When I first started learning about WordPress during my internship in 2007, my head was spinning. I can’t remember the exact things that drove me nuts but I felt like this blogging program was way over my head and I’d never learn how to use it properly.
Well, times have changed and with lots of practice, I now LOVE WordPress!! It has become as easy as using any word processing or email program and I recommend using WordPress to everyone I meet, whether they just want a blog to fool around with or to start an online business.
But one of my biggest downfalls lately, however, is wasting time looking at the thousands of WordPress themes available. I used to just sit and browse the free WordPress themes for hours, convinced that just the right design would pop up on my screen for whatever project I was working on.
(I know…how did I get anything accomplished? I was spending a LOT more time on my computer then.)
Now I’m much smarter with my time but now I’m checking the footers of all the websites I visit, looking for that theme link many designers place in hopes of getting some traffic to their site. Or I’ll daydream about what other project I could possibly take on, just to incorporate some new premium wordpress theme I discovered.
Yes, I have wordpress theme envy!
Since I am in no way a designer I contacted a design friend and she’s going to give MultimediaVA a complete makeover. I’m so excited! I’m usually the first one tauting the benefits of outsourcing tasks and yet I’m the last one to take my own advice. Go figure.
Hopefully with some expert design advice I won’t have wordpress theme envy anymore and I can start moving my business forward.
Tip of the Week: Hire a designer to suggest an appropriate WordPress theme for your project or set a timer to limit the amount of time you spend looking for a theme. Remember, the graphics don’t have to be perfect because a designer can always alter them or create something new just for you.
What are some of your favorite WordPress themes? Personally, I love anything by StudioPress. Totally awesome work but I’d love to hear about others…leave a comment below 
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I had the same problem when I was designing my blog! Finally I broke down and bought Thesis. I figured that if I spent my hard earned money on a theme, I would be less likely to want to change it like 4 hours later.
So far, the plan has worked!
Excellent advice, Christina!
Premium themes are better than the free ones because they’re more likely to be supported over time and they have additional features that tend to make them easier to use — less code required, in other words.
That said, your website will benefit from the talent of a designer, who can focus her skills on your needs. Before you hire a designer though, you need to make sure you know what you’re offering, who you’re offering it to, what people will do when they arrive at your site and what their visual preferences are.
Remember, you’re designing to speak to your market, not to you.