Digital marketing is no doubt on edge these days with almost every business switching to a website to promote its products and services. While opting for a website, people often take its technical functionality seriously keeping the website’s physical appearance (website themes) in the background but trust me both have their importance. The website theme is the weapon for attracting a customer and retaining him on your website. It is important to learn how to choose the theme for your website since it impacts the user experience, functionality, and overall aesthetic of your site. If you are searching the internet for an article to help you pick a theme then you are at the right place. In this article, you’ll learn Must-Haves for Your First Business Website and Select the Perfect Theme for Your First Business Website
Now that you have decided to emphasize the theme of your website let me say that there are plenty of options (free and paid) in the market to allure you but you need to choose wisely keeping in mind all the aspects of your website. It is good to feel while selecting a theme for a website from multiple themes available online. However, you can also make unique websites since most of them are free from code and versatile, making them ideal for any business.
Through the available online themes, you can make your website for your business from the start in less time. On various factors, your theme shall run along with the thing where you host your website. If you are not aware of selecting a perfect theme for your website, then see the information here. A website theme comprises of colour scheme, layout and some styling elements which will give a lively essence to your website and will be an online face for your company brand.
As it is said ‘Beauty is only skin deep’ ’ issues like poor coding, poor search engine optimization, slow speed etc. still exist.
Therefore from this point onwards, the article will focus on six elements that will help you choose the best website theme to promote your business.
Key 9 Must-Haves for Your First Business Website
At the time of developing a website, you must learn these seven things. 94% of users evaluate a website based on its design. Your website must be best in colour, design, SEO-friendliness, and others to attain a larger audience.
If you have an idea about the needs of your business then it is simpler to choose a suitable theme. Every available theme has the motive to serve a particular objective, however, they need to be responsive, compatible, and others. Before sorting the themes create a list of features. After that, you can opt for a theme that includes all the features in it.
Below are certain factors to consider while choosing your first business website theme-
1. Simple Yet Classy Website Design
Maybe a decade ago or so, people were opting for websites which are very loud like high animations, fancy graphics, radiant fonts, and other bells and whistles but the times have changed now people prefer simple yet classy websites that are highly informative with user-friendly yet classy designs.
An extra fancy website is enough to divert the user’s attention from the goal for which he landed on your website and finally, he will switch to other alternatives. Well if you are seeking some ideas for simple yet effective websites there are various examples online. You can visit these sites over the internet and keep yourself in the customer’s place while browsing them.
2. Testing The Website’s Compatibility with All Web-Browsers
Make sure that your website is responsive on all the popular web browsers. You must ensure that your website is to be compatible with Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, and others. Not all users use Google Chrome to access your website, some may use Firefox or Safari to access it, thus ensuring the theme you pick is compatible with other browsers also. Testing is the next crucial step after development. Test it on smartphones, laptops, computers and on different browsers.
To check compatibility run a quick test to know you’re proceeding with the right one. One can find options online for testing their websites like Browser Shots allows you to run through them all at once. If an issue appears on a particular testing browser examine your website on other available tools.
3. Choose the Right Web Developer For Your Project
This is often ignored by many who are opting to have a website. The website requires to be timely updated to keep your theme from breaking which is the duty of a developer. Look for a web development company and web developer that provides ongoing support and maintenance services, security updates, bug fixes, and software updates. You will rarely be able to install a theme and not have to make updates as the platform you are using changes and advances. If your website is asking for several updates that means your website developer is continually making changes in the theme to make it reach a perfect point in terms of appearance.
4. Developer Support Policy
While choosing a website theme, check if there is a developer support policy. Most free themes do not provide support, but if you’re going with a premium theme, you can contact developers to help you set up the website. This way, you can get quick support via chat or email and customize your website. Premium versions provide constant support along with documentation for future use.
Read Also: Why Hire a Professional Web Designer for Your Business Website
5. Choose a Mobile Responsive Website Theme
This is the era of smartphones where people prefer to browse websites on their smartphones rather than search on those bulgy machines, therefore, a website theme should be responsive on mobiles as well. It is important to have a responsive website i.e. the website content is needed to fit the screen size, whether it is mobile, tablet, or desktop. Nearly 85% of users want mobile websites to be exemplary or better than desktop ones.
Go for an extremely adaptive website theme keeping in mind the concerns of a visitor. In the present era, users browse their internet via mobile phones therefore your website is required to be responsive to a mobile phone despite not having a pocket to invest in app design. Responsiveness is no longer optional. But there may be themes that are not mobile-friendly, you ought to choose a responsive one for your business.
