A WordPress theme is a group of files that work together to dictate the overall look, feel, and style of a website.The design of your website is important because it affects how your audience perceives your brand. Just as a powerful theme is an important element of a good screenplay, it’s also a crucial part of web design.Choosing a WordPress theme can be daunting, especially when there are so many to choose between. If you’re setting up a WordPress site for your business or brand, read our article below to get you started with selecting a WordPress theme.
Plugins vs. themesThemes affect the ‘look’ of your site (the design, layout, color schemes, templates, etc.), whereas plugins affect your site’s functionality. Plugins change the way your site works and allows it to do new things.You can only have one active theme on your site, while you can have multiple active plugins, so be sure to select your theme based on the look and layout you want, rather than the features it includes. You can always add any additional functionality you need using plugins. Templates vs. themesAs mentioned above, themes affect the design of your site. A WordPress template is a layout only for certain pages, not the whole site. Themes include several different templates — so by using a specific template, you can have a completely different look for a blog page or a contact page.
Tip #1: Browse WordPress theme marketplacesWordPress.org isn’t the only place where you can get WordPress themes. There are a few marketplaces out there that offer quality, premium (paid for) WordPress themes. If you are struggling to decide on your design direction, looking at different themes may spark your imagination; alternatively, getting a good idea of what’s possible with a theme may whittle down the options and help you select the right one for you.Below are some examples of WordPress theme marketplaces. CSSIgniter: With an individual theme starting from $49 and complete access for only $69, CSSIgniter gives you a collection of attractive, simple-to-use designs at a competitive price. Elegant Themes: One of the oldest and most well-known WordPress theme marketplaces, Elegant Themes offers premium WordPress themes, plugins and has one of the most popular themes in the world, The Divi Builder. MOJO Marketplace: Home to thousands of themes, carefully organized into topics and categories with a filterable search feature. StudioPress: A top premium themes provider for all your business, ecommerce, photography, or lifestyle needs. ThemeForest: Boasts a large collection of premium WordPress themes and might be the best place to find some of the cheaper WordPress themes. WordPress.org Theme Directory: With thousands to choose from, WordPress.org Theme Directory has the largest collection of free WordPress themes. A huge advantage of getting a theme off WordPress.org Theme Directory is that themes strictly adhere to WordPress theme directory guidelines.
Tip #2: Do your homeworkWhat do you want your site to look like? If you have a specific style in mind, pick a theme that meets your needs. If you have a company logo, try to match its color scheme. You can’t do much customizing with a premade theme so choose wisely. Make a list of the features you want ahead of time and pick a theme that’s intuitive to use and explore.Make sure to review theme versions — is the theme compatible with newer versions of WordPress? You can also learn a lot by reading user reviews and checking ratings. Is the theme easy to use? Is the design responsive? A theme that works for someone else doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to work for you since you might have different requirements.It’s also important to check if there is theme support from the developer and if there are available support forums for the theme. You don’t want to be left in the dark should anything go wrong with your theme, which can happen if the code is hacked or regular updates break any theme elements.Read developer notes to understand all the features offered — this includes if a theme allows for custom headers, colors, backgrounds, footer widgets, full-length templates, etc. During your research, if you find a WordPress site that matches your desired look and feel, run it through this free Theme Detector to confirm the theme the site is using.
Tip #3: Consider your budgetFree themesChoosing a free theme is incredibly tempting. Especially when it’s not coming from a dodgy site (themes downloaded from the WordPress.org theme directory will have undergone an official review process, for example). That said, the quality and customization options can vary greatly, and there are sometimes limited support options with free themes, so bear in mind, you’ll get what you do (or don’t) pay for.Premium themesA high-quality premium theme is an investment. Premium themes have more features and customization options, as well as ongoing support and updates.
Tip #4: Consider the purpose of your websiteSome themes make more sense for certain types of websites or industries. Is your website featuring a blog? Is it an online store? Pick a theme that has the basic structure you want for your site.Here are some of the types of websites you can create on WordPress, as well as theme examples for each type.
“Use the right tool for the job.”WordPress Theme Editor vs. WordPress Theme CustomizerTwo tools provided by WordPress to edit or customize a theme are the theme editor and Theme Customizer.The WordPress theme editor is a simple text editor found in WordPress that allows you to modify the code in the theme files. The editor displays a list of the files which you can modify to your preferences. To access the WordPress theme editor, go to Appearance -> Editor. The theme files are written in PHP, CSS, JS, and JSON. It is important to note that if you do not know how to code, you should not use the theme editor — ask a professional to help you.However, the Theme Customizer allows you to personalize your website using existing themes and a graphical user interface. From the theme customizer, you can change your site title, widgets, sidebar, create custom menus, and many more. It is a simple way of drastically changing your WordPress site’s appearance and functionality, from a simple interface, without potentially damaging the theme files. To get to the customizer in WordPress, navigate to Appearance and then Customize.
How do I report a bug with my theme?Report it to the developer or create a ticket in WordPress’s bug tracker.How do I know if a WordPress theme is safe to use?Stick with reputable platforms like WordPress’s official Theme Directory, or you could use a tool like Theme Check to see if it’s safe. Theme Check verifies code quality and the presence of malware. Also, it lists all the themes that have already been checked, so be sure to search the list using the filters provided to save rechecking ones that have already been validated.What is the difference between a theme builder and a page builder?Page Builders help you create the desired layout for a single piece of content. A theme builder allows you to create templates that automatically apply to some/all of your content.Is it worth paying for a premium WordPress theme?The benefits of support and design flexibility make it worth the price. How much does a WordPress theme cost?Pricing for a premade theme ranges all the way from $10 to $200, while a custom theme could cost thousands.What is a child theme?A child theme is a sub-theme that allows you to modify an existing theme without making any changes to the parent theme’s files.