When you build a website, there are a ton of different factors to consider. From content to your update schedule and long-term plans for expansion, it can be difficult to determine just how important each element is. However, most new website makers often overestimate just how influential a WordPress theme can be.

Your Theme Needs Compatibility

When choosing a WordPress theme, you need to keep in mind that not every theme is guaranteed to work the same on every browser and every device. If you want to reach as wide an audience as possible, then you need a theme that will work for everyone. Make sure your theme works on the big internet browsers (at least Firefox, Chrome, Edge, Opera, and Safari), as well as Android devices, iPhones, and desktops.

Your Theme Needs Customisability

You want your theme to be not just as versatile as you need right now, but also suitable for any changes you may want in the future. As you use your website and get more experience, you will likely want to change more and more elements of your site, but that might not be possible if you picked a theme that’s good for beginners and offers little control for veteran users. Make sure you pick a theme that balances your initial inexperience (if you have any) and long-term growth potential.

Your Theme Needs Simplicity

At the end of the day, you want your website to entice users in, not push them away with sensory overload. A sleek, simple design is often best for most users, especially if the main focus of your site is to deliver information quickly and easily. Remember that you want a website that appeals to new users as well as your existing audience, so you need to deeply consider the new user experience and how that might affect audience retention.

Ultimately, one of the best ways to ensure the quality of your WordPress theme is to scrutinize user reviews beforehand. They can often reveal hidden problems, but also benefits that might not be immediately apparent to new users.