Choosing an Appropriate WordPress Theme for the Site

Beginner or seasoned user looking to change the appearance of their WordPress site, it is difficult select a theme for the site. There are numerous creative WordPress themes, each one seemingly looking better than the other. How then does one choose the best theme for their site? Here are a few suggestions;

Before starting out, it is important to note that whatever theme one chooses should complement their site. It should match the content that they provide for their website. Some themes come with a lot of options for customization, but eventually get in the way of the user experience by making the website extremely slow. The theme is the face of the site, and the process of selection should be done carefully.

Simplicity

Theme choices will likely offer tons of color, complex layout, animations and transitions. While some of these things might be necessary, in most cases one will find that they do not really need all the detail. Look for a theme that supports the goal of the site, helping visitors find the information they need. Do not choose themes that look good but do not help drive more visitors or customers to the site. It is no use having a site that users cannot find their way around.

Responsiveness

It is no longer an option but a necessity to have a site and theme that is responsive. Indications are that mobile queries and searches online are now surpassing those that are conducted on the desktop computer platform. Depending on the information that the website offers, the number of mobile searches could be even higher. Furthermore, the major search engines rank mobile friendly sites higher on their search engine results pages. Many themes are already friendly by default, but there are many that are still fixed. It might be necessary to perform tests to determine mobile friendliness by, for instance, resizing the screen.

Compatibility

Apart from the responsiveness on mobile devices it is important to have the site compatible with different browsers on different platforms. Visitors will be using different browsers, and even those using mobile devices will be on different operating systems. Theme developers will likely mention this, but without specification, it might be prudent to confirm. Always run some basic tests to confirm these sites.

Plugins

The real attractiveness of WordPress is that it comes with plugins, which enable the user to do almost anything on their WordPress site. There are numerous common plug-ins as well as some that are industry specific. When choosing a theme, make sure it can support the necessary plug-ins.

Translation

Those creating a page that is not in English might want to consider the translation capabilities of the theme, especially if it is directed at a multilingual audience. A translation ready theme will be easy to navigate and use.

Reviews

A sure way of determining the theme’s quality is by looking at the reviews and ratings from other users. Whether they are sold on a third party market or can be downloaded from the site, there will be a section where customers comment about their experiences. Look through these reviews carefully before making a decision.