Are some themes a lot better than others? Yes, absolutely. The designers of the best themes understand how the human brain processes visual material AND how search engine spiders view information. They are also easier to customize and less likely to have problems when you install any of the famous free ‘plugins’ that can be used to optimize a blog.

Before I list 7 ways to find great themes, here are 3 things to keep in mind:

1. As you search, think about the purpose of your blog. Will it simply be a way for you to share thoughts and ideas? Photos? Meet people who have something in common with you? Promote or sell products and services? By using ‘keywords’ that describe your needs when you do your searches, you can zero in on your best options. For example, if you want to sell or promote things, search engine optimization (SEO) is critical, so the keyword ‘SEO’ is a good keyword to search with.

2. If you like the look of a theme overall but don’t like the header (the graphic at the top that often includes the name of the blog), you can usually replace it with an image of your choice. Sometimes the designer will offer directions, but if not, you can write to them or do a search for ‘edit header graphic’ + the name of the theme.

3. Theme designers often provide instructions for how to change certain elements of the theme. If not, you can do a search for your theme’s name + edit to see if other bloggers have suggestions. If you aren’t a programmer, sometimes the directions can be confusing, but usually you’ll find someone who can talk newbies through the process clearly.

7 Ways to Find Great Themes

1. Visit WordPress.org and check out the Theme Directory. You’ll find many free options that have been reviewed by other users. The themes will likely still need to be edited, but sometimes the designer will offer how-to information on their site.

2. Type something like ‘best WordPress Themes’ plus other keywords that describe what you’re looking for – SEO, two-column, photos, etc – into your favorite search engine. The best sites will offer unbiased reviews of free and purchasable options.

3. If you like the look of Kubrick, the default theme that comes with WordPress, you can customize it by adding your own header graphic and editing other elements. How? In your favorite search engine type ‘kubrick theme + edit’ to find tutorials. I did this with one of my blogs for a while. However, I found it to be a lot of work to get what I wanted. It turns out that Kubrick is notorious for it’s limitations, but don’t let that stop you if you really like it.

4. If you’re a programmer, build what you like from scratch. Simply search online for tutorials.

5. Hire a web designer. A good designer will do their best to give you the look you want, teach you how to customize, and perhaps offer updates at a lower rate. But this can be a very expensive option, one that the average blogger can’t afford. It’s also important to remember that hiring a designer won’t completely save you from learning the technical side of blogging, unless you hire someone to write your posts, too.

6. If you find a blog that you like the look of, scroll to the bottom of the home page to see if there is information about the theme or the design company the blog owner may have hired. If you can’t find that information, write to the blog owner to ask.

7. Invest in good theme software, which is sometimes referred to as a ‘premium theme.’ There are respected, flexible, reasonably priced programs that will simplify the theme creation and editing process tremendously. When you change your blog using theme software, you’re less likely to mess up critical blog settings because your new theme will have a similar underlying structure. Often you get free lifetime updates, so whenever WordPress is updated, you won’t encounter conflicts. You’ll also have technical support if anything goes wrong. This is an advantage over many of the free options because designers who offer free themes aren’t always easy to reach, and the themes they create are less likely to be as flexible and customizable as what good software can provide.

For links to some of the Best WordPress Themes and blogging software, visit Lillea Woodlyn’s blog at http://www.speedonlinewealth.com/blog/better-business-blogs-best-wordpress-theme

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lillea_Woodlyns
http://EzineArticles.com/?Best-WordPress-Themes—7-Ways-to-Find-One-You-Like&id=2100362

Related Posts

• WordPress Themes: Selecting an Effective Theme (0)
• Who’s Looking Out for YOUR Online Reputation? (1)
• The Idiot’s Step-By-Step Guide To Blogging for Profit (0)
• The Blogging Mix: Key Elements to a Successful Blog! (content, Connection and Continuity) (1)
• The Blogger’s SEO Guide by SEO Book (0)

If you’re blogging on the WordPress platform, I’ll bet my entire life savings that the first thing you ever did was try to install a new WordPress theme. I’ll bet my future earnings that even today you’re still occasionally changing themes and wasting a lot of time doing minor modifications that when summed up merely distracts you from blogging itself.

