Each eCommerce store requires a template. A template, in this case, can be defined as a set of files that make your store look the way it does. It is the template controls where the logo sits on the screen, what colour the background is, what font is used for the headings, where the products are placed on the screen and more. Quite simply, a template governs the aesthetic layout of the store.
BigCommerce provides 101 templates as part of your account purchase, so finding one that matches your ‘vision’ of your store is not a problem. But there are more advantages to them than that. Having access to pre-built templates from BigCommerce means that you can be confident the template, when installed, will ‘just work’. Also, BigCommerce are good at making templates for their own software, and this represents a considerable saving in time and money.
The fact is that sticking to a pre-designed template is the safe and reliable option, and is ideal for novices. BigCommerce will keep maintaining these templates, ensuring they are always compatible with the main BigCommerce engine. As soon as you deviate from the default template, some problems can occur. Layouts break up. Functionality breaks down. Buy Buttons stop working. But, by using the default templates, you’re almost guaranteed to have a trouble-free store, from a technical perspective at least.
A disadvantage of using a BigCommerce template is the quality of the design. The templates are simple and functional, at best. None of them could be recommended as the ultimate example of eCommerce design, and perhaps none of the templates on offer truly represent the branding in your own business.
Either way, some simple customisation of the templates is required in order for you to integrate your logo, and possibly even branding colours. But, as a starting point for your own BigCommerce store, just choose one of the available templates that you feel best fits your store.
How to install a BigCommerce template
Step 1: Login to your BigCommerce account.
Step 2: Click on the Design navigation in the top of the screen.
Step 3: You’ll now be looking at the Store Design page.
Step 4: You’ll notice the Default Blue store design set as ‘Current Store Design’. Beside it are four buttons – ignore them.
Step 5: Scroll down through the ‘Choose a Store Design’ section to find the design template you like. Click ‘Apply This Template’.
Step 6: A box will pop up clarifying the technical consequences of changing template. Just the boxes and press the large ‘Apply’ button.
Step 7: When this is done, click ‘View Your Store’ button at the top of the page to see your store up close.
Step 8: All that is needed next it customize it – like choosing your own Logo.
How To Upload Your Own Logo
Step 1: Click ‘Upload Logo’ in the ‘Logo Settings’ section.
Step 2: At the bottom of the screen, click ‘Choose file’ and browse for the file you want to use.
Step 3: When you’ve selected your file, click ‘Upload Logo Image’.
Step 4: Your logo will appear in the ‘Current Site Logo’ section.
Step 5: Click on ‘View Store’ at the top bar of the page, and your own logo heads your store.
How do you install a 3rd party template? I have been trying to figure this out. I am guessing that you just replace all the template files. But I want to make sure.