themes – Web Design Ledger https://webdesignledger.com By Web Designers for Web Designers Fri, 15 Dec 2023 22:56:30 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.5 https://webdesignledger.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/cropped-Web-Design-Ledger-512x512-Pixel-32x32.png themes – Web Design Ledger https://webdesignledger.com 32 32 Top 12 WordPress Themes for 2023 https://webdesignledger.com/top-12-wordpress-themes-2023/ https://webdesignledger.com/top-12-wordpress-themes-2023/#respond Thu, 05 Jan 2023 08:00:03 +0000 https://webdesignledger.com/?p=51886 You may have an excellent business plan together with a good product or service to sell. But, the look and feel of your digital storefront doesn’t perfectly represent your brand. Then it simply isn’t going to contribute all that much to your business’s success. That’s what makes WordPress such a vital element when building your […]]]>

You may have an excellent business plan together with a good product or service to sell. But, the look and feel of your digital storefront doesn’t perfectly represent your brand. Then it simply isn’t going to contribute all that much to your business’s success.

That’s what makes WordPress such a vital element when building your website. WordPress’s website building tools and themes can give you what you’re looking for in your quest to achieve a seamless user experience.

There’s certainly no shortage of good WordPress themes out there. Themes that offer layouts for blogs, portfolios, an online store or a digital presence for a business.

Finding a top-quality WordPress theme can be a challenge. The following selection of 12 top WordPress themes for 2023 should make it easy for you to find one that best fits your needs. 

  1. Be – Multipurpose WordPress Theme

BeTheme is a supremely popular (250,000+ customers) multipurpose WordPress theme that features 40+ core features that gives users quick and easy access to an impressive array of powerful site-building tools, design aids, and options.

This, the biggest multipurpose WordPress theme of them all, features the responsiveness, flexibility, and performance you need to create websites that will showcase your business while leaving the competition in the dust.

  • Be’s library of 650+ customizable, responsive, and UI friendly pre-built websites make website building quick and easy
  • Be’s fast and user-friendly Be Builder enables you to view each element while customizing it
  • With Be’s WooCommerce Builder you can create shop and single product page layouts that feature impressive customer-centric options including product previews and sticky menus
  • The BeBuilder, Header Builder, Shortcode Generator, and a ton of design options give users all the flexibility they may need

BeTheme is Elementor ready, it is updated frequently, and its owners receive free lifetime updates. Click on the banner to find out more about this amazing theme’s powerful core features.

  1. Total WordPress Theme

Being able to easily create a website that does justice to your business is naturally a good thing. Being able to build your site your way makes everything even better, and that is what the Total WordPress theme does for you.

  • This aptly named theme features 50+ ready to use demos, 90+section templates, hundreds of live customer settings, and 100+ site builder elements together with an extended version of the WPBakery page builder.
  • Slider Revolution is included. Total integrates seamlessly with WooCommerce and features a multiplicity of WooCommerce styling options.
  • Layout options include boxed and full-width layouts, dynamic layouts, one-page sites, page and post designs, and advanced page settings
  • Total is compatible with most popular plugins, including bbPress, Uber Menu, Easy Digital Downloads, WPML, Yoast, and Ultimate Addons.

Click on the banner to learn more.

  1. Electro – WooCommerce Theme for Affiliates, Dropship and Marketplace Websites

The Electro WooCommerce theme gives you a complete design platform from which you can take your design vision and transform it into a pixel-perfect website. To help you along, Electro provides selections of home pages, dedicated mobile layouts, and multi-vendor marketplace pages.

  • Visual Composer is the page builder/editor of choice
  • The intuitive Admin Panel provides a choice of innovative WooCommerce layouts to showcase your product, show reviews, and add accessories that simplify user checkout
  • Choose from 9 awesome pre-defined colors, easily change, and arrange them, or make your own.
  • Electro features fast (1.25 sec) page loading times.
  • Electro was created for affiliate, dropship, and marketplace sites and is compatible with WPBakery and Elementor page builders.

Click on the banner to find out more. Be prepared to be impressed.

  1. TheGem – Creative and WooCommerce WordPress Theme

TheGem is a versatile creative WordPress theme with unlimited customizations, plenty of design & marketing focused features, collection of 400+ pre-built websites and fastest loading times.

  • TheGem’s versatile Theme Builder enables you to build every part of your website with Elementor or WPBakery
  • TheGem Blocks feature will speed up your site-building with huge library of 600+ page sections
  • Extensive toolbox with WooCommerce Builder, AJAX filters, advanced product grids will help you to create any kind of online shop

You’ll love the 5-star user support, as have 60,000 others. 

  1. Vault – Multi-Purpose Elementor WordPress Theme

Vault has no problem living up to its claim of being a next-generation website builder, starting with upscale selections of 50+ full websites, 1200+ templates, and 230+ premium widgets

  • Add the next-generation Theme Options Panel plus beautiful interactions and animations.
  • This theme’s interactive design tools and customization options will also impress.

The Vault framework enables you to easily create an outstanding online presence that features customer-engaging pages. 

  1. Uncode – Creative & WooCommerce WordPress Theme

This creative WordPress theme has everything you’ll need to build incredible websites and WooCommerce online stores. Uncode’s features include –

  • 70+ professionally crafted and easily importable pre-made designs you can mix and match to your heart’s desire
  • 500+ wireframes sections, an advanced Drag and Drop builder, shop layouts, and configurable Ajax product filters

Uncode’s 100,000+ sales have made it an Envato top seller. 

  1. Blocksy Free Ecommerce WordPress Theme

Blocksy is a free eCommerce WordPress theme that also gives you lightning fast performance, is completely eCommerce ready, and is absolutely loaded with intuitive website building features.

  • Blocksy’s Content Blocks features allow you to insert a piece of content anywhere throughout your site.
  • Blocksy’s Header Builder, Footer Builder, custom post types, dynamic data support, and content blocks provide all the flexibility you’re apt to need.

White Label is also offered. 

