Choosing a Theme for Your Magento Store

The importance of the theme you choose for your Magento store cannot be overstated as when it comes to web retail, this will be your store-front, your shop floor and your customer service area all rolled into one. You don’t get a second chance to make a good first impression and while most themes look the part at first glance, there’s a lot to be taken into account before selecting one final theme for your store.        For example, it’s a good idea to think about the following and choose accordingly:

• Responsiveness – You cannot and will not succeed if you shun mobile traffic to your website, which will in the near future represent the vast majority of web traffic the world over. It’s been proven that if your site is not 100% mobile friendly, mobile users will leave before even checking it out beyond the first page.
• Resolution – It’s worth remembering that the machines and devices being used to access websites are becoming more and more sophisticated by the day. As such, it’s important to consider only the highest-resolution themes that support stunning photographs that will look the part on any device.
• Admin Panel – Most themes offered for Magento come with a powerful and versatile admin panel for taking full control of the site and each of its pages, so make sure your chosen theme is up to scratch.
• Language Support – If you would like to branch out internationally or to simply boost your appeal to those in your own locality that speak a different language, it’s worth considering a theme with multiple language support. When native languages are used, buyers show a lot more respect and loyalty to the store in question.
• International Currencies – When a potential customer reaches the end of a transaction only to find that they cannot pay in their own currency, there’s a strong chance they’ll leave and never come back. The more currencies you accept the better, so factor this into your choice of themes.
• Browser Support – It’s never a good idea to go for a Magento theme that looks amazing in Google Chrome but for one reason or another barely functions in Firefox. You need to therefore make sure that the theme you choose is just as suitable for each and every major browser on the market.
• Updates – When a theme has clearly been updated frequently and over a long period of time, it’s usually a good sign that those behind it are committed to offering a product of quality and will continue to make improvements indefinitely.
• Costs – And finally, it’s worth remembering that while you don’t often get something for nothing in the world of Magento themes, this doesn’t necessarily mean that a cheap theme will necessarily be worse than a $180 theme. You need to judge each by its merits alone and try to some extent to forget the price attached.

Follow these tips in conjunction with your own flair for design and you’ll be on your way to creating a Magento store that’s as fabulous as it is functional.