I love WordPress. I use it for many of my websites because it’s easy to use, easy to manage, inexpensive and most importantly, it creates fantastic/user-friendly websites.
However, one problem with WordPress is there are literally tens of thousands of themes to choose from. Where do you begin in choosing a WordPress theme?
This article on choosing WordPress themes sets out 4 considerations when choosing a WordPress theme.
1. What’s your website’s purpose?
When you know the purpose of your website, you can narrow your WordPress theme selection down quite a bit. You still have to choose from a particular WordPress theme framework such as the Genesis framework (read this in-depth Genesis theme review for more information) or the ElegantThemes framework (read this thorough ElegantThemes review to learn more). These are just 2 of many wordPress theme frameworks to choose from.
For example, if you’re creating a business website, you’ll want to narrow your theme selection to business website themes.
2. Do you have experience with a theme developer?
Most themes from the same theme developer/framework function the same way. This means if you’re familiar with a particular theme developer, it’s much easier to use another theme from them than get a theme from a different theme developer. However, sometimes it’s necessary to look to another theme developer for a particular look and/or design.
3. Do you want your theme ready to use as-is or do some redesigning
There are WP themes that look great as-is and aren’t so easy to modify. There are also theme frameworks that are specifically designed so that you can design your WordPress theme from the ground up.
I’m a “use-as-is” website publisher for my own sites. However, many people love tinkering with design and if that’s you, consider getting a WordPress theme generator framework … especially if you’re not familiar with coding.
4. Single theme purchase or membership?
I’m a member of several theme developers because I like having a large selection of themes at my disposal.
If you expect having to build several websites in the future, consider buying an all-theme membership so you have many designs to choose from at all times. Moreover, having an all-theme membership gives you the opportunity to try/test different designs to find out what works best for your particular website.
Next, get dozens of themes for $39 from ElegantThemes or check out the best WordPress business themes.
Filed under CMS by on May 8th, 2012. Comment. 
If you are like most people and slightly overwhelmed by all the online technology and everything else that is out there, there is help for you. WordPress is an online tool you can use as a template to develop a website. You get free or premium templates. Are free WordPress themes worth it? Here are some pros and cons.
Let us take a look at the pros first. It is free, and that is a big bonus. Especially if you are a newbie, you can fiddle around and find your way around without a financial outlay. There are thousands of these templates to choose from. There will be something for everyone to try, and if you do not like one that you chose, you can always try another one. If you are willing to learn the codes, you can make modifications for nothing as well.
There are some negatives too, though. One is that if you find a decent theme everyone is going to be using it, especially if you do not take the time to learn the codes so you can modify it. The template cannot be easily changed unless you become more familiar with the codes. You may not be able to get the updated versions like with premium versions, and this could result in the template not functioning correctly. There may be malware attached to the template as well, which is never good for anyone.
These are only a few things to remember about themes and templates. Before opening or downloading any WordPress software do the research on the program. Find out if there are any other people that have used it and how it turned out for them. There are always people willing to share their story.
There are so many things to consider when looking for a template for your website. How much traffic will there be? Will you be using any plugins? Do you think you will need to make changes to the site often? What is your target market? All these things will have to be considered when you choose your template, and whether you will need a premium program or not.
Keep in mind to know what kind of website you want. If it’s a blog only, get a blog theme or template. If a business website, get a business website. The starting point is learning how to create a blog or how to how to create a WordPress business website.
So, go ahead and try to make your own website. Are free WordPress themes worth it? Pros and cons apply to both the free and the premium themes. Why not download a free template and see for yourself? Should you template have malware you can run an anti malware program and get rid of it in no time. If it does not work for you, you have lost some time, whereas with premium templates you would have lost the money too.
Next, discover great WordPress theme generators or more specifically read this in-depth Artisteer article.
Filed under CMS by on Apr 19th, 2012. Comment.
Before one can know how to create income through WordPress, one need understand the WordPress How To instructions for setting up a blog. Then, one can better relate to the information and tutorials related to any applications with which one may desire to place on such a blog. Because, when one can understand the basics, it is easier to understand the applications one may desire to use on such a blog and how to download same, a few of which can also assist in generating traffic and providing at least a small amount of money through some in return.
For, as WordPress offers excellent instructions for setting up a blog, instructions which many first time users find easier than many other applications and programs, there are more and more individuals migrating towards WordPress to set up both personal and professional blogs. In addition, as individuals continue to learn more about the many options in WordPress for making money online, more and more people are also finding success by placing classified ad and e-commerce applications on such blogs.
