The pros of using a template for your dental lab
| Aspect | Dental Labs Template Website | Other Type of Design Template Website |
|---|---|---|
| Target Audience | Dental lab professionals, dentists, patients seeking lab services | Specific to the industry or business type (e.g., restaurants, e-commerce, photography, etc.) |
| Design Elements | Focus on dental-related imagery and icons, dental equipment, tooth illustrations | Varied design elements based on the specific business type, such as product images, food photos, service visuals, etc. |
| Color Scheme | Often incorporates dental-themed colors like white, blue, green, and shades of tooth-colored tones | Colors align with the branding and theme of the particular business, can vary greatly across different industries |
| Navigation | May include sections like dental services, lab technology, about the dental lab, contact information | Navigation tailored to the specific business structure and services offered, including relevant sections like menu, portfolio, about us, contact, etc. |
| Content | Content related to dental services offered, lab expertise, dental health articles, testimonials | Content relevant to the business industry, product descriptions, service details, blogs, customer reviews |
| Functionality | Appointment booking for dental lab services, case submission forms, dental resources | Custom functionalities according to the industry requirements, such as e-commerce capabilities, reservation systems, image galleries, etc. |
| Responsiveness | Mobile-friendly design to cater to users on smartphones and tablets | Responsiveness adapted to different devices but tailored to the needs of the specific business’s target audience |
| Call-to-Action (CTA) | CTA buttons for scheduling appointments, contacting the dental lab, requesting quotes | CTAs that align with the business goals, such as “Buy Now,” “Request a Quote,” “Subscribe,” etc. |
| Testimonials/Reviews | Showcasing testimonials from satisfied patients or dental professionals | May feature customer reviews, client feedback, or endorsements based on the business type |
| Special Features | Integration with dental lab management software, dental case tracking | Industry-specific features like online ordering, booking systems, real-time chat, etc. based on the business type |
| SEO Optimization | Targeted dental-related keywords, meta tags, and local SEO for relevant locations | SEO optimized for specific keywords and business-related terms |
As with many questions, the answer depends on the client’s needs. Generally, a custom lab website uses HTML, CSS, and PHP to give the client full control over design. Top dental lab marketing and design firms often offer packages that will provide content, dental lab photography, and videography to keep your custom design current. On the other hand, a dental lab template offers hundreds or even thousands of frameworks that can be modified to suit your needs. You will likely save money upfront in exchange for your time and effort. Since templates are just guidelines, you will have to create or purchase all of the content on your site, along with ensuring the site is optimized. Check some of our dental lab websites and compare them with templates you may have seen around.
What are the benefits of a template design for a dental lab?
Quick and Easy Set-Up
Time is one of the biggest benefits. As long as your content is ready to go, a dental lab template design can be up and running quite quickly. Don’t forget; the content includes videos and images. Template developers understand the templates will need to be functional and not simply aesthetically pleasing. Providers who choose templates to begin their dental laboratory websites enter the process with varying levels of web development experience. It is for this reason that templates usually provide creative flexibility. Set-up ensures the site will function, possibly be mobile-ready, and usually includes widgets and options to get you online faster.
Money Talks
When starting, budgets are often tight. A template initial design setup runs anywhere from $50-$250. Keep in mind you will spend time in development as opposed to dollars. Rather than wait indefinitely until you can afford an online presence, you may want to consider a template design.
No Surprises
What you see is what you get. With a ready-made template, you choose from many designs that professional web developers created. So, in a way, you can access high-quality design for a fraction of the price. Keeping your dental marketing strategies in mind when choosing a template will help you decide which one will meet your needs.
Overall a template website can be a budget-friendly option for a dental lab that wants to communicate services provided by dentists. Dental labs may want more functionality, like communicating patient information online, which may be possible via a template.
Cons:
- Unoriginal
Even if you purchase rights to a specific template, you cannot control the number of sites created by that template before your purchase. Hundreds of users may have websites that are virtual clones. Colors and fonts only change a cookie-cutter design so much.
- Lack of SEO
Frameworks are just that, frameworks. It is up to you to provide the content and links to improve search engine ranking. This lack of search engine optimization may be the difference between someone finding you or your nearest competitor.
- Customization Limits
Certain adjustments are easy to make within the confines of a template. Is it possible to tweak a template to feel like a customized design? Sure, if you have additional coding and web developing experience. Remember, some changes will alter the template so that it doesn’t fit screens properly.
- Additional Software Required
As template design evolves, this may be a moot point. Microsoft Frontpage allows you to customize, edit, and update many basic templates. If you hit a design wall, you will likely need software that requires understanding coding principles, web building, and photo editing.
If you are interested in web development services for your dental lab, check O360.
