How to Choose a WordPress Theme or Website Template
Selecting a website theme or template can be extremely overwhelming. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of free themes and templates out there, and determining which one is best for your needs can be difficult. Whether you are looking for a basic website that needs to be updated regularly or an eCommerce store that needs to pull in the most revenue possible, there’s a theme or template out there to suit your needs. Let’s examine some of the factors to take into consideration before making a purchase decision.
Features
When choosing a wordpress theme or website template, you must first determine what features you need for your site. Depending on your niche, you may require different features. For example, if you are a real estate agency, you may want to look into purchasing a theme that comes with a virtual tour plugin installed. This will allow you to easily create immersive videos of homes that potential clients can browse.
When shopping for a theme, make sure to check out its source code. This will give you an idea of how easy it is to update the design of your site. Updating the design of your site is a lot easier with a theme than editing the HTML code of a WordPress site because you will essentially be performing the same function but with design changes. You can also examine the theme’s documentation to see what features it offers.
Functionality
After you have determined what features you need for your site, you can move onto the next step of choosing a wordpress theme or website template. Determine how much functionality you need from your chosen theme or template. You should aim to get a theme or template that is as functional as possible while still keeping the design of your site’s clean and simple. For example, do you need a theme that can handle an eCommerce store, or do you just need a simple blog that features products you sell yourself?
Ease Of Use
Another important factor to consider when choosing a WordPress theme or website template is how easy it is to use. After all, you will be using the service or product you select on a daily basis. If you are not tech-savvy or skilled, you may find the process of using the theme or template difficult. In addition, if you are updating a site that is already live, you want to choose a theme or template that is as user-friendly as possible.
Cost
The last but not least important factor to consider when choosing a WordPress theme or website template is its cost. As stated earlier, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of free themes and templates available, so you do not have to spend a fortune to get a quality product. However, keep in mind that the more features a theme or template offers, the higher the price will be. It’s a gamble whether or not you’ll like a theme or template once you’ve paid for it because often times those who purchase themes and templates usually do so because they are satisfied with the end product. For this reason, cost should not be the sole determining factor whether or not you should select a theme or template because sometimes the most functional and affordable ones are the best choices.
When selecting a wordpress theme or website template, you must take into consideration all the factors discussed above. Just because a product is free does not mean it is the best option for you. In most cases, the more features a product offers, the more expensive it will be. This is simply because a developer must have spent a lot of time and effort creating a functional version of the product. Sometimes it’s not about what you spend but how you want your viewers or customers to perceive you. Are you looking for a modern and sleek look for your site? Or do you want something more traditional? Even though you have chosen a free option, you must determine what you want for the end product before making any decision.