Picking a theme for your WordPress is not an easy task. Your choice should be right for the company as a whole and not simply visually appealing. The design you pick should convey the brand and above all else appeal to your customers. Remember, too, you theme goes much deeper than the skin. It includes the layout of the page, its features, and how easy it is to read and navigate. For tips on choosing the best WordPress theme, continue reading.
Draft Ahead of Time
The design of your webpage is one of the most important things about it. It’s imperative that you draft some ideas on how you want your page to look. For instance, do you want one column for your content or do you want multiple columns? Do you want the header to be bubbly and inviting? Or do you want the typography to be elegant and professional? All of these things depend on the personality of your company. So before you start choosing anything, know exactly what you have in mind.
Once you jot down some ideas for your homepage, think about the rest of the site. List ALL the pages you want to include. They should all share a cohesive design, but each might have its own features.
Consider the Level of Customization You Want
If you are working with a designer, you can make your site look just about any way you want. The theme you choose is just a template. Make sure you know which features of the theme can be customized, as well as whether your designer is able to do what you want.
On the other hand, if you will be building the site yourself–and you’re not a professional designer–you want something more cookie-cutter. Find a theme that already has the colors, fonts, and features you want, if you do not know how to change them. Over time, you can learn more, but shoot for something close to your vision from the outset.
Don’t Go Overboard
GIFs, videos, embedded Facebook feeds and live chats might work for you. Too many of these things, however, can bog the page down causing it to load slowly. Slow load times deter customers. Just because a theme offers a lot of multimedia features doesn’t mean you have to use them. But don’t feel you need to choose the theme with the most bells and whistles if you don’t actually need them all. Many themes look polished and professional with just the basics.
Don’t Shy Away from Spending Money
Many WordPress developers offer free themes. However, a small investment vastly expands your range of options. What is more, hiring a designer to set things up the right way at the start can pay off. Your website represents your business to the world. Invest in it and you will see a return. You don’t have to spend a lot either. Some themes come free with limited features but charge for others. So, if you’re uncertain about spending up front, try the free version and then upgrade later.
Make it User-Friendly For All Devices
Finally, the most important thing you can do for your page is to make it user-friendly for all devices. Statista points out that “In 2018, 52.2 percent of all website traffic worldwide was generated through mobile phones.” Not making your website easily accessible for all devices is simply not an option. Luckily, WordPress really helps by giving you the option to test how your page will look on mobile devices. If you don’t like the way it looks, keep tweaking it.
The theme of your webpage can have a huge impact on your traffic. The less interested consumers are in your page the more it hurts your sales. If you’re struggling with the theme of your page contact us to discuss the services we offer.
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