Top 5 Considerations For Picking The Best WordPress Theme

Choosing the right WordPress theme from the vast array available can be challenging. What factors should you consider before making a purchase? How can you identify the theme that best aligns with your needs and website goals?

While your specific requirements will largely dictate your choice – such as opting for an eCommerce theme over a marketing theme — certain fundamental aspects remain consistent.

WordPress is a platform for various websites, including niche blogs, online shops, portfolios, and lifestyle magazines. Each theme is tailored to cater to specific markets, and your selected theme should enhance your website’s content – not compete with it.

Your WordPress theme serves as the public face of your website and greatly influences how users and search engines perceive it. Your theme has a lot to carry on its shoulders. Choose wisely.

Free Themes vs Paid and Developed Themes

WordPress is Open Source = Free Themes

With so many amazing free WordPress themes in the WordPress library, they are more than adequate if:

• you want to start a personal blog,
• you don’t mind if your website is very similar to many others,
• you only need basic functions, and;
• you can get by with little support.

There are also cowboy themes – nulled themes. Nulled plugins and themes are unauthorized copies of premium WordPress products, often obtained for “free.” 

Nulled themes pose significant security and ethical issues. You might unknowingly install malware through these nulled products, which can lead to serious problems for your website. Compromised site security, poor performance, and removal from search engine results due to being flagged as unsafe are just a few potential problems you might face.

“Generally, the core version of a WordPress Plugin (or theme) the freemium model thrives. Meaning, there are more features available for a yearly licensing fee. So, you can download Beaver Builder, fork it for yourself, and use it even commercially. But that doesn’t mean that you or your customers are getting security patches and updates. That’s the security risk for using a nulled plugin”

Rocket.net – Why Rocket.net Prohibits Nulled WordPress Themes and Plugins

Purchasing a WordPress Theme

Many free themes offer upgrades for a monthly or one-time fee. That’s one way to go. Another option is to purchase a theme outright from one of the many vendors. Some of the larger vendors for WordPress themes are ThemeForest, Envanto, Elegant Themes, and TemplateMonster.

You should opt for a premium WordPress theme if you

• need a business website,
• want to expand it in the future to include major functions such as eCommerce,
• want the website to look unique, or;
• need a dedicated support team.

The advantages of purchasing a theme include support, security, and a much-reduced price over a custom-developed theme. 

The flipside of purchasing a theme is the chance that someone else’s website may look like yours. It can happen. Neve, a popular theme offering starter packs of ready-made site designs, is active on over 300,000 websites. You do the math.

Building Your Own WordPress Theme

Many WordPress folks develop their own, custom WordPress themes – which is a pretty good idea for most business websites. Developing a theme costs you either time, which is money, or you need to pay a developer. Either way, it isn’t free. The advantage of a custom theme is complete control and a unique design.

If you haven’t developed a theme, but are interested in trying it out, our friends at codeable have a great Step-by-Step Guide to creating a WordPress theme. Check it out!

If you purchase a theme, develop one, or use a free theme, make it your own. Create a unique website experience for yourself and your clients.

What About Page Builders?

Before page builders came along, customizing WordPress themes required in-depth CSS knowledge. Most people had to hire a front-end developer to customize their themes. This changed with the introduction of tools like Visual Composer, Beaver Builder, and Elementor, which offered drag-and-drop interfaces for easy website creation.

Don’t forget the fundamental principle: themes are for design; plugins are for functionality. While both are essential, page builders excel at providing design flexibility for those who want to go beyond a theme’s default options. This makes them particularly attractive to small business owners, bloggers, and others seeking to add a personal touch to their websites. However, their misuse can lead to suboptimal user experiences.

“If you’re a small business owner, and you’d like to customize your website appearance more than what is available with a theme, then a Page Builder is a good option. Well, until a non-designer just starts using elements that make the customer experience poor. But, frankly, that’s another blog post.”

Rocket.net – Should I Use A WordPress Page Builder or Not?

Given the time-saving benefits, page builders remain a valuable tool even in the era of WordPress Blocks and Full Site Editing. While these native options offer increased flexibility, many users and agencies still find page builders to be more efficient and effective for their needs.

Before deciding to use a page builder, clarify your goals. What do you want users to do when they get to your website, for example. Page builders can simplify website design for those without coding skills, but they may lead to poor user experiences if misused.

