Using free templates safe?

virtualmisc · 11-12-2009, 04:49 PM

Hello
I am planning to create a new website.
I was thinking of using free templates.
Heard a lot of reviews that they are not safe.
Is is true?
Someone please advice me on this.
Thanks

mrozlat · 11-12-2009, 04:54 PM

it's better to get a custom design made... much better for branding and SEO

AlexR · 11-12-2009, 05:33 PM

I agree. If you can afford it, get it custom designed.

1. you get something that is unique to you and

2. you know the source and that there shouldn't be any copyright problems.

Be aware that with free templates there is usually a copyright statement in the meta tags and possibly visibly on the site. You are not permitted to change that (legally) unless it is PLR, so indirectly you will be advertising for the originator of the template.

Alex

designerpk.com · 11-12-2009, 06:18 PM

custom design template is better, what content management system you are going to use ?

llamafier · 11-12-2009, 06:33 PM

You would probably be fine, but a unique template would definitely be better.

Headfirst · 11-12-2009, 08:12 PM

Buy a cheap template. It's the best of both worlds.

Aronya · 11-13-2009, 12:59 PM

Also consider documentation and support. Sometimes you get what you pay for.

Technista · 11-13-2009, 02:56 PM

What do you mean by "not safe"? If you are going to go with a freebie, make sure you go to a reputable site. As others have said, custom-made is better, but... a quality template can be a quick and dirty solution if you need to get something up fast.

Happy_Balance · 11-13-2009, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Technista

What do you mean by "not safe"?...

Not Safe =
Sometimes the footer code is encrypted, to protect the designers (or sponsors) links. Lately there have been some "malicious" templates which cause your end users to get pop-up ads, (random, occasional) re-directs to other sites

, and various related BS.

Most templates are safe, but (we all know by now) you still are better using original ones.
For safe, free ones try the major open-source sites, those are almost 101% clean.

Micael · 11-13-2009, 03:51 PM

I had a problem with free template. We have to be careful.

espinosae · 11-13-2009, 04:41 PM

I agree with Headfirst if you cant afford a custom web page. It would be best to simply purchase a template and modify it. Of course, if you don't happen to know how to modify code or have the time for it then that's a different story lol. PM ME. I might be able to give you a hand. I'm a web designer

Technista · 11-13-2009, 04:46 PM

Thanks for explanation, Happy Balance. I figured there might be viruses or malware embedded in the zipped file, but this is even worse.

Virtualmisc, one big and reputable open source template site is oswd.org. Not only are they safe, but they have over 2,000 clean, elegant, CSS templates.

Technista · 11-13-2009, 04:59 PM

If you are going to buy a template, there are some membership sites that charge a reasonable yearly or bi-annual fee for unlimited access to their entire template libraries. The price of membership is cheaper than the cost of some individual templates on some other sites. Two excellent ones are boxedart.com and templateworld.com.

11-12-2009, 04:49 PM	#1
virtualmisc Active Warrior Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 31 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Using free templates safe? Hello I am planning to create a new website. I was thinking of using free templates. Heard a lot of reviews that they are not safe. Is is true? Someone please advice me on this. Thanks

11-12-2009, 04:54 PM	#2
mrozlat Renegade Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Australia Posts: 400 Thanks: 41 Thanked 43 Times in 30 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Using free templates safe? it's better to get a custom design made... much better for branding and SEO
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11-12-2009, 05:33 PM	#3
AlexR Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Chelsea, Victoria, Australia. Posts: 5,241 Thanks: 10 Thanked 19 Times in 17 Posts Contact Info	Re: Using free templates safe? I agree. If you can afford it, get it custom designed. 1. you get something that is unique to you and 2. you know the source and that there shouldn't be any copyright problems. Be aware that with free templates there is usually a copyright statement in the meta tags and possibly visibly on the site. You are not permitted to change that (legally) unless it is PLR, so indirectly you will be advertising for the originator of the template. Alex
	Sig released on parole.

11-12-2009, 06:18 PM	#4
designerpk.com Warrior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 25 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Using free templates safe? custom design template is better, what content management system you are going to use ?
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11-12-2009, 06:33 PM	#5
llamafier Active Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Seattle, WA, USA Posts: 35 Thanks: 6 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Using free templates safe? You would probably be fine, but a unique template would definitely be better.

11-12-2009, 08:12 PM	#6
Headfirst Marketing Monkey Wrench War Room Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 566 Thanks: 21 Thanked 95 Times in 87 Posts	Re: Using free templates safe? Buy a cheap template. It's the best of both worlds.

11-13-2009, 12:59 PM	#7
Aronya Advanced Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Escondido, CA. Becase San Marcos just wasn't hot enough. Posts: 510 Thanks: 35 Thanked 56 Times in 55 Posts	Re: Using free templates safe? Also consider documentation and support. Sometimes you get what you pay for.

11-13-2009, 02:56 PM	#8
Technista HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 352 Thanks: 4 Thanked 72 Times in 68 Posts	Re: Using free templates safe? What do you mean by "not safe"? If you are going to go with a freebie, make sure you go to a reputable site. As others have said, custom-made is better, but... a quality template can be a quick and dirty solution if you need to get something up fast.
	Atlanta Website Design \| Compression Garments \| Corset Diaries (Humor) \| Free Articles \| Ardyss Training \| Ardyss Training Videos \| Ardyss

11-13-2009, 03:51 PM	#10
Micael Warrior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 1 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Using free templates safe? I had a problem with free template. We have to be careful.

11-13-2009, 04:41 PM	#11
espinosae Edgar Espinosa Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 17 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Using free templates safe? I agree with Headfirst if you cant afford a custom web page. It would be best to simply purchase a template and modify it. Of course, if you don't happen to know how to modify code or have the time for it then that's a different story lol. PM ME. I might be able to give you a hand. I'm a web designer

11-13-2009, 04:46 PM	#12
Technista HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 352 Thanks: 4 Thanked 72 Times in 68 Posts	Re: Using free templates safe? Thanks for explanation, Happy Balance. I figured there might be viruses or malware embedded in the zipped file, but this is even worse. Virtualmisc, one big and reputable open source template site is oswd.org. Not only are they safe, but they have over 2,000 clean, elegant, CSS templates.
	Atlanta Website Design \| Compression Garments \| Corset Diaries (Humor) \| Free Articles \| Ardyss Training \| Ardyss Training Videos \| Ardyss

11-13-2009, 04:59 PM	#13
Technista HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 352 Thanks: 4 Thanked 72 Times in 68 Posts	Re: Using free templates safe? If you are going to buy a template, there are some membership sites that charge a reasonable yearly or bi-annual fee for unlimited access to their entire template libraries. The price of membership is cheaper than the cost of some individual templates on some other sites. Two excellent ones are boxedart.com and templateworld.com.
	Atlanta Website Design \| Compression Garments \| Corset Diaries (Humor) \| Free Articles \| Ardyss Training \| Ardyss Training Videos \| Ardyss