{"id":138178,"date":"2015-03-25T08:00:21","date_gmt":"2015-03-25T12:00:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/premium.wpmudev.org\/blog\/?p=138178"},"modified":"2015-03-19T21:20:36","modified_gmt":"2015-03-20T01:20:36","slug":"premium-themes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpmudev.com\/blog\/premium-themes\/","title":{"rendered":"Dream Theme: Everything You Need to Know About Buying a Premium WordPress Theme"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>You&#8217;re looking to spruce up your WordPress site. You&#8217;ve browsed seemingly limitless free options, however, nothing pans out that suits your needs. It might be time to consider a premium theme.<\/p>\n<p>Premium themes are built by professional developers and offer you unparalleled support, upgraded features, and an overall higher quality product that you typically can\u2019t get for free.<\/p>\n<p>They also give you the ability to stand out from competitors within your niche. Sometimes you need that extra boost in visibility and a premium theme can provide this for you.<\/p>\n<p>In this post we\u2019re going to cover the different sources you can purchase premium themes from, how to determine if the theme is any good, and other theme bonuses you\u2019ll want to keep an eye out for.<\/p>\n<p>After reading through this, you might determine that the WordPress site you&#8217;ve always dreamed of can become reality with a premium theme; making all of your WordPress dreams come true.<\/p>\n<h3>Where to Find Premium Themes<\/h3>\n<p>When you\u2019re searching for premium themes there are two\u00a0main avenues you can go down.<\/p>\n<h4>Theme Vendors<\/h4>\n<p>Theme vendors are markets online to purchase WordPress themes.<\/p>\n<p>When you\u2019re buying from a vendor, you may want to stick to\u00a0the <a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/themes\/commercial\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">WordPress Directory of Commercial Themes<\/a>. This is a specially curated list of high-quality themes WordPress stands behind.<\/p>\n<p>Examples of trustworthy and high-quality theme vendors include <a href=\"https:\/\/graphpaperpress.com\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Graph Paper Press<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/themeisle.com\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Theme Isle<\/a> (both of which I&#8217;ll be going over soon).<\/p>\n<h4>Theme Marketplaces<\/h4>\n<p>These are prominent online stores where in exchange for elevated exposure, theme developers pay a commission on each sale to the marketplace.<\/p>\n<p>Although the themes in the larger marketplaces don\u2019t go through a strict testing process, the marketplace does a good job of enabling the highest quality themes to rise to the top \u2013 usually through a rating system.<\/p>\n<p>Low-quality themes simply won\u2019t get good ratings. If your theme doesn\u2019t live up to its promises, well, there is nowhere to hide.<\/p>\n<p>Below you&#8217;ll find a quick breakdown of some of the most popular premium theme vendors and theme marketplaces. While we can&#8217;t cover every single one in this post, it&#8217;ll give you more than enough to get started. (If you&#8217;re really interested, you can continue reading about <a href=\"https:\/\/wpmudev.com\/blog\/leading-premium-wordpress-theme-providers-compared\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">even more WordPress theme marketplaces<\/a>.)<\/p>\n<ul class=\"dev-tutorial-list\"><li class=\"dev-tutorial-list__item\"><header class=\"dev-tutorial-list__item__header\"><h3 class=\"dev-tutorial-list__item__title\">Superb Themes<\/h3><\/header><section class=\"dev-tutorial-list__item__image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"238\" src=\"https:\/\/wpmudev.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/Superb-Themes.png\" class=\"attachment-ratio-large size-ratio-large\" alt=\"Superb Themes image\" aria-hidden=\"true\" \/><\/section><!-- end dev-tutorial-list__item__image --><section class=\"dev-tutorial-list__item__content\"><p>Superb Themes features lightweight and SEO optimized WordPress themes for shopping, blogging, magazines, and plenty more.<\/p>\n<p>Over 179,000 websites use their products. Themes are regularly updated and they offer premium support.<\/p>\n<p>Prices range from $67 annually for up to 15 domains, 30+ themes, child themes, and support. However, for a one-time payment of $199, you get unlimited domains, all the themes, lifetime updates, and all the premium features.<\/p>\n<\/section><!