Create a stunning website: Choose & Install your perfect theme on your WordPress blog
Find out how to create a stunning website choose and install your perfect theme if you are stuck with where to go carry on reading and I can help you out. When I first started all of 6 months ago this is where I came unstuck for weeks!
I spent ages trying to find out what I should do.
Sound familiar?
Ok, let’s crack on and see how we can set you up with a fabulous website in minutes.
(If this post contains affiliate links please see our full disclosure policy although I have to say I tried really hard to make it interesting and even I struggled to write it so if you really must read it you can find it here)
I decided to research whether buying a theme versus a free theme on WordPress was worth it?
Guess what I have decided yes buying it is worth it but not your top of the range themes but go for an upgrade on an existing WordPress free theme to get more functionality which is not too expensive and will get you started!
I eventually spent $50 on upgrading my theme see my home page
I have installed the Total theme and the free version is great but needed some extras like more homepage customization and also colours and font types as well.
The free version meant you were stuck with just one font and a few colour choices.
Please don’t spend lots of time on this you want to be creating your blog posts and email optins to grow your traffic not prettify your website to the nth degree!
Ok, so what did I do first – I read and read and decided that DIVI was what I needed after much research but its expensive!
It’s $249 for lifetime access so if I go with it again this is what I will spend my money on. Yearly access is $89 this is what I plumped for initially this is after buying hosting so it was a fair chunk of change!
Who said you could start a blog for under $4 was lying!
So what happened because as you see from my website it doesn’t look much like I have the DIVI theme up and running?
That’s because I don’t!
Drag and Drop pahhh – I either must be super stupid or it was just too confusing so if I go back to it now maybe I can understand what to do!
Overwhelmed was an understatement- now I am not dissing DIVI it does look great on peoples websites its just that it’s not easy to set up ( Maybe I am just stupid!)
I spent two weeks trying unsuccessfully trying to figure the thing out.
I do think I will try again at some point but not till I am earning decent income not to mention I will pester the help contact folks even though its got tonnes of video tutorials I was still lost.
Please tell me it wasn’t just me!!
I have to say I am not sure I still could but maybe next year I will have another stab at using Divi.
The websites I see using it are lovely and most bloggers agree that when they started using it did increase their traffic.
Ok, what did I do instead I got a refund thank goodness and then decide to keep it simple stupid!
As I have said I upgraded from a free theme and set it up in a day with no fuss and bother – relieved was the thing!
What do I suggest you do?
Firstly stop GOOGLING free vs paid themes.
Stick with simple affordable and easy!
Especially when you are starting off try a FREE theme, to begin with to get to grips with WordPress.
Go with a simple theme and consider paying for a protheme from WordPress at the moment I have Total plus installed on my blog if you want to go with this theme then Pat Flynn will walk you through all the steps on buildyourownbrand free course.
It’s easy to install a free theme here is how to do it in just a few clicks just see below
1.Head to your dashboard
Click on Appearances then themes and you will be taken to this page
By clicking on add new themes you will then see a searchable area for free themes – browse away!
You can change the theme as many times as you like if its free to see if you like it.
Now if you have to upload one that’s a whole second step.
Worth also mentioning avoid having too many themes under your Themes page which you have installed better to have one extra theme in case of emergency – not sure when that would be but hopefully I won’t have to find out!
Themes waiting to be activated will take up space and slow your site down.
As you can see I have a few on my dashboard which I have not gotten rid off! – UNINSTALLED.
2. You have paid for your theme
Now you will get directed by the checkout to download a zip file with your theme contents go ahead and save it someplace you can find it on your computer as you are going to need it for the next step.
Back to your themes page once you have paid for your chosen theme this also applies to an upgraded theme from free to paid you need to download it to your computer as I have said.
Click on upload theme see above and it will automatically upload your theme for you and unzip it ( technical term there!) your new paid theme will appear on your theme page and you will have a button asking you to activate it.
And your theme can then be activated and it will then be applied to your website.
I also bought a theme from Pretty cute designs for my mother’s website and it was a simple thing to download it and install it to WordPress you can see it sitting as a theme modern pro blogger design ready to activate if I decide to use it!
I still haven’t used it as yet not because I don’t want to but because Total plus is super easy to use and as I know it I will probably stick with it for the time being.
3. Once you have your theme set up what now
Don’t waste too much time on picking a theme basically pick one and move on I can’t stress this enough.
Some top tips when setting up your theme:
- Make it plain with white space don’t pick a dark background colour
- Simple categories to navigate not too many – best to add your About me, Disclosure & Privacy policy, Amazon affiliates policy and any other no blogging stuff to your footer links see my homepage
- Don’t clutter your website too much – have few main categories
- Make sure it works on mobile as you will find out most folks use their mobile or tablet most of the time to load up your phone and have a look once its set up
Check before you buy your theme that it will work on mobile by contacting the developers they may even have FAQ section that lets you know this.
Most themes these days should be mobile responsive but it doesn’t hurt to check before you hand over your money.
If you are struggling even with the tutorial from Pat Flynn take a break from it all.
Can you contact the theme creators do they have a help page read what you can absorb it and most of all try things out it’s the only way you will learn what you need to do with setting up the website?
Good luck with picking your chosen theme, remember don’t waste too much time on this step.
If you are still struggling feel free to drop me a line and I can see how I can help no worries!
What next?
5 ways to bring your WordPress site to the next level
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