It’s actually easy to see why this single aspect of running a blog demands so much attention. With the correct theme, you can accommodate all the nifty little widgets and codes, and may also mean better search engine rankings and tons of fresh traffic every day.

So what are the factors you need to consider to make theme-hunting easier?

Here are five important ingredients:

1) Theme Width and Columns
Typically, WordPress themes come in 2-column or 3-column formats, with widths ranging from 500 pixels to 960 pixels wide. If you’re blogging for non-profit purposes, a 2-column theme can look more compact and reader-friendly. Since you have less images of products or links to other sites to display, you can focus exclusively on the content without leading readers away from your site.

On the other hand, if you’re blogging for profit, you may want to consider a 3-column WordPress theme that will be able to accommodate your Google Adsense, Chitika and Text Link Ads codes comfortably without squeezing everything in the content area. 3-column themes allow room for expansion, but in the event that you’ve filled up all available space with ads, then it’s time you removed the non-performers and use only the advertising services that work for that particular blog.

2) Use of Images and Icons
A theme with images and icons can look good, but it rarely increases your web traffic or subscriber base. In fact, most “A-list” bloggers have plain vanilla themes with a simple logo on top. Reducing the amount of images also means faster loading time and less stress on your servers. This vital aspect of server load become apparent only if you have tens of thousands of visitors a day, but it’s worth designing for the future.

A image-laden theme also distracts readers from the content itself. This is the reason why blogs like Engadget and Tech Crunch use images intensively in the content areas to add value to a post, but the theme itself is simple and rather minimalist.

Ideally, a theme should allow you to use your own header image for stronger branding purposes, yet replace images and icons with links and text, or just not use them at all unless absolutely necessary.

3) Compatibility with Plugins
Another time-sucking activity is installing plugins that improve the functionality of your site. There’s a plugin out there for almost everything you want to do with your blog, but while most of them are free and easily obtainable, it’s not always easy to install the plugins and insert the codes into your WordPress theme.

If your theme is too complicated, it may be a headache to even insert that one line of code you need to make a plugin work. This is often the case with advanced AJAX-based WordPress themes that have too many files and heavy coding. I’ve always preferred a simpler themes that stick to the default WordPress theme as much as possible, so I can cut back on the learning curve and just get on with my life.

Remember that the purpose of your blog is to deliver timely, relevant content to your readers, Any theme that preserves or improves the reader experience is good, any theme that subtracts from the experience is bad.

4) Search Engine Optimization
A lot can be said about search engine optimization, but at the end of the day if you have content worth reading eventually you’ll get the rankings you deserve. That doesn’t mean that you don’t need SEO; all it means is that what you really need to do is to make sure:

(a) Your tags are formatted properly, with the name of the post first followed by the name of the blog – some themes can do this automatically without modification to the code or use of a plugin

(b) All your blog content titles use the H1 tag, with the main keywords used instead of non-descriptive text for better SEO relevance

(b) Your theme has clean source codes, and if possible all formatting is linked to an external CSS file which you can edit independently

5) Plug-And-Play Ease of Use
Can the theme be installed easily on an existing blog without having to move things around? Can the same theme be used and customized easily on your other blogs? These are some additional things you may want to consider when theme-shopping, especially if every minute of downtime on your blog may mean lost revenue.

While it’s hard to make comparisons due to the sheer amount of free and paid themes out there, it’s still a good idea to have a test blog site. Test any theme you plan on using, and make sure your test blog is also fitted with all the plugins and miscellaneous widgets used on your real blog. The last thing you want is for your readers start seeing weird error messages on your blog.

At the end of the day, a theme is just a theme. Instead of spending your time installing them, it may be wiser to outsource the task and focus more on your readers. Alternatively, you may also want to consider buying “plug-and-play” themes for a reasonable price. Dennis De’ Bernardy of ProWordpress.com has probably one of the best themes around, but if you’re short on cash there are certainly cheaper alternatives.