-- end dev-tutorial-list__item__content --><footer class=\"dev-tutorial-list__item__footer\"><p>Interested in Superb Themes?<\/p><div class=\"dev-tutorial-list__item__cta\"><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/superbthemes.com\/\" class=\"dui-btn dui-btn--sm dui-btn--brand dev-btn--Details\">Details<\/a><\/div><!-- end dev-tutorial-list__item__cta --><\/footer><!-- end dev-tutorial-list__item__footer --><\/li><!-- end dev-tutorial-list__item --><li class=\"dev-tutorial-list__item\"><header class=\"dev-tutorial-list__item__header\"><h3 class=\"dev-tutorial-list__item__title\">Asphalt Themes<\/h3><\/header><section class=\"dev-tutorial-list__item__image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/wpmudev.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/asphalt-themes.png\" class=\"attachment-ratio-large size-ratio-large\" alt=\"Asphalt Themes image\" aria-hidden=\"true\" \/><\/section><!-- end dev-tutorial-list__item__image --><section class=\"dev-tutorial-list__item__content\"><p>Asphalt Themes is known for its beautiful and bloat-free WordPress themes. They&#8217;re 100% mobile responsive and retina ready. A lot of their themes are created for resumes and portfolios.<\/p>\n<p>They all have dedicated support and regular updates. They also have a &#8220;try it before you buy it&#8221; feature that offers a 7-day refund without having to worry about losing anything.<\/p>\n<p>Prices range from $39 for a Pro Version and up to $199 for a Theme Bundle that includes all the themes, features, and unlimited site usage.<\/p>\n<\/section><!-- end dev-tutorial-list__item__content --><footer class=\"dev-tutorial-list__item__footer\"><p>Interested in Asphalt Themes?<\/p><div class=\"dev-tutorial-list__item__cta\"><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/asphaltthemes.com\/\" class=\"dui-btn dui-btn--sm dui-btn--brand dev-btn--Details\">Details<\/a><\/div><!-- end dev-tutorial-list__item__cta --><\/footer><!-- end dev-tutorial-list__item__footer --><\/li><!-- end dev-tutorial-list__item --><li class=\"dev-tutorial-list__item\"><header class=\"dev-tutorial-list__item__header\"><h3 class=\"dev-tutorial-list__item__title\">Elegant Themes<\/h3><\/header><section class=\"dev-tutorial-list__item__image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"276\" src=\"https:\/\/wpmudev.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/elegant-themes-1.png\" class=\"attachment-ratio-large size-ratio-large\" alt=\"Elegant Themes image\" aria-hidden=\"true\" \/><\/section><!-- end dev-tutorial-list__item__image --><section class=\"dev-tutorial-list__item__content\"><p>Elegant Themes offers very high attention to detail. The entire theme selection is unique and gives your site a warm and friendly feel, no matter which theme you select.<\/p>\n<p>They also have a dedicated support staff who are there to assist you with any questions you may have. They offer a pricing of $89\/year or a one-time payment of $249 for unlimited to access their entire collection.<\/p>\n<\/section><!-- end dev-tutorial-list__item__content --><footer class=\"dev-tutorial-list__item__footer\"><p>Interested in Elegant Themes?<\/p><div class=\"dev-tutorial-list__item__cta\"><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.elegantthemes.com\/\" class=\"dui-btn dui-btn--sm dui-btn--brand dev-btn--Details\">Details<\/a><\/div><!-- end dev-tutorial-list__item__cta --><\/footer><!-- end dev-tutorial-list__item__footer --><\/li><!-- end dev-tutorial-list__item --><li class=\"dev-tutorial-list__item\"><header class=\"dev-tutorial-list__item__header\"><h3 class=\"dev-tutorial-list__item__title\">StudioPress<\/h3><\/header><section class=\"dev-tutorial-list__item__image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/wpmudev.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/studiopress-1.png\" class=\"attachment-ratio-large size-ratio-large\" alt=\"StudioPress image\" aria-hidden=\"true\" \/><\/section><!-- end dev-tutorial-list__item__image --><section class=\"dev-tutorial-list__item__content\"><p>StudioPress offers premium themes that run on their own Genesis framework. Genesis is an incredibly popular framework for web professionals.<\/p>\n<p>A Pro-Plus All Themes Package is $499.95. They also have other theme packages that vary in price.<\/p>\n<\/section><!-- end dev-tutorial-list__item__content --><footer class=\"dev-tutorial-list__item__footer\"><p>Interested in StudioPress?<\/p><div class=\"dev-tutorial-list__item__cta\"><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.studiopress.com\/\" class=\"dui-btn dui-btn--sm dui-btn--brand dev-btn--Details\">Details<\/a><\/div><!-- end dev-tutorial-list__item__cta --><\/footer><!