When you first start a blog with Wordpress, one of the first things that you should think about is what theme you are going to use. For those of you who are new to Wordpress, a theme is basically the layout of your blog. It determines what your font will look like, the colors, and the layout of the blog itself, where things are placed and how they look when they are placed.

It can be easy to just pick any theme out there and start writing. While I agree that content is king, I believe that you should really consider how your theme will affect your overall goals. Some of the things that I considered in using this theme are:

• The Look - How did it look? Do I like it or do I hate it? If you can’t stand the way your blog looks, chances are that people who read your blog will not like it either.
• Functionality - What functions can the theme serve? Are there any built in features that I will use? An example of the features I like for this theme are the integrated tabs in the right hand column. It’s a great way to navigate through a blog.
• Can I customize it? - Customization is extremely important when you are making your blog. You want it to stand out, and a theme that is easier to customize will be very beneficial. Make sure that the code to the theme is commented in a way that makes it easy to read and change if you want.
• Will I need to make a lot of changes? - If you do, then the theme probably is not for you.

Another question you should ask yourself is if you want to pay for the theme or not. More than likely starting bloggers will not want to pay for a theme. This is perfectly fine! There are plenty of great - looking free Wordpress themes out there! When you have established yourself a bit more, you may consider using a premium theme.

A premium theme is one that is most likely valid html, with a very slick design. Some examples of places to get premium themes are: Unique Blog Designs and the Revolution Theme. Both of these places offer great premium themes at great prices. I have purchased themes from both places and am very pleased with them. However, I need to let you in on a little tip I have. While the themes purchased from these sites are great, customization can still be a bit daunting. Yes, you can ask them for help afterwards, but they are busy people, and might take a bit to get back to you. This is why I suggest getting the Wordpress Dream Theme. Please read my review of the theme here for more information.

There is a lot of information that can be thrown to you about themes, and I hope that I have not overwhelmed you. Feel free to ask me any questions you need answered about themes, and I will do my best to help you. Also, please offer up any information you might have in a comment, as I’m sure there are plenty of other readers out there looking for a tip!

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