Themes
According to Digital Business Consultancy, "A theme will form a big part of how your blog looks, it’s important to get it right." [1] Picking a theme is not just about what is seen on the surface. When picking a theme, bloggers should be aware of all the options. After choosing a theme that fits the focus and desired layout of your blog, there are several attributes to consider within the theme. After considering all the options and making an informed decision, the application process is simple and straight-forward.
How to pick a theme
Selecting the perfect theme for a blog is vital to the future success of that blog.The main points to keep in mind when choosing a theme for your topic are compatibility with your focus, search engine optimization, and functionality. Keeping these in mind will help any blogger pick a theme that is right for their topic to provide a successful starting point.
The focus of the blog is the first thing a blogger should consider when choosing a theme. For example if a blogger is working on a "How to" blog then they will want to pick a blog that is compatible with uploading pictures or video. A good example of a compatible theme for this kind of blog is a Molly Blog WP theme. If a blogger is looking for a theme that will support a lot of text then a Daily journal WP theme would be ideal because it adapts to any screen's size making it more scan-able and easy to read on any device. Picking a simple yet compatible theme is recommended for easy use in updating and ensures that it will work with multiple browsers. Functionality is key. Busy themes might look good, but they are hard to modify and not always compatible with every browser.
Another thing a blogger must consider is the way a theme will appear in a search engine. Keeping search engine optimization in mind when picking a theme will give web users a better first impression of that blog.
A free theme with a simple, professional design, which can be easily modified, may be enough for your blog. However, be aware of the terms of service. If you want to maintain functionality with a little more design, choose a custom theme. Picking a free theme has its advantages, but if you're looking for more support, picking a commercial theme will provide more benefits for a one-time fee.
Widgets
Many, but not all, Wordpress themes allow for the use of widgets. All themes do not offer the same amount of widget space on a blog page. Depending on the nature of a blog, this can be problematic. When browsing through, read the details of themes that fit the style of your blog. Check what widgets are supported, how many are available, and where they may be placed.
Color & Background
Some themes offer the option of changing the color of various elements of the blog. This may include the font or background. In some cases this may include changes in color palette. The ability to edit custom colors will be listed under "features" in the theme details.
Menus
Bloggers generally have two options for adding menus to a blog site. Some themes come with menus set in specific areas by default. If this is not an option, many themes support the creation of custom menus. This information is generally included in the theme details. To create a custom menu or check for menu support, go to Appearance -> Menus and make the desired changes.
Browser compatibility
Many bloggers make the assumption that because a blog theme works well on one browser, it will work the same on all browsers. This assumption can be dangerous. When searching for a theme, pay attention to the browser compatibility and mobile support. Wordpress provides several mobile themes that are specifically smartphone-ready. Additionally, many themes offer the option of enabling or disabling mobile themes on your site if the theme is mobile friendly.[2]
Where to get a theme
Themes for Wordpress can be found on the word press site itself or from outside sources. With websites such as RocketTheme,WooTheme and SMThemes, finding a theme to fit your desired look is not a problem. They all provide both premium and free themes. Premium themes may differ in price based upon the specs and any special widgets that can be added. If you are unwilling to pay for a theme, there are multiple free themes that will create the same great look.
How to apply the theme
Once a blogger has picked a theme for the blog, the theme must be applied. Depending on the parent website a blogger is using to create and edit their content the application process can vary.
There are many different sites a blogger can chose from to create a blog and apply a theme. Wordpress and Blogger are two popular blogging websites, and each provides a different method of applying a theme.
Wordpress
For Wordpress.com sites, applying a theme is very simple. On the dashboard of your blog, go to Appearance -> Themes. Once you have chosen a theme, click "activate," and the theme will be applied to your blog.
Blogger
Theme installation on Blogger.com is slightly more complicated. Depending on which theme you choose, it may entail editing HTML or saving the theme in a zipped folder on your desktop. Free-Themes.org provides detailed instructions.
This process is similar on different blogging sites not mentioned here. Most websites have a detailed step by step process for applying the theme correctly and formatting it to fit a bloggers desired needs. Be sure to preview the finished blog once the theme has been applied to catch any potential issues with the theme before publishing it.
Notes
References
- Free-Themes.org Free-Themes.org. Web. 27 April 2013
- How to Install Themes on Wordpress. Site Ground. Web. 1 May 2013.
- Selecting the Perfect Theme for WordPress wpbeginner web. 25 March 2013. Web. 27 April 2013
- 20+ Simple WordPress Blog Themes for Personal W Blogging web. 19 Feb. 2013. Web. 27 April 2013
- What to Look For in a Wordpress Theme Digital Business Consultancy. 31 Jan. 2013 Web. 25 April 2013
- Wordpress Themes for Blogs Wordpress. Web. 29 April 2013