6. Access To Plugins, Apps and Extensions
Once the website theme is decided, the person will always customize the looks (tabs, fonts or any registration forms if any) so that it goes hand in hand with the brand he is promoting along with adding special features to enhance user experience. Plugins are the add-ons that increase the operationality of the website. If you wish for a full-fledged website then the themes you opt for must support distinct plugins. Make sure to choose a theme that could support many plugins for effective functionality.
The market has plenty of plugins that will assist you with implementation and require no coding or technical know-how. Enlist what features you want to add to your theme.
7. Make Sure it is Up to Date
There won’t be frequent updates if you go with free themes, and your website will not be future-proof. Did you know that 75% of users judge a business’s credibility based on the quality of the website?
Premium themes will have auto-update features and every time there are changes, you can immediately see them on your website. Updates will keep your website relevant.
Ensure your website loads faster, so users don’t bounce as soon as they land. It is said that around 39% of visitors don’t stop visiting a website if it takes too long to load. You can conduct a speed test of the demo website before buying a premium version of it. A high bounce rate will not suit your business, so your website should load super-fast.
8. Check Reviews and Ratings
Always do your research while choosing a theme for your website. Though there will be star ratings beside them, you need to check professional reviews and see if it is secure and user-friendly. Check user reviews and ask for feedback before deciding on one.
Go through detailed reviews and see what others who use the theme say about it. Check the pros and cons before making a purchase. Themes for websites play a crucial role in shaping your online business. So, carefully research before choosing a website.
9. Check If You Can Integrate Social Media Platforms
Nowadays, users check a website’s credibility online by reviewing the number of followers on social media. So, you can include your social media handles within the website to quickly navigate the profiles.
If your theme doesn’t support social media integration, you will have to spend more time searching for a plugin to add your social media sites. So, while choosing a theme, always ensure an option to integrate all your social media platforms. You can redirect your followers to your website or redirect users landing on the site to social profiles adding more to the follower list.
Top Ways to Test the Theme Before Making the Purchase
Once you choose a theme, you need to test it before buying it online. Buying a theme can be expensive, so you need to ensure you’re picking the best one for your business. Most website themes come with minimal features where you need plugins to add extra functions to make it better. So, always test the theme prior.
#1. Try Out the Demo Version
Website builders allow you to try the themes for free to understand how they work when the website is up and running. So, always try the demo version of the theme and see if it is responsive and has all the features you need for your business.
Demo versions contain abstract tests and ready-made sections that you can customize according to your business. Access the demos and understand the features before purchasing the theme. Make sure it is accessible and straightforward to navigate. Not all users will have a similar browsing experience as you, so always keep in mind to check the accessibility.
#2. Check About the Author
You can quickly check the developer who built the theme by going over the author section. Checking developer profiles will help you understand whether the theme was built by experienced developers or amateurs.
You can check their GitHub profiles and see other projects done by them, so you know you’re purchasing a theme that’s done by someone who knows how to code. Author information is available for every theme, so you can check and maybe even reach out to them if you want to customize the theme for your business.
#3. Run a Speed Test
You need to analyze and optimize the website by running a speed test, so you know the web pages don’t take too long to load. Long loading time is a major red flag as you can lose a lot of customers who are landing on your website to check your products.
So, always run a speed test and check the performance before purchasing your website theme. Speed tests give a detailed analysis of what is wrong, what should be improved, and how long it takes to load a website.
#4. Check the Quality of Code
Be sure to check for outdated coding methods. Quality code assures readability, better efficiency, maintenance, and reusability. So, before buying a theme, you should note the developer and see if the code is written, keeping best practices in mind.
Many checkers test the quality and give you accurate results. Make use of those so that your website stays up-to-date and has less loading time. It’s essential to test the themes through these methods, so you don’t end up choosing the wrong ones for your business.
Need For Choosing Website Theme for Business
We hope this quick guide helps you decide when choosing a theme for your website. There are many versatile themes to choose from. Remember to keep in mind these seven things when looking for a perfect theme, and don’t forget to test the theme before making a purchase.
You can make your website without knowing how to code because these themes are code-free. This means you can get creative and build the dream website you’ve always desired. Also, recognize to check if routine support is available to maintain your website.
However, if you are looking for a professional website development service, it could support you in serving your customers by furnishing them with all the data they require and directing them to choose your products and business services.
CA portal comprises the biggest collection of Professional business templates. these templates will provide you with everything and it does not require you to code or design one of those fancy stock price tickers, you have the option of 500+ professional and business website templates. Explore these themes made by our designers and developers.
