WordPress is celebrated around the world because it has an integrated content management system (CMS), a wide range of fantastic plug-ins and a massive selection of templates. No other option gives you so much choice in terms of customising your website and making it stand out. The following guide will help you to make the best decisions for your site when you build it in WordPress.
The first thing to think about is whether to settle for a free theme or opt for a premium, paid one. There are many free themes available to choose from, but the downside is that they may have been used already across countless sites. Premium themes are a little rarer and also get updated more regularly. They will increase the price of your site design but they should bring more security and originality.
Next, you need to decide on the features you want and how they will impact the speed of the site. It is easy to fill a WordPress site with images and other materials but if you go over the top you can find that your site is very slow to load. You need to ensure the site is not too feature heavy, packed with large format files and bad coding if you want to avoid poor loading times. The wisest thing to do is to choose the key features you want and give them pride of place. Using small sized files is also advisable.
Thirdly, you need to consider how the design and the user experience coincide. It is always important to keep users in mind when you design something; after all, they are the ones who have to use it. Successful sites give visitors the right experience whilst also promoting the brand and services of the company in a memorable way.
WordPress is also effective from an SEO point of view. Many of the themes will guide you through the process of optimising your site. When you submit content the best themes will omit mistakes or flag them up so you can see what is wrong.
The dashboard is standard across most of the WordPress themes and makes it really easy to control your content and add to it. You can do everything without having to resort to coding, making the whole process much easier and less time consuming.
An important thing to remember is the security. WordPress themes are made by developers from all around the world, with both good and bad examples available. Before choosing the theme you should do some research, look at the reviews and ensure it has been made by a reliable professional. The last thing you want to do is rush in and find your website is compromised.