The Merry-Go-Round of Themes and Layouts
Have you ever found yourself getting caught up in trying to choose the right theme for a website?
For the past few days I've let myself get caught up with trying to choose the "right" theme. It was almost like I couldn't be satisfied with the first couple of free Wordpress themes I tried. Whether it was the look, the inability to edit some aspect, a limited number of menus available, I just couldn't seem to settle... but in the end forced myself to settle on one, as it was stopping me from going forward with the training.
My thinking here, was to just try to keep up with the training, and as recommended, allow the theme to do the work of the design and layout.
When I got up to the video about exporting the content as a backup to my computer, I felt safer about trying out a 3rd free Wordpress theme.
Then I just couldn't stop. Theme after theme I switched from one to the other... looking at how each transformed the look of the website, then went into the colour settings, menus and widgets of each to see what the options were.
A couple seemed to be glitchy. I really couldn't work out how some strange changes to the typing occured. Some were so new that there were no reviews for them as yet. Others, that had been recommended and I thought I'd like to try, had been retired. Then I wondered what would happen if I started using a free theme, became accustomed to it, and then it was enexpectedly retired?
There is no doubt that themes have to be updated - the more regularly the better, and they say if we want a good theme, a paid theme is going to have the support of developers who are being reimbursed to keep it updated.
This is all despite the fact that when Divi were having their "once a year sale" this year, I bought a lifetime Divi account. This was before I even knew about the existence of WA!
I'm glad Martin who introduced me to WA, uses Divi, and can probably help a little when I get stuck... he has helped me with every question I have asked so far! (Thank you so much Martin!!)
I had experimented with Divi in the past, but because a lot of people wanted a Woocommerce or shopping experience, there seemed more reasons to use Shopify. Not that I really know what I'm doing here! There are so many perspectives, and not enough time in the day to literally try everything out properly.
I have uploaded Divi now to another website I've created here on WA, just to experiment with how I can create the look I want on the side... as I can see there is a whole new learning curve here.
Hopefully, I can create some sort of a theme template I like. I had noticed that the new Divi 4.0 has not only the ability to create a "theme" now, (and many themes to choose from in their range), they're also claiming it can now work seamlessly with Woocommerce... which is something I know it couldn't do earlier this year, as I was contacting them to discuss the possiblities there for a person I was trying to help with their website.
Nevertheless, I have settled on a free theme for now, for my first website on WA, and hope I can utilise this one for a while! I want to see what using a free theme is like!
Listen to that, my "first" website... already I can see a number or reasons why I need a number of websites on WA. When I first landed here I said, ok, I'll give this a go and just create one website.
One thing I've learnt (and this comes from what I've previously been taught, as well as what I've observed in this little experiment), that a free theme isn't going to necessarily provide the best support and features. So I'm looking forward to learning first-hand the challenges that using a free theme brings!
Regardless of what happens, I'll be learning something, and that's always a good thing.
Have you got some experiences with Wordpress themes to share?
Recent Comments
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Heavy users will be delighted with Devi. The negative point, it does not work well on mobile...
If you start, better try some of the themes by wordpress (nineteen seventeen, nineteen eighteen, ...... ) they are reliable and easy to learn the basics.
Some paid themes are awesome and have a light version
Thank you so much for that insight Fleeky!
Interestingly enough, I hadn't really tried those Wordpress themes... makes sense they would be reliable and easier to learn, so I might take a look at them.
Best wishes,
Jacquie
You won't regret it! They are written and maintained by wordpress designers with a lot of leverage... very clever
I'm sorry but I don't put much thought into it right now. I am trying to write and do the training.
I am hoping what visitors read on my site is important, not the looks.
I will look at the appearance later, when I have more experience.
Thank you for sharing that David.
Yes, it is all quite a lot to take in at once, and good on you, because I think you are sticking closer to the training by doing that.
I imagine it will help with progression, and not my analysis paralysis.
Best wishes,
Jacquie
I would categorize the WordPress platform as follows:
- Themes
- Themes with Elements for customization within the Theme itself
(Eg. generate press premium)
Usually with a plug-in
- page builders
- theme builders
Unless you want to sell or distribute themes, you may not need a theme builder.
If you want page customization, then a page builder like Divi comes in. There are others like Elementor etc...
For most, a theme will do.
With Gutenberg blocks and plug-ins that allow the use of some additional elements, you can already do quite a bit like adding columns, YouTube videos etc.
Therefore, unless your requirements are really specific and customization is the only way to go, I would keep it as simple as I can.
Thanks Stanley,
And as that same advice of keeping it as simple as possible is in the training, and has been echoing in my head while I go on this search for the right theme, I found myself trying to stop and wonder why I was so drawn to do it.
Then, just after I wrote this, I found evidence of a number of people finding they were getting more involved in the appearance of their websites... especially at the initial stages.
I don't see myself selling or distributing themes, but I do get people asking me about them, when I'm giving them a little help with their website content.
Not that I know much... but I can see there are plenty of others who know less than me and don't have the desire to look into it!
