WordPress is one of the most widely used content management systems in the world today. This can be attributed to its user-friendliness, stability as well as the availability of a myriad of resources. Unlike most other platforms, you can use WordPress even with no prior technical training in web development. However, the success of this platform is also part of its weakness. There being too many options can make it hard for you to make the right choice for your needs. This is more so when it comes to the themes.
Unlike other CMSs, with WordPress, you don’t have to create your web design from scratch. The availability of themes makes it easier for you to use a design that is perfect for your business needs. Again, with new WordPress themes being launched almost on a daily basis, you will forever be spoilt for choice when searching for the right theme. The great news is that there are a couple of checks you can do to make sure you end up with the best theme for your online needs.
There are innumerable wonderful and weird themes out there for you to pick from. If you don’t know the type of website you want to build, it will be much easier for you to be seduced by stunning designs that are suited for a different type of website.
While most of these themes are very versatile, it will be hard for you to customize a theme meant for a news blog to meet your ecommerce website needs. While it is possible to customize almost all WordPress themes, it is imperative that you ensure the template on which the theme is based matches the type of website you wish to build.
With that being said, the first thing you need to do before you go shopping for themes is to understand the type of website you wish to build. When you know what type of site you want to build, it will be much easier to weed through the themes until you find the perfect one.
The theme you install will significantly influence what you can do with your website. To begin with, the theme you select should help you keep up with the trends. The WordPress themes you end up considering must offer the following features:
Even so, you need to avoid themes that come with advanced features that you may never get to use such as sliders, custom post types, page builders and so on. Some features and functionalities need to be kept separate from the design. In the case of advanced features, you should consider themes that provide them in separate plugins and not as part of the theme.
The best thing about picking themes that provide advanced features and functionalities through plugins is that they will keep you from being locked into a theme. If the advanced features are provided through plugins, you can easily change the theme later in the future and still benefit from the preset advanced features.
With that in mind, you have to make a list of all the features you wish to see on your theme. You can then use this list to make sure that each theme you select has the features you need to make your project a success. Do not forget to pay attention to the elements that need to be provided in the form of plugins.
Although WordPress themes and WordPress plugin should work together nicely, you will save yourself a lot of time and effort by searching for themes that are compatible with the plugins you need. This simply means that before you pick a theme, you have to take a step back and make a list of the essential plugins your website must have. Will you be using database management plugins and if yes, will the theme you are considering be able to support the plugins you are considering?
Simply put, if you wish to build an online store with the WooCommerce plugin, you will need to find themes that can support and are compatible with this plugin. Although most themes will not give you a list of supported plugins, it is wise to spend some time going through the advertised support and compatibility. User reviews and the reputation of the theme supplier will also help you know what to expect.
In your search for WordPress themes, you will come across both free and premium themes.
For example, D5 Creation is a Leading Developer of Free and Responsive WordPress Themes. All of them are approved by the WordPress Theme Review Team. The free themes are comprehensive but the market for the premium themes is more competitive. Even so, you may be amazed at how low-priced the premium themes are. This is more so when you consider the cost of working with developers and designers to create your custom template.
All in all, if you have decided to use the premium themes, there are a couple of things you have to consider. The first thing you need to consider is that you will get access to the template files and ongoing updates as well as product support. You want to pay for a theme that is updated regularly to maintain its compatibility with the latest version of WordPress. You should also consider the pricing models being used. Some themes attract a one-time fee, others call for recurring payments while with others you will get memberships to multiple themes by a developer. Make your choice carefully.
Regardless of how attractive a theme is, it is important to make sure that you only seek out themes from reputable suppliers. The last thing you want is to install a beautiful but flawed theme that will be vulnerable to hacking.
In your search for WordPress themes, focus not only on the visual appeal but also on its features, functionality as well as the reputation of the supplier. The wrong theme will impede your online success.