  1. Avada WordPress Theme

Avada is the #1 best selling WordPress theme of all time, which might suggest there is really nothing more to say about why it would make a good choice.

Still, checking out Avada’s website is the best way to see for yourself what this Swiss Army Knife of WordPress themes has to offer like its –

  • 400+ pre-built web pages
  • 120+ design and layout elements

And not to forget, its 750,000 happy users. 

  1. Rey WordPress WooCommerce Theme

The innovative Rey WooCommerce theme is loaded with user-friendly features and is performance oriented, developer friendly, and easy to use.

  • Rey features the popular and powerful Elementor page builder together with a useful selection of Elementor widgets that will cover almost any situation
  • Quickview, Ajax search, and smart search help site visitors find exactly what they want
  • Headers are eCommerce customized, and site visitors will love Rey’s advantageous shopping cart, wish list, and checkout features.
  1. Impeka – Creative WordPress theme

Impeka gives you complete freedom to build an engaging website that is user friendly, fast, fully responsive, and professionally optimized for SEO.

  • Impeka-built websites get noticed by the right people and give them what they want.
  • Choose Elementor, Gutenberg, or the enhanced WPBakery as your page builder.
  • Build an online shop with WooCommerce.

You can select among Impeka’s 37+ detailed demos to get a project underway.

  1. KnowAll – WordPress Knowledge Base Theme

KnowAll, the #1 knowledge base theme for WordPress, gives you a powerful tool for building an intuitive to work with knowledge base.

  • KnowAll’s advanced analytics lets you gain valuable insights into what your visitors are looking for and how they go about it.
  • KnowAll gives you a better perspective as to what content visitors find useful from the feedback they provide.
  • KnowAll can be personalized to match your company’s brand.
  1. XStore – WooCommerce WordPress Theme

XStore has provided users with an easy approach to building online stores from the get-go. An Envato favorite for the past 10 years, XStore gets projects off to a rapid start with its –

  • collection of 120+ awesome shops and multi-vendor marketplace building tools and features
  • high converting eCommerce features
  • header and single product page builders together with 60+ Elementor widgets

*******

The top WordPress themes that have been included in the above listing share a number of things in common.

Each features high quality designs, plenty of customization settings and options. Also, other useful features that have been incorporated with success in mind.

These top WordPress themes are popular for a reason. They make it easy to get the job done and get it done well. They are truly the best of the best.

No matter your choice, you will not be disappointed.

]]>
https://webdesignledger.com/top-12-wordpress-themes-2023/feed/ 0
10 Great WordPress Themes to Use in 2022 https://webdesignledger.com/10-great-wordpress-themes-to-use-in-2022/ https://webdesignledger.com/10-great-wordpress-themes-to-use-in-2022/#respond Thu, 06 Jan 2022 15:00:00 +0000 https://webdesignledger.com/?p=51230 The online world keeps growing and growing. Nearly exponentially it seems. A thousand or so new websites appear on a daily basis. More and more shoppers are relying on handheld devices to purchase products or services they want. Consequently, website design has become more demanding than ever. To keep up with the competition a website […]]]>

The online world keeps growing and growing. Nearly exponentially it seems. A thousand or so new websites appear on a daily basis. More and more shoppers are relying on handheld devices to purchase products or services they want.

Consequently, website design has become more demanding than ever. To keep up with the competition a website has to be responsive, it has to be fast, and it has to be user-friendly in every detail.

Most of the popular WordPress themes are great at helping website builders get a site up and running quickly. Many if not most do not require any special design or coding skills. And many, though by no means all, are sufficiently customizable and responsive.

The best way to ensure a website will be able to stay ahead of the competition is to select one of the best WordPress themes that has the features you will need. It needs to have a proven track record, and to be ranked highly by those who should know. Add 100% responsiveness and you have a theme you can place your confidence in.

Here are 10 such great WordPress themes – the best of the best.

  1. BeTheme – The Biggest Multipurpose WordPress Theme with 650+ pre-built websites

Given its more than 240,000 satisfied customers it is safe to say that since BeTheme has such a large and devoted following there must be a reason for it. There are several in fact. This biggest WordPress theme of them all gives you all the tools, options, and flexibility you need to build a website that will leave the competition in the dust.

  • Be features a library of more than 650 pre-built websites that cover all the major website types and niches and many of the smaller ones. These pre-built websites are responsive, customizable, and extremely user friendly.
  • Be’s Live Builder is fast and a pleasure to work with given its outstanding assortment of powerful page-building capabilities. You’ll find the popular Muffin Builder, Header Builder, and Shortcode Generator in the package, and Be is Elementor ready as well.
  • Creating a shop? The WooCommerce Builder will take care of that for you with its single product page builder and multiple customer-centric options.

Users receive free lifetime updates. Click on the banner to learn more.

  1. Total WordPress Theme

A wealth of design options and customizer settings coupled with a selection of layout choices, navigation options, dynamic template functionality, and the popular WPBakery frontend drag and drop page builder enables Total WordPress theme users to create stunning responsive websites with ease.

  • Design options include Live Customizer Theme settings, Unlimited Styling, page builder blocks and extra modules, Post entry cards, animations, and custom backgrounds
  • Layout options include boxed and full-width layouts, dynamic layouts, one-page sites, page and post designs, and advanced page settings
  • Navigation features include 8 preset header styles, local scroll menus, mobile menu styles, and a simple mega menu

Click on the banner to see why 48,000 Total customers are happy customers.

  1. Avada Theme

Sales figures can at times be a legitimate factor in choosing a WordPress theme. A well-established theme with a poor sales record tells you one thing. A WordPress theme like Avada, with 45OK+ sales that make it the #1 best seller of them all tells you something quite different.

It tells you that with this theme, you can build a website that will leave the competition in the dust!

Avada’s Fusion core addresses your need for website responsiveness, performance, and attractiveness with its –

  • Fusion theme and page options and professionally crafted design elements
  • Fusion Slider, Fusion Builder, a Mega Menu, and Dynamic Content System
  • 40+ slick one-click importable demos

Avada is optimized for speed, it is 100% WooCommerce ready, and it gives you complete control over your design. Click on the banner to learn more.