-- end dev-tutorial-list__item__footer --><\/li><!-- end dev-tutorial-list__item --><li class=\"dev-tutorial-list__item\"><header class=\"dev-tutorial-list__item__header\"><h3 class=\"dev-tutorial-list__item__title\">Creative Market<\/h3><\/header><section class=\"dev-tutorial-list__item__image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"193\" src=\"https:\/\/wpmudev.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/Creative-market-1.png\" class=\"attachment-ratio-large size-ratio-large\" alt=\"Creative Market image\" aria-hidden=\"true\" \/><\/section><!-- end dev-tutorial-list__item__image --><section class=\"dev-tutorial-list__item__content\"><p>Creative Market isn\u2019t as well-known as the other marketplaces on this list. It\u2019s much newer and geared towards creative web professionals.<\/p>\n<p>They allow anyone to set up a storefront and begin selling WordPress themes. If you\u2019re looking for a more personal buying environment, this could be for you.<\/p>\n<p>The price range is very diverse, with themes ranging from $2 all the way up to $199.<\/p>\n<\/section><!-- end dev-tutorial-list__item__content --><footer class=\"dev-tutorial-list__item__footer\"><p>Interested in Creative Market?<\/p><div class=\"dev-tutorial-list__item__cta\"><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/creativemarket.com\/themes\/wordpress\" class=\"dui-btn dui-btn--sm dui-btn--brand dev-btn--Details\">Details<\/a><\/div><!-- end dev-tutorial-list__item__cta --><\/footer><!-- end dev-tutorial-list__item__footer --><\/li><!-- end dev-tutorial-list__item --><li class=\"dev-tutorial-list__item\"><header class=\"dev-tutorial-list__item__header\"><h3 class=\"dev-tutorial-list__item__title\">Themify<\/h3><\/header><section class=\"dev-tutorial-list__item__image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"213\" src=\"https:\/\/wpmudev.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/themify-1.png\" class=\"attachment-ratio-large size-ratio-large\" alt=\"Themify image\" aria-hidden=\"true\" \/><\/section><!-- end dev-tutorial-list__item__image --><section class=\"dev-tutorial-list__item__content\"><p>Themify is an easy to navigate marketplace that offers a large selection of themes to choose from. They offer themes for every occasion and are actually priced affordably.<\/p>\n<p>You can get access to all of their themes and plugins for $89. If you\u2019re looking for the most value out of your dollar, Themify this is worth checking out.<\/p>\n<\/section><!-- end dev-tutorial-list__item__content --><footer class=\"dev-tutorial-list__item__footer\"><p>Interested in Themify?<\/p><div class=\"dev-tutorial-list__item__cta\"><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/themify.me\/\" class=\"dui-btn dui-btn--sm dui-btn--brand dev-btn--Details\">Details<\/a><\/div><!-- end dev-tutorial-list__item__cta --><\/footer><!-- end dev-tutorial-list__item__footer --><\/li><!-- end dev-tutorial-list__item --><li class=\"dev-tutorial-list__item\"><header class=\"dev-tutorial-list__item__header\"><h3 class=\"dev-tutorial-list__item__title\">ThemeIsle<\/h3><\/header><section class=\"dev-tutorial-list__item__image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"258\" src=\"https:\/\/wpmudev.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/themesisle.png\" class=\"attachment-ratio-large size-ratio-large\" alt=\"ThemeIsle image\" aria-hidden=\"true\" \/><\/section><!-- end dev-tutorial-list__item__image --><section class=\"dev-tutorial-list__item__content\"><p>ThemeIsle has over 80, user-friendly and customizable themes. The theme options are modern and offer options; everything from starter sites, medical, portfolios, and plenty more.<\/p>\n<p>The prices start at $49 for a Personal plan and up to $129 for an Agency plan. Each option has support, custom layouts, and blog booster. For the more premium packages, there is priority support, white label, and more.<\/p>\n<\/section><!-- end dev-tutorial-list__item__content --><footer class=\"dev-tutorial-list__item__footer\"><p>Interested in ThemeIsle?<\/p><div class=\"dev-tutorial-list__item__cta\"><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/themeisle.com\/\" class=\"dui-btn dui-btn--sm dui-btn--brand dev-btn--Details\">Details<\/a><\/div><!-- end dev-tutorial-list__item__cta --><\/footer><!-- end dev-tutorial-list__item__footer --><\/li><!-- end dev-tutorial-list__item --><li class=\"dev-tutorial-list__item\"><header class=\"dev-tutorial-list__item__header\"><h3 class=\"dev-tutorial-list__item__title\">Graph Paper Press<\/h3><\/header><section class=\"dev-tutorial-list__item__image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"197\" src=\"https:\/\/wpmudev.