If you’re considering an upgrade from a free WordPress theme to a premium one, you’ll be glad to know that there are many design changes available with the upgrade. Often times, website owners can get a bit overwhelmed with their new technical features, and need a bit of guidance on what changes to make first. Before you make your first upgrade, here are a few things to keep in mind.
You Document Everything
Before you start with any new design ideas, make sure that you document and backup your website the way it is currently. You want to be able to run design tests, but you need to be able to refer back to what’s worked for you thus far. As long as you have backup data, upgrading to premium WordPress themes should be painless and pleasant. If you’re unsure about how certain features work, you can always contact technical support.
Review the Different Layouts
Now that you’re not stuck with the same old WordPress layout, you should review all the design features before you change anything. Carefully look at each one and decide what works best for your site and your style. As with most premium WordPress themes, you will probably have several layouts to choose from, and selecting the one that’s best for you is most important. Don’t feel like you have to make this decision right away. Take some time and sleep on it. If you feel strongly about a certain one after a day or two has passed, then you know it’s the best choice for your site.
Seek Outside Advice
If you have a close friend or business partner, ask their opinion before you make any permanent changes with premium WordPress themes. They don’t have to have any site building knowledge, as this may actually work in your favor. You want a pair of fresh eyes to review your work from your client’s perspective. Having someone look over the changes that’s inexperienced in site development is a great way to test your new features and make sure that they will fly with your visitors once the changes go live. Do this after each change and in each stage. This could also be your form of testing, as some features should be accessed several times from different browsers and devices to perfectly tweak them.