I started a website 9 months ago and it’s now getting 200K visitors each month. At first, I didn’t expect it to grow so quickly, so I used the simple Astra theme and began posting. Should I change the theme now, or is it better to keep it? Will changing the theme affect my rankings?
It depends on the theme’s features. Here are some areas that might change and affect your rankings:
- Header structure
- Image formatting
- Page speed and core web vitals
- Menu and navigation
- Internal linking
- Mobile friendliness
Make sure a good theme covers all these aspects. Check the new theme to ensure it handles these elements well.
@Smith
Can I ask if Flatsome covers all these aspects?
Try changing the theme on a staging site first.
Astra is a fast theme, and yes, the theme does matter. If you’re changing the theme, ensure the new one is fast and easy to navigate for users. Also, don’t change your permalink structure, or you’ll get 404 errors. If you must change the theme, make sure everything works perfectly.
If you can afford a professional, go for it. If not, remember these steps:
- Backup your entire WordPress website. (It’s possible for free)
- Change to the new theme you want.
- After changing, test your website to ensure everything works correctly.
- If everything is fine, great! You saved some money by doing it yourself.
- If something breaks, restore the backup and seek professional help.
Edit: Regarding rankings, it shouldn’t affect them if your page structure stays the same. However, if the new theme lacks some elements from your previous theme, it might impact rankings. Since you’re switching from Astra, I assume you’re using Elementor. Make sure the new theme supports Elementor to avoid issues.
Why do you want to change your theme?
winsteizsty said:
Why do you want to change your theme?
Because the UI and UX on the mobile version are very plain.
winsteizsty said:
Why do you want to change your theme?
Because the UI and UX on the mobile version are very plain.
Keeping it simple can attract more visitors. If it feels plain, try adding some background colors to separate sections and use a few different fonts and color schemes. Just keep it simple.
Congrats on your success! You could change the theme to something light and fast, but why risk it?
Enjoy your success and continue to grow. I’d keep the same theme until your website earns enough money to handle any drop in rankings or traffic.
Once you have a good buffer, test the new theme on a staging site. If everything works well, switch it to live and hope Google likes it. After a few months, if your rankings and traffic stay the same or improve, congrats!
You can keep the same theme and just change the layout and design. In WordPress, create a child theme from your current one, set it up, test it, and if there are no issues, make it the main theme. This lets you change how your site looks without affecting the core setup.
Any change that alters the page’s code can affect rankings. Changing a theme is one of them. It doesn’t matter who does it. Even if a professional does it perfectly, your rankings might still drop.
Don’t change it.
I have the same question after reading this.
Astra is a great theme, so I assume you’re after a new design. If your site structure and meta titles stay the same, it shouldn’t significantly affect your rankings.
You could try the Hello theme and use Elementor to design your pages. It might add a little extra code, but if done right, it can work well.
With 200k visits per month in 9 months, you’re doing something right. I think the content is the main factor. If you keep that the same, your rankings should stay or even get better!
Don’t switch anything.
Don’t change it right now. If you notice a drop in traffic, conversion rates, or page load times, then you might think about changing the theme.
Congrats, 200k is a good number!
Yes, you can switch your theme, but there might be issues. Many theme changes have failed.
Your new theme might have problems with page speed, internal linking, or header tags.
Without professional help, it can be very risky.
Astra is a fast theme, and yes, the theme does matter. If you’re changing the theme, ensure the new one is fast and easy to navigate. Also, don’t change your permalink structure or you’ll get 404 errors. If you must change the theme, make sure everything works perfectly.
Have an experienced agency handle it. I tested an agency’s work on one page and it caused traffic issues. I had to go back to a premium agency to fix it. Think carefully before changing the theme. There are more details, but I need to know more to help further.