  1. Uncode – Creative & WooCommerce WordPress Theme

Uncode is a pixel perfect WordPress theme that would be an ideal choice for building creative and WooCommerce websites. Uncode has more than 90,000 sales to date.

Key components include –

  • A powerful Frontend Editor, a WooCommerce Custom Builder, and more than 450 Wireframe section templates.
  • The Content Block enables you to create replicable headers, footers, and content sections, while with the Dynamic Contents feature it is possible to create personalized custom templates and design elements.
  1. WoodMart

The WoodMart WordPress theme may well be one of the most reliable and dependable ThemeForest eCommerce themes to hit the market.

  • Its many useful features include some you won’t find in most eCommerce themes
  • They include trendy selections of premade websites, templates, and special pages together with a nice assortment of shop and product page display options

Check out WoodMart’s landing page. It demonstrates why this popular theme belongs in the top 10 themes for 2022.

  1. TheGem – Creative Multi-Purpose & WooCommerce WordPress Theme

TheGem offers the ultimate in WordPress toolboxes for building business and eCommerce websites as well as portfolio, blogging, and magazine websites.

This ultimate toolbox features –

  • Elementor and WPBakery page builders with extended features
  • Awesome WooCommerce demos, features & tools for creating high conversion online shops
  • 400+ beautiful pre-built websites and templates and 300+ premium pre-designed section templates to speed up your workflow – a website building game changer
  • Flexible customization and boosted webpage performance along with premium plugins like Revolution Slider and WP Rocket, included in TheGem.
  1. Rey Theme for WooCommerce

Rey takes building a WooCommerce site to the next level thanks to its powerful integrations with Elementor, WooCommerce, and of course, WordPress’s sophisticated engine.

  • Rey is easy to set up
  • Rey features the popular and powerful Elementor page builder together with a useful selection of Elementor widgets to cover almost any situation
  • Ajax Navigation and Filters streamline page browsing and navigation
  • Rey is performance oriented, SEO and developer friendly, and (obviously) responsive
  1. Impeka – Creative Multipurpose WordPress Theme

Picking the wrong theme can make building a shop a complicated affair. Choose Impeka can make doing so a piece of cake.

  • Impeka is easy for a beginner to use; yet it contains features advanced designers tend to look for. For either type of user the end result will be a fast, SEO friendly, and totally responsive website
  • Impeka offers Elementor, Gutenberg, and WPBakery page building and editing options

Impeka does not require special design or coding skills to create an impeccable WooCommerce site.

  1. Litho – Multipurpose Elementor WordPress Theme

It’s creative, modern, highly flexible, and built with the Elementor page builder. What more could you ask for? Responsiveness of course, and Litho features that as well.

Other reasons for selecting Litho include –

  • Slider Revolution, 37+ home pages, 300+ templates, and 200+ creative elements
  • Single-click demo import
  • Easy access to WordPress Customizer

Documentation and customer support are great as well and your sites will be fast, 100% responsive, and SEO friendly.

  1. XStore – Best Premium WordPress WooCommerce Theme for eCommerce

It’s popular, available at a bargain price, and features 110+ ready to customize shops. What else could entice you to purchase a copy of the XStore WooCommerce theme?

  • If you have your content at your fingertips, you can get your shop up and running quickly
  • WPBakery and Elementor page building support is at your fingertips together with carefully selected product features and product page layout options

$500 worth of plugins are included to seal the deal.

*****

Given the thousands of awesome WordPress themes that are on the market there are several approaches you can take to find one you can work with –

  • The quickest would be to take a chance on one that “looks good” and hope for the best.
  • If you have (lots of) time to spare, you could take a deep dive into checking out and comparing a wide variety of cool WordPress themes.
  • The best approach would be to seek advice from a source of expertise on what to look for and why to look for it, and what some good candidates might be

Number 3 is the approach you have found here.

]]>
https://webdesignledger.com/10-great-wordpress-themes-to-use-in-2022/feed/ 0
12 Best WordPress Themes for 2021 and their awesome features https://webdesignledger.com/12-best-wordpress-themes-for-2021-and-their-awesome-features/ https://webdesignledger.com/12-best-wordpress-themes-for-2021-and-their-awesome-features/#respond Thu, 07 Jan 2021 13:00:00 +0000 http://webdesignledger.com/?p=50720 In all likelihood, you’ve already discovered the benefits of WordPress, and worked with one or more popular WordPress themes or other design aids. Top WordPress themes typically bring both advantages and limitations to the table. As a consequence, a web designer is confronted with finding a theme that maximizes the former and minimizes the latter […]]]>

In all likelihood, you’ve already discovered the benefits of WordPress, and worked with one or more popular WordPress themes or other design aids.

Top WordPress themes typically bring both advantages and limitations to the table. As a consequence, a web designer is confronted with finding a theme that maximizes the former and minimizes the latter when addressing the task at hand.

Finding “the best WP theme” among the large number currently on the market can be a daunting task.

Fortunately, you don’t have to spend hours sifting through and evaluating a lengthy list of potential candidates. This collection of 12 top WordPress themes should make it easy to find one that will help you get your New Year off to a roaring start.

  1. Be Theme

With its 40+ core design features that includes a selection of 600+ pre-built websites, BeTheme easily qualifies as being the biggest multipurpose WordPress theme of them all. In addition, more than 200,000 sales attests to its popularity.

Every one of the core features brings something important or even necessary to the web designer. While there’s insufficient space here to cover them all, this sampling should suffice:

  • BeTheme’s Muffin Builder is a powerful page builder that when used with its other core features makes website building a quick, easy, and coding free adventure.
  • The Admin Panel and Shortcode Generator gives users all the options andflexibility needed to make it a genuine “if you can think of it you can build it” tool kit.
  • BeTheme’s 600+ customizable pre-built websites make it possible to get virtually any project off to a quick start. These professionally-crafted design aids cover 30 business sectors, a wide range of small business niches, and the major website types.

