How To Choose The Best WordPress Theme For Your Site 2022

The WordPress theme catalog now has over 4,500 free themes to select from, and that number is growing. On top of that, there are tens of thousands of premium WordPress themes to choose from. It’s not easy to pick the finest one.

WordPress themes have evolved through time to become significantly more adaptable and feature-rich. Options are even more extensive today, thanks to the addition of the editing system with WordPress 5.9.

 

With that in mind, it’s critical to remember that themes aren’t one-size-fits-all. Instead, think on what you want the theme to accomplish, as there is no such thing as the best theme ever. It’s all a matter of perception.

 

Regardless, I will demonstrate how to select the ideal theme for your website.

 

What Are WordPress Themes and How Do I Use Them?

 

A WordPress theme is a collection of stylesheets and templates that give your website a distinct look. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, each focusing on a different feature, making it tough to choose one.

 

Each theme can be adjusted to a degree, with some being more customizable than others. Colors, font, and font size are the most typical aspects that can be customized. If you want to change the theme’s layout, you’ll need to code a lot of the time, which is entirely achievable.

 

Furthermore, each theme includes its own widget section (s). Each theme has its own version of this. Some websites only feature a sidebar widget section, while others have several headers, footers, and sidebars. It is entirely dependent on the topic and its creator.

 

While it may appear that themes are only for show, they are not.

 

Many themes are being merged with plugins since the rivalry has become more fierce over time. Many premium themes do this because they are frequently included with page builder plugins and other expensive utilities.

 

Themes are also coded differently, which might make one theme superior than another. This is due to the fact that repetitive coding might result in slower sites, which has a direct impact on search rankings. The performance of a website will be harmed by a poorly coded theme.

 

Let’s look at the variables to think about when deciding between WordPress themes.

 

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The Best WordPress Themes: How to Pick Them

 

Step 1: Determine Your Requirements

The correct theme for someone else’s website might not be the right theme for yours. There is no such thing as a universal “best theme” that works in every circumstance.

 

As a result, before you can start thinking about themes, you must first grasp your personal requirements. Are you going to have numerous pages on your website or a single-page structure, for example?

 

It’s a simple question, but it can have a big impact on the hiring process. In comparison, themes designed just for a single page will be lighter, resulting in improved performance.

 

However, as your website grows, it becomes more difficult to scale it.

 

It’s straightforward, yet it’s crucial to the decision-making process. Similarly, if you’re establishing an eCommerce site, choose a blogging theme is a mistake. These are two extremely distinct types of websites that require themes tailored to their needs.

 

Is this to say that all-purpose themes aren’t good?

 

No, however themes designed for a specific purpose usually function better in those conditions. It’s similar like driving on standard tires instead of winter tires in the winter. Yes, they function, but the alternative is preferable.

 

Step 2: Read the Testimonials

Whether you’re looking for a new restaurant or a new theme, user ratings can be extremely useful.

 

Users can rate themes from one to five stars and explain their choices in the WordPress theme directory. This is a really important indicator because it can tell you what real users liked and didn’t like about the theme.

 

Premium themes are the same way, and because people pay for them, they are more inclined to give a review. However, popular themes often have thousands of users but only a few reviews.

 

This is most likely due to the theme’s lack of a review request. It makes a huge impact.

 

Of course, user reviews are no longer the exclusive source of information. There are numerous lists and reviews of different WordPress themes available. For example, if you’re seeking for the top small business themes, go no farther than our own list.

 

These types of lists can help you narrow down your search from thousands of possibilities to just a few.

 

Step 3: Check for Responsiveness

It used to be that being responsive was optional, but that is no longer the case in 2022. Mobile traffic will account for more than half of your traffic in most circumstances, but the good news is that most modern themes are responsive.

 

In fact, it’s featured in the features for almost every theme. So, why am I bringing this up now?

 

Because there are varied levels of response at this point. The fundamental question is: how can you verify if a theme’s design is truly responsive? The simplest method is to use your smartphone to test the sample site.

 

Any theme worth its salt comes with a ready-to-use demo site that demonstrates its capabilities. This is usually a significant red flag if it doesn’t. Use your smartphone and any other mobile device you can get your hands on to put this to the test.

 

It’s a good omen if things appear to be going well, but it’s not a game-ender if they don’t. To be honest, this could just be a lousy demo site in many circumstances, but it’s always a good habit to double-check.

 

Step 4: Investigate Your Support Options

People nowadays are developing websites with little or no experience, which is fantastic. However, this is mostly due to the enormous number of tutorials available in the WordPress community, yet themes can occasionally become overly particular.

 

For beginners, this may be very frustrating, which is why having help options directly from the developers is beneficial.

