Quick WordPress Websites for Beginners: Step 3
Choosing and Installing your Theme
We've covered how to choose a host and we've installed wordpress in the last lesson.
Did you get your hosting squared away? If not, here's the link to the http:/www.adhenterprise.com
Today we are going to talk about choosing and installing a theme for your new site!
What is a WordPress theme or template?
WordPress comes with a default 'theme'. A theme is what sets the layout of your website. It is a bunch of advanced php and css coding that allows you to have a more customized look.
There are literally thousands of themes to choose from. You can choose from a current selection of over 1200 on WordPress.org database here:
http://wordpress.org/extend/themes/
Here's what I recommend you do before you take ANY time looking for a theme:
--> Decide what you need it for.
Get a very good idea in your mind what you want from a theme and your search will be much, much easier!
Here are some questions you should ask yourself, copy these to a notepad file on your computer then print and answer them before you start your search:
- Do I want a blog only?
- Do I want a wordpress website only?
- Do I want a blog + website?
- Do I want a magazine style theme?
- Do I want a professional look?
- Do I want an amateur look? (some people will want this!)
- Am I willing to pay for a theme?
- Do I want a free theme?
- Do I want to customize the header?
- What colors do I want my theme to be?
- Do I want two columns or three?
- Do I want a right side column?
- Do I want a left side column?
Now that you have all those questions answered (and maybe a few more that you think of on your own), you're ready to go searching for your theme!
Or Have ADH Enterprise create a Custom Website & Blog theme and install it for you.
Once you've chosen you're theme you'll need to install it. To do this you need to log into your WordPress dashboard and then click 'Add New Theme' under the 'Appearance' tab on the left sidebar.
From there you can choose to search the WordPress.org database for free themes or you can upload your chosen theme (in zip format) from your computer and install it.
Once you've chosen you theme you will need to click on “Install Now”.
Then click to activate the theme.
There you have it! That's all you need to do to install WordPress and add a new theme. I can't tell you what a simple process this is compared to the 'olden days' of website design. I built my first website in 1999 with all HTML and I can tell you it was a long, long process to get the simplest of websites going. These days you can have a super-powerful robust website platform in a matter of minutes – to the geekest of internet geeks like me that is very exciting~!
Or have ADH Enterprise Design a Premium Custom Designed Theme for you!
