When it comes to WordPress sites, the first
element that’s needed is a good theme. This is something that many people don’t
give much thought to. This is partly because WordPress supplies a default free
theme which, to a very limited extent, can be customized.
There are also lots of free themes that you
can access from your WP dashboard. However, there are some good reasons why you
might want to look a little further. The following tips can help you settle on
the best possible theme for your WordPress site.
Don’t Settle For the Default Theme
There is nothing wrong with the free
default theme -except for the fact that it’s used by tens of thousands of
sites. People without blogging or website experience will not think to change
the theme, which is why the default theme is by far the most common one.
Despite the fact that you can change the
header and a few other settings, using this theme will give your site a
cooker-cutter look. Furthermore, anyone with WordPress experience will
instantly see that you are using the default theme.
Finding a Good Free Theme
If you are determined to use a free theme,
you can find many alternatives to the default theme. You can search right from
the WP dashboard and find hundreds of themes. The list is always being updated.
Some of the themes are generic, while others are created for more specialized
purposes. You can also use these great free themes from Automattic.
Remember that you can always choose a theme
and try it out. It only takes a few clicks to do this, so if you decide to
change your mind there’s nothing lost. You can also search for free themes off
site, using Google or another search engine.
Advantages of Premium Themes
Premium themes are ones that you have to
pay for. These can cost anywhere from a few dollars to $50 or even more. When
you purchase themes, you usually have a choice of buying a personal or
developer’s license (with layered PSD files and etc).
The latter is if you want to create sites
for other people and sell them. These licenses can be quite expensive, but if
you’re a developer it can be worth it to have the ability to create quality
sites for your clients.
What are some of the benefits of premium themes?
- A More Distinctive Site – Fewer people using the theme makes your site look more original.
- Better Support – You will get much better support for themes you pay for than free ones.
- Updates – Free themes are not updated consistently. This can be a problem if your theme isn’t compatible with a WordPress update. Premium themes are frequently updated.
- More Secure – Premium themes are usually more secure than free ones.
- More Customizable Features – You will have more features and ways to customize your site with a premium theme.
Choosing a Theme That Works For Your Site
Whether you choose a free or premium theme,
you want to find one that is appropriate for your site. If you have a business,
you can often find a theme that matches your industry. The same goes for blogs
devoted to hobbies, causes or interests.
While you can sometimes find free themes
that are specialized, with themes you pay for you will have a wider variety of
choices. If you need a theme for an unusual type of business or interest, you
may have to do a little searching. Of course, you can always customize a theme
yourself with images and other features that you add.
Don’t just settle on any old theme. Make
sure it does justice to your objectives for your site. People will notice how
your site looks before anything else, so it’s important to realize that
appearances do matter!
