WordPress powers at least a quarter of all websites. Nearly 60% of those using a content management system are using WordPress, making it the most successful content management system in history. Many people try to customize their WordPress site using various themes. Here are three things to look for in a WordPress theme for your website.
The Right Features
It isn’t the number of features a WordPress theme has that matters. Rather, it is whether the theme’s features are what you need. It doesn’t matter if it has a shopping cart if you don’t need one, whereas a photo gallery may be essential. Conversely, if you might need a shopping cart later, you’d rather have a WordPress theme that offers this than try to change or integrate new functions later. You also want to be able to integrate social media with your WordPress theme and add whatever types of media you expect to include on a regular basis.
If you will be collecting any user information, whether it’s payment information when someone orders an item online or collecting information about a user’s system, you need to know that the WordPress theme has built-in measures to protect the visitor’s privacy and security. And no, a privacy policy on your website does not eliminate the liabilities you create when processing their payment card information or collect their personal information.
User-Friendliness for You, the User
Avoid WordPress themes that require you to know how to code unless you already have the skill and don’t mind using it. And in any situation, choose the WordPress themes that have abundant documentation. The ideal case will be themes that are well-supported if the documentation isn’t enough, though you may have to pay for these themes. If you’re on the cutting edge of interactive content and capabilities, it may be worth it to pay for a premium WordPress theme that is maintained so that it works as browsers and operating systems change. This is where the upfront or ongoing costs need to be balanced against the features included in the theme.
Responsive Design
Search engines penalize websites that take too long to load because their customers hate slow sites, too. Your WordPress theme needs to load quickly on any type of device. You also want to strike from your list the bloated WordPress themes that hog bandwidth, whether it is trying to gather detailed data on user activity or constantly update content. It may be better to work with a company like clickintelligence.com, instead of slowing down your site by trying to gather and analyse all the user behaviour information via WordPress plugins.
Conclusion
You should look for a WordPress theme that provides the features you want and those your website needs. WordPress themes need to be easy to manage in-house without having to hire a programmer or website administrator. And last, but not least, your theme needs to be responsive, work on every device, and at the speeds your customers expect.
