There are hundreds (10,000-plus) of WordPress themes on the market. So many who it will take days on finish to look by way of all of them. So how do you slim it down to search out the right one to your website?
Choosing the proper theme is clearly necessary—the correct one ought to give your content material pizzazz, retaining it responsive throughout gadgets, whereas additionally loading within the blink of an eye fixed. But with so many themes within the pool, it may be a somewhat daunting activity to select the perfect one doable.
Earlier than buying a theme, or investing your time in customizing one, make sure to learn by way of this record of do’s and don’ts with regards to choosing the right WordPress theme.
1. Do make an inventory of the options you need forward of time
Earlier than choosing a theme, it’s completely necessary to find out which options are important and which you’ll be able to stay with out.
The WordPress Function Filter within the Themes Repository makes it tremendous straightforward to customise your seek for free themes primarily based on particular options you need, like being translation prepared and permitting for a versatile header. It’s necessary to have the design in thoughts earlier than making a range. As an illustration, try to be ready to know in order for you your website to have one column or a number of columns.
In relation to WordPress themes, much less is all the time extra. Constructing from the underside up, the theme you select ought to solely have the options that may allow you to accomplish the objective of your website, not pointless ones that litter your theme, which brings us to the following level.
2. Don’t select a bloated theme
The significance of that is you don’t desire a theme cluttered with options — this can solely damage you in the long term. A feature-rich theme is likely to be good, however it could actually severely have an effect on website efficiency. You should definitely restrain your self in opposition to putting in each characteristic you assume is cool.
Whereas fancy music gamers or gaming capabilities is likely to be alluring, they may detract from website efficiency. Plus, builders usually use code they discovered on the web for these options, thereby creating safety weak spots as a result of they aren’t essentially centered on retaining a website safe, however performing a particular operate.
3. Do select a responsive theme
Responsive design merely means making your website ultra-easy to make use of—not simply on a laptop computer, however on a number of gadgets. Which means that it’s appropriate with cell and has menus and different widgets which might be straightforward to navigate. Search for options like a fluid website grid and versatile photographs that may translate to non-desktop gadgets. An instance of a responsive theme can be one that may simply translate on a cell system with none hiccups.
Say that you just picked a theme that you just love, but it surely’s not as responsive as you’d like. You’re going to should customise it somewhat bit. Listed here are some methods to make your WordPress theme responsive by yourself.
4. Hold coloration in thoughts
Keep in mind, a lot of on-line advertising and marketing is predicated on visible look, and colours enhance model recognition as nicely. When you’ve got a emblem, attempt to match your coloration scheme of that emblem. If sticking to neutrals, a touch of coloration right here and there’ll make it extra attention-grabbing. WordPress makes it tremendous straightforward to change the looks, together with colours, of a theme by going straight into the file or coming into in customized CSS.
For those who’re attempting to determine between darkish and light-weight, be aware that it’s statistically proven that website guests choose lighter coloured sights. Whereas a darkish web site design isn’t an absolute no, if you happen to do select to go for the darkish facet, you is likely to be reducing readability and the chance for extra typical design components.
(If you would like some recommendation on colours to your theme, right here’s some from our CTO, Jason Cohen.)
5. Do take into account shopping for a premium theme
Whereas free themes are nice for these on a finances, they will current some points. Except for the standard of coding doubtlessly not being as much as par, through the use of a free theme, you are taking the danger of it not being up to date usually, an absence of assist, and the theme writer abandoning the theme altogether.
Premium themes are dynamic, usually providing extra options than free ones, which may help you stand out from the gang. Along with WP Engine’s Premium Themes, that are offereedd to prospects at no additional value, these premium WordPress themes solely require a one-time price somewhat than a recurring cost.
WP Engine acquired StudioPress to equip our prospects with top-of-the-line WordPress themes and provides them entry to the Genesis Framework. For extra data on how one can get began with the Genesis Framework and WP Engine, try this whitepaper.
6. Don’t select a theme with a font that’s laborious to learn
This ties again to capturing your customer’s consideration fast so that they gained’t abandon your website. You need to make it as straightforward as doable to your viewers to navigate your website. Make your fonts easy, refined, and readable. A few of the hottest fonts on the web in 2021 have been Geometric Sans Fonts akin to Holgada and Character Serifs like Temeraire.
For those who’re aware of CSS, it needs to be straightforward to go in and alter your theme’s font, though some free themes is likely to be restricted with regards to customizations—one thing to bear in mind throughout your theme choice course of. (For an excellent learn on selecting distinctive and readable fonts, see Cease Utilizing Arial & Helvetica.)
7. Do take a look at the theme completely
An ideal place to begin when testing out a theme’s effectivity is to put in the Theme Verify plugin that checks in case your theme is as much as all present WordPress requirements.
Once you’re accomplished with all of the tweaks and have uploaded your entire content material, assessment your website earlier than asserting it to the world. Reread your entire content material, try your website on cell, and ensure your entire photographs load correctly. You also needs to take into account investing in a internet hosting resolution that gives staging environments, and set up a little one theme plugin.
Right here’s a compilation of some locations to purchase high quality themes:
Subsequent Steps
Hopefully, this text has given you some concepts to assist slim down your theme choice course of. What’s nice about WordPress is if you happen to do determine to change themes down the street, you’ll have the flexibility to take action. For those who’re in search of extra on choosing the correct WordPress theme, try this library of sources on Torque, or communicate with a WP Engine represneative for solutions to your questions.
