Template/WordPress Theme FAQs
If you can't find an answer to your question on this page, feel free to send us an email at info@vandelaydesign.com.
How do I get a free website?
In order to qualify for a free template or WordPress theme you will need to sign up for any hosting plan with Eleven2 through our affiliate link. Once you've signed up you will receive a welcome email from Eleven2. Forward that email to us at templates@vandelaydesign.com so we can verify that you signed up through our affiliate link, and complete this form to tell us which theme/template you want. You can see more about the offer details.
What's the catch?
The only "catch" is that you must sign up for hosting with Eleven2 through our affiliate link. We receive a commission from any hosting sales that we refer, which allows us to offer the themes/templates at no cost to you.
Why do you recommend Eleven2's hosting services?
Our own website is hosted with Eleven2 and we have also worked with them on several other websites. We have experience with everything from their cheapest shared hosting accounts to the dedicated server that hosts our own site. We've had a great experience with them, and we're confident that you will get exceptional service as well. They are a large enough company to offer all the perks of the major hosting companies (such as low pricing and 24/7 support), but they're small enough that they still care about each of their customers. If you're interested, you can read our detailed review of Eleven2's hosting.
Why do I have to sign up for hosting with Eleven2?
The commission that we earn from hosting referrals allows us to give away the templates and themes for no cost. A great deal of time and effort goes into creating each template/theme and creating the documentation. Without the hosting commissions we would not be able to offer the templates and themes at no cost. Also, we are confident that Eleven2 will provide quality, affordable hosting for you.
What if I already have hosting?
We recommend that you sign up for one of the cheaper plans at Eleven2, starting at less than $5 per month. Whether you keep your existing hosting account is up to you, but $5 per month is a great deal for hosting.
What is WordPress?
WordPress is a popular, and free, content management system (CMS). A CMS allows you to edit the content of a website, like text and photos, without any knowledge of HTML coding. Editing the text of a page or creating a new page is similar to working in a word processor. You can see more about WordPress at Why Use WordPress.
How much of the design of the templates and themes can be customized?
That depends on whether you are willing/able to edit HTML, or if you are hiring a designer to do the customization work. All of the HTML templates and WordPress themes can be edited endlessly by making changes to the HTML and/or CSS files. We know that is not practical for most users, so we have designed the WordPress themes to allow for as much customization as possible without being overwhelming or confusing. Each theme allows you to easily upload your own logo to be used in the header without touching any code. You can also add images to the slideshow on the homepage, and on some themes you can select a color scheme.
Where should we host audio files?
Eleven2's hosting plans allow for ample storage and bandwidth, but audio files can add up over time. Even if your hosting plan allows for unlimited disk space and bandwidth it is not a bad idea to host audio files on another server. The main reason for this is that it reduces the load on your server and visitors are likely to experience a faster website. We recommend Amazon S3 for hosting large audio files.
How do I install WordPress?
Most hosts, including Eleven2, make it very easy to install WordPress. It only takes a minute and a couple of clicks. We have written instructions that wll lead you through the process. Eleven2 also has a video tutorial. Visit their video tutorials page and click on "scripts/software" and it is under "Softaculous series" and find the video for installing WordPress from Softaculous.
Can I get some help with installing WordPress and/or setting up the theme/template?
Yes. Please email us at templates@vandelaydesign.com and let us know what you need help with. If we are available for projects at that time we will provide you with a quote, and if we are not available we will recommend a partner who can help you out (for a fee).
Do you offer services for customizing the themes?
At this point we only offer assistance for minor customization and theme setup (such as adding your logo, customizing the navigation menu items, etc.). However, we're just getting started with this theme/template service and more customization options may be available in the future.
