| Before we get into this article you should be aware of | | | | However there are things you should look out for |
| the cost of a typical website project for the | | | | before foolishly commit to a web template. A poorly |
| automotive industry. The cost for a typical automotive | | | | developed web template is a completely waste of |
| website ranges from $3000 to 15000, let's take an | | | | money and energy. For dealers you should look for |
| average of $9000 to develop a website in this | | | | common features that are found on most of |
| example. That is $9000 many new dealers don't want | | | | automotive websites, such as inventory listing, contact |
| to invest into, especially in the beginning of the | | | | us page, maybe about us page, with forms pre-built for |
| operation. The biggest complaint I hear from the | | | | contact, finance applications or book a test drive. Make |
| dealers today is the turn around production time. | | | | sure your web template company is willing to offer |
| Assume you have the initial investment of a well | | | | you customization on the template itself, because |
| develop website, but how about the wait time of 30 | | | | there is nothing more frustrating for you to purchase a |
| days to sometimes 90 days. There are many | | | | template just to find out there will be a hefty fee for |
| frustrated dealers who have paid a hefty deposit on a | | | | another designer to modify the code. |
| project just to wait for 30 days to find out the project | | | | You should also ask questions like "what is the hosting |
| hasn't even been touched. What about your grand | | | | fee?", "is there a contract?" as well as "what kind of |
| opening is in 2 weeks and you need your website | | | | service do you offer in terms of SEO". These |
| ready to go before you commit to tens of thousands | | | | questions are important enough for you to find out |
| of dollars in advertising and inventory. You do not have | | | | ahead of time. Remember hosting fees from the big |
| the luxury to be patient, trust me! The obvious answer | | | | name design companies can cost from $200 to $400 |
| to this problem is to use a web template instead of | | | | per month. And there are stipulations and contracts in |
| fully blown customized website. Because a web | | | | place for you to be locked in for certain term. It is also |
| template can benefit you as a dealer in many ways. | | | | important to find out if your service provider offer such |
| First of all a web template is much quicker to deploy, it | | | | service as SEO or "search engine optimization". It is |
| can be up and running in literally hours instead of | | | | always a good idea to find a service provider who is |
| weeks even months. Second of all a web template is | | | | well rounded to provide you the full list of service |
| much more cost effective, because the development | | | | rather than splitting the work with 3 different firms. |
| cost is shared by many clients rather than just one. | | | | |