Tips for Selecting the Perfect Premium WordPress Theme

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There are thousands of high-quality Free WordPress themes that you can use to build simple and professional websites. But when you must create a portal, listing, marketplace, and multi-user type of websites then you look for premium WordPress themes.

You seek a premium WordPress theme due to its superior design, abundant features as per your project, customization possibilities, consistent updates, and the assurance of dedicated support and comprehensive documentation. The average price of premium WordPress themes can typically range from $50 to $100 for a single-site license or membership.

The popular platforms to buy WordPress themes are Theme Forest, Studio Press, Elegant Themes, Theme Sale, etc. And you can also buy directly from the theme creator or agency. Certain theme sellers offer a membership model, granting access to their entire collection of premium themes for a recurring fee, while others adopt a pricing structure where each theme is individually priced.

Concerns and Challenges in Buying Premium WordPress Themes

  • Is buying a premium theme enough to ensure the success and functionality of a project or business?
  • Do premium themes inherently provide all the necessary features for projects like directory websites, portals, or marketplaces?
  • Before investing in premium WordPress themes, what key considerations should you keep in mind?
  • Is it advisable to purchase themes based on suggestions or recommendations?

In many cases, individuals have purchased a premium WordPress theme for $50 only but later spend $500 to $1000 on freelancers for customization. If a theme requires more than $100 for simple customization or functionality, is it truly a premium theme? Such themes may not rightfully deserve the “premium” label.

I have personally created more than 100+ websites from scratch for many clients in WordPress as a freelancer. Many clients contacted me for customization after purchasing premium WordPress themes from the above-shared platforms.

And I found that many themes do not have the features or functionality that clients were looking for. If they want those functionalities, they have to pay extra money, and that can end up costing them more than the theme’s price. As a result, the project costs increase.

Similarly, if you request a specific change in the theme to align with your project or business needs from theme support, they often respond that they do not support that particular feature.

What to expect in a premium WordPress theme?

If you believe that purchasing a premium WordPress theme is the only requirement for creating a professional website with a high-quality user experience and specific functionalities, it’s essential to recognize that these expectations may not be fully met by the theme alone.

To achieve your desired results, you may need to invest in third-party services and enlist the help of freelancers for customization. In such cases, the cost of a WordPress website can range from a minimum of $500 to any amount, depending on your project’s complexity.

To assist you in making informed decisions and saving money, I am writing this post. It will cover topics such as selecting a good WordPress theme, pre-purchase considerations, and strategies for making your project successful.

By the end of this post, you’ll have the answers you need regarding premium WordPress themes and insights into how to choose the right one to minimize both time and money spent on customization. Let us get started and explore the key aspects of buying the ideal premium WordPress theme for your project or business.

How not to buy premium WordPress themes?

Avoiding these common mistakes while purchasing a WordPress theme will help you protect your money, time, confidence, and peace of mind.

What not to do?
Theme sellers often utilize attractive and stock images in headers and featured areas to enhance the visual appeal of a theme.

While this is a common practice, buyers need to resist making impulsive decisions based solely on aesthetics. The appearance of a theme in its demo version can be deceiving, as themes on marketplaces are designed to showcase their best features.

What to do?

Rather than being overly impressed by the visual presentation, buyers must focus on testing how the design functions. As Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple, emphasized, design is not just about how it looks but, more importantly, about how it works. Evaluate the usability, customization options, and overall functionality of the theme to ensure it aligns with the practical needs and objectives of your project.

What not to do?

While theme sellers often provide numbers, reviews, and ratings to assist buyers in making decisions, it’s essential to approach them with caution. The credibility of reviews and ratings can be compromised, as some may be fake or obtained by paying freelancers through other platforms to bolster the theme’s reputation and visibility on the marketplace.

What to do?

If you’re looking for themes on the Envato or ThemeForest marketplace and are in search of specific functionalities, then head to the comment section. Utilize targeted keywords related to the most crucial functionality you’re seeking. For instance, if you’re aiming to create a travel portal, conduct searches using keywords such as:
• User registration form
• Header customization
• Google map
• Customization featured section
• Remove social logins
• Add social logins
• Page builder
• Custom post type
• Slider changes
• Confirmation email
• Payment
• Travel listing
• Itinerary
• Security
• Export
• Booking

This allows you to gather insights from other users who have utilized the theme for similar purposes, helping you make a more informed decision based on their experiences and feedback.

This is the best practice I have used and suggested to clients. It’s because the comments section is where existing theme buyers honestly share their experiences about the theme and its features. You also gain insight into their customer support system.

What not to do?
While we tend to trust big brands, authoritative blogs, and popular WordPress niche websites for recommendations, it is crucial to exercise caution. Ethical practices can shift once a brand or business gains user trust, leading to potential unethical behavior to maintain its competitive edge. Management changes can also introduce new, potentially unethical practices.

The issue lies in the fact that when searching for premium or free WordPress themes, you may notice that the same themes consistently appear in the top 10 or top 20 listings. While these themes may indeed be good, it is essential to consider the possibility that theme sellers might be paying for sponsored placements to secure top positions.

Additionally, it is vital to question the criteria used by blogs or companies providing information on the top WordPress themes. How do they determine and list these themes? The higher affiliate commissions offered by theme sellers or marketplaces can potentially lead to biased or overly emphasized information, influencing recommendations to maximize affiliate earnings.

What to do?

Therefore, it is advisable not to solely rely on ratings or theme listings provided by blogs or WordPress niche authority websites. It is essential to conduct thorough research, consider multiple sources, and make informed decisions based on your specific project requirements.

What you can do more is go to keyword research tools, YouTube, and Google, and make a search based on the theme name. Check how many people are searching for that theme. What they are searching for regarding this? And when you search for a theme with the theme name. You will get plenty of real information on page 2 or page 3 in Google search results.

Not on 1st page because theme sellers are doing everything to secure it is SEO and ranking on the search engine. But the content that is negative about them is coming in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th page.

This way, you will get real information about the theme and its support system.

Consider these additional factors:

  • Watch video tutorials associated with premium themes. Video tutorials provide a detailed view of the internal functionality.
  • If you’re new to website design and planning to hire a WordPress designer or developer, engage in discussions with the freelancer to strategize and ensure the project’s success. Consider the freelancer’s insights and recommendations.
  • Once you’ve chosen a theme, share it with the freelancer to gather their perspective and insights on the selected theme. Collaborating with a freelancer can provide valuable input for your decision-making process.
  • You can also prioritize websites that align with the clarity of your design and functionality, reflecting the processes of your business. This way, when searching for a theme, you can specifically consider how well it integrates with your business processes and caters to your design and functionality preferences.
  • If you discover information about the plugins that a theme utilizes for certain functionalities on a website, consider the possibility of paying only for those premium plugins and using them with a free WordPress theme. This way, you can potentially achieve the desired features without the additional cost of a premium theme, optimizing your budget while retaining the required functionality.

So, these are the important points to remember during your research for a premium WordPress theme. If you find this post useful and helpful, please share it with others.

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