You have some great content on your blog, yet you still aren’t thrilled about the appearance. It’s just lacking…something. So, you set out in quest of new WordPress themes to possibly dress up your blog’s look, feel and functionality. There is a lot to consider here, and while the actual process of activating the theme is not hard, getting to that point requires some time. Let’s examine some considerations when choosing new WordPress themes.
Find A Look You Like – There are literally thousands of WordPress themes out there and more are hitting the Web every day. It is something of a cottage industry; the creation of new WordPress themes. There is a style and look that you’ll like; you just have to sift through the huge numbers to find it, particularly if you’re attempting to use a free theme.
Functionality – Make sure it does the things you need your theme to do. It should be able to handle widgets, and any other goodies you’d like to employ. Some are definitely better than others, so be sure to check it out. You don’t want to be doing this every time you find your theme doesn’t support something you want to do on your blog.
Compatibility – Make sure it is compatible with the latest version of WordPress. Many times users have installed new themes only to find they didn’t play nice with the newer versions of WordPress. Don’t make that mistake!
Consider a Paid Theme – Often there are specialized themes that are specifically designed for either an industry or activity, such as affiliate marketing. These can be very good choices, and can make your job a lot easier by being more useful for the tasks you need every day. These are still relatively inexpensive, when you consider how much a custom-designed theme would run you.
Ease of Editing – The theme you choose should be easy to edit and work with. While there will still likely be some editing you’ll have to do if you’re trying to run or install anything special on your blog, the simple editing functions should be easy to work with.
Do a Database Backup Before Installation – This only makes sense, as in the best of times things can go wrong, and better safe than sorry! Losing a blogfull of posts will not make you happy!
Installation – Once you have found a theme, upload the zipped folder via FTP to the wp-content/themes/ directory and unzip it there (in the same folder). Then navigate to the Appearance tab on your blog Dashboard, and you should be able to find it installed there. Simply choose it and activate it. Then be sure to test it and make sure all is working as you want it to.
Changing your WordPress theme isn’t rocket science, but can take some time in the selection process. Also, don’t be doing this frequently, as it may affect the rankings your pages are achieving. Now get out there and find a terrific new theme!
