This level addresses the business that decides it wants to get on the Internet but is unaware of the right website choice for them. What are the options? If one has never been on the Internet before how do they know they are not being sold a bill of goods? Many funeral home companies choose the standardized template approach because the cost looks reasonable and it seems quick and easy to set up.

In our illustration, therefore, the first step up on the pyramid is the template approach. The template approach gives a funeral home a presence on the Internet. It is more business focused and has less customization. A template is used which is very basic. There is picture, text, and title of company. It is similar to having a page in the yellow pages. People can look at it. However, it is not interactive and future clients can do nothing except read it and dial the phone number given. It gives people very little opportunity to find out about the business or interact with your company. The benefits and limitations of this level of website are:

Benefits

• Low cost way to get on the Internet
• Provides a presence on the Internet
• Quick easy way to get started
• Limited knowledge of computers or internet required

Limitations

• Nothing to differentiate yourself from competitors because templates tend to look the same: You will have very little ability to customize your website and likely will look like your competitor next door or down the street. If you do use customization, it generally costs more. Often customization costs escalate and a business owner possibly could have his/her own website from scratch.
• Limited customization: Cannot add anything to the website the template does not provide.
• Limited interactivity with your families (end-users): People like to do things on the Internet. They will pass on interesting or exciting sites to friends and family. If the website does not grab their attention, they will click to something else.
• Limited information and activities for your families/customers.
• 1-hit use - no reason to return to your site.

The price range for this level of website can be as low as ten to fifteen dollars a month to build and maintain. The cost is low because of the development methods for template websites. Website development companies can offer a template website for a lower cost because they pre-build the templates. There is rudimentary customization. There will be a limited number of choices and they concern only little things such as background design, colors and buttons.

Rodney Bourdeau, C.F.S.P, Cornell Memorial Home