My name is Sharon and I am a theme-a-holic. It’s been about a week since my last theme change. My addiction to shiny new web stuff also applies to WordPress themes. In the last month I have:
- searched Google, Twitter and Friendfeed a couple of times a week for the latest WordPress theme news
- downloaded about five themes although I have no idea where I’m going to use them
- changed themes on my two main WordPress blogs twice
I know that the minute something new comes out, like the BloggingTips Personal WordPress Theme, I’ll start getting twitchy about installing it. There are advantages and disadvantages to this constant theme switching.
Disadvantages Of Changing Themes Too Often
One of the main disadvantages applies if you are running a professional site. Switching themes too often makes it difficult for you to brand your site consistently. Depending on the layout of the particular theme, it may also make it difficult for readers to know exactly where they are and to find the information they need on your site. In this case, constant theme switching can lose you traffic and subscribers.
That also applies if you choose a theme that’s not well optimized for search engines. You may suddenly see a drop in traffic or searches for particular keywords or notice that your pages have dropped in SERPs. Some themes take care of the SEO for you, some don’t.
Third, every time you change the theme, you have to spend a lot of time in the admin interface tweaking to make sure that all your favorite widgets are in the right place and that all your plugins still work. Just one bracket or semi-colon out of place in the theme files can cause you untold headaches.
Advantages Of Giving Your Blog A Facelift
For every disadvantage, there is an advantage. Changing to a well coded, well optimized theme can help improve your blog’s search engine position and can make it easier for you to tweak individual elements. Switching to a theme framework such as Thesis, Headway or any other means that once your theme is set up, you can get a new look without having to make major changes.
Just as we like to get a new haircut or update our style, it’s good to do that occasionally with our blogs. We wouldn’t want our readers to get bored, would we? Themes that offer you the option to change content without too much work, such as featured posts, photo galleries and so on, can be a real boon.
Getting a new theme can also enhance the image of your site with readers. It can signal that your blog has moved to the next level and is ready to be taken seriously as a reader resource. It can enhance your professional image, too.
How Often Is Too Often?
So while I’ll willingly admit that perhaps I change themes a bit too often, I don’t think that’s likely to change any time soon. I’m always on the lookout for the perfect theme – and in four years of blogging, I haven’t found one that ticks all the boxes (though there are a few that come close).
What do you think? How often is too often when it comes to changing your blog theme?
(Photo courtesy: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nbachiyski/)
Looks like this theme was custom-made, eh? I like the look of this one.
I know what you mean, though. I constantly have to force myself to not change my blogs' themes. I see so many cool layouts and features that other themes offer–and I want them–but I think it's impractical and detrimental to change too often. It's all about the branding…well it's not all about the branding but it's a lot about the branding.
Yes, branding is important. On my last theme change, I kept the look similar but the backend is different. Hope in the end it will lead to a better experience for visitors.
I hear ya, Sharon! I have a 'test' blog that I try themes out on, I am always searching for that 'perfect' theme. I am yet to find one, but I know it is out there. I have changed my main WP theme several times in the past year.
Don't know what would make a theme perfect, James – perhaps I should think about that for another post?
Hi Sharon
I'm also theme-crazy and know if I let it get to me, then I'll be changing themes constantly. I'm the variety-is-the-spice-of-life type but stop short when it comes to my blog.
Changing themes too often makes you look like you can't make up your mind and is confusing to visitors/readers unless, as you said Sharon, you're upgrading to a better, more professional and cool theme like the Thesis theme.
When is too often? I think if you're in touch with your readers then they will find a way to let you know when you've gone too far
It's good when visitors are vocal, David. I've had a few alert me to possible issues which I've been able to fix. I've now installed an offline version of my blog so I can play with themes to my heart's content.
I am so glad I'm not alone heere!
I am never happy with my theme and there was a time when every month I'd use a new one!
Me too, Dean, but I'm a little more moderate now. Now that I have my new offline playground, perhaps I'll be able to resist changing so often on my main sites.
Haha – I was like this at the start. And while I'm not happy with my design of my blog personally I have heard nothing but praise about it (ie. some people said they like it, not 1 person has said this could be better or they don't like it or anything like that)
I do plan to change it in the near future so it's better usability wise and conversion wise (social media share buttons, better opt-in email publicity, easier to read, archives etc – a whole list of things)
Changing too often will hurt your brand. A FULL redesign maybe once every 3-6 months at the least. I think small changes to your sidebar are fine every so often to see what works and what doesn't. As long as the bulk of it doesn't change too much and branding is consistent even with changes you'll be fine
Sarge | BeginnerBlogger.com
Good points, Sarge. You could change your whole design one step at a time and end up with something that's much better without hurting your brand.
Great post Sharon!
I'm a theme-a-holic too! I have at least 30 WP themes downloaded to my laptop and probably that many on my desktop. Why? Because they're just too cute and addictive.
I have settled on a theme for my main blog though. The other themes I have are for future use, but if I had blogs to put them all on, well I'd have 30 blogs and a yearly hosting fee out of this world.
One thing I do use cute or specific themes for is my short stories and works in progress. It's like "judging a book by the cover," I use them for visual inspiration. It's easier to write a love story with a romantic looking theme, or a mystery with a darker theme.
Plus it's just cool to have so many themes to look it–even if no one else sees them.
Thanks for sharing!
I'm so glad I'm not the only one with this addiction, Patti. I like your thought about using the themes for writing inspiration; I hadn't thought of using them that way.