How Powerful Is A Premium Wordpress Theme?
It Makes My Life Easier
I’m at a point now where even if I build a static site, I create it using Wordpress and use pages only instead of posts. Aside from the obvious, that it’s crazy simple to update and maintain, I’ve always been able to get better (and much faster) search results using Wordpress than if I had built the site using html pages only.
So, when things are going well, it’s only natural that I seek out the best themes available to make my life even easier.
This site (SuiteJ.com) was built using Flash News Theme, which is the same one I’ve used on several occasions. One of the main reasons I use this one for customizing is because of the killer coding and structure that’s been thrown down by the Woo theme design masters. It’s simple to find your way around and hack up a new look even if you’re not a super ninja code agent.
In addition to the tricks these guys do under the hood of their kick ass layouts, the theme options they make available directly from the Wordpress admin are outstanding. Managing your site is a breeze. If you’re serious about your busines, especially if you’re building sites to sell, check out The Woo (I like to refer to them as The Woo Theme Clan).
It Build’s A Buyer’s Confidence:
Obviously content is the most important thing, but a I’m a firm believer in the visual aspect of your site contributing to the sales performance. This can also depend on a million variables, but ultimately, I feel more confident promoting something on a site that looks professional. Part of my reasoning comes from results I’ve experienced as an affiliate marketer, but also from my experience as a buyer. I have always been more likely to purchase something from a site that seems like they spent time, money, and effort on their business.
A Recent Example Of Adding A Premium Theme To One Of My Sites:
A good premium theme can add that professional visual aspect to your site that I’m talking about with minimal effort needed after the installation. Here’s a recent example of a site that I purchased, and what it looked like before and after I added a premium theme:
Although the wickedly cool affiliate marketing guy from the UK who originally started the site did a splendid job, I think the new theme really adds a lot of pizazz (yes, I used the word pizazz on purpose).
Tell me what you think.
Go to Reggae Artists to see the site live.
In my opinion, there’s power in the potential that targeted visitors will feel more confident either buying or giving out their general info at the site with the new look (as with any site overhaul).
What do you guys think? Do you agree? Do you have any experience with positive results from drastically changing a site’s appearance (not just ad placement)?
Tags: wordpress themes
August 19th, 2008 at 8:14 am
Pizazz eh? lol
I am not one of those that sells a site and just forgets about it…especially that bad boy reggae site! I find you learn by watching what others do to sites that you did not do and I have to say on that note you rock Jay.
The new look is awesome and despite the fact that the them I used was a fairly decent one, this is a good display to prove your point. The woo theme clan are incredible and I am going to be using their themes from here on in.
Great post, great site re-design and I wish you luck with reggae artists. Let me know if you need any further input or assistance!
Cheers
wickedly cool affiliate marketing guy from the UKs last blog post..A Special Treat - Free Unique Content
August 19th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
Hey jay,
Totally awesome
The reggae theme rocks
Forests last blog post..Heat Things Up with this Frugal use for a Condom
August 19th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
Thanks for the thumbs up guys!
@AP: Woo definitely makes life easier when you’re building multiple sites often.
I’m learning by watching others too, so, I’ll pass down the good stuff if you keep comin’ around.
@Forest: Frugal uses for a condon eh? How will anyone see that and not click it? lol
Cheers guys!
Jay
August 20th, 2008 at 7:26 am
Ha! That was the intention!!
Forests last blog post..Heat Things Up with this Frugal use for a Condom
August 20th, 2008 at 8:15 am
On Snap! That theme looks nice! I need to get my hands on some of theme Woo wickey themes lol. I think I’m gonna get into flipping a little bit! At least try it out…
Normal Joes last blog post..How to launch a website. Want to see a live site launch?
August 20th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
I quite liked the theme you used on Go Green Lifestyle, which coincidentally is one and the same, The Woo Theme!
Nice! I like the work of Adii, Justin Tadlock, the guy who created Woodpress which i’m using on my family’s restaurant website/blog.
http://www.woodysoldtowngrill.com
Lots of smokin good WP Designers. Of course there is also Pearson and Gardner.
Missys last blog post..One Surefire Method To Get Free PR3 Backlinks
August 20th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
@Missy: Is that you in the photo holding up the phone number?
Definitely a lot of great theme designers releasing killer themes. I love it
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:36 am
I really like the way themes have evolved over the past year — magazine themes in particular. I use one on my blog, but one thing I’ve learned from using it is that you really have to be on top of your game to make use of it all. The sections on any of these home pages devoted to categories mean that you have to write for those sections if you wish to keep fresh content on that page.
One might suggest that such themes are better built for multi-author blogs, but they don’t have to be. But overall, these things really look more appealing than the usual one column “here” for your posts, another column “there” for your sidebar elements, and so on.
Btw, after seeing your avatar on a few blogs I’ve visited this evening, I figured I was meant to pay a visit here. I like what you’ve done!
Mark Sierra at MeAndMyDrum.coms last blog post..Contest Winners Announced!
August 22nd, 2008 at 1:00 am
Hey Mark: Thanks for stopping by! Good to know my big head popping up everywhere is getting noticed. lol
As for the themes, I totally know what you’re talking about…but….the sections don’t “have to be different categories”. I can’t speak for every magazine theme out there, but you can usually change a simple bit of code to have those areas show the latest posts from whichever category you want.
If you have a particular theme you’re using, I might be able to help you figure that out.
Cheers!
Jay
August 22nd, 2008 at 6:58 am
@SuiteJ
Thanks, I appreciate the offer! Yeah, you’re right about changing the code; I’ve changed mine, it’s just that (if I understand what you are suggesting) whatever categories you change the code to, you still have to develop content for them.
In a way, it can help you get into a routine to have a “blueprint” as it were to write according to what you’ve laid out, but I’ve found myself focusing more on one or two topics of late. Having fewer categories to post in that manner or to simply post in the traditional column you find in most themes, that kind of writing habit can be masked.
Mark Sierra at MeAndMyDrum.coms last blog post..Contest Winners Announced!
August 22nd, 2008 at 7:30 pm
@Mark: Oh, yeah, you still have to add at least enough content to fill “latest entry” in each category block on the homepage area.
But, if you only have one or two categories, all those blocks can be set to show the updates from the same category, if you want.
Is this convo about MeAndMyDrum, or just “magazine themes in general”?
Basically, I do know what you mean, but with some tweaking you can make any theme “work to suit your needs”. However, for many, I guess it defeats the purpose of “buying a theme” if you have to do a bunch of work to it.
Cheers!
Jay
August 22nd, 2008 at 7:34 pm
@Jay
Yes, it’s about MAMD. I love the theme, but I think it’s a mixture of my writing habits and how they align with the layout.
Mark Sierra at MeAndMyDrum.coms last blog post..Contest Winners Announced!