When it comes to WordPress, every developer has their own recipe. Every WordPress site requires multiple components – the hosting environment, the theme, and various plugins.
What is a theme?
The theme provides all the front-end styling of your WordPress website. Through the theme, you control the overall style of your website, colors, typography styling, widget locations, page layouts, etc.
Similar to plugins, there are free and premium themes available. You can choose to install a free theme from the WordPress Theme Directory or you can purchase a premium theme. Similar to everything in life – you get what you pay for. Premium themes are better known for a reliable code base and often supported by the development company. Every theme has different functionality, controls, etc.
Based on experience, Kreative Solutions has invested in various themes and plugins subscriptions to provide exceptional value to our clients. Kreative Solutions uses the best software available and only uses well-maintained software. At Kreative Solutions, the majority of our websites are built with Divi.
What is Divi?
As one of the most popular WordPress themes in the world and the ultimate WordPress page builder, Divi is a WordPress theme built and maintained by Elegant Themes.
Divi is best known for the following:
- Multipurpose: It’s a multipurpose theme allowing endless customizations to style the website.
- Drag & Drop Page Builder: The drag & drop page builder makes it easy to add, delete and move elements on the front end of the website without any coding experience. There is no need to navigate the back end of WordPress or worry about coding.
- Visual & Responsive Editing: It truly enables true visual editing where you can design your page in the Divi builder. Furthermore, the page builder allows you to toggle between the mobile, tablet, and desktop view. If you have ever worked in a website builder, such as Squarespace, Divi enables a familiar editing experience in a WordPress website.
- Divi Library: The Divi library allows you to save and manage unlimited custom designs. You can easily transfer elements from one page to another, or from one website to another.
- Revision Record: Similar to modern software, Divi allows you to undo, redo, and revert to a previous version. If you make a mistake, no worries!
- Maintenance & Updates: Elegant Themes does a great job of proactively releasing updates and communicating. If there is a big change, Element Themes will be in contact. When Gutenburg was released in December 2018, one of the largest WordPress updates ever, Elegant Themes emailed their customers hours before the big update to assure their customers that the theme was ready for the change!
Divi is a robust theme ideal for personal and business sites. Even though it is one of the most popular themes, it is important to know the advantages and disadvantages.
Divi Advantages
The main advantages of Divi include:
- Customizability: Divi is one of the most customizable themes available. You have control over hover effects, text styling, shape dividers, border options, transform effects, filters, advanced code editing, drop and text shadows, and even animations!
- Design Efficiency: Divi enables efficient design through the Divi library, multi-select and bulk editing features, find and replace styles, copy and paste styles, keyword shortcuts, and more!
- Visual Editing: No CSS, HTML, or PHP required. You can simply navigate the graphical user interface. Training with Divi is far more intuitive than other WordPress themes.
- Portability: You can easily export entire page layouts and website elements. This makes it easy to import/export designs from one page to another, or from one website to another.
- Layout Packs: Divi offers 800+ pre-made designs and 100+ full website packs. All of these layouts are packaged within Divi for free. New layouts are added weekly with royalty free photos, icons, and illustrations. Browsing the library provides endless inspiration!
- Supportive Community – Elegant Themes provides 24/7 support via forums and is supported by a robust community. There are countless developers who build plugins to take the Divi theme to the next level. If you don’t know how to accomplish what you want, Google it and you will find a tutorial. In 2019, Divi added 24/7 support. You can submit a ticket via chat and resolve the issue via email with an Elegant Themes representative. Furthermore, the Divi community is very active and there are many groups you can join from Facebook to Meetup.
Divi Disadvantages
The main disadvantages of Divi include:
- Portability – Divi relies heavily on shortcodes. If you stop using the Divi Builder, this makes it difficult for you to transfer your content.
- Customization Overload – With endless customizations, all the options can be overwhelming. To get a button just right, you might have to adjust 10-20 different settings. This can be time consuming and tedious.
- Divi Look – Depending on the level of customization, Divi websites can easily be recognized.
Conclusion
Even though Divi is not perfect, it is a customizable, robust theme that is well-maintained and supported. At Kreative Solutions, we feel that the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages. Our clients appreciate the powerful system that is easy-to-use and visual.
