Adding and Managing Themes

Since it is always easier to learn to use a new CMS solution such as WordPress.org with a specific idea in mind, it is just as advisable to integrate into the checklist of preparation step 1 a selection of theme templates to be installed after thorough examination of the dashboard, considering further that all modules contain by default a few “starter” templates which suffice to proceed to the initial configuration testing of step 3.

In order to make informed choices throughout the thousands of templates proposed in the WordPress.org themes directory (1), take the time to have a look at the models on display in the sections Featured (2), Popular (3), and Latest (4). If there is nothing there that immediately catches your eye, you should proceed to feature-filtering-out responsive design themes (5), which will reduce the array of possibilities to 100+ items (6). This will enable you to fine tune the search results page by Layout, Features, and Subject.

Among the decision criteria to be considered for a pertinent and rapid theme template selection (7), you will find the following options:

• The last update, which should be recent,
• The number of active installs, which reassures when it is high,
• The global rating, by number of stars,
• The preview, which is often less attractive than the demo website,
• The reviews, by starred rating levels,
• The contributions of the support forum.

Finally, be aware that most theme directory templates are basic demo versions which will redirect you to their complete professional variant(s) made available for paid-download on the website of the providing author. From the conceptual perspective of the administrator with regard to his web hosting provider, purchasing a theme template outside of the official native directory is like buying an app outside of the Mac App Store: although the item comes from an identified developer, the latter’s configuration will (require you to) downgrade yours to Mac 2. In order to provide a service-level-agreement guarantee of the Mac 1 type, WordPress.org would have to provide for in-site theme purchase, from inside the theme manager of any WordPress.org module. This would spare the user the potential trouble of having to FTP-upload unchecked files which could not be verified beforehand because they had to be downloaded outside of the contractual safety perimeter.

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Further reading
(1) https://wordpress.org/themes/
(2) 15 items by default
(3) 3247 items as of 2018-07-10
(4) 6036 items as of 2018-07-10
(5) “Accessibility-ready” filter
(6) 123 items as of 2018-07-10
(7) https://wordpress.org/themes/twentyseventeen/