How to Disassemble a Free WordPress Theme: resource of the week
03. Oct, 2008 
4 Comments
By now it should be no secret that I’m an Entrecard member. While I’ve come across a lot of crap on Entrecard, I’ve also come across some really good blogs. (This makes the crap bearable.)
One of the blogs I’ve discovered is an excellent “bloggers blog” that I have become quite taken with. Not only is the design wonderful, but the content is valid and substantial. Blog Design Blog understands not only the importance of credible and interesting content, but the importance of presenting that content:
A blog that looks like it was put together by someone’s nephew in their basement or uses a free template will give off the impression of being unprofessional, lack of credibility, and sketchy. You could have created the world’s most comprehensive blog on a subject, but your blog design can prevent people from even giving you a chance. And without readers, how are you suppose to make a successful blog?
I agree completely with this statement. I would even take this a step further and include websites as well. It doesn’t matter what you are selling—if your presentation is lacking or sloppy, no one is going to buy. (Ok, Craig’s List is an exception to this rule, but you’re getting stuff dirt cheap!)
Blog Design Blog has started a series: “How to Disassemble a Free WordPress Theme.” Part 1 was posted on September 30 and covered the header, sidebar, footer, and index PHP files. A lofty post (each one could have easily been a post by itself), but one that I would consider a required read for anyone who wants to take their WordPress blog to the next level (and if you’re a serious blogger, you do).
BDB is taking an existing WP theme and using it as the guinnea pig for this series. They are combining WordPress-PHP file background information and sample code to try and de-mystify the process of making a free theme your own. I admit that I’m a WP hack, and am seriously looking forward to Part 2!
But for now, you’ll have to settle for part 1 (trust me, it’s long enough).
How to Disassemble a Free WordPress Theme Part 1
(This article has been added to the Resources page, as a permanent resource.)
Awesome info. I am definitely going to read up on this. Exactly the type of info I need!
I would offer up my blog for your 10 things but I think my generic template would bore you before you got to number 3.
I put a lot of work into customizing my previous blog, and learning how to do it at the same time and now I just don’t have the energy to do that again. Wish I did because I think the post is absolutely right…I do think my generic blogger template is a credibility killer. I have an account over at wordpress and have thought about moving but again…with all I have going on just getting my posts out is about all I can muster at the moment.
Thanks too for reading and commenting over at my place…I really appreciate it!
Kim
My name is Vinh Le from Blog Design Blog, and I approve of the above post. (slips 20 dollars)
Thanks for the link and kind words.
@Kim: Content is king. While your layout may not be earth-shattering, there’s really nothing wrong with it. The review I just finished uses the same Blogger template. To quote myself “Not every blogger wants (or needs) to rework a standard blog template.”
Just keep up the great posts!