How to Choose the Right WordPress Website Design – Screen Width

When it comes to choosing a WordPress website design, many people assume that it’s simply a case of picking the one that they like the most. While this may be true, it’s not necessarily the best way to choose a website design that fits your business needs. In reality, there are several key considerations that need to be made before making this decision.

The Purpose Of The Website

Before you start picking out the furniture and fittings of your website, you need to consider why you are creating it. Broadly speaking, there are three main purposes that a website could have. They are:

  • Product/service awareness – A product/service awareness website is designed to increase the consumer’s knowledge around a product or service, with the purpose of increasing the likelihood of the person using that product or service.
  • Commerce – A commerce website is designed to increase the sale of a product or service, with the focus being on driving as much traffic as possible to a single place, usually a retail store.
  • Information distribution – An information distribution website is designed to increase the reach of published content to as many people as possible.

When it comes to choosing a WordPress website design that fits these purposes, you need to bear in mind that not all content is equal. For example, if you are creating a product/service awareness website around the theme of ‘biking’ and you decide that the content relating to ‘biking shorts’ is the most suitable for this purpose, do you really want to display this same content on your eCommerce or information distribution website?

User Experience

As a user, the most important consideration when it comes to choosing a WordPress website design is how the site performs for me. This is known as the UX (User Experience). When you design a site, you need to bear in mind that you are creating something for other humans. While you are focusing on functionality, your goal should be a positive UX that encourages the visitor to stay on your site, and come back for more.

When it comes to UX, you are not solely focusing on the device that the user is using to enter your website. Instead, you are taking into consideration the entirety of their digital journey. The questions that you need to ask yourself are:

  • Do I want the user to easily discover the information that I have published?
  • Do I want the user to be able to navigate my site easily?
  • Do I want the user to be able to find the information that they are looking for?
  • Am I creating an engaging user experience that keeps them coming back for more?
  • Am I designing a site that my target audience can find value in?

When you are answering these questions, it is very easy to choose a WordPress site design that will have a positive impact on your users. Simply keep in mind that a great UX is the reason that many businesses remain in the black and stay in business for many years. When you choose a WordPress theme that is focused on usability, functionality, and navigation, the rest will follow.

Content Management

A content management website is one that allows you to update the content on your site with very little effort. When it comes to choosing a WordPress theme for such a site, you should go for a theme that is extremely flexible, and makes adding content a piece of cake. Themes that are focused on creating a corporate brand identity are of no use to you if you want to be able to update the copy on your site with ease. For these types of sites, you need a theme that can easily be adapted to display content in a way that represents your brand.

Content management allows you to quickly and easily publish content to your site without needing to be an expert in HTML. If you are looking for a one-stop-shop for all of your website needs, then consider a content management website design. Such websites make adding and editing content a simple and enjoyable process. In case you are wondering, content management websites are also known as WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get).

Reputation Management

If you are reading this, it’s fair to assume that you either run a business or are in the process of starting one. If you are looking for a simple and affordable way to get your business name out there, consider creating a reputation management website. The goal of a reputation management website is to increase your company’s exposure and make it more discoverable by potential customers. The way to do this is by creating a space that is devoted to discussing your company, along with the services that you provide or the products that you sell.

A reputation management website is different from a standard corporate website. The former is usually an informational site that focuses on providing the reader with as much unbiased information as possible. Because these types of websites are more inclined to provide open and honest debate, they are often times more reliable and trustworthy than other sites that exist solely to drive traffic and conversions.

When you are deciding what kind of website design to choose, it is important to bear in mind that not all content is created equal. Take the time to find the right kind of content for your business goals. If you need some help deciding what kind of content should be on your site, consider reaching out to a content strategist or digital marketer.