There is no such thing as “the best designer” to use, because it is so subjective and different people like different things, so the trick is to find a WordPress designer that is good at doing what you want. The following points should help you narrow down what you want, so that you can find a company that focuses on these things.
Functionality or Aesthetics for a WordPress Design?
One of the first things you should ask yourself is whether you want a website that looks amazing and unique, with a “wow factor”, or whether you want a website that serves a purpose with simple navigation and ease of use as a main priority. You may also check out: Tips for a Great Web Design
For example, do you want something like the Jim Carrey website with all of its flashy animations and sound effects? It’s very unique, but it takes a long time to load on slower connections and it doesn’t perform very well on mobile devices. The SEO is almost non-existent on this type of website, which is something that a regular person or business probably can’t afford to miss out on, as opposed to a millionaire celebrity with built-in name recognition.
On the other hand, there are websites such as The New York Times which has more of a clean and professional style that focuses on content and functionality over aesthetics. It loads fast because it has a lot of text, with images only used for advertising or to highlight certain articles, so it has great search-ability.
Latest Technology and Design Standards in WordPress
This is less subjective than some of the other things you need to consider, because using the latest technology and design standards is almost always a good thing. If the WordPress designer you are thinking of using doesn’t create responsive themes, then you will probably want to avoid hiring them.
But there is more to it than just creating a website that looks good on both mobile devices and desktop computers – much more than I can mention in this post – so you should at least try to familiarize yourself with some of the more recent design standards so you will know what to look for. WordPressDesignServices.com contains a lot of reputable businesses that are constantly adapting to the changing technology of web design, so browse and see if you can find one you like.
Will They Do SEO?
If your designer doesn’t at least make a basic attempt to get your theme optimized for search engines then you should probably find someone else. They won’t be able to make miracles happen, because a lot of SEO has to do with off-page elements, but they should at least get the on-page SEO done right. This will allow you to save some money and/or time by not needing to pay someone else or do it yourself later.
Of course the beauty of WordPress is that there are so many good plugins available to use, including some great SEO plugins that will help to further optimize your theme.
Do They Design Websites That You Like?
Perhaps one of the most obvious points to consider when looking for a designer is whether they design websites that you like and that you would be happy with. You probably don’t want an exact copy of one of the other themes they have designed, but if you like the general look and feel of it then you know they will be able to create something similar for you.
As mentioned earlier, a lot of the elements of design are very subjective so you should go with what you like and what you think your potential customers will enjoy, but you should also balance that with what has been proven to work in recent years.
PROTECHNEWS ONLINE says
WordPress is web software you can use to create a highly functional website or blog. WordPress is both free and priceless at the same time. WordPress started as a blogging system, but has evolved to be used as full content management system and so much more through the thousands of plugins, widgets, and themes
Vanessa Ally says
Hiring a designer to make your website look professional is a must in modern days as there is so much competition in online marketing that you need to make a difference and be remembered. Great tips on how to choose one!
Aleem Ahmad says
Hi Sid,
Nice Post and I truly agree with the “Wow Factor”.Yes with knowing and selecting designs based on it is the key to get place in this over crowdy internet world. Keep sharing such ideas
DESSS says
Hi….,
WordPress started as blogging system.You explain awesome on top 10 wordpress plugin.