I checked out Generate Press, and that looks mighty impressive! Thank you for that share! I hadn't seen it before. But I see it is not a free theme (very understandable for what it does), and comparing it to Divi, which I have already paid for... well it would be like purchasing the same thing, more or less (for the level of functionality/ ability to edit the page, that I'm after).
After reading and pondering this, and your responses to someone else in live chat on WA a few hours back, I might experiment a bit with Gutenberg... because I had left that aside due to the advice in the training.
The whole idea of the plugins that go with certain themes etc is still a little daunting.
Thank you so much for your great answers and insight, Stanley!
Best wishes,
Jacquie
If you already paid for Divi. Use it unless for some reason you cannot, it is a great page builder. It has a learning curve but if you are willing to invest the time, can do some impressive things. Divi does have a lot of child themes too, you can use that and then build additional custom pages around that.
Stanley what useful information. I have jumped into Jacqui’s post and found some really useful information...
I find You Tube really helps with my low tech brain, it just sinks in
Yes, I've noticed that I would have to learn and play with Divi a bit more... and it may end up being what I go for.
I don't mind playing and learning.
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I liked your early curiosity of Themes,
I have found that having created a website and added quite a few posts I am now a bit frustrated with its limitations. So I have changed, then quickly went back to plan A as the developed site now looked a mess.
Sorry to jump onto your post and look like I might be hijacking but I will soon be researching a brand new website and tomorrow a bit of theme research is going to happen.
Your post couldn’t have come at a better time.
High tech equipment and my low tech mind take flipping ages to come together. But I am going to watch this post and responses, thankyou fleeky useful answer will look at that also.
Cordelia
Ha... that's great Cordelia, I have learnt a lot by browsing through various posts here as well!
I'm interested to know what you come up with. I'll report back here with any new discoveries I make or when I finally choose.
I have looked through so many websites over the last few days, and I'm getting a better idea of the types of layouts I want. It is really quite interesting to see the different approaches.
I think it can make a big difference to engagement and readability (just judging according to what I find myself enjoying and easier to sift through)
Was just chatting to some writers on twitter recently too... and checking out their blogs. I'm now thinking that some of them would find it handy here!
Unfortunately I have a lot of work for the next few days, which is slowly me down a bit.
Hi Jacquie,
To answer your question, My niche was chosen as a direct result of my own personal experience with my overweight dog, I had tried and tested several diets, did a bit of research on fresh food and found the one we settled on, it took months of robust research so I thought someone might benefit. I latter I found Dolly’s fresh food supplier offered affiliate membership.
So I thought I would write blog post about the well being and nutrition for dogs.... Using Dolly as my inspiration. Dolly features in most of my posts but I have broadened it to include (hopefully) other interesting features.
I am hoping to add a new website which will be about Beauty, make up, beauty products (that I recommend) plus wellness and lifestyle for the older woman. As my daughter works for a digital marketing company as their digital marketeer she came up with idea of writing all the posts for my new site, together with “branding me” and doing You Tube vids... well that’s the plan, we will see how that pans out. Both of these niches are something I love.
My original and most loved passion was Travel (especially the Indian Ocean) , together with overseas weddings which was my previous career, however as much as I loved it I knew from experience it is too competitive and would be up against some of the most high tech websites, booking facilities and staff employed to write hourly blogs. So as passionate as I am that wouldn’t work for me.
So for you.....
What interests you today, or even previously, (in another life) what do you search for most on google, or you tube, what do you feel confident in talking about. Once you have an idea, do what Kyle says Drill it down further.
Research Google as to who is looking at that niche, look at the competition and that may give you some ideas.
Good luck and PM any time... 🤗
Thanks so much, Cornelia!
Oh yes, they are great ideas, I love them all... as for travelling I think a blog that focusses on travel in the Indian Ocean would be neat!
I do believe I have come across your doggy site... I must have seen it from your profile, and I thought it was great content!
Yes, deciding on a topic is tricky... and for my first site I'm going for a creative wool theme... because in a past life I helped with the school's craft group and I loved all the woolly aspects such as felt making, knitting and crochet... and combining those things.
So, I kinda want the site to look comforting and soft, so people feel ready to get creative with a relaxed state of mind.
I've realised there will be a lot of photos and videos to do, and I'm going to have to allow more time for that! So yes, YouTube looks like the place to be for that!
Last month I had just packed up all my wool from a studio I was in (where I was felt making), so now it will be a little tricky to fit it into our small apartment ... but I'll figure out a way.
I also (even though I need to learn more) would like to help people with their websites. More so from the design aspect... so that visitors have the best experience and can feel in tune with it. I somehow get caught up in conversations around that anyway now, and somehow just end up helping a few people with their websites. I gotta learn more about it though!
I look forward to chatting more and seeing where we take our websites!
Talk soon,
Jacquie
Thank you Jacquie, (re my Doggy site)
great idea about crafty wool, felt and things. Hugely popular at the moment. I think you have a plan...🤗👍
Thanks Cordelia,
Yes, I think it will be fun and a bit messy, but that is what I like.
🧶