With WordPress sites now accounting for more than 34% of the web, you’re not alone in thinking this web development platform will be a great choice for building an online presence for your business. 

And, choosing a template is of course going to be one of the first steps to creating your WordPress site.

Whether that be creating a WordPress site that displays your knowledge, choosing a design that screams creativity, or a clutter-free theme that lets your brand do the talking. You’ll want to choose a theme that works for the type of industry you’re working in. 

With countless options to choose from, picking a theme that meets your needs is important from the off. You have to create the right first impression for your brand, whilst ensuring you’re choosing a theme that is compatible with a number of useful WordPress plugins, that’ll help enhance the growth of your business.

But, it’s easy to get completely overwhelmed with the thousands of choices available and it’s tempting to be blinded by how ‘pretty’ a theme is, rather than looking at the features, and how workable a more simple WordPress theme can be for you and your business. 

We’ll look at the key considerations for choosing a theme and take a look at some stunning WordPress themes from StudioPress (WP Engine) which take into account both design and functionality.

What to look for in a WordPress theme 

There are a few ways to help point you in the right direction when it comes to choosing a WordPress theme for your business. 

Think simple

Look for a simple WordPress theme that encompasses a clean design layout and only has the features you need for functionality. Make it as easy as possible for your site visitors to navigate through your website. 

It can be tempting to choose a theme with dozens of features but if it leaves you with a cluttered site, you won’t be serving your users well at all. 

Your end goal with a website is to get your site user to find the relevant information as quickly as possible. Remember it should look good, but don’t compromise on usability.

Mobile optimization is a must

Gone are the days when having a mobile optimized website was just a ‘nice to have’. 

In fact, if your website isn’t mobile responsive, you’ll have a hard time being well indexed on Google, as the search engine giant announced in 2018 that it would be indexing websites based on the mobile version first.

Compatibility with other plugins

As most WordPress users know, WordPress plugins power your site to be more than just a website. So, you’ll want to choose a simple WordPress template that supports all the plugins of your choice. 

Whether that be WooCommerce for e-commerce or an online storefront for a business, WordPress translation plugins like Weglot to make your site multilingual, or enhancing your SEO with Yoast. 

WordPress translation plugin Weglot is fully compatible with all themes, but for other multilingual plugins it can be more tricky.

Standout WordPress themes for your business

You’ve seen the relevant criteria, now it’s time for the fun part. Selecting a simple WordPress theme for your new site. 

Luckily, there are some great themes to choose from within the WP Engine platform, which produces more than 30 well equipped responsive WordPress themes to help you build a website that fits your business needs. 

We’ve selected 4 of their responsive WordPress themes to look at in more detail which encompass great design, have functional features, and are all Weglot translation ready, so your beautifully designed website can also be a beautifully designed multilingual one.

Revolution Pro

Remember when we discussed simplicity? Revolution Pro delivers just that. This simple WordPress theme has a minimal design, perfect for showcasing images and text in a visually appealing way. 

This would be a great option for a photographer/ artist’s portfolio, a creative agency or a lifestyle blogger. 

With three different page layout designs to choose from and the option to add ecommerce capabilities if you’re selling online – this theme allows you all the flexibility you need to customize your theme – plus it’s Gutenberg optimized. 

Monochrome Pro

Continuing with the simplicity theme, as its name suggests, Monochrome Pro demonstrates the difference that white space and typography can make in WordPress website design. 

A perfect template for businesses looking for a simplistic way to showcase what they do, this template lets visuals take center stage. Think boutique hotel, design agency or New York fashion house, this Gutenberg optimized template is both substantial and simple. 

Authority Pro

A template fit for showcasing your expertise, knowledge and personality, whilst still displaying it in a format that’s easy to digest for site users. 

It’s the perfect template for entrepreneurs offering online courses or those monetizing their skills through the selling of e-books and online guides.  

Easy to build and customize with Gutenberg blocks, this simple WordPress theme allows you to get your business up and running in minutes.

Essence Pro

Searching for a clutter free, beautifully designed template? Then look no further, this simple WordPress theme – Essence Pro – has been created to showcase your health, wellness and lifestyle business to the world. 

Allowing your brand to take the focus, the widescreen images and elegant blocks create a site that users will have no problem searching. 

Again, Gutenberg optimized, this theme has everything you need to start speaking to your global customers.

Getting started with StudioPress Themes & Weglot

We all know the value offering your website in more than one language can bring to your company revenue, for those selling products or services online. 

And, when you choose a WP Engine StudioPress Theme and install the Weglot translation plugin, you’ll be able to build a multilingual, SEO optimized and mobile-responsive WordPress website. 

One of the benefits of choosing Weglot as your multilingual website solution is its compatibility with all themes and plugins on WordPress. 

Get started by selecting your StudioPress Theme, and, if you’re already signed up to a WP Engine plan, the themes are already included! 

Then, follow this simple 5 minute step-by-step guide to make your WordPress website multilingual with Weglot.