If you have just set up your own blog, it can be tempting to use a free WordPress theme. After all, you do not want to be spending too much cash until you start to attract interest in your blog. The problem with free WordPress themes is that they are not always the best solution. At the very least, it’s a good idea to start thinking about alternatives in the long term.
Saving money by using a free theme may seem like a good idea, but investing in the help of experts such as Quikclicks can save you a lot of time and effort. It’s also a better option if you want to optimize the performance of your blog. Let’s take a look at why this is the case.
Links that you cannot remove from the theme
This is often the price that you can pay for using a free theme; links that can be seriously damaging to your SEO. It’s never a good idea to use a theme that has this type of link, even as a short term measure.
Themes that are not well supported
Do you really want to use a theme that is not patched on an ongoing basis and is not upgraded when there is a new WordPress release? That free theme may look great but if the support for it is seriously lacking it’s not going to be good for the ongoing success of your blog.
Themes that are not well designed and coded
You can usually tell if you have picked a free WordPress theme that is badly designed or coded. You are never going to be happy with it. Many people encounter this problem and end up swapping between different free themes. Having a badly designed theme is never going to be good for your blog. Neither is the lack of continuity that comes from switching between themes.
Themes which limit the placement of opt-ins
You may be attracted to a free theme because it’s really easy to place opt-ins within it. But, think about this carefully. Being able to do this is not going to be very helpful if you cannot place the opt-ins where you need to. This only serves to place unwanted restrictions on the way you design and use your blog.
Themes that cause problems with load speed
Load speed is a major concern if you want your blog to feature well, with users and search engines. The problem with many free themes is that they are coded badly. This can have an adverse effect on load speeds.
These are just some of the reasons why using a free WordPress theme can be hazardous to the performance of your blog. If you really want to use a free theme then be very careful with your selection. If you prefer to have a theme that has a positive effect on the way your blog performs, it may be worth seeking some expert advice.