Review of Website Template Companies

This post really has nothing to do with crocheting….other than the fact that I’ve become really aggravated with bloggers on and off problems the past couple of months.  So, I decided maybe it was time to move my blog elsewhere.  The only other blogging company that I knew well was wordpress.  To be totally honest with you, I took the time to transfer my entire blog over there, only to find out I didn’t like it.  It doesn’t seem nearly as easy to use (maybe I’ve just been using blogger too long).  But the other thing is it doesn’t have nearly as many plugins and free things. You can get them, you just have to pay.  By then my thought process had turned to…..If I have to pay, then I may as well create a real website. So, I went in search of the ‘perfect’ template website creator that had everything I was looking for. My 2 main goals were to be able to transfer my entire blogger blog, AND have a shop so I can stop having to sell on 5 different sites. This was supposed to be about consolidation. HA!!!  Here’s what I found.

*DISCLAIMER*These are only my opinions.  You may be looking for something totally different than I was, and therefore will see things in a different light.

WordPress – Not as easy to use, especially if you’ve been with blogger for any length of time. (imo) Plus, even if you don’t think it’s difficult, it’s lacking the free things like all the extras we add to the sidebars.

WordPress.org – Read that it’s too complicated if you don’t know what you’re doing….that’s me :)

web.com – Didn’t create an actual account for one reason only. There prices seemed competitive, but if you add a shopping cart it just about doubles.

webs.com – The site ran really slow! It would sign me out, etc. So bad that I gave up. (could be my browser, but this is the only one I had a problem with). 

Squarespace – I loved the fact that I could literally just transfer my entire blog with about 5 clicks of a button, BUT – no shopping cart. The whole point in this was to consolidate. I didn’t give up though. Took one day to try to create a google shopping cart…..then I put this site on the back burner.

FatCow – Don’t bother. You can’t even look at their site til you sign up and PAY!!! To their benefit they do offer a 30 money back guarantee (which I used).  The problem I had with this site was that I got in and most of what I saw (I didn’t search completely though) was already out there and available elsewhere for FREE!!! Plus it did not seem all that easy to use.

Moonfruit – They’re still in the running. I actually really like this site. My only hesitation with this site is 1) I chose a template that wasn’t point and click, and it’s taking wayyy longer than I wanted to spend on it. To change to a new template you have to create a new site and start over. All your work is lost! WHAT!?!?!?  And 2) You get no tech support with the free version.

Weebly – It’s all drop and drag. It took me quite a few times to get the hang of what to do, to get the look I wanted, but for free (or very little if you upgrade) this is probably the way I’m going to go.

Here’s the whole aggravating part in all of this. WordPress & Squarespace are the ONLY ones that offers to transfer your blog over. No one else will. So, here I am, stuck with blogger…..

I am however working on a site anyway.  I’m tired of paying tons of venues to have my patterns. Some of them I pay every month and don’t even get that back in sales. So, I’ll keep the top 3 performers and the rest are going to the curb :).  I’m going to ever so slowly be working on transfering most of these tutorials, stitch patterns, free patterns, etc. over there.  But the fact that I’d lose my follower base stinks.  Blogger, just fix your problems!!!  I’ve wasted the past month, and have nothing to show for it!  Ok, I’m done my rant.  Anyone has any other sites I haven’t tried let me know.

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3 thoughts on “Review of Website Template Companies”

  • Thanks for your helpful reviews! I'll keep this in mind if I ever want to change from blogger. One more idea… have you tried checking out typeadd (or however you spell it!)? It's the only other company that I can think of that you haven't covered. Thanks so much!

  • I find your experience working with WordPress interesting since my experience has been that it's super easy and that there are tons of free plugins, themes, etc. I started on WordPress, though, and did a lot of WordPress work for clients in addition to my own so that's probably why I feel that way.I, too, however, am working on my own main site where I'll be able to sell my stuff, feature all my work, etc. I'd been using a web design for a long time that I didn't like and finally decided to use one that I do like. I'm using TrendyFlash builder on my host (bluehost) and liking it so far although there are still a lot of things for me to figure out with it. I think I'm going to like their built-in store once I get more used to figuring out how to use it. My site is at kathrynvercillo.com if you're interested in checking it out.

  • I just looked into Squarespace and even purchased my own domain name (finally) only to find out that they were $12 (billed for a year's total at sign up) for just the basic service. I'm really discouraged because while I'm upset with Blogger, I love that it's free and up until this last major hiccup I was very happy with them. So discouraged.

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