Since I work in web design and digital marketing, selecting a theme for my blog was a lengthy process. I spent hours researching and looking for just the right theme for my blog. I took a lot of time perusing responsive designs from many different websites before I landed on creativemarket.com. There I found and purchased the Blushic theme called “Isabelle”. The design is feminine, clean, easy to update and I love it!

5 Question to Ask When Looking a WordPress Template

As I was researching, I discovered many items that I required for choosing a good theme. What was on my checklist? Let’s go through the top 5 things I sought out when selecting my WordPress theme:

1. Is this WordPress Theme Responsive? (Mobile Friendly Website)

Selecting a responsive WordPress template is extremely important in the age of mobile browsing. Not only is it a better user experience for the visitors on your site, but Google has made having a mobile-friendly site part of their algorithm. And fun fact – now, nearly 60% of searches are made on a mobile device, and that trend is only increasing!

2. Is the theme SEO Friendly?

SEO or search engine optimization, is the process of optimizing your site to help get organic or free traffic from search engines like Google, Bing and Yahoo. It is important that the theme you select was written with SEO in mind. Sure, you can add an SEO plugin to your site (I recommend Yoast), but having a theme written by someone who understands SEO is very helpful.

3. Will the theme grow with my long term goals/plans for my blog?

Do I like the design? Is it a clean and will it match the look I want for my blog now and in the future? This was one of my top priorities as I began my search. As I considered the many options, I thought about my personal goals and vision for my blog, and the Isabelle Theme truly fit the bill. I also liked the fact that this theme has an ecommerce option. I’m not planning on using it now, but it’s certainly a plus to have that option in the future.

What are your business goals? Have you set them yet? If you need help working through questions you should ask yourself before beginning your blog, I recommend reading my post.

4. Can I Customize the WordPress Theme?

Even if you’re not someone who knows about WordPress or coding, you’ll want to make sure that you can customize your blog. Here are some customized features to look for in your theme:

• Are there multiple layout options?
• Are there different options for your homepage layout? i.e. static or show blog posts
• Does it have a newsletter sign up template?
• Can the colors of the theme be edited easily?

5. Does the WordPress theme have good support and is it updated regularly?

Even though this item falls at number five, this question is still very important. You’ll want to purchase a theme that is updated often and has a support team available. That way, if you have any questions you can rest assured answers will come quickly and with appropriate expertise.

Why did i select a Bluchic WordPress Theme?

I loved the clean and feminine look of the theme. When it comes to updating theme and code, I know enough to be dangerous and that is about it. Their themes are simple and easy to manage and update. Each of their themes comes with extensive documentation and instructions for all of the features included in that particular theme. I have found this documentation extremely helpful, and it has made updating and creating pages on my site so much easier.

Another feature that I liked about their themes, is that all of them are SEO friendly. I greatly appreciate this, as someone who helps develop SEO strategies for a living. The Isabelle theme has schema.org microdata built into the design and coding, which makes is effortless to create content that both my visitors and search engines will love.

So what’s next for you and your blog? Are you on the hunt for a WordPress theme so you can start building a blog of your very own? If so, feel free to check out Bluchic on their site or through CreativeMarket.com. I purchased my theme through Creative Market because I found that I could view hundreds of themes from a variety of talented developers and freelancers all in one place.

Do you have any questions for me about selecting a WordPress theme of your own? If so, ask below in the comments section or contact me today.

*This blog post includes affiliate links.