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01/21/2014 11:20 AM Software | Technology | Web Design 0 Comments

 
Photo credit: MySiteMyWay

The Basics: What can it do for you?

Selecting a theme may feel overwhelming. There are thousands to choose from. What does your blog needs to do for your business. Are you a photographer in need of a gallery? Do you have a specific color scheme? After you answer a few visual and functional questions, the rest is as easy as clicking install and activate. Here are a few things to keep in mind though.

Browser and Mobile Friendly

It would be a shame if your hard work could only be displayed on Internet Explorer. Or even worse, only on a computer. It may slip the designer's mind to check. Here are some ways to check, especially if you plan on buying a theme.

  • BrowserShots lets you type in the URL and displays screen shots from a wide selection of browsers 
  • WPtouch Pro 3 is great if you want to keep your desktop and mobile theme separate. It is a paid plug-in that can make your blog mobile friendly. 
  • IpadPeek works like BrowserShots by typing in your URL to view your website or blog across a variety of screen types

For more advice on ensuring your blog can be viewed on multiple browsers and screens, click here.

Spending Money on a Theme

Eventually, you need to decide if you want to take the free route or purchase a theme. . Here are some places to find them:

  • Headway Themes - 20% off coupon "wpbeginner" 
  • Elegant Themes 
  • StudioPress 
  • Themify - 20% off coupon "wpbeginner"
  • Thesis Theme
  • iThemes
  • Mojo Themes
More information on theme selection can be found here. 
 

Love your Coder

There are some technical issues to consider before deciding on a free theme or purchasing one of your own. 
 
  • Customization

    If you want to customize a theme, you would want to select from something basic. This will simple coding. However, if you do not want to touch any code, that is possible. The only problem will be if you decide to start coding. Designs that allow for customization without accessing HTML will run off of complex codes. 

  • Templates

    Be sure that your new theme includes a variety of templates. The basics are archives template, contact template, and 404 template. However, some come with a larger variety. 

  • Built on a 2-part framework

    This layers the website as the parent and child. The parent is the functional aspect, and the child is the design layer. This is great considering you can customize your design without worrying about upsetting the overall functionality of the website. Read more about it here. 

  • Menus and posts

    Not all templates offer menu placement or allow for a selection of post formats. Keep that in mind when making your decision

  • Updates and support

    Make sure your designer is working with the latest version of WordPress. Major updates occur twice a year. Also, look in the comments section to see if your designer replies and addresses issues. Having access to great support is not a guarantee, but it can make life easier. 

Read more about factors that go into deciding on a theme here. 
 
Now that you have an idea of what to look for in a theme, get out there and start blogging! If you need any additional help with your WordPress website, contact a Blue Archer Professional. 
 
Barbara Cline
Digital Content Writer
@BlueArcherPGH
 

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