While there are a few applications available in which one can generate business related to sales, one such application in which any user desiring to create income may want to add to their site if one has items to sell is that of the free e-commerce plug. Then, if a user decides, one can purchase a variety of professional company style icons in order to give their blog a more professional look. After which, one can not only offer information but also create income through personal and professional blogs.
One of the most popular applications is that of a bulletin board layout, similar to the many online bulletin boards which have been in existence for some time. For, one can usually set up a number of applications within such a system which can redirect traffic back to the main page in order to assure readers see all information associated with such programs. Thus, allowing individuals to both advertise such business as well as redirect traffic to same where appropriate.
Of course, while there are free plug-ins, there are others which are sold for a fee. Such plug-ins include, but are not limited to, Classipress, JobPress, WP Contact Manager, WishList Member, WP Review, WP Wiki, Portfolios and more, including a variety applications, such as gallery formats, which those more graphically inclined may want to research from the WordPress home page.
So, whether one is looking to set up a blog, whether for fun or work, there are a number of ways one can also make money while doing so in WordPress. Of course, the best of these by far is the ability to install a free e-commerce application on the main blog homepage. However, one can also earn money through WP Classipress and other applications as well.
Therefore, whether one is attempting to sell books, jewelry or other items which one has created, or is trying to sell an item which one no longer needs, WordPress has the capability to allow users to do all this and more. However, in order to achieve the most success in doing so, one may first want to go through as many training tutorials with regards to the various applications available as possible. For, in doing so, one assures that both their applications are going to work correctly in order to reach as many individuals as possible through such a blog.
After exploring these opportunities in WordPress, reading through the WordPress How To guides and other information, one can better understand not only how to set up a blog but how to set up one that is professional in appearance as well as one that can most likely generate at least a small amount of income over time. Thus, showing by the many applications available for WordPress, that the website is far more than just a website for writers and readers. Rather, a site in which users can set up blogs which can also be used as a way to generate traffic and increase online sales.
A WordPress Developer is your most economical and by far the best choice for a business website due to the ease of future maintenance, learn more at rolexon.com
Filed under CMS by on Apr 10th, 2012. Comment.
WordPress is undoubtedly the most popular blogging software available in the market. That is why every new blogger thinks that it is perfect for every website. Unfortunately that is not true. WP, like every other program, has a few down sides which make it a poor choice for huge websites. For such sites Drupal is the best option. It consumes a relatively small amount of server resources which means that it does not crash very often.
Building a website with this application is quite straightforward. However there are some things that you should take into consideration before installing it on your web server:
- Web hosting plays a critical role. There are numerous hosting companies that do not support this script. If you use such a firm you may encounter serious compatibility problems. In order to avoid these complications you should try to find a drupal hosting plan. On Drupal’s official site you can find a list of recommended hosts.
- There are numerous plugins which you can use to improve the efficiency and functionality of your site but these plugins are not as good as the ones available for WP. To add a unique feature to your site you might have to take the services of a web developer.
- If your site focuses on a particular niche then choosing the right Drupal theme will not be easy. For example if you are a freelancer and want to create a portfolio then your options are limited. That is why we have made a list of drupal portfolio themes that you can use on your site. All the enlisted themes are top-notch.
- If you are a WP user then Drupal’s back-end control panel might seem a little overwhelming. There are so many options that an inexperienced person can easily get confused. But once you start using it, things become much simpler.
Nowadays Drupal is being used by thousands of people. If you are looking for a reliable piece of software that can support a large site then you should obtain a copy as soon as possible. Make sure you keep the above mentioned things in mind during installation.
To find out more on this topic go to the official Drupal website or this WikiPedia entry.
Filed under CMS by on Mar 31st, 2012. Comment.
You might be thinking about starting a Business Blog as a sales and marketing tool. Before doing so, do yourself a favor. Either make your own or take a gander at the below business blog pros and cons.
In the traditional sense, blogging is known and loved for its reputation of being extremely direct and honest. Business blogging however, is an entirely different matter, in which honesty and candor often result in legal issues. Before setting up a business blog, you will need to ascertain where the line between brutal honestly and offending the (potential) customer lies. As a business blogger, it is crucial that a balance is found between frustrated posts and interesting ones. You will also need to create a sense of how you conduct your business without subtracting from the honesty bloggers expect.
It is a good idea, however highly controversial, that you acquire an editor for both your readers and your own comments. Blogging is also extremely time consuming. Before you establish your blog, you must ensure that you establish and enforce an ironclad blogging policy. Educate all employees as to the policy and closely monitor the blog to respond to negative and positive comments. Litigation risks, security violations, reputation assaults and general violations are just some of the issues you will most likely face.
