop, and click, you can customize a template. It’s like Canva, but for your website.
Mistake #5: Overlooking SEO Features
A beautiful site is pointless if no one can find it. Templates that don’t allow for alt text, meta descriptions, or proper headings can hold you back.
Not sure what SEO really means? Moz has a great beginner’s guide to SEO that breaks it down in simple terms.
SEO might sound scary, but it’s actually about giving search engines clear signals. Simple things like adding keywords to your titles, tagging images with alt text, and structuring content with headings can make a huge difference. If your template limits you in these areas, it’s like starting a race with one shoe missing.
👉 Avoid this mistake by: Making sure your template has SEO-friendly features built in.
✨ Showit Bonus: Showit integrates with WordPress for blogging, which gives you powerful SEO tools.You get the best of both worlds—creative freedom and Google-friendly blogging. I highly recommend blogging for SEO!
Mistake #6: Buying Without Checking Pages Included
Some templates only give you a homepage. 😳 Then you’re scrambling to add About, Services, or Contact pages later.
Every page serves a purpose in guiding your visitor. The About page builds trust, the Services page outlines your offers, and the Contact page makes reaching you simple. If a template leaves these pages out, I'd give it a hard pass.
👉 Avoid this mistake by: Looking for templates with all the essentials (and bonus layouts like sales pages or blogs).
✨ Showit Bonus: Most Showit templates (including mine!) come with a full set of strategic page designs, so you don’t have to piece things together later.
Mistake #7: Shopping Only for Price
It’s tempting to grab the cheapest template you find, but that can mean hidden frustrations. A template should save you time, stress, and actually help your business grow.
Think of your website as your digital storefront—it’s the first thing potential clients see. Would you decorate a physical store with the cheapest furniture you could find, even if it didn’t function well? Probably not. Investing a little more upfront in a quality template often means you’ll keep it longer, use it more effectively, and actually make your money back in clients booked. Yes, please!
👉 Avoid this mistake by: Viewing your website template purchase as an investment, not just a cost.
✨ Showit Bonus: Because Showit templates are so customizable, they last for years. You won’t need to rebrand or start from scratch every time your business grows.
Mistake #7: Skipping Support
Buying a template without support is like buying furniture with no instructions—sure, it looks pretty, but how do you actually put it together? A lack of support can leave you feeling stuck, frustrated, and completely overwhelmed.
Support can make or break your template experience. Even the most intuitive platforms can feel overwhelming at first, but with access to a helpful team and easy-to-follow resources, you’ll feel empowered to launch confidently. Instead of spending hours trying to figure things out, you’ll have guidance at your fingertips.
To make your website launch even easier, I include my Showit-Off eCourse with every template purchase. It’s a library of bite-sized video tutorials that guide you step-by-step so you’re never left guessing.
👉 Avoid this mistake by: Choosing templates backed by a responsive support system and resources that walk you through the setup.
✨ Showit Bonus: One of my favorite things about Showit is their support team—they’re truly the best in the industry and ready to help if you get stuck.
Why I Recommend Showit for Your Website Template Purchase
I design exclusively on Showit for a reason—it truly checks every box when it comes to avoiding website template purchase mistakes. Here’s why I love it (and why my clients do, too):
- Drag-and-drop design freedom (no coding required)
- Separate mobile and desktop editing for perfect layouts
- SEO-friendly blogging powered by WordPress
- Stunning, strategic templates that you can fully customize
- Amazing support team ready to help if you get stuck
Whether you’re a coach, photographer, or creative entrepreneur, Showit gives you the flexibility to design a site that looks beautiful and works for your business.
Want to learn more about Showit? You can visit Showit’s official website to see their features and plans.
Conclusion:
A website template purchase doesn’t have to end in regret. By avoiding these common mistakes—and choosing a platform like Showit—you’ll end up with a website that not only looks gorgeous but also grows with your business.
✨ Ready to skip the stress? Check out my Showit website templates designed with creatives like you in mind—so you can launch quickly and beautifully without the overwhelm.
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