The correct degree of flexibility: white-label templates that work.

At Plate, we regularly get a behind-the-scenes look at the specific needs and requirements of companies looking for a website builder. In this article, we delve deeper into the ideal degree of freedom within templates and how this can contribute to a successful white-label solution. Finding the right balance of freedom is crucial for user adoption and long-term customer retention, which is essential for the success of the website builder provider.

What is a white-label website builder?

A white-label website builder is a strategic addition to the software solutions of various companies. Consider, for example, providers of ATS (recruitment) software who want to offer 'careers' websites, or a supplier of hotel and booking software who wants to deliver hotel websites. Developing a custom CMS often doesn't align with their core activities. This is where Plate comes in, as we did with ParnasSys, a supplier of school software that chose Plate to build hundreds of school websites without investing in CMS development themselves.

Horizontal vs. Vertical Website Builders

Website builders can generally be divided into two categories: horizontal and vertical solutions.

Horizontal Website Builders:

• Offer a wide range of generic templates
• Suitable for diverse sectors such as beauty salons, freelancers, churches, hotels, schools, etc.
• Templates are often interchangeable, providing a lot of freedom but also requiring a good understanding of what the user wants and finds appealing

Vertical Website Builders:

• Focus on a specific niche or industry
• Templates are often custom-made, leading to higher initial costs but better meeting the specific needs of the target audience
• Examples include integrations with niche-specific tools like Parro for schools or Kerkdienstgemist for churches

The Right Degree of Freedom for Templates

Whether you choose a horizontal or vertical solution, it's crucial to determine how much freedom the templates should offer. Here are some considerations:

• Unique results: More freedom leads to more uniquely created websites by users.
• Risk of less attractive websites: Too much freedom can result in less appealing designs.
• Maintenance: More components make maintenance more complex.
• Documentation: More freedom requires extensive documentation and tutorials to support users.
• Audience reach: More freedom can appeal to a broader audience.

Success Factors for Freedom in Templates

The successful degree of freedom depends on:

• Homogeneity of the target audience: The more homogeneous the target audience, the more focused the templates can be.
• Automation: The more templates, the more documentation is needed.
• Integrations: The extent to which connections with other software are required.
• Digital maturity of the customer: Customers with little experience with digital tools need less freedom than technically savvy users.
• Look and feel: For some websites, such as careers websites, a 'wow factor' is crucial. Templates must offer sufficient elements to achieve this wow factor.

Plate’s Winning Formula

At Plate, we have a clear vision of what the winning formula is for white-label and multisite CMS solutions:

• Custom templates on a standardized platform: This offers the ability to define the user experience at a micro level while remaining highly expandable.
• Connectivity: We offer standard API endpoints via Zapier, making it easy to connect.
• Scalability and performance: Our solution is highly scalable and maintenance-free, even with hundreds of websites.
• User-friendliness: Our CMS is easy to use for both beginners and advanced users, with options for no-code customizations such as Google Font integrations and color and structure changes.

Conclusion

At Plate, we believe in the power of a well-thought-out balance between freedom and structure in templates. Our hosted multisite platform provides the perfect foundation for white-label websites, where customization and ease of use go hand in hand. By focusing on scalability, connectivity, and user-friendliness, we offer a solution that is ready for the future.

With this approach, we ensure that users fully harness the potential of their websites, resulting in satisfied customers and a strong, lasting relationship with our platform solution.