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You’ve decided you’re ready to buy a Showit template. Smart move.
Templates are faster than custom design, way more affordable, and when you choose the right one, nobody can tell it wasn’t built from scratch just for you.
But here’s what I see all the time: someone buys a template, gets excited, opens it up… and then realizes they’re missing some pretty important pieces that would’ve made the whole process so much easier.
So before you click “add to cart,” let’s talk about what you actually need to have in place first. Not a million things. Just the essentials that’ll save you time, money, and a lot of frustration before you buy a Showit template.
Step 1: Know What You’re Selling (And Who You’re Selling It To)
I know this sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people buy a website template before they’ve nailed down their offer.
You don’t need your entire business model figured out. But you do need to know what you’re selling and who you’re selling it to.
Are you a photographer offering full wedding coverage? A designer who does custom branding packages? A coach selling 1:1 sessions?
Because here’s the thing: different templates are designed for different business models.
Some templates have massive portfolio galleries—perfect if you’re a photographer or designer who needs to showcase tons of visual work.
Other templates are service-focused with dedicated pages for breaking down your process, pricing, and packages—ideal if you’re a coach, consultant, or service provider.
And some templates are built for selling digital products or courses, with sales page layouts and checkout integrations already designed in.
If you buy a portfolio-heavy template but you’re actually a business coach who doesn’t have much visual work to show, you’re going to struggle. The template won’t fit what you’re trying to communicate.
Here’s what to figure out before you buy a Showit template:
Who is your ideal client? (Be specific—not “everyone who needs a website,” but “wedding photographers who are ready to raise their prices.”)
What’s your main offer? (The thing you want people to book or buy from your website.)
What pages do you actually need? (Most businesses need: Home, About, Services, Portfolio/Work, Contact. But maybe you also need a Blog, a Shop, or specific Sales Pages.)
Once you know this, you can choose a template that’s actually designed for how your business works—not just one that looks pretty.
Step 2: Research What Templates Your Competitors Are Using
Here’s the awkward truth nobody talks about: templates are popular, which means other people in your industry are probably using them too.
And that’s totally fine—until you and your direct competitor end up with the exact same website.
Picture this: someone finds you on Instagram, loves your work, and clicks the link in your bio. Then they keep scrolling and find another designer whose aesthetic they also love. They click that link too. Both websites look identical—same fonts, same layout, same section order, same overall feel.
Suddenly you’re not standing out anymore. You’re just one of many people using the same design.
This is especially common with templates from the biggest, most popular shops. When a template has been sold thousands of times, the chances of someone in your exact market using it go way up.
So before you buy a Showit template, do a little competitive research.
Here’s how to check:
Google the services you offer plus your location or niche. “Wedding photographer Charleston.” “Brand designer for wellness coaches.” “Interior designer Scottsdale.”
Click through the top 10-15 websites that come up. These are your competitors—the people ranking for the same keywords you want to rank for, serving the same clients you want to serve.
Do any of them have the template you’re eyeing?
If yes, keep scrolling. There are hundreds of beautiful Showit templates out there. Find one that’s not already saturated in your specific market.
The good news: This is becoming less of an issue as more designers create templates that serve specific niches. When a template shop focuses on a particular style or audience, you’re less likely to end up matching with someone in your exact market.
Our template shop serves a wide variety of business types—photographers, designers, coaches, consultants, podcasters, course creators—so even if someone else in the world has your template, they’re probably not in your exact niche serving your exact market.
Step 3: Source or Schedule Professional Images to Replace the Template Photos
A gorgeous template is only as good as the photos you put in it.
This is where so many people get stuck. They buy a template, love the design, start customizing… and then realize they don’t have any photos to use.
So they either leave the stock photos that came with the template (which looks generic and impersonal), or they throw in random iPhone photos that don’t match the quality of the design.
Neither option is great.
Before you buy a Showit template, think about where your images are going to come from.
Option 1: Get professional brand photos done
If you have the budget, this is the best option. Professional photos make your website feel polished, personal, and on-brand.
Book your photographer now—even if the shoot isn’t for a few weeks. That way, when you’re ready to customize your template, you’ll have images ready to go.
What to think about when planning a brand photoshoot:
Colors: Your photos should complement your brand colors, not clash with them. Share your color palette with your photographer ahead of time.
Variety: You’ll need a mix of headshots, lifestyle shots, workspace images, and detail shots. Think about all the different sections of your website and what visuals would work there.
Vibe: Is your brand warm and approachable? Clean and minimal? Bold and editorial? Make sure your photographer understands the mood you’re going for.
Option 2: Use high-quality stock photos
If you’re not ready to invest in custom photography yet, stock photos can absolutely work—as long as you’re strategic about it.
