Let Me Share The Steps I Follow When I Create A New WordPress Website

I am about to create a few tutorials / courses that will explain how to configure some many themes provided here for WA members.

Before I begin, I wanted to share a few things that I do, when I create a new website, so that members here can better understand a few things before they attempt to change a theme on their own websites.

First, one should consider that the theme screenshots that are showcased in the Appearance area of the WordPress dashboard; demonstrates how a website CAN appear, once the theme is properly configured and also, once there is adequate content added.

Some themes home pages show multiple categories as well, so if you are creating a site that does not have multiple categories, and a lot of content, then you're not going to get the same look as is showcased in the screenshots.

A Few Guidelines To Follow

If your site has little to no content, then it's best for you to stick with a very simplistic theme. I personally stuck with the Hiero theme for years, but here lately I have found a particular liking to the GeneratePress theme, which is the most recommended theme for beginners to use.

My first course will be showing how to make the free version of the generate press theme, look attractive and professional, where one does not really have to do much more than use it as it is.

I always use one of those 2 themes when I start a new website, and I generally leave my site with the chosen theme until I have added at minimum, 25 articles in 5 separate categories.

Once I have added this much content, then I know that I have added enough so that I can use pretty much any theme of my choosing, and have it come out looking as professional as the one shown in the "screenshot" of the theme.

Now I know it takes a while to get that much content, but the great thing is that patience will pay off in the end once you are ready to change the design of your website, to something that is more appealing for your niche.

I will say this, the Generate Press theme is really a great solution for practically any niche, which is why I suspect it's the most recommended theme here.

The Hiero theme is more suited for gaming, tattoos, computers, technology etc. type niches, but not really something I would recommend for dieting, beauty, weight lose etc.

Why Change Your Design?

Most members here may find that they will never have any desire to change their website theme, and this is OK too.

Yet some may feel as I do, I want my websites to look professional, busy, and active. I love for my main page to have many images in a wide array of styles as possible.

I especially love having a "news type" feel to some of my sites, yet some of my sites I do try to tone it down a bit so that visitors can be better "focused" on what I write about.

For example: I have 2 websites that I have invested a lot of time and money in, that look like large corporations operate them, yet it's just little ol me. They were costly due to the themes and plugins I am using on them, but they serve the purposes that I want them to serve.

In all of my years, these 2 sites are the most professional sites I have ever created, yet I only created them this year with 2 set goals in mind.

Not many members here would want to (or need to) go through the trouble or expense of creating sites like these, I just wanted to share the information to explain that one CAN eventually work their way towards something as grand as this if they desire. It's taken me since 2016 to get this far, so patience is a requirement.

I also have a few websites that are more along the lines of "small business" where they appear to be run by a tiny office of maybe 5 to 6 people.

Of these websites, one of them makes me a very nice income (it follows the OEC training here 100%).

Another I do expect to sell for 6 figures in 2022, it also follows the OEC training 100% but it also has a 2 game servers that goes with it, so it doesn't really count as a typical website.

I can say that the training that I have received here at Wealthy Affiliate with the OEC training, has proven this one to probably be my greatest masterpiece that I have ever created in the 20+ years I have worked online.

Simply because I could never have made my game servers as popular as they are now, if I had not gotten the traffic I needed by following Kyle's method of using "low hanging fruit" keywords.

All of my other websites are personal blogs, where site visitors understand that they are operated by a single individual.

I wanted to explain about the types of websites I currently operate, so that I could help others understand that if they want to make a VERY nice income by following the WA training, they can do this, if they keep creating the content. The more content you create, the more success you will have.

Ready For A New Theme? The Choice Can Be A Tough One

I know that the OEC training covers many things about operating a WordPress blog, and there are numerous tutorials and courses offered here that have been created by other members.

I do not share much in the way of training when it is in regard to some topics, because there are others here that have already provided fabulous courses and tutorials, so I see no need to add more to the mix.

Over the past few weeks I have been participating in live chat quite a bit, and have noticed that there are a lot of members who desire to make changes to their themes, yet whom do not know how to do certain things with the themes they have chosen.

Consider This

If one considers the fact that there are over 3,000 themes to choose from, then it can be a bit overwhelming when one is desiring to create a certain look for their website.

Of those 3,000 themes, there are literally tens of thousands of design elements that a theme developer (the person who created the theme) can implement in their theme.

This in itself, makes for a jigsaw puzzle of a very complex nature, that many people can't grasp well enough to know how to make the theme look as great as the screenshot shows it can look.

Most professional developers provide very wonderful tutorials that give very clear step-by-step instructions, yet many do not. So how can a person achieve the look, if the developer does not provide adequate help files?

Theme developers also provide very limited support for the free themes, because they have to focus on many other aspects of their business which makes providing free support near impossible.

Many times in live chat, I have seen members say they were having troubles with their site, yet they either ignore me or do not fully comprehend why "What theme are you using?" is generally the first question I ask.

I ask this question because a seemingly complex problem usually has a very simple fix, if I know what theme they are using.

I try to help as best as I can, yet some can't seem to comprehend that it's not as easy as "Do this to get that" solution.

The solution can usually only be determined after someone experiences the same problem, using the same theme, that is for the same widget, that may be conflicting with any of the gazillion plugins made available.

That is why I intend to create the courses soon, not only to help others, but to also showcase the basic concepts of configuring themes, so once members understand the basics, they will then be able to follow the same steps to configure ANY theme of their choice.

And hopefully, the courses will also show members who are having trouble, that the question of "Which theme are you using" is a very important question if they expect a solution.

In Conclusion

The general thing to know is this, if your website does not have at least 25 articles and 5 categories, then there are many themes that I would not recommend you use. Keep your current theme simplistic, work on adding more content, then change the site design if you so wish.

But if your site does have a lot of content, and if you are ready for a new-look, then please follow me, because I'll be adding some great courses starting this week!

And if you are one of those who regularly finds yourself struggling with your theme, please visit the URL below, and let me know which theme you are needing help with:

Which WordPress Themes Would You Like To See An Editing Tutorial On?