We’ve been working with WordPress issues since 2008, right here on the topic of Foundry, so we’ve been given a few applicable enterprise know-how and lots of experience. Let’s communicate approximately where to look for WordPress subject matters and a way to discover the great issues when you get there. It’s crucial to know that I’m only discussing self-hosted WordPress.org issues in this post. Head over to the WordPress.com subject listing and market for hosted WordPress subject matters.
In which to discover the excellent WordPress issues
You’ve probably already been to Google and quickly realized it’s a nightmare to organize dependable information on finding first-rate WordPress themes. Permit reduce through the junk and try to make your lifestyles less complicated.
There are locations where you can discover themes. The primary is marketplaces and directories. Those are large aggregators of topics. Consider them like app stores for WordPress pieces. The themes arrive in two principal flavors: free and business (paid).
The second location is an unbiased WordPress subject shop. Consider them like your favorite neighborhood espresso shop or garb save. A maximum of these are businesses; a few even list their subjects in marketplaces and directories. We’ll discuss free manuals first, then industrial manuals, and subsequently, we’ll round up the independents.
Free Directories
The WordPress.org subject listing is the largest and most reputable vicinity to discover loose WordPress issues. It’s the simplest unfastened directory we’re recommending in this evaluation. The WordPress.org listing has enjoyed a renaissance over the past few years, particularly due to a great effort from the theme evaluation group. Every subject inside the listing has been reviewed and meets specific fine and safety standards.
Clear out your manner to something higher.
The best way to locate excellent WordPress subject matters inside the directory is immediately out of your WordPress dashboard. Sign into WordPress, navigate to appearance → issue matters, and click the Add new link at the top of the display. Now, click on the quest link (without filling anything in). You’ll be taken to a search consequences page. Select a keyword from the search dropdown and type “responsive-layout” into the field. You’re now looking at your fine alternatives in the directory.
Wait, why is this filter so important?
With the explosion of mobile devices, a responsive website is a must-have. Everyone growing issues in 2014 must use responsive internet layout techniques. This is a fast way to split the wheat from the chaff. By way of choosing from this choose list of themes, you’ll make sure to:
The music is highly new (in the past three years or so).
The topic developer is using the new trend for growing websites today.
It’ll make paintings amazing on drugs, telephones, and computer systems.
Ordinary, it’s an exquisite manner to begin locating the excellent WordPress themes inside the WordPress.org listing.
Critical be aware of WordPress 3.8
With WordPress three, there is now a Responsive checkbox beneath the layout on the feature filter display screen (when you first click Add New). As of this writing (January 2014), the clear-out could be very ne, so it won’t return any results. I’d suggest using it more and more as time goes on. You could use the above-stated method in combination with the brand-new filter out.
Could you take a look at it to see if it is fresh?
After you find a topic you want, it’s critical to discover it while it ultimately becomes up to date. The latest updates imply someone is automatically fixing insects and enhancing your case. Reproduction the name of the subject matter and search for it with Google. Look for the WordPress.org search result (must see scores stars next to it). You’ll see the last update in the sidebar when you click via. Ensure your topic is up to date in the closing 12 months. Anything older than that may be abandoned.
Now that we’ve learned how to locate the best WordPress topics within the unfastened WordPress.org listing let’s move on to a number of the economic directories, which are otherwise called marketplaces.
Topic marketplaces
The “big 3” in the WordPress theme marketplace area are:
ThemeForest: assume Walmart. Massive choice and low prices.
Mojo topics: think target. Still centered on quantity.
Creative marketplace takes Etsy. Handcrafted and more high priced.
Marketplaces are an excellent vicinity to look at large quantities of topics. The to-be-had choice of subject matters virtually can’t be beaten. The disadvantage is that they tend to be flooded with low-fine subject matters. This will make looking extra tough. To reduce through a number of the cruft, you should usually attempt to use the responsive, clear-out trick noted above. If you’re using Mojo subject matters, they’ve been given a clickable filter for responsive issues. For the opposite two, you’ll want to perform a real look for “responsive.”
ThemeForest
After filtering to show responsive themes, you’ll need to use the type to filter and pick out sales. This can provide you with high-quality selling subjects (through extent) in the market. This receives you the effect that remembers for two reasons: Customers are vote casting with their feet. You’re searching on the issues humans have sold the most—a wonderful place to begin. You’ll possibly get higher customer support.
These quality sellers will have extra sales, customers, and cash. This needs to provide them with additional assets to offer ongoing help for the product. Don’t forget to check for freshness within the last update field in the sidebar.
I’ve normally observed ratings on ThemeForest to be useless, as most of the lot on this excessive dealer category has 4 – to five stars. ThemeForest probably weights rankings to the absurd aspect to encourage click-on-throughs on search engines like Google. This receives a greater number of human beings relating via ThemeForest merchandise. However, there isn’t much assistance whilstking for high-quality issues. I used to be incorrect in assuming that ThemeForest was doing something suspect to weigh the scores. That isn’t the case, as Chris has kindly mentioned in the comments.
Mojo themes
Again, filter the responsive issues with a brief search after using the type by income clear out to locate the excellent promoting themes.
One of the issues I don’t like about Mojo is the lack of updated facts to close. In a few methods, you’re flying blind. To get around this hassle, look at Changelog: You’ll discover this tab under the primary theme image. You should see a few first-rate pastimes (at least five versions) right here (assuming the subject matter wasn’t just launched). If you do, you already know the author has been fixing bugs routinely.
View paintings: click on the view paintings link within the sidebar. Then, locate and look for the internet site within the left sidebar. Click through to the vendor’s internet site and appear for a few interests and signs and symptoms of lifestyles. This can develop a concept of what kind of guide you could assume to get hold of.
creative market
That is truly the smallest of the principal topic marketplaces. However, a smaller collection is simpler to browse, and you could likely turn through the lot in under an hour. Here are a couple of things you’ll want to take note of in the innovative market:
Remarks: Every theme has a phase for comments (scroll to the lowest). Test to peer how responsive the theme creator is to the feedback. If you see some accurate responsiveness, it’s a great signal they’ll be helpful post-purchase.
Profile: click on the author’s call/emblem within the proper column and then look for the internet site in the appropriate column on their profile web page. Click on through and take a spin around their website. You’re searching out some recent hobbies, some documentation, and some, in reality, described guidelines.
Independents
Suppose these are your local stores. Lots of them also promote issues on these marketplaces, while some are impartial (as we’re at the theme Foundry). Coping with independents can be intricate because there’s a bit of variance inside the assist and topic. It’s vital to notice that most smaller independents have a commercial attitude, and many are man or woman operations. Right here are a few important traits you should be looking for in an unbiased topic keep:
