Dress Your WordPress Blog For Success With Themes

Blog design imageI can remember the term ‘Dress For Success‘ since way back in the eighties. How does that old adage apply to blogging? Simple, dress up your blog for success. With today’s themes and plugins there is no reason to use the plain Jane default theme that comes with the original WordPress install.

With my new appreciation for Twitter I am noticing more and more plain-looking blogs that scream go-away. I know it’s wrong in this day and age to judge a book by it’s cover but it is hard not to see that ugly setup and assume the admin has nothing to offer. And truthfully, that’s very often the case.

I prefer WordPress over other blog systems for several reasons and a big one is the availability of themes and plugins. You can find hundreds of them and the hardest part is finding just one to meet your needs. WordPress has a huge directory of available free themes at: WordPress Theme Directory

Need help installing a new WordPress Theme? See: How To Install A New WordPress Theme Video

Always test your theme for proper functions, looks and compatibility issues. Things like thumbnails, commenting and permalinks can vary from theme to theme. Always test your theme with each WordPress upgrade. Not long ago I had an issue immediately after I paid to upgrade the WordPress Dream Theme by Ben Cope [See Three Days Of Silence]. Always back up your blog before making theme changes.

ElegantThemes Ready to upgrade your theme with a premium theme without the premium cost? The theme Hot Blog Tips uses is just one of many  Premium WordPress Themes offered by ElegantThemes for just $19.95/year unlimited access. We use ElegantThemes on several blogs.

Want more? Below are a few links to help your quest to find the perfect look and fit for your blog…

Related posts:

  1. WordPress Blog Upgrade Tips
  2. Five Steps To An Easier Blog Makeover
  3. Wordpress Wednesday: Wordpress 3.0
  4. WordPress Tag Cloud Limit Fix
  5. Wordpress Wednesday : Superspeed Your Blog

Keith

Keith is a passionate blogger and writes Blog Tips. Feel free to contact him with any questions. Follow Keith on Twitter, subscribe his YouTube channel and don't forget to download the free e-book: Hot Blog Tips 101.

15 Responses to “Dress Your WordPress Blog For Success With Themes”

  1. Robbie says:

    Hi Brian, I love those themes from ElegantThemes. Check your commissions because I’m going to join today. Thanks for the advice.

  2. PJ says:

    Thanks for the link, but I think you may have meant to link to my list of free themes instead.

  3. Brian Hawkins says:

    @Robbie: Thanks Robbie, I appreciate you using my affiliate link to make the purchase. You forgot to add your site. If you have one feel free to come back and add the link.

    @PJ: Thanks PJ, you are absolutely correct. I appreciate the correction and I have edited the link. I love your site.

  4. PJ says:

    No problem, Brian, and thanks. You’ve got a great site here.

  5. Hey Brian!

    Long time dude.. Well yeah I see you make good use of the elegant theme and it really suits your topic and what you are sharing here.. =)

  6. Brian Hawkins says:

    Hi Ben, I almost missed your comment. I need to get busy on this new blog. I love Elegant Themes. I did have to change the CSS up a little so the post and comment sections had a white background. That dark background makes it too hard for old folks like me to read lol

  7. Instant SEO@Rom Machine says:

    I like elegant theme.Thank You…

  8. i like this tutorial it really is true sometimes you have to make your site very good looking but readable im just new to wordpress but its really a very great host for blogs…

  9. I am totally on board with twitter, and how can you not judge a book by its cover when so many blogs are competing for attention? It’s exactly what you’re saying about dressing nice to make a first impression, which is true whether you like it or not.

  10. “Dress Your WordPress Blog For Success”
    Now thats a very captivating headline. I think you could become a good copywriter some day!
    Thanks

  11. I want to have it so when I post on my blog at Wordpress, it will automatically post the same blog on my MySpace page. I know there is a way to do this with forums and bulletin boards – posting on WordPress and having it show up in the forums.

    • Brian Hawkins says:

      I’m sure there is a better way already developed but I imagine it would be simple if MySpace has a way to add RSS feeds.

  12. How Can I Get New Themes Onto My Wordpress.com Blog, WITHOUT Using a FTP Client…?
    .-= Debate Supplies´s last blog ..‘Need and Importance of Diabetes Supplies’ =-.

    • Brian Hawkins says:

      WordPress version 2.8.4. has an ‘Add New Themes’ option under the ‘Appearance’ tab. This allows you to import new themes directly to your blog without a FTP client. Be very careful and back everything up first if you choose this option. I’ve only tried it once and it was a disaster.

      Actually back it up with any option including FTP: Back That Blog Up

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