How Do I Choose a Right WordPress Theme [6 Simple Steps]

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How Do I Choose a WordPress Theme

Whenever someone starts a new blog, he or she always thinks of – “ How Do I Choose a WordPress Theme ? ”

The same situation also occurs to me, and almost every blogger would have been passed through this situation.

Selecting a right WordPress theme isn’t an easy task. Most of the times, it happens that I don’t find a significant feature that is essential for my blog.

In this case, I just look for another theme.

If you are starting a new blog, you would also need to install a theme on your WordPress installation.

Maybe you are also struggling with the same issue.

Not able to select a right theme for your blog.

Therefore, today I’m going to take you through six easy steps need to choose right WordPress theme for your blog.

Before going to theme selection, first read why the only WordPress? Can’t you design blog in PHP.

Well, there is a significant reason.

If you want to get online quickly, one of the quickest ways of doing so is to use a content management system or CMS such as WordPress.

There are other content management systems such as Drupal, Joomla, and Blogger, but wordPress is my first choice due to its features, easy customization, and community support.

There’s so many plugins on the free wordpress.org and seem thousands of free WordPress themes.

It can be overwhelming if we consider the alternative premium themes from suppliers such as elegant themes, MyThemeShop themes, Woo themes, etc.

That is why; people love to use WordPress for blogging.

Some blog owners just give up in their search for a blog theme can design a custom blog.

By using online tutorials, anyone can learn to develop and maintain a blog.

Now come to our most important topic and find out how you can decide on the perfect WordPress theme template for your blog?

Follow the steps below to know how I choose a WordPress Theme for my blog.

How Do I Choose a WordPress Theme?

Deciding on the right theme has not only about design; they’re all the features you must consider as well.

Just remember – if you don’t like a theme, you can always change it.

Choosing and buying a theme shouldn’t take more than take a couple of days. Your priority should be on attracting traffic to your blog.

This WordPress theme design selection guide will help you consider the right criteria when deciding on the theme for you save time and get the right theme in the first time.

Step 1: Understand Your Blog’s Needs

Understand Your Site Needs

WordPress themes are made for different purposes, like business, publication, finance, sales, food, pets and blogs, etc.

You need to decide what is it you want your blog to do for you.

What type of blog you are publishing?

The niche you are entering.

The intent of use?

Step 2. List of features is also Crucial

list of features in a theme

List all the features you’ll require having in your blog, even if you’re not going to use immediately.

Here are some examples:

Custom header,

  • This usually contains elements like logos, calls to action, banner ads, and search box.
  • Custom logo
  • Color scheme

Navigation and menu options

  • Do you need more than one menus? How many menu levels do you need?
  • Images/ Text sliders
  • Do you need to show slideshows or sliding carousels?
  • Have any particular blog features you need to include.

 Sidebars

  • How many and where do you want to?

Footers

  • Will they contain links for your privacy policy; contact us, copyright notice ads, navigation.

Do you need a newsletter sign-up form?

Will you be using pop-up windows?

Will you be placing testimonials on the page?

Do you need multi-page layout on different topics?

Are you going to integrate video and audio into your pages?

Do you need social media sharing buttons?

Do you need a comment box?

How much SEO configuration and integration is required?

Do you need banner ads?

Do you need a responsive theme?

Responsive themes automatically adjust and display favorably when viewed on mobile devices

Step 3: Consider Skills Sets

Consider Skills Sets

Some themes are hard to use than others, so you require different skill sets.

Do you need a theme which is simply plug-and-play? Or are you willing to get your hands dirty into coding?

Are you a coder? Do you know- HTML CSS, PHP?

Are you willing to learn?

Can use a menu-driven design framework?

Do you need technical support?

Do you need a programmer?

Step 4 Do Thorough Research

Do Thorough Research

Now you need to do some serious research.

Be flexible in your thinking.

  • Look into the free wordpress.org themes area and some of the demos on the better premium design sites.

Budget

No doubt your budget plays a role in whether or not you want to go for a free or a premium theme.

Just remember free themes have little or no support and if you have any issues with the theme that is not working for the latest WordPress release, it can be tough to get any help from the theme creator.

Free often comes with a price, so just make sure you understand that if you decide to go that route.

This is your blog. You don’t want your blog down for the sake of 20 to 50 dollars for a premium theme from a good company who will update the theme and provide support.

That is having been said you are unlikely to find a theme which matches your desires exactly.

If you are unwilling to deal with that reality, pay for custom premiums themes or design our own.

Now create a shortlist of interesting themes.

Look at several demo themes in both free and premium segment.

