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What is there to lose...

by brit16
22 replies
...if I change themes? I really do not like my theme, it is not very flexible, the titles are too large, etc. I am sure I could fix some things with knowledge of code, but I don't have any and am not really looking to learn that aspect right now. I would like a theme that has many options with just a click of a button. I know there are some out there because I have played around with them on another domain I own.

My question is.....will I lose lots of hard work if I change themes a year into my website? I remember changing themes about a month into creating my site and was extremely frustrated because I lost a lot of my work. But I cannot remember specifically what all happened when I changed themes.
  • Will the links be broken?
  • Will all the pics etc on the sidebar be gone?
  • Will the pics in the post be gone?
  • What else will happen?
I guess I am just trying to weigh my options here....is it worth it to change themes? The site is in my sig if that helps. (Also, I know the header and background need a new look, I am hoping to have that done soon, just asking about the theme.) Thanks!
#lose
  • Profile picture of the author Cataclysm1987
    Originally Posted by brit16 View Post

    • Will the links be broken?
    • Will all the pics etc on the sidebar be gone?
    • Will the pics in the post be gone?
    • What else will happen?
    • No.
    • No, but they could be formatted poorly
    • No.
    • Plugins might not work or display properly. Other than that, you won't mind much.
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    • Profile picture of the author brit16
      Thanks again for always being so helpful to me! I couldn't get by without this forum. Any suggestions on themes that are EASILY customizable? Thanks!
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  • Profile picture of the author wAvision
    I use flexibility 3, which is very customizable..
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    They Say You Can't...Show Them How
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    • Profile picture of the author brit16
      I will check it out once I figure out why my site is not loading properly . Thanks!
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      • Profile picture of the author fin
        I use Thesis with a Kolakube theme.

        This is just the basic layout, I've not added much to it:

        Lovely Fitness

        It's easy to customize and both the Thesis and Kolakube forum are amazing for support.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mike Long
    Other highly customizable themes include:
    1. Studiopress
    2. Thesis
    3. Catalyst
    4. iThemes
    I personally useStudiopress, but I've heard enough good things about Catalyst lately that it will be the next one on my list to check out when I'm ready for my next site metamorphosis.

    -Mike
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  • Profile picture of the author James.N
    I think a lot of these are paid themes, Weaver is a good free one I have started using.
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    • Profile picture of the author wAvision
      Originally Posted by quadxnet View Post

      I think a lot of these are paid themes, Weaver is a good free one I have started using.
      flexibility 3 is free, has support site and forum.
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      • Profile picture of the author brit16
        Thanks everyone, when you say these are highly customizable, do they require much (any) knowledge about code? I really need something that has an option page with quite a few options.

        Also, do these have an option to remove the title? I want to have the title in the header and it took me forever to figure out how to get rid of the title above the header with the theme I have now. THanks!!!
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        • Profile picture of the author wAvision
          Originally Posted by brit16 View Post

          Thanks everyone, when you say these are highly customizable, do they require much (any) knowledge about code? I really need something that has an option page with quite a few options.

          Also, do these have an option to remove the title? I want to have the title in the header and it took me forever to figure out how to get rid of the title above the header with the theme I have now. THanks!!!
          No


          Yes

          but its seems others think your theme is already great for you, so you may want to think a little about changing themes.
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  • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
    Banned
    Originally Posted by brit16 View Post

    What is there to lose......if I change themes?
    Potentially quite a bit, in your case.

    Your case is very different from most Warriors' blogs. Because of the link between your niche, your family and your site's presentation.

    True, it would be possible to come up with something a little more "professional-looking" than what you have now, and that wouldn't do the job as well for you, IMO.

    In your position, I wouldn't be thinking about a theme-change at all. It's really risky for you. I'd be looking more at income-producing activities and forgetting website design: what you have, and its content, and the way you're presenting it right now are working really well for you.

    Just my perspective.
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    • Profile picture of the author brit16
      Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

      Potentially quite a bit, in your case.

      Your case is very different from most Warriors' blogs. Because of the link between your niche, your family and your site's presentation.

      True, it would be possible to come up with something a little more "professional-looking" than what you have now, and that wouldn't do the job as well for you, IMO.

      In your position, I wouldn't be thinking about a theme-change at all. It's really risky for you. I'd be looking more at income-producing activities and forgetting website design: what you have, and its content, and the way you're presenting it right now are working really well for you.

      Just my perspective.
      Thanks Alexa....I guess all of my responses on the boards have got me thinking that I really needed to change the theme. There are many things I don't like about it....like the blog titles are way too large for example. I had no intentions of making it too professional, just a little more pleasing to the eye . I am so glad you responded. It is nice to have opposing opinions! Thanks again!
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      • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
        Banned
        Originally Posted by brit16 View Post

        I guess all of my responses on the boards have got me thinking that I really needed to change the theme.
        That's because you're asking internet marketers, and they love changing Wordpress themes, and have favorites they want to recommend.

