Prior to building and managing websites regularly, I was under the impression that obtaining a free theme was the way to go. However, after browsing themes, and I mean a lot of themes, I have come to the conclusion that purchasing is a much smarter decision. Most themes range from $30+ and in all honesty, is one of the best choices you could make for your business. Think of it as an investment.
Your website is generally a prospect’s first impression of your business, so it is important to create a website that you are proud to put your name on. With this in mind, ensure that you are investing time and money into making your website because it is your 24/7 sales rep.
If you are thinking about creating a website or updating a current website, here are some things that you should consider when choosing a WordPress theme.
1. Visually Appealing
An important factor when choosing a theme for your next website, is to make sure that it is visually appealing and user friendly. When it comes to your website, looks do matter and you want to make sure that you are catering to your audience. Look at things like menu configuration, the ability to alter aspects of the theme (colours, fonts) and the compatibility with all Internet browsers. We often use ThemeForest to choose a theme for our clients. ThemeForest gives you the ability to preview and interact with the theme before making the purchase.
2. Budget
Yes, we do think you should invest money into purchasing a theme that works for you, but don’t break the bank. We find that themes within the $50-$60 range work just fine. When you think about having your website long-term this price is extremely reasonable. If budget is something that you are closely monitoring, then make sure to choose something that you can afford. You can always change your theme in the future – it’s an easy process.
3. Read Reviews
Read what others are saying about the theme. Look for mention of bugs, uploading issues or problems altering the theme. Do not choose a theme that has a lot of negative feedback. Creating a website for your business doesn’t need to be a hassle and shouldn’t be. Pay close attention to the negative reviews just as much as the positive ones.
4. Mobile Responsive
These days people are using their phones and tablets to surf the web more often than logging into their computers. You want to ensure that your website is mobile responsive to create a more enjoyable experience for your viewers. If potential customers aren’t able to access the information that they are looking for easily, it is less likely that they will stay around for very long. ThemeForest makes it easy for you to view what themes look like on different platforms, utilize this feature.
5. Helpful Developers
When choosing a theme something that I often look for is how helpful the developers are. You can do this by reading the comments section of the theme page. I look at the kind of questions that are being asked by other customers and how helpful the responses are from the developers. There have been times that I have had to contact developers to get assistance and I have been extremely lucky to have a response and solution within 24-hours of when my inquiry was submitted. Not every theme is built the same and there are times that you may need some help. Your time is important, so make sure that you are supporting people that are willing to help you.
Does your business need a website or does your website need an update? We would love to help! Contact us at [email protected] to discuss how VA Partners can assist you with your business goals.
