Is this the worst WordPress Site you have ever seen?

I recommend to keep the width to 1024px, as many people still uses 1024px only. checkout the screen on 1024px resolution. you will see why I am saying that.

Not a bad theme. Look fines. If the whole theme can be more lively will be better (eg the back color).

Spend more time on the post.
I suppose you can enhance each of your post with a great image.

Far from worst. Its a fine theme!

I say it looks pretty good.

Just add a few images to each post and that will liven it up.

I like the theme but, this is my opinion, the picture up top of you and wife is great but not "buy me now" sorta thing. If you're making this a site to promote lets say the top Amazon gift for Christmas maybe a better header would be presents or even kids ripping open presents, Santa, a snowman, etc. Something really Christmas-y. Like I said, y'all look great and love the tree in the background but I think this might be better in the about us section maybe. Overall I like it and with additional pics in the posts like others mentioned it will be great.

Oh and your wife has a great name!

Teresa

I think it looks great. The only thing that is missing that could cause a bounce rate, is I don't know what the site is for when I first click on it. Is it to REVIEW potential gifts? If so, you may want to say something like, "Ruthlessly Reviews of the Hottest Christmas Gifts for 2009" Something that makes me know what it is. You also do need pictures with the products in the posts.

Nice job! The only thing I dislike (in any Wordpress blog) is the Tags-widget. I know it's there for a purpose, but it just distracts me.
The text formatting is perfect and very easy on the eyes, which is IMO the most important aspect of any website.
Good luck!

I like the site, (you've made me think I ought to do something with my Xmas Blog!)

Kim

I like the site and the whimsical Christmas graphics, but there are a few things I would suggest changing:

1. Definitely reduce the width.

2. The picture of you and your wife is faded and blurred compared to the bold, crisp graphics. I probably would not include it on the site, unless you were to put it on the About page.

3. Categories - Don't use Uncategorized - it makes the site look unfinished. Choose actual shopping categories or if nothing else, post your entries under General. Most of your recent posts would fall under Jewelry.

4. I would get rid of the Tags section and the Meta section on the sidebar. Are you planning to allow comments? If not, get rid of that section, too.

5. In the top of the sidebar space that results from removing those items, put a description of what your site is about. Personally, I would even reduce the width of the sidebar.

6. Graphics in each post would help immensely.

7. The site is a Christmas site, but the first thing I see is a post on Baby Showers - seems rather incongruous. Maybe say something like, "even during the Christmas season, baby showers go on...and here are some ideas..."

Good luck!

Terrie

Overall it's really nice and tidy.

Two things I would do differently is;
-Add images to each post, nothing to large, that will align to the left of your text.
-I would also change the background color to something more cheerful, that grey background doesn't resonate the Christmas spirit to me.

Other than that I think your off to a great start!

I think the theme is great and i wouldn't change anything. so did i hear you say that modified the template yourself to make it look like that? Because if you did great job!

It's actually not that bad. I see that you're using the Fresh News theme, the same one I use for my Twitter tips site, Twehab.

Here's a few quick suggestions....

Get a banner setup that will display properly across all different resolutions. My monitor is set at 1024x768 (the max for this monitor but also the most popular screen resolution with 1280x800 coming in 2nd place) and this is what I'm seeing: http://i34.tinypic.com/16ld6s4.jpg

Second, add in more social bookmarking support, maybe just a few more, specifically posting to other social networks such as Facebook, Friendfeed, Tumblr, etc.

Also, I recommend adding the Tweetmeme plugin to your blog for retweeting to Twitter. Works great!

not the worst I have seen, you should have sen my first try at it! Actually I think your page looks really good!

Ok I have made some of the changes that you all have suggested... Great feedback!!! It is always nice to have others look at your work because it is so easy to miss the obvious when it is your own site.

- Per JohnMcCabe & Johnny Added an image to each post. This is set to be automatic right now but in the future I will make this an image related to the article.
- Per TerrieS Removed Meta Box
- Removed Comments Section
- Removed Footer information other than recent articles
- There were many comments about the site having the picture of mywife and myself and my intention for the site was not conveyed clearly before this post. I have made some changes to make it more obvious what I am intending with the personalized site. The site is for reviews of Christmas gifts by my wife and I. Please take another look at how this comes across now and let me know if this is better.
- Per mikestenger Added the tweetme plugin
- Per dpSubi1 & mikestenger I have attempted to make the layout work with 1024 width resolution.. Feedback is needed on this. I am hoping that it worked.
- Per JohnMcCabe I have changed our names to be in front of the right person..
- Per cage73 change background color... I am having a hard time locating the css for the bgcolor but will continue looking..
- Per rosetrees change title - Not sure if it is snappy but more descriptive of the site in the header... please let me know what you think rosetrees.... I downloaded the Atahualpa theme but I feel I have put too much work in at this point to change themes. Thank you for pointing out the theme I will use in the future because it is a great layout and looks easy to customize.

- Per TerrieS The picture of you and your wife is faded and blurred (Cleared up with larger image) Categories - Don't use Uncategorized - Changed to Specail Christmas Gifts 2009 ... get rid of the Tags section and the Meta section on the sidebar (Done) description of what your site is about... (Still need to make changes on this) Christmas site, but the first thing I see is a post on Baby Showers (All of the articles are serving as place holders right now... I set up a feed for now and will remove unrelated articles.

Thank you to everyone of you who have given me feedback and now that I have made the chages I would really appreciate feedback on the results of the changes. I am a little concerned that I made the head a little too busy..

Thanks, Will

No opt-in box? You're missing out on building relationships with site visitors and encouraging them to come back.

Looks nice and sweet. I would leave the picture there. It would be nice to have a face to look at before i buy something at someone's site or just to read your reviews (to get visitors to trust you). Seems like you left out a contact page for your visitors to contact you and a privacy policy.

I think I have made all changes suggested except for the blur image at the top and the optin form. With the image at the top, I guess I didn't save my original copy and would have to start from scratch.... urrrgggg.... I am planning to add an optin box but I am still looking for a freebie to offer as a download... Should be able to find PLR but no luck yet. Everything I have purchased is crap so I am off to look for more...

Now that I have made the changes, please take a look again to let me know what you think. Anymore changes needed???

Thank you all so much for your comments so far....

Hi,

I don't think it looks bad at all...in fact, I almost used that same exact theme
(it's still sitting on my desktop for future use).

I would maybe make that picture of yourselves smaller so that it fits within
the red header at the top of your screen.

Also I didn't see any way for you to collect a visitors email address.

Other than that...seems good to go!