Themes that are Totally WordPress Compatible€¦ · The following themes are Adsense-ready, free and use widgets unless otherwise noted: SEO/AdSense Ready WordPress 2.9 Themes: You

WordPress: Themes that are Totally WordPress Compatible Linda Goin

Themes that are Totally WordPress Compatible In past articles, Linda mentioned that she uses the Hybrid Theme for WordPress. In this article, she points to other themes that WordPress feels are totally compatible with that blogging platform.

Why is Theme Hybrid Not Listed in WordPress Codex? Hi folks...over the past few months, I have raved about using the Hybrid Theme for WordPress (WP). But, in travelling to the WordPress Codex page for adaptable themes, you may see that Hybrid is not listed in their Theme Compatibility list. Why? First, Hybrid is not easy to use for the person who is new to blogging. That said, using Hybrid can teach a blogger a lot about how to handle various aspects within Wordpress. But, if you are entering blogging to make money, to create a site for resale or for various other reasons, then other templates might make more sense for you. In this article, I’ll cover some of the themes listed at that Codex page to help you narrow down your search for a theme for you that is both easy to use and that is flexible. In the lists below, you’ll learn about various options. Each link in the list will contain a site that uses that specific theme so you can get a better look at how that theme might work for you. Each image contains a link to that site so you can get a closer look. Also, please note that I’ve only included those themes which seem active, which are easy to understand and use, and which have updates to their themes and support (sometimes you might pay for this support). Also, I had a few issues with theme sites that didn’t work in FireFox (or, perhaps, that don’t work in any browser). Those sites were excluded as well, so you have a choice of current themes that seem reliable listed below. Themes are broken down into four categories including those that push the SEO option, themes that are simple to use but that have one visual and no options, themes that can be altered easily through CSS or by creating child themes, and other options.

Cutting to the Bone: SEO Themes If you are interested in making money for your site (and, believe it or not, some bloggers really aren’t interested in Adsense or other advertising options for various reasons), then you want to choose a theme that uses SEO options. But, there is a catch to this option... When you download a current theme for SEO compatibility, you are downloading a theme for SEO compatibility today...which means that this theme may not be SEO compatible tomorrow. Additionally, many themes are very SEO compatible, although they may not advertise as such, and WordPress itself is very SEO compatible. So, be aware that you have many more options that what are listed here. Finally, when you choose an SEO theme, simply check to see if these themes are updated with WP updates. In the cases below, you probably will learn the the most compatible SEO themes are run by companies, rather than by individuals. The following themes are Adsense-ready, free and use widgets unless otherwise noted: SEO/AdSense Ready WordPress 2.9 Themes: You can find a variety of SEO-ready themes at this site, and all are updated to fit a wide variety of WP updates, which is handy if you haven’t updated WP in a while. All themes are NOT free, but they come at a current affordable price of £9.99 (based in the UK). With this price, you also get support. Only one of a variety of themes is shown below (Talian):

Copyright © 2010 DMXzone.com All Rights Reserved To get more go to DMXzone.com

Page 1 of 15

http://themehybrid.com/

http://codex.wordpress.org/Themes/Theme_Compatibility/2.9

http://www.google.com/adsense

http://www.google-adsense-templates.co.uk/


VK Labs SEO WordPress Theme Ad Flex Blog: This theme is advertised as being flexible and customizable, with “an exhaustive list of more than 200 customization parameters” within the graphic realm. If you would like to use this WordPress theme without copyright information you may do so by purchasing a Copyright Removal License for a very low fee (at present, a lifetime fee is less than $10USD).


