Lately, I’ve been getting the same questions from potential clients: Don’t you just add a theme to WordPress and then you’re done? What’s a custom WordPress theme? So, the obvious thing to do, was to write a blog post about it!
It is true that you can just add a theme to a WordPress site and presto, you have a website. The problem though, is that that theme may not work exactly how you want it to nor will it look exactly how you want it to. If you’re just starting out in business or blogging, this is definitely an excellent, cost-effective way to go. You can buy a theme, have it installed and away you go, putting the content in. For a little bit extra, you can have your designer make a few tweaks to the layout of the site (this is called child theming). For this option though, you absolutely want to make sure that you buy a premium theme or a theme that is well-reviewed. Themes can have a lot of junk in them if you don’t pick the right one. Having your web designer vet the theme, is always a good idea. However if you need a custom design and custom functionality in your site though, custom themed WordPress is the way to go.
Custom WordPress themes can do almost anything you want them to. Your web designer can build design a theme for you, from the ground up that will have the custom functionality and look that you want. You’ll be able to do a lot more with your website if you go the custom route. Custom WordPress is my favourite thing to do! It ensures that my clients get exactly what they want.
Of course, there are price differences. A premium-theme install with a few tweaks is more budget conscious but with much less customization, where as a custom theme will be more expensive, but will get you all of the bells and whistles you envision for your new site.
Kate Moore Hermes 