Copyright (c) 2007 Gobala Krishnan

About The Author

Gobala Krishnan is a niche marketing and WordPress blogging expert who has helped thousands of beginners start blogging for fun and profit. With his “Instant WordPress Themes” package you can get “Plug-in-Profit” niche themes for $1 each. You can browse the current selection at http://www.easywordpress.com/go/instant-am

Related Posts

• Revive Your Blog With Custom WordPress Themes! (0)
• My 10 Favorite Blogs on Marketing and Blogging (9)
• I’m Too Sexy for My Theme… (0)
• I want to blog, where do I start and why should I use WordPress? (0)
• “WordPress Takes Care of 80-90% of SEO” – Google’s Matt Cutts (1)

When you are looking at WordPress themes and trying to figure out which color would best suit your website, consider the psychological effects of color. In Western psychology, color produce a psychological effect on viewers. Viewers may associate qualities with a color and color may be symbolic as well.

When choosing colors, you can choose one color as the main color or you can chose a main color with other accent colors. One main color with two accent colors is a good combination if you want a livelier palette for your website than just a single color.

The warm colors of the color wheel can affect viewers because of the strength of these colors. These warm colors can overwhelm your website’s content unless they are used with moderation. Unlike the mellow blues and greens, the warm colors beg for attention. Yellow will grab the eye and may be distracting if it is overused. In color psychology, yellow can be motivating and sometimes over-stimulating. In studies, tempers were lost easier and babies cried more in yellow rooms.

Orange can spark the appetite in viewers. If you wish to whet the appetite of your visitors, use orange in your WordPress theme. It will look fresh and natural while it rings the lunch bell in reader’s minds. Red is another exciting warm color. Red can cause the heart rate and breathing to quicken and can over-stimulate too if it overwhelms a website. You should use the warm colors as accent colors because of the strength of their visual effect.

The cool colors of the color wheel has a more soothing effect. Green is symbolic color for many people. Symbolically, green has a few meanings. Green can symbolize money, prosperity, growth, youth, nature and freshness. As a color choice for a website, green is a lively color that does not cause eye strain. The color green has a relaxing effect on its viewers. Dark green is often seen as a masculine or woodsy color.

The color blue is associated with masculinity and it is often associated with authority. Websites that present information and want to be seen as an authority on the subject can do well to use blue as a main color. Blue is a favorite color with many people because of its tranquil appearance.

Neutral colors such as gray, brown, black and white have meanings for viewers too. Gray projects authority and stability. Brown presents an earthy and honest quality that could be considered homespun or earthy. Black means power, authority and knowledge for many viewers. Black sometimes have negative connotations for some viewers. On the other hand, white represents purity and neutrality.

WordPress themes can be used because of the effects that the color will have on the website viewers. If you choose a WordPress theme with the right color, your website will have the effect on viewers that you want instead of affecting viewers in such a way that they are over-stimulated or uninspired. Color is a powerful element when it comes to the design of your WordPress website.

About the Author:
To make your blog stand out you will need to use Premium WordPress Themes. You can Buy Premium Themes by clicking one the the two URL’s.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – WordPress Themes and How Color Effects Buying Habits

Related Posts

• WordPress Themes: Selecting an Effective Theme (0)
• WordPress on Steroids – Texas Custom Choppers (13)
• WordPress – It’s Not Just for Bloggers Anymore (10)
• What Makes a Premium WordPress Theme Premium? (0)
• Video Blog Dream Theme – vBlog Like a Pro (2)

Are you a dedicated blogger? Do you always browse the Internet in search of templates and premium WordPress themes? If you have answered affirmative to either of these questions, then we have some pretty interesting information for you. It involved custom WordPress themes and additional information on the subject. Enter the world of blogging with us!

WordPress has generally been defined as a smart system for those who want to publish their very own blogs. Written in PHP, WordPress is quite easy to use and highly functional. Millions of users have learned to rely on custom WordPress themes for their blogs and are now spreading the word to their friends. Premium WordPress themes represent some of the most popular searches on the web, especially as there are hundreds of websites presenting such templates as great prices. The important thing is that you are patient enough to find the very best.

You may be wondering what the difference between free and premium WordPress themes is. While you may not have to pay for those that are free, these cannot be compared so easily. Custom WordPress themes have a professional look and they are recognized for their top quality. The template is simply amazing and you can convince of the difference on your own, once you enter online and start searching. Two other very important features of a premium theme are represented by: the footer contains absolutely no links, plus the footer PHP file is not ciphered.

