Wordpress.org - A semantic personal publishing platform with a focus on aesthetics, web standards, and usability.

WordPress is an open source blog publishing application powered by PHP and MySQL which can also be used for content management.

There are two key differences when talking about using and implementing wordpress. The first is as a stand alone blog hosted by wordpress.com, and the second is as a stand alone software that you download from wordpress.org (not wordpress.com) and install on your own server. Both use themes but the .org version is far more flexible and powerful as not only a blogging software but as a content management system for your site. More on the difference between wordpress.com and wordpress.org.

A theme or WordPress template is a set of files written in a combination of PHP, HTML, CSS, and sometimes Javascript that tell WordPress what information to display on each page, and how to display it, allowing people to create unique website designs powered by WordPress.

Benefits of free wordpress themes

It’s free
This one is a no-brainer, you don’t need to invest any money in it.

It’s fast
Time is money. You don’t need to wait for it to be finished, you just download it and use it.

It works
Most of the free wordpress themes work just fine out of the box.

Large selection
With thousands of free themes to choose from, you’re sure to find something that suits you.

The wordpress community is open source, free, widely used and has an extensive codex at your disposal. Here is a list of a few top free wordpress theme sites:

Disadvantages of free wordpress themes

While the wordpress community offers arguably the largest selection and range of free themes out of any open source content management and blogging platform available, it still has its disadvantages. As the old saying goes…. you pay for what you get.

No optimization
The free themes generally are not optimized for best conversion rate. Some free themes are done with conversion rates in mind, however, the conversion rate optimization usually depends on your niche and targeted audience. A design and layout that works for a certain company might be less than ideal converting visitors in your niche.

Heavy on the coding
Many free and even premium theme templates have extra and often unnecessary coding in their theme. This is mainly to increase the flexibility and range of potential customer needs. While this may seem like a plus at first, the unnecessary code slows down theme performance through the inclusion of many unused javascript, php and css calls.

No support
If something goes wrong, there might be no one to help you. WordPress is constantly changing and improving and some themes might start showing errors, or already have errors if the theme was built a while ago.

Not a unique design
Other bloggers or websites may be using the same theme, and if you are using one of the high quality and most beautiful free open source themes available, it’s possible that 1,000′s of other people have found it as well.

Benefits of custom wordpress themes

One of the most important aspects of a website is the individual branding it provides for you and your company.

Unique design that fits your company’s identity
This is extremely important if you’re into any serious business. Building a strong corporate identity is crucial for establishing a recognized brand. Your online presence will not only make you profit with the sales you make, but it will also help build a brand image with your targeted audience.

Code optimization
A custom theme designed and developed specifically for your site will only include necessary code. Google and other leading search engines are beginning to include site load time into their page ranking. What this means going forward is a greater need for optimized site coding to stream line site performance and speed.

Technical support
We provide support for all themes and websites that we design for as long as needed. Many free and paid predesigned themes have little or no support.

Disadvantages of custom wordpress themes

While the benefits of custom themes are numerous and the clear choice for many professionals, they do have their disadvantages.

Cost
Custom themes are not free but an affordable alternative to a website built from scratch.

Time
It takes time to build a custom theme, usually between 1 and 2 weeks for us.

Get Started on Your WordPress Project:

Web Design Related Posts:

Tips for a successful Website

Infected Cell, 2010. A watercolor concept sketch for Nature Revisited.

Nature Revisited is a three part series integrating sculpture and painting media in an effort to exam the evolution of the natural world since man began altering his environment.

Expected completion date: Spring 2011
Series Size: 18-20 pieces of art

Nature Revisited Questions:

What other creature(s) actively destroy their habitat in a way that disrupts the natural balance of their ecosystem other than humans?

Tips for a successful website

I can’t tell you how often I see websites ignoring fundamental design and functionality do’s and don’ts that unavoidably limit the success of the companies’ web presence.

Get to the point

Don’t use homepage content talking about yourself or the company. You have less than 10 seconds to initially grab their attention. You MUST connect with their needs. Make it a point to let them know you understand their need and why they have come to your website.

Avoid using music on your website

Nothing scares a visitor off more quickly than entering a website and being blasted with music. It just isn’t professional, unless of course, you are in the music industry and your website is about music.

Accessibility

Make it as easy as possible to be reached. Make sure there is a contact form or contact information on every page and look into inexpensive tools like a Live Chat system.

Keep graphics and logo up to date.

It amazes me how many sites and logos I come across almost EVERY DAY that are years behind in design trends. Yet these very same companies are promoting cutting edge services. It just doesn’t make sense.

Driving Traffic

To increase traffic on your site, use Google Adwords and other pay-per-click services. You can get away with using Google exclusively. Many companies can credit much of their website traffic success on a Google Pay Per Click budget of $30 a month. There is no better bang for your buck in advertising.

Blog, blog, blog

Separate yourself from your competition by blogging and showing off your knowledge and expertise. There isn’t a profession or business that would not value from this. I recommend wordpress: it’s free and the best blogging CMS out there.

Google Analytics

Make sure Google Analytics is installed on every page of your site and you monitor it frequently. I am often asked to do website evaluations for possible clients, and in doing so I ask them key questions about their website traffic, and more often than not, they have no idea. How do you know what direction to swim if you don’t know where you are in the first place? Google anayltics is free and very powerful…. a no-brainer in my opinion.

Avoid using flash introductory pages

Sure they look nice and can be quite entertaining, but what do they really do for your website? In my opinion: frustrate your visitors. In today’s fast paced world we want the facts and information quickly. Remember, there are still plenty of dial-up users who will become frustrated waiting for your flash page to load and will move on to your competitor’s website.

Use Social Media

Create a social media network. Make sure you have social media accounts on twitter, facebook, and other social networking sites, keeping them as active  and up-to-date as possible. Link your personal/business site to your social network to increase traffic.

Pier into the Sun, by Jimmy Giokaris

A commissioned acrylic painting by Kevin Lafontaine titled “Pier into the Sun”.

Man Made Landscape #2, by Jimmy Giokaris, 2004, Oil on Canvas, 21" x 34" - SOLD

For more information on JimmyGio Studio’s Fine Art or if you are interested in purchasing Fine Art see the Fine Art portfolio.