The ever burning question: Is the website template market too oversaturated for me to break out?

The hard and fast answer? Nope and it probably never will be.

We can’t tell you how many times we have browsed our online designer groups only to see comments like these:

“The market is oversaturated!” 

— Your limiting belief

“How am I supposed to compete with all these other designers out there?” 

— Your limiting belief

“Everyone has jumped on the template bandwagon!”

— Your limiting belief

Market saturation is an excuse designers (and other creatives for that matter) are using to avoid doing the hard work and heaven forbid, failing. Or as we like to say, LEARNING.

Somewhere along the line, this excuse of a crowded marketplace has become widely accepted and the excuse of choice among social media comments within the freelancing design community. 

How did we get here

We started Northfolk 10 years ago. Like any other market, as word got around about the profitability of templates, more people wanted to get in on the action. But in this market, in the words of Moira, you must CHAMPION ONESELF.

So we’re going to cover 6 tips to standing out if you want to build website templates!

Ways to overcome market competition

Do it better. 

“A market is never saturated with a good product, but it is very quickly saturated with a bad one.”

The market might be saturated, but it doesn’t mean it’s saturated with GOOD designs. Look at the best in your industry and ask yourself, “how can I do it BETTER?”

Commit yourself to being the best! Learn new skills, find a mentor, take an online course, practice, practice, practice.

Do it different.

Don’t set out to create what everyone else is doing.

Yes – you might see a designer being successful niched down. One finding success with a broader audience. Someone that swears by posting on social media and another that doesn’t.

Instead of focusing on the competition, find your style and voice. What sets you apart from them and makes you different? Focus on what inspired you instead of what you think you should be doing. Look to other sources for inspiration.

One of the most effective ways to break into a saturated market is by offering a product that is new to the industry or improving upon one that already exists.

Be willing to do what it takes.

Everything worth having takes hard work. When it comes to template sales, it’s not an overnight process. You are constantly working on your pieces, improving as you go.

This is a marathon, not a sprint!

In a time of instant gratifications, you have to be willing to commit to the long term endgame to get results.

Listen to your folks.

Listen to what your audience is asking for. Where they are having troubles and what they NEED.

Watch as shifts happen in your market and be able to identify them.

Be flexible.

Be willing to PIVOT.

Buyer demands are constantly changing, and your willingness to pivot your ideas and being receptive to their demands might be the difference between sinking and swimming.

Build relationships

Word of mouth is one of the most powerful forms of marketing.

92% of consumers believe recommendations from friends and family over all forms of advertising

— Nielsen

We have customers that have been buying our templates for almost a decade. Many following us to Showit from other platforms and most of them repeat clients as well.

And the end of the day, a saturated market is one of opportunity and proven potential. Put your blinders on and ignore what everyone else is doing!!!

Resources:

• Learn more: northfolk.co
• Instagram: @northfolkco
• Course: Revolving Revenue

Links:

• Nielsen, Word Of Mouth Marketing

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