Premium WordPress themes are generally used for personal online blogs but you can also expect to find them used for business blogs. If you are interested in purchasing custom WordPress themes, then all you have to do is go to the website of your choice and click on a simple button. The most common method of payment is through PayPal. Online, you will encounter the greatest diversity of premium WordPress themes, with various elements of designs and motives. Those who are planning to start an artist’s blog are invited to use custom WordPress themes, especially those that are art-inspired. We are talking about a 3-column template, with bright shades of red and yellow.

You may have noticed that the number of party blogs has increased in the past few years. People and particularly youngsters are using the revolution in blogging to catch up with friends on partying. They use custom WordPress themes suitable for their needs, with funky designs and awesome colors. You can expect party blogs templates to come in darker shades, such as black and blue. Premium WordPress themes for party blogs can also come in simpler tones and designs, suitable for those who are beginners. It all depends on what you are looking for and what image you are trying to create.

If you are a girl creating a blog, then perhaps you might prefer custom WordPress themes with floral elements. What does red garden suggest to you? Well, you can expect a premium theme that comes with bright red colors and beautiful flowers. This is perfect for your personal blog. There are plenty of other choices out there, such as a pink evening or a windmill sunset in elegant shades of pink and grey. Discover premium WordPress themes today and prepare yourself to amaze all of your friends with your blogging!

About the Author:

Are you interested in finding premium WordPress themes? You’ve come to the right place. Pick up the ones you like and return real soon for some more! We also offer custom WordPress themes design service for your blog and we invite you to contact me and ask for a quote.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Revive Your Blog With Custom WordPress Themes!

Related Posts

• WordPress Themes: Selecting an Effective Theme (0)
• The Blogging Mix: Key Elements to a Successful Blog! (content, Connection and Continuity) (1)
• My 10 Favorite Blogs on Marketing and Blogging (9)
• Learning How to Blog to Dominate Your Niche (0)
• I’m Too Sexy for My Theme… (0)

WordPress has become a hugely popular open source blogging and publishing platform. The abundance of free themes and plugins as well as its ease-of-use have contributed to the attraction and popularity for using WordPress. While there are some great free themes for WordPress, many only offer basic functionality and simplistic designs.

Since late 2007 however an increasing number of WordPress theme developers have been offering premium WordPress themes – themes which are offered for a fixed price. These premium WordPress themes are usually sold for between $50 to $250. Originally only a small number of talented and well-known WordPress theme designers created paid premium WordPress themes which were well designed, highly functional, top-quality themes that transformed a WordPress installation from a simple blog into a powerful content management system. However as the premium WordPress theme business concept spread, more and more WordPress theme designers have hopped on the bandwagon trying to cash on the new trend filling up their portfolio with premium (paid) wordpress themes.

However with greater variety and numbers of paid premium WordPress themes also comes varying levels of quality. So what specifically makes a premium WordPress theme premium? Some characteristics that should set a premium wordpress theme apart from a free theme are listed below:

Quality and Unique Design
Premium WordPress themes should be just that – Premium. They should look better and be of a much higher quality and unique design than compared to those available for free.

Features
While all themes are different, in general premium WordPress themes should have more “Features” than their free counterparts. What that means depends on the theme in question. However some features may include: “Featured Posts” areas, Multiple layout options for the home page, drop down menus, multiple customs templates for pages, custom field options, print style sheets etc.

Customization Options and Fexibility
People want options, so Premium WordPress themes should be customisable. Buying a premium theme will set you apart from the crowd significantly, but since other people will still be using the same theme, premium themes should be able to be easily customized further, whether it be for the layout, colours, images, or all of the above.

Live Preview or Demo
There should be a live demo or preview of the theme so you can test it and check it out before buying. If there is no live preview or demo that should be a warning sign. You should ask why don’t they want you to test the theme first? All reputable premium theme sellers will have a live demo full of content for you to test. Explore the live demo thoroughly, testing all pages to see that the theme works properly and there are no errors or mistakes.

Full Support
If you’re buying a premium WordPress theme it should also come with a certain degree of support from the designer. The level of support can vary however and will range from personalised individual support from the designer, to the provision of forums or blog comment sections for asking questions and obtaining support from the designer and other people who have purchased the theme.