Page 2 of 15

http://www.vklabx.com/wordpress-themes/wordpress-theme-ad-flex-blog.php

http://www.vklabx.com/wordpress-themes/copyright-removal.php

http://www.vklabx.com/wordpress-themes/copyright-removal.php


VK Labs SEO WordPress Theme Ad Flex Niche: If you want to write a blog that is niche-oriented, this theme offers a way to do this. This theme offers all the options shown in the Ad Flex Blog by the same company, but you don’t have the option for categories. Here is one example of their theme in use (note the different between the theme above and the theme below – the above theme contains categories):


Page 3 of 15

http://www.vklabx.com/wordpress-themes/wordpress-theme-ad-flex-niche.php


Complex Simplicity: Simple Themes to Play With If you’re looking for a simple theme that you can alter down the road, these themes lend themselves to that practice. You can alter the original themes listed here easily, create child themes to alter the original (highly recommended) or use the theme forever as is – but only if the owner is willing to update the theme along with WP updates. Regulus: This simple blog design has been a hit for a long time, simply because the design is simple. If you know how to tweak code within a blog theme, you can change up the masthead and alter a few other things as well. This is a free theme that is a leader to Ben Gillbanks’ other premium themes. If you don’t mind spending a minimal amount of money on a quality premium theme, Gillbanks’ work is one way to go. He has a lot of experience with code, computers and with WP.


Page 4 of 15

http://www.binarymoon.co.uk/projects/regulus/


A bit of explanation about Ben’s blog entry below – he is using the Regulus theme on his WP-server binarymoon blog. His current site, which is updated constantly, is located at Binary Moon. Note how he changed the name of the blog between the WP-based site and his individual site to make it both the same – and different. When you run across a person like Ben Gillbanks in your searches for blog themes, you might bookmark their sites...you can learn much about successful blogging from people who have been in the industry/field for two decades.


Page 5 of 15

http://binarymoon.wordpress.com/

http://www.binarymoon.co.uk/


Copyright © 2010 DMXzone.com All Rights Reserved

Tarski: This simple theme has been around for a while, too. It is updated to current WP standards and offers three alternate styles by default: classic, polar and skyline (with a change to mastheads). Adding your own custom styles is essentially a simple process, although advanced CSS coders have used it to make impressively complex modifications (be aware that some of the examples listed no longer exist). As with Theme Hybrid, Tarski suggests that you alter only the CSS (or, as I would suggest – create a child theme for modifications to the original), so that when a new version of Tarski appears, your theme won’t be befuddled. The Tarski site is easy to maneuver, and offers legacy versions for folks who refuse to update their WP formats. Additionally, this site lists compatible plug-ins and other options, guidelines and instructions.

To get more go to DMXzone.com Page 6 of 15


You also can use this theme for Textpattern, Drupal, Jogger.pl, Blogger, TatterTools and Blogates. Created by

by Ben Eastaugh and Chris Sternal-Johnson.

Copyright © 2010 DMXzone.com All Rights Reserved

heme that speaks to you, then you don’t need to meddle with colours, photos or mastheads. ow easy is that? Here are a few WP-compatible themes that offer themselves up to you with a singular look.

Simplicity: Single-Theme Themes If you find a tH

To get more go to DMXzone.com Page 7 of 15


I’m only going to list a few of them here, as most of the themed WP options listed can be found at Themes Warehouse: Aesthete: I’ve included this theme, as it includes portfolio and catalogue functionality. Custom header and

vailable through the theme options, and the theme has native support of several plugins. Note,

Chinese New Year Tiger

footer are ahowever, that the theme has a Renaissance style that may not jive with your style of artwork. That said, you may be able to alter the look through CSS and a child theme.

: This is a three-column WP theme that offers widgets, valid XHTML and CSS and is backward compatible to WP 2.5.


Page 8 of 15

http://vatuma.com/wordpress-themes/aesthete




Peaceful Rush: I’ve seen this theme around the blogosphere for some time now, and it’s a great theme for anyone who cannot or who will not spend time altering the original. WPDesigner has been around for a while, and his work is reliable. This is not the only theme he has available -- it’s just the only one listed on the Codex page. So be sure to check out his other work while at his site. This blog contains two columns and is widget-ready.


