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Originally Posted by stevo75  1) I know that I want to have a different template, and I'm assuming that I'll have to either buy one, or pay someone to design it for me. I like the 3 column styles that Rebecca has on her Lucid Dreaming website. I also like templates where the background is a different color than the page (like Rebecca's site, Steve Pavlina's site, etc.) My question is, is it better to transition to the template I want now? Or should I wait until later? I'm not sure if the process is more complicated if I have a lot of pages vs. only a few... |
I recommend building at least 1 page in BlockBuilder - just so you know what you're "missing out on" when you upgrade to Upload Your Own HTML
You're right, it will take longer to convert your BB pages to HTML pages if you change your template from a 2-column to 3-column design made externally. Bear in mind that SBI's iDesign3 contest has just produced loads of great new 3-column templates that will be compatible with BB, so if you like one of these, there shouldn't be much converting to do (SBI should do it for you).
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Originally Posted by stevo75 2) If I do get my own template, can I still use the SBI block builder or will I need to transition to an HTML editor? This is something I will want to do eventually, but I think I'll stick with the block builder until I have a few more pages built. |
If you use SBI's templates you can stick with BB. If you use an external template you will need HTML.... Unless you are a complete techno-phobe, I highly recommend doing your own HTML - it just makes the whole thing faster, more creative and more flexible! BB is for techno-dummies (I mean that in a nice way
)
Alternatively, if you get one designed (
a service my partner currently provides to SBIers) you will need to transition to HTML and redo all your old pages in the new format... so it really depends what you're transitioning to.
Incidentally, we submitted three new designs to the iDesign3 contest, which enables any SBIer to have a very similar template to mine using only BB. The only difference will be the header. Our categories were: Exotic Beaches, High Technology, and a Minimalist Blue Swish Design (very versatile). However we're still offering our $250 designs for anyone who wants a professionally designed bespoke header image. Otherwise, stick with the new SBI templates and you can do it any way you like.
(I haven't worked out if our unique designs will be fully BB compatible with the new wave of templates coming in... but it looks like an option.)
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Originally Posted by stevo75 3) If I do get a new template, will I still be able to use all of SBI's integrated features? I'm thinking about how Tier 2's are automatically added as a Nav Bar and to the TOC on the home page. Will I have to do this myself if I have a non-SBI template? In other words, will a new template fit seamlessly into the SBI tools? |
Yes, our templates integrate well. You wont use SBI's Nav Bar, instead you'll have a HTML "Include File" which populates across the whole site automatically. I'm not sure about TOC as I don't use this feature anymore.
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Originally Posted by stevo75 4) Can anyone recommend a good HTML editor? What are y'all using? |
I use DreamWeaver which is THE BEST!
There are many free ones available including Amaya, AceHTML, etc but I have no personal experience of these so maybe someone else can provide some insight here.
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Originally Posted by stevo75 5) If I hire someone to do a redesign, do they have to be familier with SBI? |
Yes, I would strongly recommend it! We split our templates into the three standard sections (just like SBI templates) and give our customers instructions for uploading, so it is as straightforward as possible. The Transition Guide in Day 6 will also help you. I'm not saying don't look at other external templates, just beware how many images their templates are broken into, how much flash they use, how much support they can give you for SBI integration, etc.
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Originally Posted by stevo75 6) I noticed that Rebecca's page is protected by Copyscape? What's this all about? I haven't heard about it in SBI yet... |
That's just to discourage other bloggers from stealing my content. Stick it in your footer on every page, and that's pretty much it!
Hope that helps!!!