Comments on: Confessions Of A Theme-A-Holic http://www.bloggingtips.com/2009/12/03/confessions-of-a-theme-a-holic/ Blog Themes, Blog Design & Daily Blog Tips Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:16:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: BloggingTips Post List http://www.bloggingtips.com/2009/12/03/confessions-of-a-theme-a-holic/#comment-338326 BloggingTips Post List Tue, 15 Dec 2009 20:36:37 +0000 http://www.bloggingtips.com/?p=11306#comment-338326 [...] Confessions Of A Theme-A-Holic, 03 Dec 2009 [...] [...] Confessions Of A Theme-A-Holic, 03 Dec 2009 [...]

]]> By: Sharon Hurley Hall http://www.bloggingtips.com/2009/12/03/confessions-of-a-theme-a-holic/#comment-337562 Sharon Hurley Hall Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:01:35 +0000 http://www.bloggingtips.com/?p=11306#comment-337562 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. :) 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. :)

]]> By: Patti Stafford http://www.bloggingtips.com/2009/12/03/confessions-of-a-theme-a-holic/#comment-337551 Patti Stafford Fri, 04 Dec 2009 12:04:18 +0000 http://www.bloggingtips.com/?p=11306#comment-337551 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! 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!

]]> By: Sharon Hurley Hall http://www.bloggingtips.com/2009/12/03/confessions-of-a-theme-a-holic/#comment-337543 Sharon Hurley Hall Fri, 04 Dec 2009 07:28:39 +0000 http://www.bloggingtips.com/?p=11306#comment-337543 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. 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.

]]> By: Sarge | BeginnerBlog http://www.bloggingtips.com/2009/12/03/confessions-of-a-theme-a-holic/#comment-337526 Sarge | BeginnerBlog Thu, 03 Dec 2009 23:11:24 +0000 http://www.bloggingtips.com/?p=11306#comment-337526 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 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

]]> By: Sharon Hurley Hall http://www.bloggingtips.com/2009/12/03/confessions-of-a-theme-a-holic/#comment-337497 Sharon Hurley Hall Thu, 03 Dec 2009 13:43:50 +0000 http://www.bloggingtips.com/?p=11306#comment-337497 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. 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.

]]> By: Dean Saliba http://www.bloggingtips.com/2009/12/03/confessions-of-a-theme-a-holic/#comment-337496 Dean Saliba Thu, 03 Dec 2009 13:32:59 +0000 http://www.bloggingtips.com/?p=11306#comment-337496 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! 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!

]]> By: Sharon Hurley Hall http://www.bloggingtips.com/2009/12/03/confessions-of-a-theme-a-holic/#comment-337492 Sharon Hurley Hall Thu, 03 Dec 2009 13:08:21 +0000 http://www.bloggingtips.com/?p=11306#comment-337492 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. :) 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. :)

]]> By: Sharon Hurley Hall http://www.bloggingtips.com/2009/12/03/confessions-of-a-theme-a-holic/#comment-337491 Sharon Hurley Hall Thu, 03 Dec 2009 13:06:40 +0000 http://www.bloggingtips.com/?p=11306#comment-337491 Don't know what would make a theme perfect, James - perhaps I should think about that for another post? :) Don't know what would make a theme perfect, James – perhaps I should think about that for another post? :)

]]> By: Sharon Hurley Hall http://www.bloggingtips.com/2009/12/03/confessions-of-a-theme-a-holic/#comment-337490 Sharon Hurley Hall Thu, 03 Dec 2009 13:06:00 +0000 http://www.bloggingtips.com/?p=11306#comment-337490 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. 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.

]]> By: David Walker http://www.bloggingtips.com/2009/12/03/confessions-of-a-theme-a-holic/#comment-337487 David Walker Thu, 03 Dec 2009 12:44:03 +0000 http://www.bloggingtips.com/?p=11306#comment-337487 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 ;) 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 ;)

]]> By: James Fisher http://www.bloggingtips.com/2009/12/03/confessions-of-a-theme-a-holic/#comment-337486 James Fisher Thu, 03 Dec 2009 12:32:00 +0000 http://www.bloggingtips.com/?p=11306#comment-337486 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. 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.

]]> By: Steven Rossi http://www.bloggingtips.com/2009/12/03/confessions-of-a-theme-a-holic/#comment-337481 Steven Rossi Thu, 03 Dec 2009 12:04:53 +0000 http://www.bloggingtips.com/?p=11306#comment-337481 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. 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.

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