On the plus side, one of the biggest pros of blogging is that your website is constantly updated with fresh content, which in turn is subject to the amount of time invested. Business blogging is also a great feedback mechanism; it allows you to tap into the minds of the consumers and determine their needs. Online and print media sources scour blogs for news and ideas, making blogging ideal for public relations attention. Blogging not only boosts your Search Engine Optimization, but also indirectly provides customers with a constant up-to-date “What’s Hot” list, at the very cost effective rate of your annual upgrade.
Blogging also has its advantages with community building, encouraging the sharing of knowledge and expertise. Some businesses also use internal blogs to document the progress, successes, challenges and lessons learnt during a project, making for effective project management. Allowing for product development, blogging will aid your business in refining the products and services available. Depending on your business needs, blogging can also provide improved customer assistance with easy access to polls, receiving feedback, acquiring quick technical solutions, and the like.
A business blog is great for any type of business website, whether a services business or ecommerce business. Check out WordPress business themes here). If you go with WordPress for your business blog (which I recommend), check out these professional WordPress themes.
Business Blogs are not for every business, but can be ideal for certain companies. A comprehensive knowledge of business blogging pros and cons is essential before deciding to blog or not to blog.
Next, discover the StudioPress Marketplace or check out this in-depth ElegantThemes review.
Filed under CMS by on Mar 18th, 2012. Comment.
In the competitive world we live in, it is hard to think of any enterprise that is profitable and does not own a web domain of some sort. The business blog tips and techniques that follow below are to help you make your domain more attractive to potential clients. Blogging is a good means of business communication but it must be done right to be effective.
When you write on your site you are looking to attract new clientele. This means that you do not know the people you are trying to reach and they do not know you. By keeping this in mind you will keep the tone of your writing professional and correct. By doing so the readers will be more inclined to take in what you have to say.
The more professional your writing, the more professional your company will appear. Check everything before posting. When you think you have checked your writing enough, do it three or four more times. When you read an article or a post and you pick up an error, do you think the author took time in their work and they are professional? No, you think that they are sloppy and ditsy. One grammar error can ruin a brilliant piece of writing. Do not think you have ever checked enough. Check it again!
There is nothing worse than visiting a site with writing everywhere and no clear indication of what is happening or where to go. Make sure you get your message across clearly. Do not get carried away with cute and humorous stories about your friends and family. People will go to your site to learn about your enterprise, not your life story.
Try to remember that you are not the only one of your kind in the industry. You need to try and include an overall picture of the industry and make references to your enterprise as frequently as you can. This way you are being objective and it appears as if you are not afraid to compare yourself to your competitors.
Blogging is a bit like running a Facebook page because you can respond to readers’ comments. If you need a business website with a blog, read this DesignPax review to find out if their the website designer for you.
There is nothing a prospective client hates more than sending a query on a site and being ignored. Do not let that happen to your company. You will immediately alienate a potential client and everyone they know. Word of mouth can be handy or very damaging.
The last business blogging tip is quality over quantity. This important bit of advice simply means do not post anything that is not of the best quality. Before posting anything, remember that whatever you put up is a reflection of your company. Make sure the post is what you want associated to your business.
Next, build fantastic landing pages with Premise for WordPress at Website Template Reviews.
Filed under CMS by on Mar 15th, 2012. Comment.
There are many WordPress Theme Reviews available online, it tends to leave one wondering what they should look for in a WordPress Theme review. How can you tell a good review from a bad one?
Value for money spent is one of the first things you, as a potential WordPress theme buyer, need to know. There are some themes out there that are reasonably priced, yet the quality remains high. A good review will aid you in finding such themes. You can also subscribe to acquire paid membership to a certain theme site; however, before doing so ensure that the site updates its database regularly with fresh, new and improved themes and reviews.
One of the more important things to look for is that the reviewer has used the theme and fully understand it – the pros and the cons. An example of an excellent theme review is this ElegantThemes review. You can also check out the video portion of that ElegantThemes review on YouTube.
Equally important is the overall presentation and site architecture. The good review will give you a clear sense of the use of color, graphics, layout and navigation, and is should be accompanied by videos, example pictures and a detailed chart of the theme’s features. Information regarding flexibility, style, design, attention to detail, and Search Engine Optimization (ranking a webpage higher in a search engine) is crucial to finding a theme that best suits your business.