The key is choosing stock photos that feel cohesive, not random. All your images should have a similar style, color tone, and vibe.
Start browsing stock photo sites now to see what’s available. We love Élevae for high-quality, feminine stock photos that don’t look overly posed or generic.
You can also create your own custom visuals using AI—this tutorial on creating beautiful AI images walks you through how to generate on-brand images using tools like MidJourney, including how to refine prompts and build a cohesive visual style.
Tips for using stock photos:
Stick to one or two photographers/collections so everything feels cohesive.
Look for images that match your brand colors. If your brand is warm and earthy, don’t use bright, oversaturated stock photos.
Mix stock photos with some of your own images (even if they’re just iPhone photos) to make it feel more personal. For example, use stock photos on your homepage and services page, but use real photos of yourself on your about page.
Option 3: A mix of both
A lot of our template customers do this. They use professional brand photos on their homepage and about page (the most important pages), and then use high-quality stock photos on other pages like services, blog, or contact.
This gives you the personal touch where it matters most without needing a massive library of custom photography right away.
The bottom line: Figure out your photo plan before you buy your template. It’ll help you choose the right design and make customization so much smoother.
What About Website Copy?
You might be wondering: should I write all my website copy before I buy a Showit template?
Honestly? No.
Most people find it way easier to write copy after they have the template. Why? Because the template gives you structure. You can see exactly what sections you need to fill in, how much space you have, and what kind of messaging works where.
Writing copy for a website when you’re staring at a blank page is overwhelming. Writing copy when you have a beautiful layout in front of you? So much easier.
If you’re a natural writer and you want to draft some key messaging ahead of time, go for it. But if copy feels hard, wait. The template will help.
Other Things to Have Ready (The Boring But Important Stuff)
Before you launch your website, you’ll also need:
A business name. If you’re still deciding, just use your own name. You can always add a business name later.
A domain name. Once you have a business name, buy the domain at Namecheap or GoDaddy. It’s usually $10-20/year. You’ll connect it to Showit when you’re ready to launch.
A professional email. Set up hello@yourbusinessname.com instead of using a Gmail address on your website.
A contract template. If you’re offering services, grab a contract from The Legal Paige so you’re ready when clients start inquiring.
You don’t need all of this before you buy a template, but you’ll need it before you launch. Get it handled sooner rather than later so you’re not scrambling when someone fills out your contact form.
How to Choose the Right Template
Once you’ve figured out your offer, researched competitors, and planned your images, choosing a template gets so much easier.
Here’s what to look for when you buy a Showit template:
SEO-friendly structure. Proper heading hierarchy, fast load times, mobile optimization. If the template isn’t built for SEO, you’ll struggle to rank on Google.
Room for real copy. You need space to tell people what you do and why they should hire you. Avoid templates that are so image-heavy there’s barely room for words.
A design your ideal clients will love. This isn’t about what you like. It’s about what resonates with your dream clients.
Support and training. Make sure the template comes with video tutorials or documentation to help you customize it.
Flexibility. The best templates are beautiful out of the box but also easy to customize without rebuilding everything.
You’re Ready to Buy a Showit Template
Once you know what you’re selling, you’ve checked that your competitors aren’t using the same design, and you have a plan for your images, you’re ready.
Choosing a template will be easier. Customizing it will be faster. And you’ll actually have everything you need to make it feel like yours.
You don’t need perfection. You just need these three things in place, and the rest will fall into place as you go.
Ready to buy a Showit template? Browse our template shop to find a design that matches your brand and is built to convert. Every template includes video tutorials, SEO-friendly structure, and support to help you launch with confidence.
What should I do before I buy a Showit template?
Before you buy a Showit template, you should clarify your offer, define your ideal client, research competitor websites, and plan your images so the template actually fits your business.
How do I choose the right design when I buy a Showit template?
When you buy a Showit template, look for one that matches your business model, includes the pages you need, and has an SEO-friendly structure with room for both copy and visuals.
Do I need photos ready before I buy a Showit template?
You don’t need them immediately, but having a plan for professional or high-quality stock images before you buy a Showit template will make customizing your site much easier.
Should I write my copy before I buy a Showit template?
Most people find it easier to write their copy after they buy a Showit template, since the layout helps guide what content to include and where it should go.
Krista is the co-founder of Davey & Krista, a creative studio known for high-converting Showit website templates crafted for photographers, creatives, and entrepreneurs. With over 15 years of branding and marketing experience, she helps business owners launch stunning websites without the tech overwhelm. Krista also teaches designers how to turn their creative skills into a thriving business—through templates, courses, and behind-the-scenes strategy. When she’s not designing, you’ll find her chasing sunshine, color palettes, and gluten-free pizza.
Explore website templates and free resources at daveyandkrista.com.
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