Click on the banner. There’s much more to see.

  1. Total WordPress Theme

Total was designed with perfection in mind, but the author still managed to make it a fast, friendly, and extremely flexible WordPress theme.

  • Total’s multiplicity of useful features won’t slow you down. You can disable any feature you won’t be working with.
  • Total’s Dynamic Template Function gives you the flexibility to customize a layout exactly the way you want to
  • The Theme Customizer allows you to change fonts, colors, column widths, or section widths as the need arises
  • Total features the WPBakery page builder, a host of pre-made demos and page-building modules.
  • Total is WooCommerce and WordPress plugin friendly.
  • To learn more about this drag and drop website-building theme simply click on the banner.
  1. Avada Theme

Avada stands out for a number of reasons, one being sales. This WordPress theme is the all-time best selling theme on the market. It’s trusted by more than 450,000 users, which says a lot.

That alone might be enough to convince you it would be “the best” theme for you, but let’s dig a little deeper.

  • Avada’s portable one-click demos, pre-built websites, and design elements give web designers plenty to work with
  • The drag and drop Fusion Builder, and the Fusion Theme Options and Fusion Page Options enable users to build complex sites without coding
  • Free lifetime updates ensure Avada is going to continue to improve, and 5-star support is there should you ever need it.

Avada lets you design what you want and in the way you want it. Click on the banner to find out more about this best-selling theme.

  1. Rey Theme

Lightweight, highly modular, WooCommerce and Elementor integrations, and stunning design elements all contribute to make Rey one of the most innovative WordPress themes on the market.

Rey features:

  • A selection of specialized WooCommerce tools
  • A library of professionally-designed templates
  • Easy set up and powerful performance
  • Built-in SVG support

Rey is SEO friendly, and developer friendly as well.

  1. TheGem – Creative Multi-Purpose High-Performance WordPress Theme

TheGem is the best-selling theme on ThemeForest, which isn’t surprising since its multiplicity of features has led to it’s being called the Swiss Army knife of WordPress themes.

  • TheGem WP theme includes more than 400 premium pre-built multi-page and onepage websites and templates with flexible customization options
  • Available for Elementor and WPBakery page builders
  • With extended WooCommerce tools & features for best online shopping
  • A large selection of TheGem blocks (pre-designed web-page sections) is also included in the package

TheGem is 5-star rated and is trusted by more than 50,000 customers.

  1. Uncode – Creative Multiuse & WooCommerce WordPress Theme

Uncode is a pixel-perfect multi-use popular theme that is ideal for artists and other creative types, agencies, and businesses.

  • Uncode is a ThemeForest best seller with 80.000+ sales to date
  • Uncode features a unique WooCommerce Custom Builder that gives site users supreme shopping experiences
  • This theme’s showcase of user-built websites is a “must see”. Click on the banner, visit the site, and be prepared to be impressed.
  1. Kalium – Professional theme for multiple uses

This top selling, highly rated premium theme is suitable for beginners as well a more advanced WordPress users.

  • Kalium features a large selection of professionally-designed demos and design elements that can easily be imported and put to immediate use
  • All of the popular WordPress plugins are supported. Slider Revolution, WPBakery, Elementor, WooCommerce and other plugins are included in the price.

Kalium is responsive, SEO friendly, and GDPR compliant.

  1. KnowAll – Knowledge Base Theme

If you’re spending an excessive amount of time answering repetitive questions and customers find your site’s FAQ page a source of irritation rather than an aide, it might be the time to invest in KnowAll.

KnowAll:

  • Provides instant answers to customers 24/7.
  • Provides detailed answers including related content suggestions
  • Helps customers formulate questions with its search capability

Customers will love what KnowAll does and your business will profit from it.

  1. Pofo – Creative Portfolio, Blog and eCommerce WordPress Theme

Pofo is ideal for use by creative types and agencies, and for creating portfolio, blogging, and eCommerce sites.

  • Pofo is extremely flexible, blazing fast, and SEO optimized
  • WPBakery and Revolution Slider plugins are included together with more than 150 pre-built elements and a large selection of home and demo pages
  • Detailed documentation is available online

Users can expect exceptional support.

  1. Hongo – Modern & Multipurpose WooCommerce WordPress Theme

This modern multipurpose theme with its trendy demos, templates, and creative design elements is a good choice for company websites, eCommerce store owners, and bloggers.

  • Hongo’s out of the box features include premium plugins and WPBakery custom shortcodes
  • Product page tools include quick view, compare, wish lists, filters, catalog mode, and more

Hongo is well documented and offers first-class customer and user support.

  1. XStore – The Most Complete & Customizable WooCommerce Theme

The XStore theme is focused on those things related to WooCommerce. As such, it is to be recommended if your next project is going to be an online store.

  • A key feature is its selection of 100+ go-to-go shops
  • The package also includes a built-in WooCommerce Email Builder, a Full Ajax Shop, a Single Product page builder, and $500+ worth of premium plugins

Developed by an 8Theme Elite Power Author, XStore has more than 20,000+ sales.

  1. Typer – Amazing Theme with Multi Author Publishing Features

Typer can transform your blog website into high-powered multi-author platform. Front-end publishing, article bookmarks, and searches and recommendations for like articles are among Typer’s many features.

  • Typer is Elementor and Gutenberg compatible
  • Beautiful user profiles and multiple article layouts will dress up your site
  • Features include an activity feed and weekly digest

Typer was developed by and Elite Author and enjoys a 5-star user rating.

*****

Any selection from a above listing of great WordPress themes should put you in a good place for the website design challenges you may encounter going into the New Year.

Since each of these top WordPress themes features the latest website and website design trends, there’s at least one here for you, whether your project is for your personal use or for a corporate entity.

We hope you enjoy your shopping experience.

