While WordPress themes don’t affect SEO by default, they can harm it if they have been designed poorly. It helps to pick the best one from the get-go because changing it can cripple your already suffering SEO. Here are some effects of changing your theme:
- It might affect content elements like text, headings, and images.
- Internal links and site navigation can suffer.
- A theme change will impact page load time and speed.
- If the change impacts content templates, your content’s quality might suffer, or it might become less relevant.
- Removing markup from your site will affect organic visibility.
The impact of low-quality coding
Poorly coded themes can lead to security issues. With 43% of all websites running on WordPress, hackers attack 4.7 million WordPress websites each year.
Low-quality coding leads to longer maintenance and updates. The process is more stressful, too.
Both the user and the developer will have problems with functionality. Keep in mind that 91% of unsatisfied users simply leave a website. They don’t complain that they had a negative experience.
If you’re running an ecommerce platform, be extra careful. Just 1% of e-commerce website visitors say the platform meets their expectations every time.
For example, poorly optimized themes might not allow you to change the font, style, or color of your contact forms. To fix this type of problem, the developer needs to overwrite code, which can be time-consuming or otherwise problematic.
Ultimately, the user experience will suffer, and this should be a concern. 39% of visitors will navigate away from a website if it’s too slow or images won’t load, and poor performance has led 90% of people to stop using an app.
One way to ensure an enjoyable experience is to choose premium WordPress hosting. It can be key to your WordPress website’s SEO and load time.
How to test themes for speed
A poorly coded theme or one full of extra features will cripple website speed. Heavy themes often include abundant styles, scripts, and elements that increase load time.
Start by installing the theme on a blank sandbox within WordPress. This will prevent complications with site files or plugins and ensure standardization in WordPress hosting.
Run the theme using the free Pingdom Speed Test. Do not add menus, media, pages, or posts. Use PageSpeed Insights to evaluate the desktop and mobile speed.
Fastest WordPress themes
Hello Elementor is compatible with Elementor, WooCommerce, Yoast, Advanced Custom Fields, and more. It’s no coincidence that it is the most popular theme. Its smooth mobile interface leaves no room for glitchy menus. This is important because users are five times more likely to leave a page that’s not optimized for mobile.
The Neve theme features a multipurpose design and easily customizable layout. It is also compatible with WooCommerce, the most popular online store plugin for WordPress. As of February 2024, 6.6 million live websites were using WooCommerce. Five million online stores installed free plugins to improve website functionality.
Best WordPress themes for SEO
Astra is fast, lightweight, and intuitive. It’s suitable for all kinds of websites, from blogs to e-commerce sites, and more than 180 designs are available. Genesis’s streamlined code makes it stand out. Your website’s loading speed will be more than satisfactory. Genesis is only suitable for experienced WordPress users who enjoy perfecting website layouts.
The bottom line
If you do decide to switch themes after all, check the new theme’s load time and make sure it’s easy to transfer content. Ensure you carry over or redirect all of your pages. None of them should have pop-ups. Finally, check their content hierarchy.