5 Essential Factors to Consider When Selecting the Right WordPress Theme

1. Does the Theme Fit Your Budget?

Your budget is a crucial factor in choosing the right theme. WordPress themes are available across a wide price range. There are also tens of thousands of free options. Premium themes can be quite costly, especially for large eCommerce sites. 

Your budget will help you decide if you choose a free or a paid theme. Before you start exploring themes, establish a budget. Your selection process should exclude the temptation of choosing an expensive theme solely based on aesthetics.

2. Does the Theme Align with Your Website’s (and Your Business) Goals?

Every website serves a unique purpose, whether it’s a simple blog, a corporate site, or an eCommerce store. So does your business. Your chosen theme should align with your business goals. A blog theme should prioritize readability and typography. An eCommerce theme should streamline the purchasing process for users. 

There are many multipurpose themes, like Elementor, Avada, or Divi. They are highly versatile and frequently updated, but not all multipurpose themes are created equal. Some may slow down your site or lack regular updates, so it’s essential to evaluate them based on all the criteria here.

3. Is the Theme Responsive? 

It’s 2024. The mobile moment happened more than a decade ago. Enough said about mobile websites. However, responsiveness should also be understood as being accessible. An accessible website is even more important than a fast one.

Is the Theme Compatible with Different Browsers?

Your website should function flawlessly across all major web browsers and contexts. It needs to be accessible. 

Ensure you choose a theme compatible with popular browsers to provide a consistent user experience. What browser are your customers using? How will they access your site?

“When websites and web tools are properly designed and coded, people with disabilities can use them. However, currently, many sites and tools are developed with accessibility barriers that make them difficult or impossible for some people to use.”

www.w3.org

4. How Fast Does the Theme Load?

This one is a deal-breaker. Does 200 milliseconds sound fast to you? Speed wins! Starting with fast WordPress hosting, website speed is a critical factor for search engine rankings and UX. 

Users expect websites to load immediately. Selecting a fast-loading theme – and not cluttering your website with 1 MB images – is imperative. However, many people only realize their theme’s sluggishness after purchase. Conduct some due diligence before making a decision.

5. Is the Theme Easy to Customize and Use?

You, and your clients, will be using the website. Maybe even logging into the backend. A good theme should offer sufficient customization options to tailor it to your preferences without overwhelming you. 

Too few options can feel restrictive, while too many can lead to confusion and frustration. Determine in advance which customization features are essential for your needs.

Bonus Tip: Is the Theme Developed by a Reputable Developer?

This is a big one, so we saved it for last. WordPress is open-source, meaning themes are created by a wide range of developers. While not all beginner-developed themes are subpar, opting for themes from established developers can help mitigate security and support issues.

Does the Theme Work with Common Plugins?

Most WordPress websites rely on plugins for various functionalities, such as SEO, backups, social sharing, and contact forms. Ensure your chosen theme is compatible with popular plugins (like Yoast, Gravity Forms, and WooCommerce). If you have crucial functionality, ensure that any other plugins that are essential to the website’s purpose are compatible as well.

Is Documentation Included?

Comprehensive documentation is crucial for configuring theme options effectively. Look for themes that provide clear, accessible documentation to save time and avoid errors going forward.

Does the Theme Developer Offer Support?

Even with good documentation, you may occasionally need assistance. A reliable developer should offer support. Find out how responsive the developer is to inquiries to ensure you have help when needed.

Is the Theme Updated Regularly?

WordPress Core frequently updates its software (3-4 times a year) – plugins can be more often. It’s essential to choose a WordPress theme that keeps pace with frequent Core and plugin updates.

Investigate how often the developer releases updates to address issues and maintain compatibility with the latest WordPress versions.

Is There a Better Way to Go Instead of Themes?

A theme is the overall design style of your website. It sets the foundation for how the site looks and feels. Templates, on the other hand, are specific page layouts within that theme, allowing for customization of individual pages or posts.

With our SiteTemplates feature, you can create pre-configured templates that can be reused across multiple projects. This significantly reduces the time spent on setting up themes and plugins for new websites. Saving time means saving money!

“Rather than creating a new site every time and manually installing these plugins and/or themes you work with, you can now do it once with Site Templates and can reuse it over and over again on new installs going forward.”

Rocket.net – Introducing: Site Templates

Choose The Future of WordPress Hosting!

By investing in WordPress hosting, you’re equipping yourself with the tools and resources necessary to build a robust, secure, and high-performing online presence. Spend your time captivating and engaging with your audience. Let your hosting take care of the rest!