If you haven’t noticed I’ve updated my blog theme. I decided to make the change because of the problems I’ve encountered with my previous theme, Unwakeable. During my search for a new theme I have compiled a short list of tips for picking the perfect theme.

1. Don’t go overboard with the “sweet” effects. My first theme for this blog was pretty bad when it came to effects. It had the ability to change the color of the blog by clicking a button in the corner. What I didn’t take into account was that this cool feature created a thirty second load time for my blog. Just remember that site aesthetics are for pulling people in, but if you want people to come back you need to have a content-filled, quick-loading website.
2. Having a problem with a theme? Ask for help. Did you find a great theme that compliments your writing, but the comment system poorly formats text. What about a theme that has a sidebar bug? Don’t worry, if you need help fixing a bug, you’re not the only one. Find the creator of the theme and shoot’em an email. On my previous theme it required a logo. The creator of the theme had sent me an email with a step-by-step tutorial.
3. Leave the cutting edge web technologies to the professionals. There is no need to weigh down your site with new web technologies especially when the technologies slow or even cripple the viewing of your blog. Readers will come back more often when they know they can come back and read a few articles without conflict.
4. Keep it simple. If your theme looks like something the MySpace designers threw together, I would start looking for another theme and fast. Find a theme that’s easy to read and keeps the reader focused. Red on black is not something I will come back to and read again.
5. Ask longtime friends/readers their opinion. Before releasing your theme to everyone, ask some of your close (Internet or not) friends. They can give you advice on what to change before you get 100x that when you release it to the public.

My theme Pixkit, is what I’ve been looking for in a WordPress theme. It’s clean, quick, and there isn’t anything that will distract you while reading. My theme is a bit on the simple side, but that doesn’t mean yours does too. Pick what you like and go with it.

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