What are your thoughts about/recommendations for "Authority Site" themes?

bummed.out · 03-04-2011, 07:32 PM

Hello all,

I'm seriously considering building a site that's more expansive than a microniche site; perhaps with 50 to 100 pages of content, different but related keywords on each page, all belonging to the same general category/niche. I figure that many pages is a good number to start with for an "authority" site.

While I intend to provide quality content to site visitors, of course I also mean to implement and benefit from Adsense.

I'd really like to hear from you all about theme suggestions that work well for "authority" sites. Something that's attractive enough, yet converts well with Adsense, but doesn't scream "spam!". I really prefer working with WordPress; and a free, or low-cost theme is what I'm after.

There are so many WP themes out there, but I'd love to hear from some people on this forum what their thoughts, experiences or recommendations are.

Edit: Come to think of it, is a "special" theme geared toward "authority" sites even necessary? Like to hear what you have to say...

Looking forward to your replies!

Oranges · 03-04-2011, 08:21 PM

Even the default TwentyTen theme will do it nicely, but if you're looking for long run, then stick to studiopress's Church or Lifestyle theme, they are good for 50-100 pages sites, as you mentioned.

yukon · 03-04-2011, 09:47 PM

The theme you pick has nothing to do with scale, any WP-theme can be scaled to as large of a site that you need.

I have WP sites with over 1,000 pages per site.

My advice is keep it simple, simple/clean sites make money. You need to make the decision upfront, are you trying to impress or are you trying to make money?

Look at any Google search page, see how simple & clean the page is, keep that in mind when picking a WP-theme.

GeorgR. · 03-04-2011, 10:31 PM

i have many sites where i made custom themes with artisteer. They might well fit the "authority site" criteria - its really not that much the theme, but intelligent structure of categories. 50-100 posts/pages is normal for me, even what i call a micro-niche site.

If i dont use artisteer themes (which rank really well by the way!!) i am using thesis theme.

bummed.out · 03-05-2011, 06:02 AM

Thank you all for your thoughts! I will have a look at the themes you suggested; and yes, thinking about it, I agree that any theme can be scaled.

Though I want to provide useful information to my visitors (in light of the recent algorithm changes and because I'm actually interested in the niche), of course I intend to make money with the site, so a clean theme will be ideal. That's a good point, yukon.

Thanks as always for the solid advice, people.

NeilC · 03-05-2011, 06:09 AM

Plenty of large sites using the studiopress themes but thesis is also popular.

It really depends just what type of site your building and who your audience will be?

bummed.out · 03-05-2011, 01:14 PM

Hi NeilC,

Yup, another vote for Thesis. Some of those Studiopress themes are really pretty, too. I'll have to think about how "pretty" I want the site to be. I don't want to be "rude" to my visitors with a hideous design, but I'm as much for the profit as I am for sharing information I care about - and therefore have no real qualms about it - and from what I've read, "uglier" - or at least simpler - designs tend to convert better.

Cheers

03-04-2011, 07:32 PM	#1
bummed.out HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 222 Thanks: 18 Thanked 16 Times in 16 Posts	What are your thoughts about/recommendations for "Authority Site" themes? Hello all, I'm seriously considering building a site that's more expansive than a microniche site; perhaps with 50 to 100 pages of content, different but related keywords on each page, all belonging to the same general category/niche. I figure that many pages is a good number to start with for an "authority" site. While I intend to provide quality content to site visitors, of course I also mean to implement and benefit from Adsense. I'd really like to hear from you all about theme suggestions that work well for "authority" sites. Something that's attractive enough, yet converts well with Adsense, but doesn't scream "spam!". I really prefer working with WordPress; and a free, or low-cost theme is what I'm after. There are so many WP themes out there, but I'd love to hear from some people on this forum what their thoughts, experiences or recommendations are. Edit: Come to think of it, is a "special" theme geared toward "authority" sites even necessary? Like to hear what you have to say... Looking forward to your replies!

03-04-2011, 08:21 PM	#2
Oranges L'il Rascal Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 331 Thanks: 89 Thanked 39 Times in 34 Posts	Re: What are your thoughts about/recommendations for "Authority Site" themes? Even the default TwentyTen theme will do it nicely, but if you're looking for long run, then stick to studiopress's Church or Lifestyle theme, they are good for 50-100 pages sites, as you mentioned.

03-04-2011, 09:47 PM	#3
yukon SEO Strategist War Room Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 6,532 Thanks: 355 Thanked 1,992 Times in 1,273 Posts	Re: What are your thoughts about/recommendations for "Authority Site" themes? The theme you pick has nothing to do with scale, any WP-theme can be scaled to as large of a site that you need. I have WP sites with over 1,000 pages per site. My advice is keep it simple, simple/clean sites make money. You need to make the decision upfront, are you trying to impress or are you trying to make money? Look at any Google search page, see how simple & clean the page is, keep that in mind when picking a WP-theme.

03-04-2011, 10:31 PM	#4
GeorgR. Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Earth Posts: 6,061 Blog Entries: 16 Thanks: 72 Thanked 915 Times in 602 Posts Social Networking	Re: What are your thoughts about/recommendations for "Authority Site" themes? i have many sites where i made custom themes with artisteer. They might well fit the "authority site" criteria - its really not that much the theme, but intelligent structure of categories. 50-100 posts/pages is normal for me, even what i call a micro-niche site. If i dont use artisteer themes (which rank really well by the way!!) i am using thesis theme.
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03-05-2011, 06:02 AM	#5
bummed.out HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 222 Thanks: 18 Thanked 16 Times in 16 Posts	Re: What are your thoughts about/recommendations for "Authority Site" themes? Thank you all for your thoughts! I will have a look at the themes you suggested; and yes, thinking about it, I agree that any theme can be scaled. Though I want to provide useful information to my visitors (in light of the recent algorithm changes and because I'm actually interested in the niche), of course I intend to make money with the site, so a clean theme will be ideal. That's a good point, yukon. Thanks as always for the solid advice, people.

03-05-2011, 06:09 AM	#6
NeilC HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: U.K. Posts: 396 Thanks: 22 Thanked 107 Times in 49 Posts Contact Info	Re: What are your thoughts about/recommendations for "Authority Site" themes? Plenty of large sites using the studiopress themes but thesis is also popular. It really depends just what type of site your building and who your audience will be?
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03-05-2011, 01:14 PM	#7
bummed.out HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 222 Thanks: 18 Thanked 16 Times in 16 Posts	Re: What are your thoughts about/recommendations for "Authority Site" themes? Hi NeilC, Yup, another vote for Thesis. Some of those Studiopress themes are really pretty, too. I'll have to think about how "pretty" I want the site to be. I don't want to be "rude" to my visitors with a hideous design, but I'm as much for the profit as I am for sharing information I care about - and therefore have no real qualms about it - and from what I've read, "uglier" - or at least simpler - designs tend to convert better. Cheers