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WordPress powers some of internet’s
top websites and has gained an immense fan following over the past decade. That
is the reason you chose to start your website in WordPress with a free theme
and no customization. Now that your website has taken off, you want to take it
up a notch but cannot decide between a custom WordPress theme or a premium
theme.
This article will provide you a
breakdown between those choices and help you decide which one is better. Here’s
the hint – the answer is a custom WordPress theme and you will understand why
by the time you finish reading this article. Before we delve into the reasons
why you need a custom WordPress theme and not just a premium one, let us first
look at what each of these mean.
Common features between your custom and
premium theme
Irrespective of the type of theme you
choose, the basic functionality of your website will not change. All themes
will enable you to log in, update your website, maintain security through the administrative
function and in general contains all the code and feature necessary to run a
bare bones website.
A theme is a “skin” that sits on top
of this bare bones website that makes your site unique. Think of it as a
pre-fabricated set of page templates that include visual elements. Allowing you
to customize the color, font, text size and structure, a theme is what brands
your website. Themes come in 3 different types and can be free, premium or
custom. Free themes are just that – they are free. They have very limited
options and only allow you to change the site color. Premium and custom themes
are more appropriate for businesses and blogs looking to scale.
Introduction to Premium Based Themes
Premium
WordPress themes are a step above free themes in that they offer a few more
customization features. These cookie-cutter themes are best used when you have
limited functionality in mind for your website. Thousands of developers from
across the world have devoted time to create premium WordPress themes. All you
need is to download the theme from the WordPress store and customize it per
your needs. Premium WordPress themes are best when you have a
·
Small
website
·
Limited
budget
·
Lack
of development and designing skills
·
Limited
need for advanced functionality
·
Need
to purchase immediately
Keep in mind
though that premium themes do not come with developer support in most cases.
So, most developers are only interested in you till you make a sale and may not
support you once you do.
The Custom Theme Difference
In case of
custom WordPress theme, the theme is designed around your website and your
brand identity, not the other way around. You decide what color, font, structure and
layout you want for your website and it is made to order specifically for your
needs.
Do you run a
data analysis blog and want integrated display for your charts? You are in
luck. Custom themes can add any functionality or feature you want. They are designed to make your site truly
unique and are adapted to the style of the website owner rather than the
designer. Let us now delve into why custom themes are the way to go when it
comes to WordPress.
Why are Custom Themes Better?
Here are
five reasons why custom themes are better than premium themes.
·
Brand
Identity – By creating a
theme that is uniquely suited to your goals and vision for the website, you are
creating a brand identity for yourself. When you think of Facebook, think of
how your mind leaps to the “Facebook blue”, that is how your readers will feel about
your website with a custom theme.
·
Continuous Customer Support – Custom WordPress designers provide continuous
support helping you not just install the theme for your website but also
helping fix bugs and providing remote assistance when necessary.
·
Added Features and Functionality – Whether you want to add an integrated web chat
or you want support for a specific tool from within your website, you can do so
with custom WordPress themes. Add new features and functionalities with you
theme instead of installing them as plugins.
·
Code ownership – Most custom WordPress providers will enter a
contract that provides you with full ownership of the code. This means if for
some reason, you are dissatisfied with their support, you can always switch
companies without losing your website.
·
Avoid Feature Bloat – Custom themes are completely devoid of
unwanted features that premium themes tend to have. When you create a theme to
satisfy only your needs, your code tends to be less bloated with features you
don’t need.
In the end,
for just a little bit more money you build a truly safe and secure WordPress
site that revolves around your brand identity and is instantly recognizable to
your readers.
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