Blogging: Find the Perfect Theme for your WordPress blog

I’ve got a confession to make. I’m a sucker for WordPress themes — commercial ones, that is. I spend (waste) time looking for the perfect theme for a particular blog. I know I’m wasting time, but it’s fun. It’s sort of like looking for the perfect handbag; I’m a sucker for handbags, too.

So how do you find the perfect theme for your WordPress blog?

Here are some tips.

1. If the blog is new, create at least ten posts before obsessing about the theme

The perfect theme helps you to achieve certain goals. With a new blog, any theme will do. If you’ve used a theme before, and have had few conflicts with plugins, use that theme as a temporary measure, until you’re clearer on the goals you want to achieve with your new blog.

Just focus on content, don’t waste time customizing your theme at this stage, or searching for a better theme.

2. You never get a second chance to make a great first impression: what first impression do you want your blog to convey?

Think about the image you want your blog to portray.

The perfect theme for your blog conveys that image. Thesis, the theme I’m currently using on this blog, has the best type-styling I’ve ever seen. Since writers tend to be readers, I want this blog’s visitors to feel at home here instantly; I think Thesis helps readers to feel at home.

3. Resist the urge to change a theme that’s working: you may already have found the perfect theme for that blog

I have several blogs which are four years old. I usually get the urge to change a blog’s theme at least once a year — usually when I’m bored. However, I’ve learned that changing a theme that’s working (the blog is making money) can be a disaster.

On my older blogs, which are making a great income, I’ve learned to leave well enough alone. Changing a theme on a blog just for the sake of it usually results in a drop in income. No matter how ugly you think a particular theme is, if it’s working consider it the perfect theme for that blog.

Introducing — Angela Booth’s Lazy Rich Blogger method

After several years of trial and error, these days I create blogs which I know will make money: I’ve cracked the code. Not only do my blogs make money almost immediately, they’ll also keep on making money for years to come.

If you wish, you can join me on the blogging journey. I hope you do. As the Internet grows ever larger, there are endless opportunities which can turn you into a lazy, rich blogger.