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/graph-paper-press.png\" class=\"attachment-ratio-large size-ratio-large\" alt=\"Graph Paper Press image\" aria-hidden=\"true\" \/><\/section><!-- end dev-tutorial-list__item__image --><section class=\"dev-tutorial-list__item__content\"><p>Graph Paper Press is trusted by over 297,000 users worldwide and has 46 premium themes to choose from. They specialize in business, blog, eCommerce, magazine, video, photography, and portfolio style themes.<\/p>\n<p>The prices vary from $8.25 per month or lifetime membership of $399. Each price option includes unlimited access to all 46 themes, website license key(s), automatic updates, and support.<\/p>\n<\/section><!-- end dev-tutorial-list__item__content --><footer class=\"dev-tutorial-list__item__footer\"><p>Interested in Graph Paper Press?<\/p><div class=\"dev-tutorial-list__item__cta\"><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/graphpaperpress.com\/\" class=\"dui-btn dui-btn--sm dui-btn--brand dev-btn--Details\">Details<\/a><\/div><!-- end dev-tutorial-list__item__cta --><\/footer><!-- end dev-tutorial-list__item__footer --><\/li><!-- end dev-tutorial-list__item --><li class=\"dev-tutorial-list__item\"><header class=\"dev-tutorial-list__item__header\"><h3 class=\"dev-tutorial-list__item__title\">ThemeForest<\/h3><\/header><section class=\"dev-tutorial-list__item__image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"208\" src=\"https:\/\/wpmudev.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/theme-forest.png\" class=\"attachment-ratio-large size-ratio-large\" alt=\"ThemeForest image\" aria-hidden=\"true\" \/><\/section><!-- end dev-tutorial-list__item__image --><section class=\"dev-tutorial-list__item__content\"><p>ThemeForest is one of the most well-known theme marketplaces. It\u2019s also part of the Envato network, which provides a host of other high-quality WordPress solutions, such as plugins.<\/p>\n<p>ThemeForest is huge and caters to just about every niche of website; from personal blogs, to corporate sites, to mom-and-pop shops, to everything in between.<\/p>\n<p>The pricing is also variable, but tends to lean towards the mid to higher end of the market, having prices that range from $40 to $60.<\/p>\n<\/section><!-- end dev-tutorial-list__item__content --><footer class=\"dev-tutorial-list__item__footer\"><p>Interested in ThemeForest?<\/p><div class=\"dev-tutorial-list__item__cta\"><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/themeforest.net\/\" class=\"dui-btn dui-btn--sm dui-btn--brand dev-btn--Details\">Details<\/a><\/div><!-- end dev-tutorial-list__item__cta --><\/footer><!-- end dev-tutorial-list__item__footer --><\/li><!-- end dev-tutorial-list__item --><\/ul><!-- end dev-tutorial-list -->\n<p>Keep in mind all prices are subject to change. Also, many of these websites offer discounts and have special promotions, so be sure to check for details.<\/p>\n<h3>Where <em>Not<\/em> to Buy Themes<\/h3>\n<p>Any of the above resources are great places to start browsing and ultimately buy a theme. However,\u00a0there are a few places you\u2019ll want to steer clear of.<\/p>\n<p>It can be tempting to try and find premium theme discounts or free downloads. This mistake can be very costly. Remember: you get what you pay for.<\/p>\n<p>You may come across a site that looks reputable and is offering a free download of the theme you\u2019ve been thinking about purchasing. However, before you take the plunge and click <em>Download<\/em>, remember that these themes could have malicious code built-in. <em>Uh-oh.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>These spammy sites will usually upload a cracked version of the theme and offer it for free and unsuspectingly prey on those who download.<\/p>\n<p>Aside from being hacked, a low-quality theme will raise a few other red flags.<\/p>\n<p>For instance, one secret sign most people overlook is the correct spelling of WordPress. Although it\u2019s a very little thing, theme developers who spell WordPress wrong, by substituting a lower-case &#8220;<em>p<\/em>,&#8221; are either careless with details (not a good sign) or aren\u2019t active developers within the community.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wpdui-pic-full \" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/wpmudev.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/desktop.png); background-size: cover; background-position: center center; min-height: 270px;\">\n<p><strong>Stand by this simple rule of thumb:<\/strong> If a theme seems too good to be true, it probably is. If a theme is trying to do too much, chances are it isn\u2019t going to be very good at what it\u2019s doing. Find a theme that does exactly what you want and nothing more.