Choosing a free, premium or custom theme for Wordpress

There are so many free or inexpensive design themes for Wordpress, some people might wonder why anyone would choose a paid or custom theme for Wordpress.

I think there are times when a free theme is appropriate, other times when a paid theme will do, and still other applications that call for a custom theme.

When to choose a FREE theme

If you are on a really tight budget and your website is for a personal blog or a hobby, I think a free theme is a great choice. There are lots of beautiful and functional free wordpress themes.

The downside to a free theme is, of course, millions of other people are using that theme. While not true of all themes, many free themes have less support than their paid counterparts, meaning, if something breaks, you have to figure out how to fix it or find someone who can. That being said, there are still lots of really nice, free Wordpress themes. Google the phrase “free wordpress theme” and you will find lots of galleries, or try Smashing Magazine, they often post displays of free wordpress themes.

When to choose a PREMIUM theme

The next best thing to free is inexpensive and many of the premium themes for Wordpress fall in that category ranging from $25 or less to around $100 or so. Premium themes are beautiful; with the insertion of your logo you can have a quick and professional website in a matter of hours if not minutes. With a premium theme you will again not have the theme all to yourself but expect to see many others with the same design. A premium theme is good for people who

• Want a professional website layout on a low budget;
• Are in a time crunch and need to push a website out quickly;
• Do not need to stand totally apart from their competitor.

There are tons of premium Wordpress theme galleries, Google that phrase and you will find them for sure. Two of my favorites are themeforest.net and elegantthemes.com.

When to choose a CUSTOM theme

So when would you want a custom Wordpress theme? Well, for starters, those of us who are in the professional service business – coaches, consultants, speakers, authors – need to be remembered for something. It’s noisy out there. If your website looks like ten other people’s websites, hmmmmm, chances are you may be quite (in the words of Simon Cowell), forgettable.

If on the other hand, you have invested into a unique identity and personal brand that is reflected through your website, which uses a custom Wordpress theme that nobody else will have, that resonates with your prospects, and clients, and sets you apart…..do you see where I am going with this? It helps. A lot.

Custom Wordpress themes are great for:

• Professionals who need a website at least at the quality level of their services;
• People who need a totally one-of-a-kind identity and brand;
• People who use value pricing vs. commodity pricing for services;
• Full time professionals who want prospects, business partners and clients to take them seriously.

My mom always told me you can’t judge a book by it’s cover, and I know in my heart this is true, but the problem is we (meaning your prospects) make SNAP judgments ALL THE TIME based on appearance. That’s all I’m going to say.

Investing in a custom design isn’t going to make you an overnight success, mind you, that comes with doing your best, over delivering, getting results, proprietary services, all of which build word of mouth and referrals. But a great website can add a ton of weight to the package.

So there are times when a free theme is okay, and in many situations a Premium theme will do, but in some instances, I think it should be custom all the way.

What do you think?