But, what about customer service and support? Be sure the review mentions the standard of customer care and dedication to customer satisfaction. The author of the review should also include information regarding technical support, such as the quality of the FAQ index, basic terminology and concepts for beginner’s index. You will also need to know for certain that your theme is supported by all dominant browsers, whether or not the sidebars support widgets and ads.
Once you purchase your theme, you will be able to customize it. Therefore you need to know the difficulty level of theme customization. This is where a good review will supply sample pictures of different customization tools. Most themes include a PSD file that allows for fast and easy editing in Photoshop and a good review will incorporate such information.
The review should also clarify the terms and conditions of the different license models (for example: Basic and Developer’s) available for that theme, and an accompanying chart. The conditions of the refund policy should also be stipulated.
And finally, when you ask yourself “What should I look for in a WordPress Review”, the most basic component to a good review is a Pros and Cons table. This should be comprehensive enough to give the reader a concise, unbiased overview of the theme and forthwith make an informed decision.
If you’re looking for the right website template for you or how to build a WordPress website.
Filed under CMS by on Mar 13th, 2012. Comment.
Maybe you have come across some of those advertising campaigns stating that your organization could have a web site developed for $297, or maybe a professional will implement your company’s website design for some kind of ridiculously modest sum of money? The old saying “you get whatever you pay for” is accurate, especially when it comes to web design! A cheap web design is just that – a cheap website. Web design is extremely important, particularly if you’re marketing and advertising your company or service. The website design will probably introduce your enterprise to everyone so I don’t think a $297 effort will make a superb impression. It’ll acquire a lot more publicity than Yellow Pages will ever get a possibility at performing so I doubt you can get a long way with so small amount of of capital in print! Website design might be and usually is significantly less costly compared to printing over time, but it really is still the least expensive option to promote your business over time.
Web design is undoubtedly an art as well as a specialty that is certainly figured out with time. Not merely any individual can do it plus do it all very well; so it is essential that you speak to your web developer and get to find out about he or she. Many web-site designers are quite great artists, some others are actually great in coding, few are capable of SEO (search engine optimization) and perhaps a lot fewer are great with all these areas. A number of the much bigger website development agencies now have teams of folks that will compensate for just what their numerous designers might be deficient, obviously, logic signifies that the more folks who are carrying out work on the web design, consequently the greater the cost might be. Now, the more expensive a webdesign won’t suggest the best the web development. This is when you ought to talk with the actual web designer that’s building your site and simply get acquainted with him. Having faith in your own opinion and instinct will go far! You have to appreciate as well as believe in developer particularly because you could be utilizing him or her for a long time. Web design is not a “create and neglect” task and it shouldn’t be; though quite a few website designers today usually work in that way. For most firms the optimal case is where there is a web design service that may be on hand anytime you have to create improvements to your design.
The times of a static web page have ended. Within the evolving arena of the web, a dynamic web site is just where the focus will be. Web designs nowadays need material that’s transforming as well as continually kept up to date. Information, forums, images, schedules, products and many other elements of the web development will need to be replaced or changed day after day. The perfect system is one when you have a WordPress or Joomla (CMS) plus a web design service. Your website cms will enable you to change standard things without knowing coding and then your website designer will likely to be present when you really need her or him to bail you out of something you broke or mistakenly modified.
Alright, so what could this set you back? To be honest, it depends entirely on a number of things. Several things determine it like just how many pages are required, how much articles and other content can you make available and just how much content should your web designer be required to develop, how many photographs plus graphics must be created or maybe changed, whether Adobe Flash and JavaScript is needed or not, the quantity of input forms need to be built and how complicated would they end up being, and the checklist could carry on.
I would state that a new web design needs to amount to around $997 or maybe more. Purchase a web site design less than this price and you most likely aren’t buying a great deal what-so-ever. A good number of web sites that are below that amount of money will probably be a single webpage or just a small amount of pages of content at best and be a very poor webdesign. They are simply what you will name a brochure web-site therefore you simply do not find a whole lot of customers from the brochure site. A good number of first rate company websites will probably be about $1,999 to $2,999 and even an eCommerce site might start off near $3000 to $5000 or higher. Major corporate web sites would certainly begin for $6000 to $10000 or more. If you decide to shell out $199, be expecting a $199 overall performance, if you expend $1,000 expect to see a $1000 overall performance, and whenever you commit $3000+ expect to have your site to appear, get the job done, plus deliver just like a excellent web design.
Dalton Putnam is skilled from the niche of Website Design. Discover more regarding Dalton and his awesome organization at Jackson Web Design.
Filed under CMS by on Mar 1st, 2012. Comment.