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h3>Learn How to Crowdsource for Theme Quality<\/h3>\n<p>Although top quality theme vendors sell fantastic products and are worthy of consideration, one of the advantages of purchasing a theme from a marketplace is that you&#8217;ll have plenty of independent data to help you in your decision making process.<\/p>\n<p>When you\u2019re exploring theme marketplaces, you may feel overwhelmed at the sheer variety of choices available to you. Luckily, you can use social proof to determine if a theme is going to be a worthy investment.<\/p>\n<p>Also, check to see if there is a trial period. Sometimes those are offered, so that way, if the theme isn&#8217;t a good fit, you can get a refund from your purchase.<\/p>\n<h4>Understanding the Theme Rating System<\/h4>\n<p>Let&#8217;s start with a disclaimer: Theme rating systems aren&#8217;t perfect and shouldn\u2019t be used as the be-all-end-all of your decision-making process.<\/p>\n<p>That being said, just like reviews on <a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Amazon<\/a>, if a theme has hundreds of four and five-star reviews, you can assume that it\u2019s a solid theme. Perhaps not right for you, but right for plenty of others, which is a good start.<\/p>\n<p>Conversely, if a theme has dozens of one and two-star reviews, you should probably pass on that theme, regardless of how you may feel about it subjectively.<\/p>\n<p>Use a theme\u2019s ratings as a yardstick \u2013 not the be-all and end-all, but an important element in your decision-making process.<\/p>\n<h4>Diving into the Comments Section<\/h4>\n<p>The comments section will enable\u00a0you to gain insight into the experience others have had with any given theme.<\/p>\n<p>Sometimes the comments section will act more like a simple support forum, while other times you\u2019ll find nothing but praise. The comments section will help to illuminate potential flaws and show the responsiveness of the theme\u2019s developers to simple requests.<\/p>\n<h4>Reading the Support Forums<\/h4>\n<p>Some theme marketplaces have dedicated offsite support forums, while others actually have support within the theme marketplace.<\/p>\n<p>Similar to the comments section, it\u2019s important to browse the support forum \u2013 even though you might not know what you\u2019re looking for \u2013 as it will help you to judge what will happen if you do run into an issue.<\/p>\n<p>Plus, you can ask any questions here that might help you decide whether to purchase or not.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The key elements you\u2019ll want to look for are:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>A quick response time to support requests, and<\/li>\n<li>In-depth responses.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h4>Viewing the Showcase, Demo, Preview or Live Examples<\/h4>\n<p>A theme&#8217;s showcase will show you what\u2019s possible. It can be useful to see what other people have done with the theme you\u2019re thinking of purchasing. This will help get your creative juices flowing, and you can see if\u00a0people with high-caliber websites have\u00a0vouched for the theme in the best possible way \u2013 by using it.<\/p>\n<p>If a large, successful website is using the theme you\u2019re thinking of buying, it\u2019s probably going to be a very good theme.<\/p>\n<h4>Basing Your Decision on the Developer<\/h4>\n<p>When a new theme is released to the market there won\u2019t be a ton of reviews, comments, or other indicators of social proof. This is when it can be helpful to look into the developer behind the project. If the developer has a steady string of high-quality themes behind them, you can bet this theme will be up to the same standards.<\/p>\n<p>On the other hand, if you are looking at a developer&#8217;s very first theme, you may want to wait until other people have given the theme a run-through\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/wpmudev.com\/blog\/choosing-a-wordpress-theme-framework-the-ultimate-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">before choosing<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3>Defining Theme Elements to Look For<\/h3>\n<p>There are standard theme features that are must-haves when purchasing a premium theme. Without these elements, you\u2019re going to end up frustrated more often than not.