BACKGROUND

1. Field

Embodiments described herein generally relate to a method for designing a website. More specifically, the embodiments relate to a method of designing a customizable website.

2. Description of the Related Art

The Internet has gained prevalence in today's society enjoyed by few other technologies. The backbone of the Internet is the almost countless number of websites that can be accessed from the Internet by users around the world. Many users maintain a website for business or personal use. However, creating a website generally requires the knowledge of computer code such as HTML, Java, Javascript, C, C++, Perl, PHP, Ruby, SQL, etc. Many users lack the requisite knowledge required to design a functioning website using code in a cost effective and timely manner. Moreover, the evolution of websites has resulted in a demand from website viewers that the websites function properly and are aesthetically pleasing.

Generally, a user must hire a website designer or engineer with knowledge of computer code to construct and build a website to their desired specifications. Although the web designer or engineer may create a website that meets the specifications of the user, any subsequent changes required by the user would require further revision by the website designer or engineer. Each time the user wants to make any changes to the website, they must pay for the changes which can decrease the cost-effectiveness of owning and maintaining a website. Further, for a user who updates or changes their website frequently, it would be difficult to maintain a website with current information if the user was not able to change and update the website themselves.

Moreover, a user may maintain a website that has multiple web pages within the website. Some websites may have dozens or even hundreds of web pages. Individually editing and designing each web page can be a costly and time consuming process. Individual editing of web pages within a website may also result in unintended differences between related pages within a website which would reduce the aesthetic appeal of the website to a viewer.

Therefore, what is needed in the art is a customizable website design application which requires no knowledge of computer code to alter the website design and associated web pages in a timely manner and results in an aesthetically pleasing and functioning website.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, a method of designing a customizable website begins by providing a customizable website from a server having a plurality of web page templates adhering to a hierarchical relationship. A site master template may be provided as an example of one of the plurality of web page templates. The site master template is customizable with input received from a user and the site master template is the most superior web page template in the hierarchical relationship. A homepage template is also provided as an example of one of the plurality of web page templates. The homepage template is customizable with input received from the user and is inferior to the site master template in the hierarchical relationship. Further, a plurality of sub-templates are provided as an example of one of the plurality of web page templates. The plurality of sub-templates are customizable with input received from the user and the plurality of sub-templates are inferior to the site master template in the hierarchical relationship. Finally, localized input is received from the user customizing the plurality of web page templates in a manner not subject to the hierarchical relationship.

In another embodiment, a computer readable storage medium is provided. The computer readable storage medium stores instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to design a customizable website by performing various steps. A customizable website is provided from a server comprising a plurality of web page templates adhering to a hierarchical relationship. The providing a customizable website further comprises providing a site mater template. The site master template may be customizable with input received from a user and the site master template may be the most superior web page template in the hierarchical relationship. A homepage template is also provided. The homepage template is customizable with input received from the user and may be inferior to the site master template in the hierarchical relationship. A plurality of sub-templates are also provided. The plurality of sub-templates are customizable with input received from the user and the plurality of sub-templates may be inferior to the site master template in the hierarchical relationship. Additionally, localized input may be received by the user to customize the plurality of web page templates in a manner not subject to the hierarchical relationship.

In yet another embodiment, a computer system for designing a customizable website is provided. The computer system comprises a processor and a memory. The memory stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the computer system to provide a customizable website from a server. The customizable website comprises a plurality of web page templates adhering to a hierarchical relationship. The computer system provides a site master template. The site master template are customizable with input received from a user and the site master template may be the most superior web page template in the hierarchical relationship. A home page template is also provided. The homepage template is customizable with input received from the user and may be inferior to the site master template in the hierarchical relationship. A plurality of sub-templates may also be provided. The plurality of sub-templates are customizable with input received from the user and the plurality of sub-templates may be inferior to the site master template in the hierarchical relationship. Localized input may also be received from the user to customize the plurality of web page templates in a manner not subject to the hierarchical relationship.