What can be more rewarding then seeing your own hard work and imagination come to life when you enter your web address? This is one of the advantages of building your own website. No one can see the plan you have better then you can, regardless of how much you explain it and how talented the person or company is.
Yes, it takes some learning, and although it may take you some time to start your own site from scratch and there may be trials along the way, it will pay off in the end. There is so much you can do, with different pages you can add and customize. You are only limited by the ability you believe you have. If you follow the instructions from the basics up then you have a strong foundation to work from. You do not need an IT degree to create your own site.
You need the right software. You can make use of software to assist you in this regard. Basically, this software is called a website builder and it is a template. There are free ones or premium or free software applications available, each with their own pros and cons.
Templates (or WordPress themes) are the name of the game. Using these templates can get you up and running with a site in a matter of minutes without the frustration of having to work out the coding system. However, no one wants a generic site, so make sure the templates you choose can be altered to be exactly what you want it to be.
What about having a website that looks like other websites? It would be terribly disappointing if you had to come across a similar sight to yours. This may cause confusion for potential clients too. Take the time to look for them. There are even builders that now specialize in the attention grabbing Flash sites that used to be off limits unless you paid a lot of money to an expert in the field.
Advantages to building your website include:
Saving money because you do it yourself.
Have complete control over your business website.
Learning how to market your business online (an invaluable skill).
Getting fresh content online promoting your business immediately instead of waiting for a web designer to do it for you.
Getting your business online is paramount. There is no doubt that whatever your business or even idea is, you need to be on the Web. You need to have a site. You do not have to pay out a fortune to get a functioning, workable and even attractive site. This is good news especially for small or new businesses. Make sure you do not neglect your site, though. Keep it updated and respond to queries or comments.
These are just some of the important advantages to building your own website. You do not have to pay a fortune to have a site and spread the word of your business to the audience it deserves. More than that, you can make the site reflect your business the way you feel it should be reflected to the client market. You can also try and try again until you get the site perfect.
Click here to discove Artisteer 3.0, or click here to discover the Premise landing page creator plugin.
Filed under CMS by on Feb 24th, 2012. Comment.
The recognition of WordPress continues to develop amongst little company owners and entrepreneurs, as this well-liked Open Source Content material Management Method (CMS) steadily matures in to a robust platform for every thing from landing or “squeeze” pages, to advertising and membership web sites, ecommerce platforms, and much more.
One of the greatest benefits to using WordPress is the flexibility offered by the large number of WordPress plugins, small modular add-ons that expand the functionality of the WordPress platform. As a small business owner or entrepreneur there are a number of WordPress plugins that should be considered “must haves” for your WordPress site.
1. WP Maintenance Mode
The upkeep mode plugin adds one particular of numerous selectable splash pages for your site that lets guests know your web site is down for scheduled upkeep. Logged in administrators get complete access for the web site, which includes the front-end, but typical web site guests are greeted by a straightforward, fashionable message that informs them from the status and when the web site really should be expected to become obtainable.
2. Search engine optimization Intelligent Links
Seo Smart Links provides automatic Seo benefits in the form on internal links, crosslinking between website pages and posts based on keywords. The plugin provides addition Seo features such as the ability to custom keyword lists, insert nofollow meta attributes in to links, and more. Search engine optimization and search ranking is an essential component to any website, making this type of plugin critical to your online success.
3. Gravity Forms
Gravity Types can be a low expense, commercial plugin that lets you swiftly style and post customized types inside WordPress pages and posts. Form submission and processing is an crucial portion of membership, marketing and advertising, and tiny enterprise web sites of all sorts, and this plugin aids to connect you along with your web site guests, members, and consumers.
4. VaultPress
A paid service, VaultPress utilizes a plugin to automate the real-time backup and recovery of one’s whole WordPress website. Every thing from posts, pages, and comments, towards the total WordPress database, such as all WordPress settings. VaultPress is really a extremely rated backup and recovery service providing genuine protection of one’s WordPress based company or venture. Much more info about VaultPress may be discovered at VaultPress.com.
5. WP Security Scan
This plugin scans your WordPress installation for security vulnerabilities and troubles that happen to be simple to overlook. Beyond a straightforward scanning and reporting tool, this plugin gives numerous automated security measures that make a WordPress site a lot more tough to hack, and a lot a lot more trustworthy for your client or member base..
The majority of these plugins may be discovered within the WordPress Plugin Repository, together with numerous other people that may offer an excellent deal of value to a little company web site operating below the WordPress CMS platform.
Brian Zeng is sales manager of one led light china company,he writes many articles about led running lights.
Filed under CMS by on Feb 20th, 2012. Comment.