]]>
https://webdesignledger.com/12-best-wordpress-themes-for-2021-and-their-awesome-features/feed/ 0
7 Reasons to Use Illustrations on Your Website – And Examples of How to Do It https://webdesignledger.com/10-examples-of-responsive-websites-that-show-us-how-to-get-it-right/ https://webdesignledger.com/10-examples-of-responsive-websites-that-show-us-how-to-get-it-right/#respond Thu, 08 Oct 2020 15:00:35 +0000 http://webdesignledger.com/?p=50528 If you are encountering problems finding photos for your website, there’s a simple solution you might consider. Use illustrations. The examples in this post will show you various ways to go about doing so Sound reasonable? If you believe that to be true, when you start building your next website you’re going to have to […]]]>

If you are encountering problems finding photos for your website, there’s a simple solution you might consider. Use illustrations. The examples in this post will show you various ways to go about doing so

Sound reasonable? If you believe that to be true, when you start building your next website you’re going to have to ask yourself this:  

What kind of visual style do you want to use? 

You don’t have to reject photographs out of hand. That’s not the point. Other options are readily available should you want or need to take advantage of them.

You might choose to take a more abstract, creative, and illustrative approach. That’s one of the approaches we’ve taken when creating our huge selection of pre-built websites for BeTheme; a selection you’ll find to be both informative and inspirational.

Today, we’re going to present a selection of them along with a number of great websites that have creatively used illustrations as we explore seven good reasons to use illustrations to spice up your websites.

  1. When a photograph is unable to fully capture a complicated subject

You may have already discovered that for some brandsit can be terribly difficult if not impossible to find a photo that fully conveys a message as to what that brand is all about or what it does.Taking a photo of you at your keyboard doesn’t necessarily convey the fact that you are a great copywriter (or even a decent typist).

The BeCopywriter 2 pre-built site shows why an illustrative style can be a much better way to tell your story: 

The design is definitely worth a second look while the text conveys a simple, yet powerful, message.

How about looking for a photo that accurately describes what a recycling services company does? Not an easy task.

Check out WeRecycle

Clean air, clean water, clean neighborhoods thanks to everyone’s use of blue recycle bags or bins. This image gives a website visitor important insight as to what the company does. 

  1. When a brand has a unique look that requires a similarly unique website design approach

When discussing brands, you’re essentially talking about styles and personalities. One of the challenges owners of a given brand often have lies in finding out how to differentiate it from a competing brand that features a similar style.

A brand with a far-out style can be easier to work with, especially for a web designer who enjoys taking on far out design approach. One such a design approach is one that cleverly blends photographs with images, which is how BeTheme’s BeFoodTruck pre-built site handles it: 

As you might expect, the illustrations used are a unique choice for this type of industry, yet a food industry websitewould have a difficult time engaging customers without real photos of food.

Handwrytten uses a similar balance between real photos and attention-getting illustrations:

Here, the use of animated illustrations gives the homepage an added twist. It is a good example of a unique concept with a website to match.

  1. When a company wants to stand out by breaking with tradition; in this case, photo-strewn sites

Businesses in a given industry can be expected to have websites that are similar in style to other businesses in that industry. A business selling in-person experiences such as travel and hospitality businesses, rely heavily on photos to get their messages across.

This is to be expected. If you want your website to stand out among the lookalikes in a given industry, the use of illustrations is a good way to do it.

BeJourney 2 is a case in point: 

This site isn’tcompletely devoid of photos. There are just enough to tell a story that helps to get the message across.

The Bateau Mon Paris boat rental company’s site takes a comparable approach:

You can plainly see why this website’s main use of illustrations with its peekaboo photo caneasily engage its visitors.

  1. When a new company wants to leverage the style of a brand that consumers already trust

This approach can be somewhat challenging but can also be very effective. If you have a brand-new company your objective would be to create a website style that reminds visitors of a popular established brand.

This approach can help to erase any doubts a visitor may have as to whether your product or service is really up to the task. Stripe’s website style became a standard that many other software companies entering the same space have sought to emulate:

It’s not hard to see why this illustrative style, with its ingenious use of gradients has been copied for years.

Our BePay 2 site also emulates the trust-building Stripe style; with a unique spin.

The blue color is symbolic of trust and stability, and the site design makes a good use of illustrations and mobile application images.

  1. When a creator has an interesting story and work worth sharing

Showing photos of themselves or their teams is a practice some web developers and design agencies use to give their sites a personal touch.  While it can be nice to see who you might be working with, it’s even nicer to see what they are capable of doing for you.

Illustrations tend to be much better at showing what a business can do for its clientsand do so in a more exciting way that a photo can do.

The BeBand 5 pre-built siteuses illustrations and animations to give its site a 1980slook: 

Photos can’t always convey the style of music the band plays. Illustrations on the other hand, can make it relatively easy to do.

Artist Polly Kole took this unique approach to building their illustrative website:

Besides exhibiting a dramatic look, the site is also interactive. It gives the viewer a sense of actually being there and able to examine works of art up close and personal.

  1. When a company is selling a smart app or tool

What a smart app does can’t always be captured in a photo. The experience inside the smart app, tool, or resource is what counts.

This experience typically involves a solution to a problem which can in turn require managing a good amount of data. This is where illustrations tend to shine.

BeApp 6 cleverly uses data visualizations to get its point across:

Swiggy Labs builds products that solve big problems for consumers. Its site uses illustrations rather than a series of screenshots to show how these problems are solved: 

Drag the “Swiggy It” toggle to the right and you’re sure to agree that this is much more than photos or screenshots.

  1. When a brand’s target audience is children or, in many cases, their parents

Employing an illustrative style is a no-brainer since that children love cartoons and games (parents do too for that matter).

Add the fact that illustrations can be used to simplify an otherwise complex subject, like learning a language, and it’s not hard to see why their use can be so effective.

BeLanguage 3 is a language learning website:

You don’t need to understand Italian or Japanese to understand what this site is all about.

See Make Play is another site that effectively uses illustrations to strengthen its sales pitch is

The illustrations on this section of the home page are static images, but animated graphics elsewhere on the page combine to give the site a youthful quality and a lighthearted touch.

Will you use illustrations to style your website?

