Web Substance Meets Style

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Oct 30 2008

Finding the perfect blog theme, step 2a

Published by webbetty at 1:14 am under Blog Design Edit This

Step 2a is for the blogger who is NOT going to modify their selected theme. This article is for bloggers looking for themes to use ‘out of the box’. In the next few days, step 2b will be posted for bloggers who like to tinker.

In step 1 of Finding the perfect blog theme, your homework was to take pen to paper and determine exactly what your blog will need. Why are you blogging? Who is your audience? What is your purpose? The answers to these questions, and the blog elements list you created for step 1 are about to be put to the test. Consider these your rules. Rules that cannot be broken.

Armed with these rules, it is now time to begin the search for your perfect blog theme.

Again, you will be tempted to enter search terms like “blog themes” or “free wordpress theme”. Doing this will certainly bring you results. LOTS and lots and lots of results. At this stage I’m not going to discourage you from doing this. I am going to remind you, however, to stick to your blog rules. This will save you hours of frustration and search time, because you can quickly weed out the themes and templates that don’t meet your needs based on your rules.

Keep in mind that I’m not saying this won’t take you some time. Aside from your rules, you will have a bevy of design choices to make. Colors, graphics, icons, fluid vs. fixed, etc. The list goes on and your impulse will be to pick the first cool theme that catches your eye. This is fine, as long as theme follows your rules.

So Google away. As you’re weeding through the seas of themes, keep track of the themes you like. Bookmark them, right them down, whatever. Just keep track of them. it’s a pain trying to go back and find the theme you let get away because you didn’t keep track of it.

Now you’ll have another list. A list of the themes you’re considering. Compare each one to the rules you’ve compiled. Immediately disregard any theme that does not meet all of your rules. Okay, that might be a little harsh. But do make sure that the themes you consider meet your most important rules. If you’re not inclined to change the theme, you’re stuck with the bells and whistles that come with the theme you select (at least in the beginning).

To get you started, I’ve listed some theme resources below. Maybe you’ll find one among these links and not have to resort to Google. (Note: I am in not way affiliated, nor am I endorsing, any particular resource listed.)

WordPress

Blogger

These should get you started. Remember to keep track of the themes you like. Compare each one to your list of rules. The theme that matches all (or most) of your rules is the theme for you.

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Finding the perfect blog theme, step 1

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7 Responses to “Finding the perfect blog theme, step 2a”

  1. # webbettyon 31 Oct 2008 at 7:48 am edit this

    I hope the information is helpful. :)

  2. # webbettyon 02 Nov 2008 at 6:03 pm edit this

    Thank’s for the positive feedback. I just stopped over…you have changed things, haven’t you?

  3. # webbettyon 05 Nov 2008 at 11:14 am edit this

    Hi Kim,

    I’d be happy to take a look and send you a quote. :)

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