Read other blogs which themes are recommended for your niche.

Stick with reputable companies and designers for premium themes.

Try changing a few parameters such as background image, text color, logos. Header images.

Steps 5. Investigate the Theme Details

Investigate the Theme Details

Some themes might have separate guidelines for using, so be careful.

You might find restrictions on use, such as the ability to only use a theme on one blog

There may be license restrictions like not to be used for gambling, all other related works.

Another important consideration is update and support.

The WordPress is updated quite often four or five times a year, so themes need to be modified to keep in line.

Reviews a license granted carefully.

Is technical support included?

Are updates included?

Are there license restrictions?

Step 6: Install Your Theme

Install Your Theme

Gather all your data together.

Pick the best theme which satisfies many of your criteria as possible.

Avoid spending weeks on the process. Get the blog up and running.

You can always switch your theme if necessary.

Remember if the theme does not meet all your requirements look in the WordPress plugins directory, you might find a plugin which does exactly what you want.

You might love to read the posts below. The will improve your experience with WordPress.

Over to You

I hope you found something useful and enjoy this post.

If you did and, please, share with others and click on the Like button.

If you have any query regarding this post, feel free to ask in comment section.

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30 thoughts on “How Do I Choose a Right WordPress Theme [6 Simple Steps]”

  1. Hi Nikhil, great writing once again.
    Yes, this article will help beginners to choose an appropriate theme.
    I think that every serious blogger should use a premium theme for their blog and mythemeshop is perfect. I am currently using their theme for my site. It comes with premium support and in a low price.

    Reply

  2. Hello Nikhil Sir,
    Great information shared by you after reading this article no newbie like me will have a confusion about how to choose a wordpress theme , explain in a best way in detail , that is the most important you covered in the article, step wise
    thank you

    Reply

  5. Hi Nikhil,
    I think a theme should be well coded, created considering speed in mind and must have a simple backend interface. Mythemeshop is an amazing theme provider you have recommended.

    Reply

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  10. There is such a massive choice of WordPress themes isn’t there? It can be overwhelming even for those who know what they need let alone beginners. Thankfully there are many more features inbuilt into WordPress now, especially with Jetpack. As you say, plugins can add specific features that aren’t built in. Page builders added to existing themes can change the look of your site completely.

    There are many excellent free themes available, some with help forums bu,t as you say, premium themes do have better support. It;s important to find free themes from a reputable source. Only yesterday I discovered a virus in a friend’s free theme. Changing themes didn’t remove it so it had spread to other files. He’s going to have to completely reinstall WordPress.

    Reply

    • That is the thing what I am saying. I am oppose of free themes, but if you have security concern attached with your blog, you should always go for premium ones.

      Reply

  11. Nikhil,

    I just got a new domain name and installed the wordpress blog. So I am looking to decide which theme would make the most sense.

    Thanks for your explanation of the criteria to explore.
    It can be hard to know if you will actually like a theme until you start using it and uploading images and text, creating widgets and ads, etc.

    Warmly,

    Dr. Erica

    Reply

  12. Hello Nikhil,
    After reading your two-three posts, I’m feeling very happy. Because you write everything in good format and in a very impressive way.
    And this post is really helpful for all beginners who daily search for a Good theme.
    Now, I’m going to share your this post with all of my friends on twitter, facebook from that they can also read this interesting post.
    Keep it up.

    Reply

  13. Hi, Nikhil, Wonderfully written up mate! I am Mobile application developer and don’t know more about WordPress but your depth of article on choosing WordPress really help me a lot. Now I am your regular reader of a blog post and start choosing right theme for WordPress blog development.
    Cheers, Julie

    Reply

  14. Good Informative article, Nikhil. I have tried almost 100 themes in 6 months of blogging and I have faced some serious trouble with few themes either it is FREE or Premium. I always recommended users to check the theme DEMO and also keep an eye on the support team and how they are handling and treating their clients. There are a few theme shops that are giving exceptional after-sale support for both free and premium support. At the end of the day, PREMIUM theme can give you less pain and stress than a Free theme and you have the option to question the theme shop for troubleshooting if any.
    Once again thanks for sharing this post and it helps a new blogger quite a bit…:)

    Reply

  17. Hi Nikhil,

    Choosing a WordPress theme from among tons of themes out there is one of the toughest jobs for a blogger. I have changed n number of themes all free and Premium mixed on my blog but still I am searching the best one 😛

    I love the way you have taken this post and this initiative can be very helpful for bloggers/online business owners who are in dilemma on how to choose a good theme for their website/blog.

    Thanks for sharing this post and have a great day!

    Reply

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