How to Build a Template Store with Webflow and Memberstack

Introduction to Template Marketplaces

The landscape of web development is rapidly evolving with the advent of no-code platforms. As more individuals and businesses venture into this realm, there is a burgeoning opportunity in creating and selling web templates. These digital assets offer a streamlined approach to website design, making it both accessible and efficient. Templates have the power to transform the web development process, especially for those without extensive coding knowledge, by providing ready-made, customizable designs.

Identifying Niches in Template Design

Researching Market Needs

The first step in building a successful template business is to understand the market demand. A practical approach to this is exploring forums like those on Webflow, where designers and developers discuss their needs and challenges. These forums are a goldmine of information, revealing what potential customers are looking for in a template.

Examples of Template Uses

1. E-commerce Templates: designs for e-commerce websites that integrate things like payments and CMS templates for each of the pages. 
2. Portfolio Templates: templates for freelancer or agency portfolios which companies can use out of the box to begin selling their services. 
3. Blog Templates: templates for blogs, potentially as additions to existing websites. 

Choosing the Right Platform

There are lots of different platforms for you to build your project with, each with their own pros and cons, we’re big fans of Webflow so we’re building with Webflow!

Crafting a Template Site with Webflow and Memberstack

It would be a bit ironic for us not to recommend using a template to build this site. However, if you are inclined to build this site from scratch, here are some of the things to consider. 

Design Considerations

When designing your template site, it's crucial to focus on aesthetics and user experience. A well-designed site not only attracts customers but also serves as a testament to the quality of the templates you offer. Essential elements include a clear display of templates, detailed pricing information, user authentication (signup/login) pages, and additional resources like FAQs or support forms.

Developing a CMS Collection

A robust CMS collection is essential for managing and showcasing your templates. This includes organizing links, screenshots, pricing, and related templates. Each template should have its own CMS page, providing potential customers with all necessary information to make an informed decision.

Backend Integration

For those opting to build from scratch, integrating the backend of the site, possibly through platforms like Make.com, is crucial. This integration could involve automation of certain functions or custom coding for more advanced features.

Setting Up Pricing

Determining a pricing strategy is vital. You can offer individual template purchases or a subscription model for access to the entire library. Memberstack provides a seamless solution for integrating payment systems, although you may choose other payment processors as well.

Leveraging a Pre-Designed Template

The Advantages of Starting with a Template

For those looking to streamline the process, starting with a pre-designed template is highly recommended. It offers a foundation with essential features, significantly reducing development time.

Our Premium Template Offering

Our specially crafted template, available at Webflow Template Store Template, is designed to simplify the setup process. This template is priced at $49 for Memberstack applications, and $104 for use with other platforms. 

Here is a comprehensive tutorial video, guiding you through each step of the setup.

Template Features and Benefits

• Free Template Clones: For user testing and trials.
• PAYG Paid Templates: Pay-as-you-go for more flexibility.
• All-Access Plan: For unlimited template access.
• Server-Side-Hosted Links: Enhances security.
• Automatic Sales Notifications: Keeps you informed of sales.
• Advanced Content Gating: Restricts access to premium content.
• Additional Resources: Including Webflow project, Memberstack template, support, private Slack group, and Make scenario blueprints.

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As you can see in this template, we’ve divided the templates into Free and Paid options. This is a great way to get users interested in your website – and to eventually upsell them on more premium options (hint: this is what we do at Memberstack!) 

Make Integration

Given the complexity of this kind of business (you must both integrate payments and users with a digital asset), we have built out automations with Make.com to allow this website to operate. You will get complete support in setting this up when you purchase this premium template. However, this does require you to have a premium account with Make, which does increase the baseline cost of this application passed just having a Webflow CMS account (or a subscription to Memberstack as suggested in the template as well). 

Conclusion: The Value of a Template Business

Creating a template site using Webflow and Memberstack presents a unique and lucrative opportunity in the no-code development space. Whether you choose to build from scratch or utilize a pre-designed template, this approach allows for the creation of a user-friendly, efficient platform catering to a diverse range of web development needs. This venture not only enhances your business profile but also positions you as a key player in providing accessible web solutions in an ever-growing market.