Supporting Documentation
Premium WordPress themes should come with an instruction manual or document. This should explain how to upload and install the theme and how to manage any of the options that are built into the theme.

Free Updates
Wordpress is continually being updated and improved and a premium WordPress theme developer should be offering you free updates of the theme when required.

Well Coded and Error Free
There should be no coding errors, misspellings, X images, etc in a premium WordPress theme. The theme has cross browser compatible and been tested to work properly on all the major browsers, plus the theme should have clean and valid code and adhere to strict XHTML and CSS standards.

About the Author:

A comprehensive showcase of premium WordPress themes can be found at Premium WordPress

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – What Makes a Premium WordPress Theme Premium?

Related Posts

• WordPress on Steroids – Texas Custom Choppers (13)
• WordPress – It’s Not Just for Bloggers Anymore (10)
• I’m Too Sexy for My Theme… (0)
• Free Magazine Theme with WP-Remix WordPress Theme (4)
• WordPress Themes: Selecting an Effective Theme (0)

Have You Given Up On the blog or Website of Your Dreams Because of Cost, Difficulty or Just Pure Frustration?

Good news! There is relief… in the form of the Blog Design Bootcamp.

On September 15, 2008, Erin Blaskie; Virtual Assistant, Online Business Manager and Techno-Geek Extraordinare, hosted the very first pilot program of her Blog Design Bootcamp. It’s now available to you as a Self-Study Program.

I have personally worked with Erin and her team and I am here to tell you that they do first-class work and they are true professionals in this sometimes less than professional field.

Erin is going to teach entrepreneurs, online business owners, virtual assistants and anyone else who is interested how to install, setup, customize and work with the HOTTEST blogging platform on the Internet today – WordPress.

The Blog Design Bootcamp is perfect for you if you have ever experienced the following…

**  Frustration with waiting for your blog site to be finished.

**  The stress of knowing how much blog design and blog site design creation can cost you.

**  Wondering how you’ll update and make changes to your blog now that you’ve finished it.

**  Not knowing where to start when a new client comes to you wanting a blog.

**  Disappointment at not having any high-end services, like blog design, in your portfolio of offerings.

These are all common issues we are faced with when it comes to blogging and using this technology.

Luckily, Erin’s here to tell you that it’s okay… you can breathe a sigh of relief and know that Erin is going to do something she never thought she’d do.

She’s going to teach you EVERYTHING she knows about customizing blogs and blog sites so that you can in turn do this for yourself, as a service or for fun!

Find out full details and start learning at your own pace today! http://1cat.biz/blogbootcam

Why? This Training Will Help You Earn More Money & Save Time

What do the top Internet Marketers, coaches, speakers, professional bloggers and myself all have in common?

Well, there is a great chance we’re blogging and there’s an even better chance that we’re using THE best blogging platform in the industry.

By taking this training, you’ll be able to…

**  Charge a lot for a service that is in high-demand but has low supply in terms of service providers.

**  Save time by not relying on your blog or web designer for their time and availability.

**  Save money in your budget by not having to pay out another service provider to do your work.

**  Increase your incoming client flow and overall exposure with improved and amazing Search Engine Optimization that is done automatically with this technology.

**  Become known as an expert in your industry for adopting the art of blogging into your business.

Find out the full details by visiting http://1cat.biz/blogbootcamp today!

When you walk away from this training program, you’ll be able to install, customize and utilize fully your blogging software which will save you time, money and stress.

http://1cat.biz/blogbootcamp

Sincerely,

Barry O
1Cat.biz

Related Posts

• You’ve Got Less Than 5 Seconds. Go! (6)
• Why Your Blog Design Should Look Like C.R.A.P. (3)
• Tips for Publishing a Membership Web Site or Online Newsletter (0)
• My 10 Favorite Blogs on Marketing and Blogging (9)
• Internet Marketing – The Top 10 Deadly Sins Of New Internet Marketers (0)

The theme itself is $39, which is a steal for what you get, but they are offering it for free when you purchase the WP Remix theme for $75.

So, if you’ve ever wanted to try the WP Remix theme now is the time to do it. For $75 you’ll get more WordPress theme variations than you’ll know what to do with.

