What a WordPress theme does for you

WordPress is often cited as one of the easiest ways to create a website. Part of the reason is that it's easy to manage content visually. Just as you might do in a Word document. But perhaps even more important for a website is the theme that can be installed. A WordPress theme ensures that your website looks a certain way. And that you can get started in one go, because a lot of it is done for you. Let's take a look at what a WordPress theme does for your website in this blog post.

The appearance of a theme

The appearance of a website in WordPress is determined by a theme. For example, this theme takes care of what default fonts and formats are chosen. How your header image is styled, if there is a nice option for your menu and much more. The styling and colors are set for you by a WordPress theme. This theme is easy to install with the click of a button. It just needs to be kept up to date to keep working.

This makes WordPress themes more comprehensive than many other content management systems, for example, which assume that you create the theme yourself. TheWordPress hosting is therefore particularly suitable for beginners who want to create their own themes. And that makes it the first choice for anyone who wants to start a blog, a freelance website or a business website.

Installing a theme

Installing a theme in WordPress is as easy as can be, which makes it suitable for any beginner. Whether you create a theme yourself, download it from a third-party provider, or hire an agency to create something special for you. This theme can be simply added to the wp-content folder in the appropriate folder. And activated via the WordPress admin environment. You can also install a theme directly through the admin environment by searching in the themes that can be installed directly through the WordPress "marketplace".

Any other theme that cannot be installed in the WordPress admin environment can be quickly uploaded using an FTP client or a program like FileZilla.

The functionality behind a theme

Different themes also have different functionality, so it is always necessary to look into it and read the description carefully before choosing a theme. Although it's easy to change themes, you generally choose to use the same theme for a longer period of time.

Themes may or may not include authoring features, which is not a problem for a business. But for a blog, it can be a problem. One of the popular components is whether or not there is a slider on the homepage. Here you can spotlight your latest content or products. So, choose well and make sure that your wishes fit with it.

New live site editor for the latest WordPress versions.

WordPress has also introduced a full website editor in its latest version, which was previously only possible through plug-ins like Elementor or Divi. This means that you can edit the look and feel of your website right in the foreground. And that you can exercise more control to a certain extent and readjust as needed.

This is still in development and only supports a handful of themes. So it is not immediately suitable for a production website. But you can follow it and keep it in mind for future projects.

Extend with plug-ins and more

A theme or WordPress website can always be extended with a plug-in. With a plug-in or extension, you can add a whole new set of features. From contact forms to entire webshops with WooCommerce. A missing element in a theme can therefore also be considered to be covered by a plug-in. However, this should be done with caution, because too many plug-ins can slow down your WordPress website or make it insecure. So always do your homework before installing a plug-in.

A paid or free theme?

Finally, you have the choice between a free theme and a paid option, although as a web hosting company we have nothing to do with it. If you decide to go with a paid theme, we always recommend that you take a close look at the reviews and support. This can make a big difference. A theme can be as beautiful as it is and contain your desires, but if it's not updated, you could be asking for trouble with your website.

With a free theme, you can make the same considerations: What fits your needs best? And will it be updated? These are the questions you need to ask. A free theme is not necessarily worse than a paid theme. There are many free themes from WordPress itself and from volunteers that many paid themes can take their cue from. Again, do your own research to see what looks good to you.

Some themes we've had good experiences with are Astra and GeneratePress, which are lightweight themes that can be used for a wide market. And it's also possible to upgrade to a paid alternative. WordPress itself also offers 3 of its own themes in the latest versions. The choice is huge!

Do you have a question or would you like to discuss a WordPress theme? You can always ask us via ticket or chat. We are always ready to advise you.