 

You can sometimes freely email a theme developer with a question and receive a response within days. Some people, however, are unable to wait so long. The good news is that speedier options are available, but they are usually not free.

 

Instead, most themes include a Pro version that includes support, although it may be attached to a higher-tiered plan, so read the fine print. The good news is that you usually receive a lot more than just support; you usually get additional features as well.

 

Official support is excellent now, but it’s no longer the sole option.

 

Some popular themes with thousands of users frequently have a plethora of useful materials created by those users available online. Some web hosts may also provide instructions for popular WordPress themes. As a result, keep an eye out for these resources.

 

Step 5: Make Sure It’s Search Engine Optimized

One of the most crucial elements to consider when choosing a WordPress theme is whether or not it is SEO friendly.

 

However, in the same way that themes utilize the term responsive, SEO friendly is a term that almost every theme uses. As a result, you shouldn’t take the phrase at face value; instead, seek for a few important characteristics.

 

One thing to keep in mind is that the theme must correctly order the content. In a nutshell, here is where the pieces load in the correct sequence, and if they don’t, things can become a little wonky.

 

I’m willing to wager you’ve seen it before without realizing what it is.

 

When you load a page, have you ever notice that some of the sidebar or header regions load first, followed by the rest of the page? That’s a poor method of content organization.

 

Always load the most important stuff first. And this is due to an improperly coded theme, which might be difficult or impossible to spot if you aren’t familiar with coding. A theme that hasn’t been optimized will always perform worse.

 

Not to mention how a mistake like this can cause Google Search Console errors like Longest Contentful Paint and Cumulative Layout Shift.

 

Using a third-party tool like the W3C Markup Validation Service is one approach to check. This is the greatest option if you can’t read code.

 

A range of navigational choices, comprehensive snippet support, full control over meta tags, and more are all important things to look for.

 

Plugins can be utilized to augment any theme element, but they will never replace a well-designed layout.

 

Step 6: Ensure that it is updated on a regular basis.

The fact that a theme is no longer supported is one of the most prevalent reasons for developers to switch themes.

 

Everything may have been up to current when you started, but you may have only recently received the most recent update. A theme that isn’t updated on a regular basis is a security risk that can give you a lot of problems. The good thing is that you can check to see how frequently a theme is updated.

 

In general, there will be an update once every one to three months. Anything more than that is a warning sign.

 

Unfortunately, many theme creators, both free and paid, do not explicitly state when support will expire. Your only option at this moment is to change themes. As a result, check to see if the developers have a strong track record.

 

You should be able to discover the best WordPress themes by following these general guidelines. After that, you must personalize them in order to make them uniquely yours.

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So, which is preferable: free or premium themes?

 

This is a key question that almost everyone has while choosing a WordPress theme.

 

There’s a misconception that paid themes are “better” than free themes, however this isn’t the case. Themes, both free and paid, are nothing more than code. Some themes are better coded than others, and this can happen with both free and commercial themes.

 

Premium themes, on the other hand, come with more tools and support than free themes, which may be the determining factor for some. That is, in fact, what you are paying for when you purchase a premium theme.

 

It’s also worth discussing the price tag itself. Let’s face it, saving an extra $50 or $100 when beginning a new blog is a significant deal. Even if the extra features are appealing, they may not be worth the money when you’re just getting started.

 

Than address the question directly, neither is superior to the other. One simply has more to offer in terms of features.

 

What Role Do Page Builders Play?

 

Page builders allow you to produce unique material that isn’t possible using WordPress’s normal capabilities.

 

The good news is that page builders will work with almost all themes. It’s not difficult to get this information because most will include the page builders they support as a selling factor. Themes and page builders, on the other hand, leave something out.

 

What effect do they have on the performance of your theme.

 

In most circumstances, there will be no noticeable slowdown or influence on performance. However, if you use a lot of custom elements and content, it can have an effect, but this is uncommon.

 

When performance is hampered, it’s usually due to a poorly coded theme. In the end, page builders should have little to no effect, but if they do, you’ll probably need to switch themes.

 

It’s Not Easy to Pick the Best WordPress Theme

Unfortunately, many simple guides will skim over the process of selecting a theme. This can cause a lot of problems down the road and make life difficult for developers. However, if you follow the steps outlined above, you should be able to pick a fantastic theme.

 

Following that, it’s all about tweaking the theme to create a one-of-a-kind experience for your audience. And this isn’t going to be a quick process. Expect to put in a lot of time to get things just right.

 

The good thing is that there’s not much else to it after you’ve got it set up.

 

The only time you’ll see a substantial difference is if you decide to change the website’s appearance or if Google updates its SEO regulations, which it does frequently.

 

Is there anything else you’d do if you were looking at WordPress themes? What is your favorite theme, and why do you like it so much?