WordPress is one of the best tools you can use to grow your online business. Themes like this make WordPress even more powerful.

You can check out the original WP Remix theme and the new magazine style WordPress theme here.

Related Posts

• WordPress on Steroids – Texas Custom Choppers (13)
• WordPress – It’s Not Just for Bloggers Anymore (10)
• What Makes a Premium WordPress Theme Premium? (0)
• I’m Too Sexy for My Theme… (0)
• WordPress Themes: Selecting an Effective Theme (0)

One of the most frustrating and time consuming tasks in building a new WordPress site can be modifying a theme especially, if you’re not an HTML “whiz”. Therefore, when I am choosing a theme for a new blog I try to find one that already contains the key components placed where I want them.

For example if I pan on using a 468 x 60 pixel banner ad in the header of my blog and a 300 x 250 pixel video in the sidebar then I try to find a theme that already has places for those key components built into the design. That is always easier than trying to fit those components in after the fact. I also choose themes that use the color scheme, or very close to the color scheme, I want to use. This means I won’t have to spend as much time editing the CSS (Cascading Style Sheet)

Here’s a good method to use when looking for the right theme for your blog. Take out a piece of paper and draw what you want your blog to look like. Make sure you include key components like ad spaces, opt-in forms, page navigation, RSS links, logo, etc… Now, search out a theme that most closely matches your drawing.

One last thing to consider when choosing a theme is that you want to make sure you choose a widget-ready or “widgetized” theme.

What are widgets?

Widgets are drag-n-drop components that you can put into your blog’s sidebar without having to know how to edit HTML. There are literally 1000’s of widgets for everything from Recent Posts, to Email Forms, to Ads and much, much more.

Premium Themes

I recommend using a Premium them for a more professional, customized look and to insure proper coding and no embedded “spam” links. I use and recommend the following premium themes. The support, coding and search engine optimization on all of the following are excellent.

StudioPress WordPress Themes by Brian Gardner – These themes come in several different styles and can be completely customized to get almost any look you want. This is by far my favorite premium WordPress theme collection. Plus, their support forum is second to none!

WP Remix – Probably the most comprehensive and customizable WordPress theme out there. It offers several different page templates for each part of the site.(i.e. Home, Content Pages, Shopping Cart, Blog, etc…) Warning, this theme is not for beginners. Unless you’re comfortable with code I would not recommend this theme.

iThemes – Offers and wide selection of premium themes for all types of sites. Their WordPress install and setup videos are also excellent.

WordPress Dream Theme by Ben Cope – This is another very nice theme that can be completely customized to look more like a website than a blog. The advantage to using this theme is that it includes setup and customization.

NOTE: All of the above themes are excellent for going beyond blogging and using WordPress as a content management system. If you’re just looking to blog then a Free theme may do the trick.

Free Themes

There are a lot of really nice looking free WordPress themes available online. And with some customization you may be able to find one that works for you. The problem is finding one that is coded properly. Below are three free theme sources that I trust.

• Courtney Tuttle SEO’d Themes
• Free WP Themes.net
• WordPress Themes Base
• 100 Amazing Free WordPress Themes

Another great source for free WordPress themes can be found right from within your WordPress Admin. Simply click on APPERANCE | ADD NEW THEMES and you can search for themes by keywords and/or features, colors, page layout, etc…

Installing Your WordPress Theme

Most themes can be installed from within the WordPress Admin. Even themes that you download from other sites can be uploaded and activated by clicking on APPERANCE | ADD NEW THEMES | UPLOAD

In some cases you may have to use an FTP client to upload your theme. This is usually the case with premium themes that include files other than theme files in the .ZIP download.

Either way it’s an easy process. Once your theme(s) is uploaded simply go to APPERANCE | THEMES to select and activate the theme you wish to use.

Need help customizing a theme?

Checkout our WordPress Theme Customization service.

