The Beginner's Guide to Selecting a WordPress Theme
Choosing to create your site on WordPress is a great idea! WordPress runs millions of websites online, and although they’re all built from the core WordPress code, they all look so different. They all perform differently as well, with different purposes. That’s why deciding on a perfect theme can be a bit overwhelming at the beginning with all those options to choose from. So, because of that, we prepared this guide on how to select the perfect WordPress theme for your needs.
How Do Themes Function?
Before we dig into the pros and cons of different types of themes, first you have to understand how themes work. WordPress themes consist of three things: the WordPress core code, themes, and plugins. The code is essential for making the framework aka the basis for your website, but you need the theme and plugins to customize your site to your needs. Even if it might not seem like that, websites need to have a theme installed. You can divide them roughly into two categories: free and premium. Both have their pros and cons, and it’s up to you to decide which one you want to go with.
Free Vs Premium
When installing a theme, this is the first thing to think about. Free themes are a good choice, especially if you’re on a tight budget, they definitely do their job! Although customization wise, they don’t offer as much. They can also have different issues, they might not get updated regularly as the theme authors often abandon their free themes. Premium themes, as the name itself says, offer a lot more options and are more customizable, which can help you set your website apart from others. The choice is yours!
Easy to customize
One of the things you should look for in a theme as a beginner is easy customization. There are different types of themes that require different skill levels. Some themes require you to edit them directly from the code, and if you’re not that well versed in coding in WordPress it can be a problem. But worry not! There are also themes that don’t require much coding. As seen in this in-depth ListingPro theme review, you can find themes that have well-organized settings and options. They’re amazing for beginners because they won’t let you mess up the design of your website, so you can explore your creative side! Just look for themes that are compatible with the page builder tool, as you can easily drag and drop different objects, and create the theme of your dreams.
Keep it Simple
There are many both free and premium themes with different flashy, colorful designs and options, but in these situations less truly is more. It’s not a good idea to have a lot of different over-stimulating visuals flashing in your customer’s face, distracting them from the actual content of your website. It’s best to keep it as simple as possible, with minimalistic design, so your content actually pops out. It’s crucial not to overstuff your website with different features you might not need. Ask yourself what are some things you absolutely need and what are the things you can live without on your site. Overcrowding your website can lead to a lot of confusion, and your visitors will likely click away. It’s also a good thing to choose a color scheme and stick to it, and avoid having way too many colors around. As we said before, less truly is more! You can never go wrong with a modern minimalist design.
Responsiveness
Picking a theme that’s responsive is one of the most important things when building a website. A responsive theme is a theme that’s optimized for all kinds of screens, be it on mobile, tablet, or desktop. Many of your site visitors are going to look at your website on different devices, so it’s very important to be prepared. It’s also important to note that Google prioritizes websites that have a mobile version, and puts them on top of the search bar. Nowadays, most themes are very responsive, but it’s still important to check, just in case. If you want to test the responsiveness you can do it easily by resizing your browser screen, and if your website changes to fit that means it’s a responsive one!
Getting started with a new website is a thrilling new experience, but it might all seem so complicated in the beginning. With these tips, you can hopefully approach WordPress themes with a goal in your mind, and not get lost in thousands of options. In any case, we wish you the best of luck in theme hunting!