        Try asking infertile couples, instead!! :p

        Originally Posted by brit16 View Post

        There are many things I don't like about it....like the blog titles are way too large for example.
        You think so, because you're becoming an internet marketer. Your potential customers don't give a damn about that. Seriously.
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        • Profile picture of the author fin
          The things is, you can still change to a powerful theme and still have the blog looking more or less the same.

          It will just make it a lot easier for you to tweak it in the background, whether that's for header sizes, colors and even the different fonts.

          It will also mean that you won't have stuff like a navigation bar you can't see because of the background.

          Themes like Thesis don't need to be evil. They are just a lot easier, and save you a lot of time to work in the back end.

          You can do anything with them, and if you want to do something different you can ask on the forums. Someone will be nice enough to give you the code to paste into your CSS, etc, and powerful themes have simple dashboard editors so you don't need to use FTP's and such.

          All in all, it just makes it easier to tweak and test for newbie's like us.
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          • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
            Banned
            These are entirely different points, which Fin makes, above. About which he may, of course, be entirely right.

            If it's going to make it easier for you to post to, in future, that's another matter altogether, and I wouldn't try to put you off making anything easier!

            I'm just saying: don't do it because you think the size of the blog headings makes any difference to whether or not your targeted traffic will become customers. And don't make it look "all professional/perfect", because I really do think that'll lose more than it gains.
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          • Profile picture of the author brit16
            Originally Posted by fin View Post

            The things is, you can still change to a powerful theme and still have the blog looking more or less the same.

            It will just make it a lot easier for you to tweak it in the background, whether that's for header sizes, colors and even the different fonts.

            It will also mean that you won't have stuff like a navigation bar you can't see because of the background.

            Themes like Thesis don't need to be evil. They are just a lot easier, and save you a lot of time to work in the back end.

            You can do anything with them, and if you want to do something different you can ask on the forums. Someone will be nice enough to give you the code to paste into your CSS, etc, and powerful themes have simple dashboard editors so you don't need to use FTP's and such.

            All in all, it just makes it easier to tweak and test for newbie's like us.
            Thanks, you are right as well. I am not looking to take away the personal look to the site, but there are things I wish I could do with the theme. Once of which you mentioned.....the pages listed at top cannot be seen and with my ignorance I don't know how to fix the issue! Thanks for your input!!!
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            • Profile picture of the author fin
              Personally, I'd try and change the layout of your content a tad.

              I'd try and make it more website friendly and have shorter paragraphs/ stand out sub-headings.

              I don't read blogs with to much block text and no sub-headings where I can't scan the article before I decide if I read it.

              Maybe I'm completely wrong, but if I was coming to your site looking for IVF advice, I'd probably try and find one I could read easier.
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              • Profile picture of the author brit16
                Originally Posted by fin View Post

                Personally, I'd try and change the layout of your content a tad.

                I'd try and make it more website friendly and have shorter paragraphs/ stand out sub-headings.

                I don't read blogs with to much block text and no sub-headings where I can't scan the article before I decide if I read it.

                Maybe I'm completely wrong, but if I was coming to your site looking for IVF advice, I'd probably try and find one I could read easier.
                Thanks, I don't think my viewers mind reading long post. But I am sure you are right that I could lay them out better. Break them up more etc. I will work on it .
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                • Profile picture of the author fin
                  Yeah, I didn't mean you should make them smaller.

                  My advice wasn't in regards to your current readers: it was about hooking a higher percentage of new visitors before they click away.
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        • Profile picture of the author brit16
          [/QUOTE]
          You think so, because you're becoming an internet marketer. Your potential customers don't give a damn about that. Seriously. [/QUOTE]

          You are right they don't give a damn, they have more important things to worry about. Just seems like I should still be making the site look "better". But you are probably right, I should spend my time on something else. I guess I feel like I am at a stand still of what to do next. I know my site could and should be earning more, but not sure where to go from here. Any thoughts? My sales have improved a bit lately, but my list is not converting like it should.
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  • Profile picture of the author MikeTucker
    Great suggestions in this thread, but I have to agree with Alexa if you are talking about the blog that is currently in your signature. Connections are far more important (and profitable) than "professional" appearance!
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    • Profile picture of the author brit16
      Originally Posted by MikeTucker View Post

      Great suggestions in this thread, but I have to agree with Alexa if you are talking about the blog that is currently in your signature. Connections are far more important (and profitable) than "professional" appearance!
      Yes, it is the site in my signature. I agree that my site is ALL about the connection I have with the viewers. I did not think that changing my theme could make me lose any connections, but if it will, then I definitely do not want to change anything! Thanks for the thoughts!
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