Related Posts

• WordPress Themes: Selecting an Effective Theme (0)
• WordPress Themes and How Color Effects Buying Habits (0)
• WordPress on Steroids – Texas Custom Choppers (13)
• WordPress – It’s Not Just for Bloggers Anymore (10)
• What Makes a Premium WordPress Theme Premium? (0)

Plus, you have to be aware that many free themes not only include bad code and misuse of tags they also include Spammy links to sites that you probably wouldn’t want to link to. Many times this poor coding can cost you in SEO rankings and reputation. So, be careful and only use trusted WordPress theme sources.

One good resource that I’ve mentioned before is Court Tuttles SEO’d themes. Court really knows his stuff and you can bet that he’s gone over every one of these with a fine-tooth comb and they can be trusted.The only down-side to most of these themes, in my opinion, is that they just don’t look really original. Granted that’s not Court’s fault. He didn’t design them he just optimized them to be more search engine friendly.

Another free theme that I love is the Free WP Premium Theme by the creator of the WP Remix Premium Theme. I’ve used this theme on several sites and I absolutely love it! Not only is it easy to use it does not look like a “free” theme. Here is a site I designed using this theme: Deeper Than Dating

My latest favorite is the most recent free WordPress theme from Brian Gardner. Brian is the author of the WordPress Revolution themes and iThemes series. I use his Revolution Magazine theme on 1Cat.biz.

His new theme comes in two layouts and is extremely easy to customize. In fact all I had to do was upload my own logo and replace the 468×60 ad banner at the top.

I used it on a clients site last week and they loved it! You can check it out here… http://www.TrafficAndConversion.com/

So, if you create a lot of blogs, and don’t want to purchase a premium theme for all of them, find 3 or 4 free themes that you like, trust the coding and can find your way around easily and stick with them. It will save you time and in the end make you more profitable.

Sincerely, Barry O.

Tell me what you think, comment below.

Technorati Tags: WordPress themes

Related Posts

• You’ve Got Less Than 5 Seconds. Go! (6)
• How to Choose the Right WordPress Theme (5)

OK. I have to admit it. This was one of those projects that on several occasions I really wondered whether or not WordPress was the best platform to build on.

The client was very particular about how they wanted the pages to layout and it required a lot of customization of the theme. I actually started with the WPRemix theme but ended up with a hybrid of the WPRemix and my own customizations.

So why was I so insistent on making this work in WordPress?

Well, partly because I’m just stubborn and I wanted to prove it could be done. But, mostly because I really wanted to be able to take advantage of all the SEO and content management features that WordPress offers. I wanted everything from static pages, to blog posts, to shopping cart, to forms all in one convenient admin area. It took some work but, I got that using WordPress.

While we did launch the site on Wednesday, April 23rd there is still much work to be done. The plan is to do a very heavy Web 2.0 marketing campaign and eventually build a biker web 2.0 community sister site. We will also be constantly adding / updating content and plan to launch a series of short web videos soon.

Marketing Note: We have approximately 4 different forms that a user might fill-out to contact us, schedule maintenance, apply for motorcycle transport, etc… All of these forms are connected to Aweber so we are building our list every time someone contacts us.

If you want to see some really killer custom choppers and motorcycles I recommend you go and check out the gallery, and the rest of the site. While you’re there be sure and read the bio on the owners. They are a very interesting trio and not your typical motorcycle shop owners. Their resumes range from Chairman of the Texas Republican Party, to Energy Expert to Special Ops anti-terrorist expert formerly operating in Basra, Iraq.

Plug-Ins Used:

• Akismet
• All in One SEO Pack
• cformsII
• Dofollow
• FeedBurner FeedSmith
• Global Translator
• Google Analytics
• Google XML Sitemaps
• My Category Order
• My Link Order
• My Page Order
• ShareThis
• Subscribe me
• WP-DBManager
• WP Shopping Cart – Required some serious customization.

Theme Used:

• WP Remix – Seriously tweaked.

Please leave your comments and/or questions below and let me know what you think about the site. Oh yeah,and please be sure to hit the Share this button on my site and the Texas Custom Choppers site, if you like them.

Barry O.

Related Posts

• WordPress – It’s Not Just for Bloggers Anymore (10)
• What Makes a Premium WordPress Theme Premium? (0)
• I’m Too Sexy for My Theme… (0)
• Free Magazine Theme with WP-Remix WordPress Theme (4)
• WordPress Themes: Selecting an Effective Theme (0)