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"ul1\">\n<li class=\"li1\"><strong>Standards-Compliant:<\/strong> A high-quality theme will be up to the latest web standards. A good idea is to run the demo version of the theme through <a href=\"http:\/\/validator.w3.org\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">W3C Validator<\/a>, which will give you an indication of whether\u00a0the theme is well-coded or not.<\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\"><strong>Responsive:<\/strong> Responsiveness is becoming more and more of a necessity with every passing day. If you&#8217;re not on the bandwagon already, now is the time to hop on.<\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\"><strong>Compatible:<\/strong> Browser compatibility depends upon your audience. If you have a more tech-savvy user base then you may not need support for older web browsers, but\u00a0if you cater to an older audience you\u2019ll want to offer\u00a0support for the browsers they use most.<\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\"><strong>Customizable:<\/strong> If you can\u2019t figure out how to make simple aesthetic changes to your theme \u2013 even with the help of documentation \u2013 you may want to consider another option. The backend of the theme should ideally be intuitive or have tutorials to walk you through the tougher parts.<\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\"><strong>Integratable:<\/strong> Okay, I made that word up, but you get\u00a0the\u00a0idea! Sometimes your website demands you integrate with other WordPress plugins, <a href=\"https:\/\/wpmudev.com\/manuals\/the-buddypress-manual-2\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">such as BuddyPress<\/a>.\u00a0If this is the case then make sure your theme fully supports the plugin integration.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>WordPress Theme Side Dishes<\/h3>\n<p>Beyond the elements mentioned above, there are other theme extras that will make your life much easier.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Theme Documentation:<\/strong> Even if you\u2019ve set up a few themes in the past, having extensive documentation will help you get your website up and running in record time.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Support Forums:\u00a0<\/strong>If you\u2019ve done your research beforehand, you\u2019ve probably already checked out the support forums to gain valuable insights. Check both their response time \u2013 no one wants to put in a support request and have to wait weeks for a response \u2013 and the quality\u00a0and comprehensiveness of their response.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Community:<\/strong>\u00a0 Some themes also have dedicated communities and actually build a tribe around their themes. One great example of this is StudioPress. They\u2019ve taken the time to nurture a community around their work, and as a result, they have dedicated theme evangelists.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Tutorials and Education:\u00a0<\/strong>Similar to having documentation, some themes actually come with in-depth tutorials. If you\u2019re a very visual person then it\u2019s recommended you find a theme with a resource collection.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Wrapping Up<\/h3>\n<p class=\"p3\">So, when it\u2019s time to upgrade your website, consider a premium theme. If you\u2019ve been using a free WordPress theme, you\u2019ll be blown away by the added gloss and functionality (plus support).<\/p>\n<p>And for a further look at more premium WordPress themes be sure to read our article on <a href=\"https:\/\/wpmudev.com\/blog\/leading-premium-wordpress-theme-providers-compared\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">leading Premium WordPress themes compared.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Also, with a premium theme, consider including our <a href=\"https:\/\/wpmudev.com\/projects\/category\/plugins\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">premium plugins<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/wpmudev.com\/hosting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">hosting<\/a>, and our own 24\/7 support for a site that really shines.<\/p>\n<p>At the end of the day, make sure that you take your time with this decision and take note of your needs, so you can choose the right theme for your business.<\/p>\n<p>A premium theme might be just a click away &#8212; and exactly what you need.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Purchasing a WordPress premium theme doesn&#8217;t have to be overwhelming. 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