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Once you have WordPress installed on your domain, you can start creating!

Pick a Theme

How to Choose the Right Theme for You

Choosing a theme is the first step to customizing your website to meet your specific needs.

Before diving in and being overwhelmed with options,  consider:

  • the purpose of your site,
  • the nature of your content, and
  • the preferences of your users.

Here are some tips for getting started:

  1. Sketch it out! Before you begin browsing themes, make a rough sketch of your site. It is difficult to replicate a sketch exactly with an existing WordPress theme. However, this process can help you make a list of the most important features for your site. Once you have settled on a set of necessary features, finding the right theme will be much smoother.
  2. Make a list of essential features. Use your sketch to determine which features are absolutely critical to the success of your website.  Keep this list short to avoid cluttering your site. You can have a secondary list of features that would be a nice bonus for your site but are not critical.
  3. Browse and test available themes. Choosing a theme is one of the most important decisions you will make while building your website, so give yourself time to make an informed choice! Make a shortlist of themes that you like. Then Install and Activate your favorites to test them out. Make note of what you like and dislike about navigating each theme. Remember that just because a theme looks visually appealing in example images does not mean it will be easy to apply to your site.
  4. Some themes offer more options for customization than others. Consider whether customization is important to you, or if you’d like to keep things streamlined. If you are just getting started with WordPress, it is recommended to search for simple or beginner theme recommendations and avoid themes that are used for commerce.
  5. Make your selection. Once you’ve done your research and considered a variety of options, it’s time to make a choice! Remember that you can always change your theme if the selection you make does not work for you. Consider the visual appeal, available features, customization options, and ease of use of your favorite themes when making your decision.

Once you have a plan, watch this video from WordPress about how to select a theme and set up your site.