7 Factors To Consider When Choosing A WordPress Theme

WordPress, the most widely-used content management system (CMS), powers 43.5% of all websites. In fact, my website is also built on WordPress with the help of Namecheap domain and SiteGround hosting.

It is thus crucial that you choose the right WordPress theme for your website. Of course, WordPress offers some themes that you can use immediately. But I chose Elegant Themes Divi instead. The visual drag-and-drop builder, Divi leads (split testing and conversion optimization system), Bloom (email opt-in plugin) and Monarch (social sharing plugin) are some of the many features I love! I also use a child theme from Divi Lover that has a feminine design that I like~

Check out the factors to look out for when choosing a WordPress theme for your website.

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1. Easy Installation

The first thing that you should consider is whether the WordPress theme includes a fast and simple installation.

You’ll want to get your website up and running ASAP so people can know what your brand is and what products and services you offer.

Therefore, it’s essential that installing the WordPress theme should be hassle-free.

2. Responsive Design

With the rise of mobile usage, the need for responsive web design is more paramount than ever.

A responsive web design ensures that your website adapts to all devices, platforms and screen sizes and thus, allowing everyone across the globe to access your site no matter what device they’re using.

When choosing your WordPress theme, you’ll need to check if it’s mobile-friendly.

3. What You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG)

So this isn’t really a must-have. It’s a nice-to-have.

What You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG) is a software that allows content to be edited in a form that resembles its appearance when printed or displayed as a finished product, such as a printed document, web page, or slide presentation.

Most WordPress themes have fixed layouts where you can only change the text and images. But some WordPress themes offer this WYSIWYG functionality. For example, Elegant Themes Divi has this drag-and-drop visual builder.

WYSIWYG is something you should look out for if you want full control or if you want to save budget by not hiring a designer for every small change on your website. WYSIWYG is also great for web design noobs because you don’t need any knowledge or skills. It is extremely easy to use where you simply rearrange elements such that your website looks exactly the way you want.

4. eCommerce

If you intend to sell products or services on your website, you must get a WordPress theme that has eCommerce features.

• Create physical & digital products
• Secure payment gateways
• Add to cart buttons
• Cart abandonment recovery
• Analytics

WooCommerce is a popular eCommerce plugin for WordPress which has the above features.

If your WordPress theme supports WooCommerce, that will be great! Even better if the theme includes premade pages and templates designed with WooCommerce in mind.

5. Templates: Layouts & Pages

Some WordPress themes include templates. For instance, they already have layouts for pages like About, Contact, Products/Services, FAQ and Blog created for you which you can use immediately. They might also have landing pages which are great for running marketing campaigns.

I strongly recommend that you get WordPress themes with such templates, layouts and pages included. This way, you don’t have to build your website from scratch. Instead, you can modify these pages to suit your needs.

Also, do browse through these templates, layouts and pages and check if they align with the web design you envision. For example, Divi Lover offers a variety of child themes for Elegant Themes Divi from minimalist to modern. I think it’s easier if you purchase a theme that aligns with your brand. This will minimize the number and scale of changes required.

6. Features

On top of templates, WordPress themes might include features.

• Sliders
• Pricing Tables
• Blurbs
• Testimonials
• Team Members
• Timelines or Steps
• Email Opt-In Forms
• Buttons & Call-To-Action
• Accordions: great for FAQ
• Counters & Timers
• Bullet Lists & Checklists

If the WordPress theme includes these beautifully designed and stunning features, I strongly recommend that you get it. Of course, you should check if you will use these on your web pages. But even if you don’t, at least you have the option to add them when you need them in the future, rather than designing from scratch.

Elegant Themes Divi has the benefit of customization where you can easily customize the font, divider, border, animation, layout etc. With complete design control over everything, you can unleash your creativity and easily style your website without touching a line of code. Plus, it has other interesting features like Divi Leads (split testing and conversion optimization system).

7. Support

Sometimes, you might encounter issues. For instance, you might have installation problems or difficulties designing a page. In such cases, it’s best if your WordPress theme includes a support hotline or just a way to contact them for troubleshooting.

For most WordPress themes, there are support forums that you can turn to. The response times will vary (probably depending on the theme you purchased and the support team’s caseload).

With Elegant Themes Divi, their support team replies within minutes due to their 24/7 chat and email support. They help to fix problems via the Divi remote access system which gives the support team limited access to your WordPress admin panel with a click of a button. I’ve contacted them a few times via chat about problems I’ve encountered and they managed to rectify issues quickly.

Photo by rawpixel on Pixabay

Now It’s Your Turn

What are your considerations when choosing a WordPress theme for your website?