Page 9 of 15

http://www.wpdesigner.com/2007/01/17/peaceful-rush-wordpress-theme/


Saint Patricks Day: If you’re Irish or if you simply are stuck on celebrating anything green, you might like this theme. Brought to you by Themes Warehouse, this theme offers a two-column layout, valid XHTML and CSS, widgets and is backward compatible with WP 2.5.


Page 10 of 15

http://www.themeswarehouse.com/saint-patricks-day


Other Options These options include entire sites devoted to a variety of WP themes, not just simple one-theme ideas. Browse around to look at those options. Don’t hesitate to send a few bucks, dinero, Euro or whatever to purchase a theme, as you are guaranteeing some support with that money. Ericulous: This site offers a wide variety of themes, and I’m happy to discover it. One theme, the OneNews, offers a way to aggregate rather than to blog, which is a great way to handle those domain names that are difficult to keep up with in your repoitoire (shown below). Multiple themes including Artificial Intelligence (1.5), Fashionista (1.2), Food Recipe (1.0), GenkiTheme (1.4.1), GenkiTheme (Fixed Width) (1.4), Google Chrome (1.1), GreyBlog (1.6), Internet Center (1.5), Internet Music (1.5), Internet Sharing (1.5), Orange Web 2.0 (1.5), Red Business (1.5), Scrapbook (1.0), Small Studio (1.5), SoftwareHolic (1.5), Woogle (1.0). Visit the site to learn more about their updates, support and their amazing variety of options.


Page 11 of 15

http://ericulous.com/


Javier Garcia: This designer has several free blog designs listed on the WP Codex page. The designs include Abythens (shown below), Lacenenta and 1 Blog Theme. What impresses me about this site is that the downloads are updated and free, but -- much like Theme Hybrid -- you pay a small amount to enjoy some support with these themes. Nothing wrong with this methodology! Also, while the themes are free, you can pay a small amount to remove the attribution button line and to ask for private technical support. Abythens is a theme that allows galleries and countless layout/colour combinations.


Page 12 of 15

http://abythens.javier-garcia.com/


Ultima: Talk about a simple theme! While I hesitate to state that you can charge this theme up with CSS and a child theme option, I included it to point you to the Blog Oh! Blog site. Their free options for WP themes include Ultima as well as a Mobile Theme and Impress. Their premium options include Freedom, a theme that is popular with WP bloggers who want a magazine-type layout.


Page 13 of 15

http://www.blogohblog.com/wordpress-theme-ultima/

http://www.blogohblog.com/

http://www.blogohblog.com/category/wordpress-themes/


Wordpress Theme Generator: Use this online generator to create your own custom WP theme. You can do this without any knowledge about HTML, JS, PHP, or CSS. While this seems like a cool tool, I have no knowledge about its compatibility or the ability for you to upgrade your theme, if necessary, to fit WP capabilities. But, it might be fun to try out...


Page 14 of 15

http://www.yvoschaap.com/wpthemegen/



Page 15 of 15

Conclusion I have not tried one theme on this list, so using these themes is a risk you will shoulder. One thing I would do before downloading a theme – even if it is recommended by WP – is to read the comments left by other users if they are available to peruse. By reading comments by other users of a given theme, you might know in advance what problems to look for and whether or not those issues were immediately resolved. Think ahead when you download a theme for use as well. While individuals might offer a great theme, think about their history in the business and whether or not they will stay on board to offer support in the future. Companies, on the other hand, plan to stick around...so they might provide a better option for support. Frankly, from my perspective, it’s all a gamble. In the end, it would behove you to learn how to create CSS files, how to create a child theme and how to stay on top of WP updates so you can keep your blog user-friendly and spam-attack defensive. After all that is said, simply download and have fun!

Documents

Themes that are Totally WordPress Compatible€¦ · The following themes are Adsense-ready, free and use widgets unless otherwise noted: SEO/AdSense Ready WordPress 2.9 Themes: You