So you’ve decided to set up a website for your business and now you’re sorting through the thousands of WordPress themes on the market.
How do you select one over another?
What’s the difference between them all?
How to you select a website that generates leads and sales, instead of just being “pretty”?
In this post, I’ve listed key elements to consider when selecting a theme to help make your decision a little easier. AND I’ve also included a few themes that I think hit the mark on these notes to help you narrow down a theme that is right for your business.
Conversion orientated homepage
Whilst every business and website will have different goals, some fundamental elements to have on your website homepage to help you convert visitors into leads and customers include:
- A layout with an emphasis on important information above the fold
Studies have shown that content above the fold is looked at the most, with users spending 80% of their time looking at information situated there. The key is to put your key message and propositions above the fold where it’s likely to be seen and acted upon. - A strong call to action
Seth Godin talks about one of the first rules of web design is to tell the user what you want them to do now they are on your website. Do you want the user to contact you for a quote? Buy products from your site? Join your email list? You need to specify what this is and ideally include a call to action button. - Cohesive colour scheme
There is a lot of literature out there about colour preferences among males and females. The colours that we like are based on our experiences so it’s really difficult to say what colour palettes convert better than others. The aim here should be to have a colour scheme that is simple and complementary. Also, lots of white space is an important factor which helps create more trust on your site.
Mobile friendly theme
Having a mobile friendly website has always been important, as there is a growing trend in people using the internet to access websites on their phones.
It is especially imperative now that Google has announced that it will be favouring mobile friendly websites in the search results.
You also want to ensure that you visitors have a good experience on your site when they’re visiting from their mobile devices or desktop. You can check the themew mobile friendliness here using Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test tool here.
Responsive website
Having a responsive website means having a design that adjust to the devices that it is used on (not just mobiles).
The layout changes based on the size of the device. Users are accessing the internet across a multitude of different screen sizes from phones, to tablets, desktops, Tvs, “phablets” and wearable devices.
Your website theme needs to adapt to any screen size, today or in the future. A good theme is responsive and the developer has built this into the theme. You can check to see your theme’s responsiveness using this tool from StudioPress.
Recommended themes
The theme you end up selecting is a personal choice at the end of the day. Here are some great themes that have great layouts that you can build upon as a starting point for your theme search.
Simply Charming by Restored316Designs
Whilst it’s important to choose a theme that you are happy with, keep in mind that over the lifespan of your business you’re likely to update and change your theme many times.
Designs that work now may become obsolete and dated in 3 years time. Stay flexible with your website and realise that it will continue to grow and evolve as your business does.
Also with modifying the theme and making it “you”, my team and I offer special WordPress Set up Packages to help you get your site set up quickly. We’re here to help aleviate your website overwhelm. Contact us for a chat 🙂
Contact us for a chat 🙂
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