Choosing the Right Theme

We often reminded on how contents are king. Make no mistake as the right theme plays a major role as well. While content loved by search engines, good layout is a necessity for viewers’ comfort. With thousands of themes available, which one suits your overall requirements?

Theme design isn’t a requirement for a successful blog but I find it crucial to impress your readers. Be careful as beautifully designed theme does not always carry the functions of what your readers need. When they visit your blog, you have approximately 15 seconds to make a good impression, no different than in person.

Here are some checklists in choosing the right theme for your blog.

1. Loading time
We often encountered themes with superb graphics, images and icons to say the least. However, too many graphic elements will put so much stress to your server, making your blog load (very) slowly. What’s more important to your readers’ eye: the look or the time it takes to load? My recommendation, go for theme that uses minimal graphic elements.

2. Easy to modify
This factor is important to note. Most designers are able to meet your taste, but they often unable to satisfy your needs. Most themes available need some sort of modification here and there. Thus, are the files easy to work with? If you don’t have the skills in graphic, can you modify them at least via the stylesheet?

3. 2-columns against 3-columns
It is not easy to decide when it comes to column. Some bloggers need extra space, while some opt for more content space. Ask yourself. Do you need the extra column? Does 2-column theme is sufficient? It’s better to start planning ahead on what you should put inside these columns.

4. Avoid color factor
Let us look at this theme as an example. Originally, it was designed as blue theme but since the layout fulfills what I need, I used it without much hesitation. If you have some knowledge, just change it. Color of a theme is easily changed, so don’t look for the color to sway you when choosing a theme. Pay more attention on the structure and layout of the site, as well as the various page views and details the designers use to make the site look the way it does.

5. Usability
As pretty and colorful as a blog design is, if the readers can’t find the information they want, and if it’s a struggle to read, then you’ve successfully drove your readers away. Take time to think about how people will use your blog.

6. Support for plugins
Some theme may not work with particular plugins so do check whether it will work with those you’re willing to implement. For example, comment’s preview, sidebar widget, popular posts, gravatar, etc.

7. Say no to tables
I hate tables. Not only they are not user-friendly but search engines might spin their head to index them. My recommendation, avoid this kind of design at all cost. There are other themes that can serve you well.

In your opinion, what makes a good WordPress theme? Should the look matters for everything?

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Posted on: June 11, 2008 | Under Blogging Basics 
 

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