Does your theme matter that much? Would bloggers like Copyblogger, John Chow or Chris Brogan be as successful if they didn’t have a professional blog theme? I would argue that they would not, not if they started from scratch today. Mind you that I believe that they would still blog very well and have fantastic content. However, the landscape of blogging has become so sophisticated that unless they had a professional looking theme then they would not be looked at twice.
Having a professional looking theme branded with your own personal touches makes a big impact. The biggest rookie blogger mistake that pops out at me immediately is the use of a default generic theme. Blogging Tips offers a few themes. Some can be purchased and some can be downloaded for free. Also on the Blogging Tips Themes page there are links to other themes that you can purchase. Links out to Thesis, Woo Themes and a few others.
All of those themes are great but if you install any one of those and do nothing to brand that theme as your own to differentiate it from everyone else then it will end up just slightly better than using a generic theme and doing nothing to it. If you are a designer then that is fantastic but if you are not (but think you are) things could end up far worse for you. Consider the image below.
For years that was my blog theme on BenSpark.com. I made some very simple edits to an existing theme like change the header and colors. That was it. It wasn’t terrible but it really didn’t stand out.
Zac suggested to me early on when I started writing here to write on this topic. He asked me this because in 2009 I was given a huge gift by Ted Murphy, CEO of IZEA. Ted redesigned my blog branding and Matthew Schultz of IZEA coded me a professional, custom theme.
Here is one of the most important things about the theme, it is unique. No one else has this theme, no one. This theme is branded from the logo and the logo mascot down to a ghosted logo mascot that appears only on my photo-a-day posts showing the # of that photo in the sequence. It is little touches like that make my blog theme stand out to be remembered.
Now, I am not Chris Brogan, John Chow or Copyblogger but having that new theme has made a huge difference. My traffic has certainly increased and I still write the same way, I still take my photos. The major difference is this new theme. So, are professional themes worth it, in my opinion they are. Had I understood the importance of a custom theme earlier I would have certainly invested the time, money and resources into going that route.
What about you, are you using a professional theme? Is it custom or customized? Did you build it yourself?
I think design does somewhat play a key factor in a web site's success. I have seen a big difference in traffic quality once I changed my web site design.
A major problem I had in the beginning is finding a reliable web designer who did not want charge a fortune to design a simple site. I eventually decided to do the design myself. It took a lot of time to complete at first but after a solid 18 hours of straight work, I was finish. I probably saved thousands by doing the design myself.
Patrick,
I was pretty satisfied with my first blog design and I did it myself by hacking a theme. However, then I got the new design I was floored by how much more I loved it. Saving money is key but sometimes a little professional help helps big time. Maybe getting a professional logo is a great place to start.
I'm using Thesis Theme now. I have tried to customize the Thesis theme so that it looks different with others. However, i still not good in customization. I'm still learning! This theme makes my blog become more professional.
KS,
There are some great sites that help with information on customizing Thesis. Sugar Rae's site has been really helpful to me in the past.
Thanks for your recommendation Ben! I would like to refer to the site that you recommend. However, do you mind to give me a link to that website? Thanks again!
Sure here is the link – http://www.sugarrae.com
I realized that professional themes brings a lot of benefits – branding, traffic, performance, quality design but sometimes I got passion in modifying the themes and I do love it.
However I feel that I got inspired to try using professional theme after reading your points.. maybe I'll take time to think.
But you got nice points there, pal
Nasrul,
Thank you. I love tweaking around with the themes too, I've added a few things to my own theme just by learning the back end code, I started learning HTML code in 1996 and have loved code ever since.
I have only used free themes, modified by me. I don't know about using a professional/paid theme, just because I haven't found one I honestly liked and wanted to use as of yet. I have this insane need to modify stuff MY way. Up to and including changing css & color schemes behind themes. I always leave the original author info intact, but I make sure to say hey, I plunked with this. Lots of trial and error, but it's worth it if you're learning from the ground up. Somehow this piece is starting to make me reconsider a pro theme. grrr there, Ben Spark! grr.
Hannie,
I'm not opposed at all to free themes, I love taking them and modifying them. I love playing with code. I think that sometimes though you've got to let a designer do their magic and trust they know what they are doing. And then later make your own edits
I have been blogging over at MySpellingSucks for over a year on a free theme that was slightly modified. When I decided to launch TheDADvocateProject I wanted something that looked more professional. The theme is thesis but the branding was done by a professional. The branding alone has done wonders for that blog and it gets as much traffic as MySpellingSucks and has only been up since March. I attribute most of that to the branding.
Kevin,
That is what I am talking about, taking something like that and making it your own with a professional branding bent.
I think that having a professional theme is quite important. A custom designed one is best of all, but its not necessarily within reach for a lot of bloggers.
Since I have some meager design skills, I modified thesis myself to create the look of NewMediaSideshow.com and I'm quite happy with the result. I specifically set out to make the theme "less-thesis-ey" because the thesis thesis look is everywhere.
Marek,
The Thesis theme is very versatile, and with so many people using it there is definitely call for people who know how to modify the theme so that people have custom versions. Great job on yours. The sidebar could use a little more content on it, you have valuable space there to use.
By the way, don't you like the Ultimate Blogging Theme of Carl Ocab? I did used it this time and I am experiencing great features on it because of its flexibility and easy to manage interface.
I guess this theme must be acknowledge by other bloggers out there.
- Felix Albutra
Felix,
I am unfamiliar with that theme. Is that what you are using at Blogging Advice?
I use a theme from elegant themes and I've done a lot of customizing. I really like the way this theme presented images and how I was able to organize and present my pillar content.
Debbie,
I took a look at your blog, very professional looking. You can tell that you have customized it and put real dedicated work into it.
Even more important than a blog that isn't generic is a blog that isn't hard to read. Unfortunately there are professionals — or, at least, people who charge for design — who turn out blogs that are very busy or feature tiny fonts. Still, this is more common with self-designed blogs.
Angelique,
Certainly, the design of the blog must make it incredibly easy for readers to get to the content. That is why you want them there in the first place and that content is what makes them come back.
Can you teach me…about all parameter of a good website design….
I'm looking forward for great teach and suggestions
My recent post Zynga – CityVille Is Now Bigger than FarmVille
Hi guys,
I don't have a professional theme. But it is on my to-do-list. Thanks for sharing.
Kind regards,
Sam
X
Personally I only visit, bookmark or subscribe sites which have great content and not so much because of their themes. I know there are many sites out there which are outdated and poor in design layout or using default themes, but still have good followings.
Check out this ancient-looking but popular blog called LiewCF.com. And it is making good money too.