There is no doubt that WordPress is one of the best content management systems of choice. One of the things that contributed to it becoming a web platform of choice is its wide array of themes available, which are ready to build a website’s look and feel. When you plan to create a new site, how do you choose the right theme for the site that installs hassle-free and doesn’t slow on performance? WordPress themes are available in two categories; the out of the box and customized themes. The out of box themes come packaged with WordPress software releases. The customized themes are costly and available in more variety to satisfy a developer’s choice or taste. When deciding on the right WordPress theme to use, consider the following things: Know what is best for your site, know where to find the right match, know what to avoid, do some background checks to help you make better decisions.
What to Look for in a WordPress Theme
When designing a new site, a developer should have a list of desired features before arriving at a decision on which WordPress theme will best suit the site. The list of desired features includes responsive layout, widget sized footer, content slider, ability to disable sidebar on specific pages, and specific color scheme. Group the features you want to implement on your site, group them in essentials, optional and luxuries. This makes it easier to prioritize the site needs that go hand in hand with the theme features.
Where to Find WordPress Themes
The three places to look for themes are WordPress.org themes directory, theme marketplace, and an established theme shop. In a WordPress.org theme directory, all themes are free and are thoroughly reviewed before being made publicly available. It supports most popular themes and has a rating feature, which helps you select only the best themes. In theme marketplaces, you can find any theme that you can imagine of since some of the theme marketplace authors are top-notch WordPress developers and designers. Theme shops offer top-notch coding in their themes with great after sales support. Do some Google searches to find out which theme shop to go for your theme of choice.
What to Avoid in a Theme
Beware of themes with built-in plugin functionality since when the built-in plugin fails, it means the theme functionality will fail as well. Themes shouldn’t control the features a site uses since when you replace the theme, it means the site’s feature will be gone as well.
Do some Background Check
Do some research before you settle on the theme to use on your site. The same way when you buy something online you first read reviews about it is the same way you should apply to themes. This helps you avoid choosing a poor theme, which can lead to a site being messed up.
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