If you’re finding it’s a real challenge to use photos to tell your brand’s story and are open to considering a little less conventional design style, illustrations might be the right fit.

As you can see in the websites from BeTheme and the other examples given, illustrated websites are relatively common. Still, when you come across one, it tends to have a unique look that can draw you in. 

If you want to make your website really cause a stir and even bring smiles to people’s faces, try experimenting with an illustrated website style.

Admit it. You love cartoons as much as the next person.

]]>
https://webdesignledger.com/10-examples-of-responsive-websites-that-show-us-how-to-get-it-right/feed/ 0
The Best WordPress Themes for 2017 – Why Settle for Less? https://webdesignledger.com/best-wordpress-themes-2017-settle-less/ https://webdesignledger.com/best-wordpress-themes-2017-settle-less/#comments Wed, 18 Jan 2017 13:00:47 +0000 http://webdesignledger.com/?p=39471 If you’re feeling overwhelmed when attempting to select a theme for a WordPress site that will work for you, you’re not alone. There are so many to choose from, that after a while, all the good candidates begin to look alike. The real problem could be that you’re unsure of what theme characteristics to look for. […]]]>

If you’re feeling overwhelmed when attempting to select a theme for a WordPress site that will work for you, you’re not alone. There are so many to choose from, that after a while, all the good candidates begin to look alike.

The real problem could be that you’re unsure of what theme characteristics to look for. After all, you want to build more than just websites; you want to build web experiences.

Here’s what to look for:

A theme featuring aesthetically pleasing designs. These are designs that are attractive, and have a good deal of lasting power; themes that won’t quickly become outdated or passé.

A theme that produces SEO-friendly sites. SEO friendly is mandatory if you expect a site to draw good traffic.

A theme that is easy to customize. This characteristic gives you flexibility; plus, ease in customizability can be a genuine time saver.

Theme’s authors who provide top quality support. When you choose a premium theme, you have a right to expect top-notch support.

To make things even easier, we’ve compiled this selection of 14 Best WP themes for 2017:

Be Theme – Responsive Multi-Purpose WordPress Theme

Be Theme is multipurpose. It’s the biggest WP theme ever. It has the features you need. And, it’s ridiculously easy to use.

Be gives web designers the capability to produce any type or style of website, and the ability to precisely meet the needs of their clients. Be’s page-building tools, along with an outstanding selection of pre-built websites, also gives designers the ability to create pleasing and engaging experiences for end users.

Be’s 230+ pre-built websites are definitely the highlight. They provide you with a niche or theme-based concept to work with, they help you get any project off to a fast start, and the elements they contain are what are needed to create a pleasing UX.

Other highlights include the two fast and efficient page builders: Muffin 3, and Virtual Composer. Shortcodes allow you to add detail and functionality, without having to resort to code; there are plenty of grid, header, and layout options, and Be’s support is superb.

 

The Core – Multi Purpose WordPress Theme

There’s much that you’ll like about this WordPress theme. The Core is fast, flexible, and user-friendly. No special skills are needed on your part, nor do you have to worry about coding.

It’s hard to say what this WP theme’s 154,000+ users like best, although they’ve really taken to the Visual Page Builder, and the way it speeds up the entire design process. The thematic demos are another plus. They are easy to install, and easy to customize.

Even though this WP theme has been designed with the professional web designer in mind, working with it is so intuitive that it doesn’t require an experienced designer to provide a client with a truly sharp deliverable.

100+ informative articles are included in The Core’s documentation, and there’s a nice selection of video tutorials to help you one your way.

 

Enfold – Multi-Purpose Theme

Enfold is super flexible, it’s a top ThemeForest seller, and a time saver as well. Enfold is Designed for every skill level.

You can either start your design from scratch, or use the Content Importer to set up a preliminary site that closely matches the demo you’ve selected. With that approach, you can be on your way to completing a website in record time, or providing a client with a prototype of your proposed deliverable.

Enfold demos are customizable, and you can pick and choose elements from more than one demo while you design a page. There is also a selection of portfolio templates to work with. Once you’ve customized one of these templates, you can save it for future projects

There’s much more of course, including a wide selection of header and menu options. ThemeForest also has a hosted version of Enfold.

 

Hestia PRO

Hestia PRO will be a good choice if you have one or more one-page website projects in mind, and/or you are trying help a startup client that is badly in need of a top-quality website based on a Material Design theme.

Hestia PRO is WooCommerce ready, it’s responsive, and its authors are dedicated to giving its users quality support.

Houzez – Real Estate WordPress Theme

If your client or clients deal in real estate, you won’t find a better and easier way to meet their website needs than with the Houzez WordPress theme.

This specialty theme has the functions and features needed to quickly build websites with all the functions and features real estate agents require. A specialty theme enables you to deliver a better product, and do so more quickly, than is generally the case with multipurpose themes.

 

Divi 3.0

Divi attracted a large following when it first came out of the gate. With the later release of its state-of-the art frontend Divi Builder, sales for Divi 3.0 have increased by leaps and bounds.

The Divi Builder is one of the fastest and most powerful page builders you’ll find anywhere, and it is well worth a close look, as are the other features that make up this premium WordPress theme.

 

Uncode – Creative Multiuse WordPress Theme

To build a stunning website, you must start with a well-defined concept. This is where Uncode shines. This pixel-perfect WordPress theme offers several concept categories, with each concept designed to get your project off to a quick start.

Once underway, you’ll be able to make good use of Uncode’s enhanced Visual Composer, its Adaptive Images system, the Advanced Grid System, and other powerful features.

 

TheGem – Creative Multi-Purpose High-Performance WordPress Theme

A quick way to see what TheGem offers is to check out a few of the demos (don’t forget the “Others” demo). Then, check out the features, to see what all can be done with any of the demos.

TheGem may well be your ultimate tool for building WordPress websites; especially if you’d rather not spend your valuable time attending to various technical details, or coding.

