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How to Find a Third-Party Blogger Template

You can find blog templates that work on Blogger but are created by third parties. These third-party blog templates run the gamut on cost — from free to quite pricey.

Free templates

Many Web designers create Blogger templates that they offer for free from their own blogs or Web sites. A free third-party theme offers two primary benefits:

  • Cost: They cost nothing out of your pocket to use.

  • Uniqueness: They make your blog look different than it does if you use a free theme provided by Blogger.

On the other hand, your blog experiences two key negatives by using a free theme provided by a third party:

  • Sameness: Many other blogs will probably use the same free third-party theme that you choose.

  • Lack of support: You may not be able to find support or assistance from the template designer if you later have a problem with the free third-party theme you choose.

Premium templates

If you're looking for a blog theme that stands out more than the free templates provided by Blogger, you can look for a premium Blogger template from a third party. Web designers often create premium themes that they offer for a flat fee. More often than not, designers sell a premium template to only a certain number of users, and then they retire that template.

An example of a Web site that offers premium Blogger template designs is Designed by Lara, which offers a variety of two-, three-, and four-column premade Blogger templates. Here's an example of a premium 2-column template:

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Before you pay for a premium Blogger template, check to see whether the template will be retired after a specific number of people buy it to ensure you're not paying for a template that thousands of other people can use, too. Also, determine whether the designer offers any kind of support if you have problems using the template.

Custom templates

If you want your blog to have a one-of-a-kind design that offers a specific layout, consider hiring a designer to create a custom design that you hold the copyright to when it's completed. Of course, a custom design has a steeper price tag on it than a premium Blogger template provided by a third party because the custom template is created to meet your specifications.

Before you dive into a contract with a designer to start working on the custom template for your Blogger blog, do some legwork:

  • Ask other bloggers for recommendations for designers, and be certain to ask for references from the designers you consider working with.

  • Look through other blog templates that a designer has created by reviewing his or her online portfolio or asking for links to his or her work.

  • Obtain quotes from several designers before you make your selection. Tell each designer to provide an itemized quotation that specifies exactly what he or she will provide to you, a timeframe for completion, and a description of ongoing support services.

Don't accept a bundled price from a designer. Ask each one to provide a detailed breakdown of exactly what services are included in the fee he or she plans to charge you.

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