When you are launching a WordPress site, it’s extremely important to choose an appropriate theme. This is really the first decision you have to make as you’re setting up your site.
One convenient thing about WordPress is that it’s very easy to change your settings, including themes. So whether you’re seeking a theme for a new site or you want to change an existing theme, it’s always easy to do. The following tips will help you find the perfect theme for any WordPress blog.
1. Choose the Right Theme For Your Niche
When selecting a theme, you have to consider the purpose of your site. Someone starting a personal blog only has to choose a theme that looks appealing. If you’re running any type of business, though, you will want a theme that looks professional, is easy to navigate and that reflects your industry.
There are many WordPress themes that are created specifically for certain types of businesses, such as real estate, restaurants, chiropractors, attorneys, doctors, etc. If your theme has been created with your type of business in mind, a lot of your work will have already been done for you.
If you need help in choosing a good theme provider, you can start with these best WordPress theme providers list on 100wpthemes.com.
2. Choose a Responsive Theme
A responsive theme is one that works equally well no matter what type of device the visitor is using. This is very important now that smart phones and tablets are getting so popular. There is no shortage of responsive WordPress themes, but many themes, especially free ones, are still not responsive. That’s why you have to go out of your way to look for this quality in the theme which you will use.
3. Read Reviews, Ratings and Comments
When choosing a theme, you can often find out what other users think of it. If you’re using a free theme from the WordPress Themes Directory, you can find ratings for many of these themes. If you’re looking at premium themes, you can look up the brand and the specific theme you’re interested in and find out what others have to say about it.
As with anything else you can purchase online, customer reviews can tell you a lot about WordPress themes. They may point out particular flaws that you would otherwise escape your notice.
4. Consider Support and Updates
When shopping for WordPress themes, you should consider what type of support is offered for the theme. Another factor of which you should be aware is whether or not you are entitled to updates. Both of these can be limited if you’re opting for free themes. For example, if you use a free theme that is not updated regularly, it could stop working properly the next time there’s a WordPress update.
Tips: If you are only considering free WordPress themes, please only use those from reputable designers, such as these high quality free themes from Automattic. This is the company who brought us WordPress!
Premium themes generally provide you with full support, as well as free updates. Depending on the type of license you purchase, support and updates may only apply for a certain amount of time. Either way, this is something you should know about before getting a theme.
Conclusion
These are some of the major issues to consider before choosing a WordPress theme. You want your WordPress site to look great, be easy to manage and have it be accessible to all of your visitors. There are plenty of themes that offer these advantages, but also many that fall short in one way or another.
Remember that your theme is the virtual equivalent of your storefront. It will effect visitors’ first impression of your site. That’s why it’s worthwhile to take the time to select the best possible theme. While some free themes are quite adequate, if you are thinking long term, you may be better off investing a little in a high quality paid theme right from the start.
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