 

Ultra WordPress Theme

The Themify Builder is a feature that sets Ultra apart from most other WP themes. Ultra also offers a post type builder, a highly-useful selection of builder addons, including the clever typewriter animation and infinite scrolling background image, plus a host of plugins, including flappable Tiles, and the WooCommerce Shopdoc.

Ultra is a theme you can have a great deal of fun with as you go about creating pleasing user experiences.

 

Kleo – Pro Community Focused, Multi-Purpose BuddyPress Theme

Community-oriented features is an area where many, and possibly most, WordPress themes fall short. KLEO gives you precisely the kinds of tools you need to incorporate widely-used community activities.

They include profile search, Facebook Login, and forum functionality. The rtMedia feature lets you add audio/video and photos to a page. This fast, easy-to-use WP theme is just right for creating a community-oriented website.

 

XStore – Responsive WooCommerce Theme

Its name says it all. XStore is a WooCoomerce theme devoted to building online shops known for their awesome user experiences.

XStore’s creators wanted to provide web designers with a comfortable tool to work with; and they succeeded admirably. You’ll have a great selection of demos to works with, plus the plugins you need to create an eye-popping online shop.

 

Kalium WordPress Theme

Kalium is clean, minimalist, and well-organized, and its demos are visually stunning. This WP theme was built for professionals, although it is also well suited for beginners.

The page builder is Visual Composer, and Kalium comes with the WooCommerce plugin and other commonly used plugins as well. Shortcodes obviate any need for coding, plus they give you great flexibility and more design possibilities. Valuable bonus elements are included in the package.

 

TheFox Responsive Multi-Purpose WordPress Theme

TheFox bills itself as being the smartest WordPress theme on the market. Once you’ve tried it, you may agree. This is a clean, good-looking multipurpose theme.

It’s remarkably easy to customize, and the package includes a souped-up version of the popular Visual Composer page builder. Just as you should do with any theme before you make a purchase, try out one or two of the demos. You’ll be impressed with what you see.

 

Impreza WordPress Theme

The easiest way to see what Impreza can do for you, is simply submit your email address. In return, you’ll receive an invitation to test drive this multipurpose WP theme. Impreza is clean as a whistle, it’s frequently updated, and it’s perfect for building business websites, blogs, and portfolios.

As far as ThemeForest buyer ratings go, Impreza comes as about as close to 5 stars as a theme can get.

 

Conclusion

As you’ve no doubt noticed, there are 14 great selections listed. Hopefully at least one of them is the solution to your immediate needs. Whether you’re in the hunt for a multipurpose theme to get you started in 2017, a specialized theme, or something in-between, you should find it here.

If you’re looking for a one-page theme, a real-estate specialty theme, or an eCommerce theme, you’ve hit the jackpot. If you haven’t found exactly what you need, please let us know.

]]>
https://webdesignledger.com/best-wordpress-themes-2017-settle-less/feed/ 1
eCommerce Themes That Are Perfect For Building a Shop https://webdesignledger.com/ecommerce-themes-perfect-building-shop/ https://webdesignledger.com/ecommerce-themes-perfect-building-shop/#respond Wed, 24 Aug 2016 19:19:41 +0000 http://webdesignledger.com/?p=37100 You can choose a multipurpose theme that has all the features you need to build an online store, or you can select a theme that is specifically oriented toward the eCommerce genre. You’ll find both types here, and all are premium themes. No matter which theme you may choose, you can’t just sit back and […]]]>

You can choose a multipurpose theme that has all the features you need to build an online store, or you can select a theme that is specifically oriented toward the eCommerce genre. You’ll find both types here, and all are premium themes. No matter which theme you may choose, you can’t just sit back and let it do all of the work. There are a few things you should take into account, if you want your eCommerce venture to be a rousing success.

  • There’s nothing wrong with innovation; but you don’t want to be overly clever when designing an online store. Don’t make your customers have to think. They know what they want, and it’s your job to help them find it.
  • Keep your homepage banner relatively simple. You don’t have to devote a huge amount of resources toward building it. Let your home page speak for itself.
  • Keep your product displays consistent. It’s OK to copycat what other stores do. Customers always feel more comfortable when they find themselves in familiar surroundings.
  • Always use a responsive theme. Half or more of your store’s visitors are probably shopping from mobile devices. Don’t let them slip through the crack.
  • Select a fast, lightweight theme if you want to sell a product. That will not be a problem, if you choose one of the following seven.

XStore-Responsive WooCommerce Theme

 1xstore

XStore’s authors took the first law of usability – “Don’t make people think.” – to heart when they designed and developed this premium eCommerce theme. XStore literally guides you by the hand as you are building your online store, making it easy for you to extend the first law of usability into the workings of your website.

The tools, settings, and pages you need are all there. Each of 27 demos has a modern, somewhat minimalist look. Innovative features abound; but the emphasis is definitely on presenting a familiar look to your store’s visitors.

XStore is responsive, retina ready, and RTL and WPML ready as well; so there’s really no limit to the size of the customer base you can reach out to. Visual Composer and Slider Revolution plugins are included, and XStore is of course 100% WooCommerce compatible.

The level of user support is what is to be expected with a premium theme – great. A video tutorial is included to give you any help you may need with install or settings. More video tutorials are being added as we speak.

Merchandiser

2merchandiser

Merchandiser has all the features you need to build the perfect online store, and none of the features that you have no use for. In other words, this premium eCommerce theme is a minimalist theme, both in design, and in terms of fast and efficient performance.

Its guiding philosophy – simplicity is the ultimate in sophistication –  is a philosophy well worth adapting to your web-building ventures. Merchandiser makes it easy for you to do just that.

The Theme Customizer provides you with all of the flexibility you need, while the popular Visual Composer drag and drop page builder enables you to turn out high-quality work at a rapid clip. Merchandiser also offers several online shopping features your store’s visitors will appreciate. You can sell anything online, including setting up an affiliate store, when using this eCommerce theme.

 

Woutique

3wooutique

Woutique is not a WooCommerce compatible theme; it’s a WooCommerce theme. As such, every one of WooCommerce’s widgets have been put into play. So has each of the WooCommerce plugin’s key components, including product categories and descriptions, cart, checkout, and user account sections.

Everything you need is here, plus Woutique is a free download. Whether you are a long- time web designer, or relatively new to the game, this WooCommerce product is worth a try.

 

KLEO – Pro Community Focused, Multipurpose Theme

4kleo

Although KLEO can definitely be called a multipurpose theme, it has a number features than makes it an excellent choice for eCommerce website builders. Among the key features of KLEO, in addition to its excellent selection of demos, are the 24 plugins that come with the package. Some of the usual WP plugins are included, but you’ll also find a number of plugins, including WooCommerce, that are specifically directed at helping a web designer build an online shop.

 

Uncode – Creative Multiuse WordPress Theme

5uncode

Massive options, special pages, interactive features, and its collection of 30  homepage concepts all combine to make Uncode one of the most exciting eCommerce themes on the market. The Advance Grid system pushes layout design to the cutting edge, while the Adaptive Images feature makes Uncode super-responsive. An enhanced version of the popular Visual Composer builder is included in the package.

If a WP theme capable of building anything you can think of is on your shopping list, Uncode is a solid choice, and a good investment.

 

Divi

6divi

Divi has a number of things going for it that has made it a top-selling theme, including the impressive Divi Builder. Another feature users particularly like is this themes 46 customizable content blocks, which make it oh-so-easy to put a page together. Or, an entire online store for that matter; since several of these content blocks directly address eCommerce needs, Divi is another superb multipurpose WP theme that would be an ideal choice for building your online store, quickly, and down to the most minute details.

 

Merchant WordPress Theme

7merchant

Merchant is super-responsive, it’s translation ready, and it’s super flexible. It’s also modern, and hip. Its Easy Layout Creator is more than just a name. Ease of use is this eCommerce theme’s trademark. Build your online shop, or display your products or services in an awesome portfolio. Merchant also has the features you need to publish an online product catalog.

Merchant features an excellent support forum that’s loaded with information on everything from optimizing your use of WordPress, to tying in to social media.

 

***

Picking an eCommerce theme from seven of the very best isn’t necessarily an easy task, but at least you can’t make a poor choice. It may be that a multipurpose theme will suit you best, or it may be the other way around, where selecting a theme more heavily oriented toward building eCommerce sites would make better sense.

Either way, any one of these themes will be a good investment. Just make sure to keep in mind the eCommerce web-building tips offered up front. These eCommerce themes are capable of producing awesome, super-responsive, pixel-perfect online stores, but it’s up to you to ensure your users don’t have to think.

]]>
https://webdesignledger.com/ecommerce-themes-perfect-building-shop/feed/ 0
Black Friday Deals for Web Designers https://webdesignledger.com/black-friday-deals/ https://webdesignledger.com/black-friday-deals/#respond Fri, 27 Nov 2015 13:00:15 +0000 http://webdesignledger.com/?p=32965 Visual Hierarchy Visual Hierarchy an online store that offers a variety of resources for designers is sharing a special deal with Web Design Ledger readers. They are offering a variety of beautifully designed resources like UI kits, icons, and fonts at the minimal price of $8 each for Black Friday & Cyber Monday! Great for […]]]>

Black-Friday-Deals-WDL

Visual Hierarchy

WDL-VH-(1)

Visual Hierarchy an online store that offers a variety of resources for designers is sharing a special deal with Web Design Ledger readers. They are offering a variety of beautifully designed resources like UI kits, icons, and fonts at the minimal price of $8 each for Black Friday & Cyber Monday!

  • Great for fast design and prototyping on websites, mobile apps and print design projects (logos, clothing, banners, posters, identity design, promotional products etc.)
  • Save money on hundreds of designs through this special offer, stock up this Black Friday and design modern websites and mobile layouts.

If you are searching for Mockups, we offer them at a reduced price ranging from 50% to 66% off mockups and UI layout kits. Hurry to get the best deals of the season, get yours before the Black Friday & Cyber Monday deal ends!

DealFuel

WDL-dealfuel (1)

DealFuel is daily deals site for web professionals. It’s an awesome place where you will find deals related to web design and development, SEO and marketing, software and tools and much more. Not only this, you will find a whole bunch of freebies which everyone is bound to fall in love with.
DealFuel is the place where you will find discounts that you won’t find anywhere. Apart from that they regularly give out coupons that gives even more discount.
For this Black Friday and Cyber Monday, they are giving a special discount of 15% on all their deals.
Details
Coupon Code: DFBLACK2015
Validity: Till 6th Dec 2015
Link: http://dealfuel.com
If you want special discounts, subscribe to their newsletter.

Photowhoa

WDL-photowhoa (1)

PhotoWhoa has curated products to improve your photography. It has got something for every genre of photographer. You will find actions from PhotoShop actions from Seasalt, tutorials from Trey Ratcliff, Dan Hostettler, Nick Saglimbeni, ebooks from Andrew Gibson, Andy Lim and much more. From Fashion, Portraits, Street and Landscape, this site has it all. Grab some awesome deals at Photowhoa.com.
Black Friday / Cyber Monday Offer
15% Discount offer on all Deals
Coupon Code PWBACK2015
Offer valid from 23 November 2015 to 7th December 2015
Link: https://photowhoa.com/deals/

Cyberchimps

WDL-cyberchimps (1)

With over 5 million downloads and 11 million websites launched using a CyberChimps theme, CyberChimps is aptly referred to as one of the pioneers in Responsive WordPress Themes. Its most popular plan is CyberChimps Club, a $97 membership that gives you access to all its 24 current themes and new themes as well. At least 2 New Themes are released every month – so you get real value for your money.
Black Friday / Cyber Monday Offer
30% Discount offer on all Themes & CyberChimps Club
Coupon Code – BFWDL30
Offer Valid from 23 November 2015 To 7th December, 2015
Link – http://cyberchimps.com/pricing/

]]>
https://webdesignledger.com/black-friday-deals/feed/ 0