Comments     Trackbacks

47 Comments

1. Tarvin Durbin March 15, 2009

   Hey Craig,
   My wife Jennifer and I are trying to put together something for our Fitness Business. How about some suggestions for Fitness Oriented Themes…
2. Carlos Guevara April 11, 2009

   Hey Craig,
   Any idea where can I find a template for my music blog?
   Thanks in advance
3. Affiliate Marketer-Gary April 16, 2009

   I am very interested in using one of your theme’s. However, I’m very concerned about how SEO friendly they are. I’m no expert (Most of my seo knowledge has came from Stompernet’s “STSE-2.0″ and also the last 6 months of Stompernet’s “The Net Effect”), but I know that it is very important, things such as… the column should be on the right side b/c of the SE’s spider from left to right,…. unless you do some creative coding to a “Left Side” column (is this true?). This is the main reason I am using UBD’s theme, but also have other blogs in the works, like iTwitterToo.comI would really like to get a good theme for iTwitterToo!

   Anyway, can you give me a short description of the SEO Value/capability that you put into your themes?

   Thanks!
   Gary aka @GanderCo

   P.S. For what it’s worth, I will be anxious for your reply!
4. Craig April 16, 2009

   Hi Gary,

   I’ve been doing this stuff for 5 years now and your theme is one VERY small part of ranking in the search engines.

   My themes are not built for SEO and most aren’t.

   All you need is to pop in “The all in one SEO plugin” and you’re good to go with any theme.

   Want the best website for SEO? Do not use nothing but TEXT

   Don’t put too much energy into “Themes” because it’s a waste of time. If you want to rank high in the search engines, get lots of keyword targeted back links from authority sites. And then wait. There are lots of other factors as well but your theme being last in my option.
5. Craig April 16, 2009

   Not sure but if it were me, I’d have one made and spend a few dollars on it
6. Affiliate Marketer-Gary April 16, 2009

   Thanks Craig! Ok, I’ll pick one out (or two) and try them/it out.

   Thanks!!
   Gary from TN. aka @GanderCo

   btw, Tiffany Dow (@TiffanyDow) turned me on to you, me and her Tweet back and forth once in a while… Boy, she really likes you!
7. Nicholas April 17, 2009

   Hey Craig,
   Are any of these themes adaptable to the 125×125 Ad block pluggin. I can’t seem to find a theme that works well with this pluggin. All the themes gives me the option of a single line layout for 125×125 Ad block and not the option of two lines Ad layout. In alternative, can you suggest a pluggin that works well with your themes in terms rotating block Ads.
8. Craig April 17, 2009

   Hi Nicholas,

   Never tried so don’t know.

   I suggest you test it. Also, I suggest you use a good ad rotator. It’s because of “Ad Blindness”… People see the same ads over and over they become blind to them and stop looking. (Block them out)

   Find yourself a good ad rotator with tracking. I’m bummed because I know of one but can’t find the URL!! Too many notes on my desktop.
9. Craig April 17, 2009

   Tiffany Dow is a good apple who puts her clients needs before hers.
10. Affiliate Marketer-Gary April 17, 2009

    Yup! Tiffany is the rare exception, I don’t know how she keeps up with all that she does!

    Gary (from TN)
11. Sandy Morgan April 27, 2009

    I have a card business, and wouldd love kind of a card theme. Any ideas?
12. Jeanette May 6, 2009

    Hello,
    I’m looking for a music style theme that will work for gospel music. I’m not having any luck in my search, do you have any ideas? I’ll take all the help I can get.

    Thanks so much,
    Jeanette
13. Craig May 11, 2009

    I have a good idea! Make your own or take the picture yourself and have someone make you the header image.
14. Chad July 10, 2009

    Craig,

    Thanks to your ebook, I’m working on a blog and am using your template. I have a couple questions

    1) How can I remove/replace the “how to start a blog” tab?
    2) How can I add new tabs?
    3) Is there a way to add dates to my posts?

    Thanks,
    -Chad
15. Craig July 10, 2009

    Hi Chad,

    For number one, login to your admin panel and find the “Appearance” drop down tab. Should be in the left hand navigation bar. Under that click editor.
    Now look to the right for “Header” and click on that. If you use firefox, click ctrl f on your keyboard and a search box will show at the bottom of your firefox window. Type in there “How to start a blog” and replace it with your main keyword phrase or just replace it with the word “Home”.

    For question two: I’ll have to show you with a video. I’ll post one this weekend.
    For question three, it’s not easy to answer because you’ll need to add some code.
    Here is the link to that info http://codex.wordpress.org/Post_Meta_Data_Section
16. Noel July 24, 2009

    Hi I use your Idiot Proof Blogging Ver 1.0 but i had a problem riding off the bullet on the side bar. can you teach me how to remove it? thanks
17. Craig July 24, 2009

    I think if you use widgets it will fix it. Give it a try and let me know.

    To get to widgets, go to “Appearance” then sellect widgets
18. xpert-zone July 27, 2009

    well , can we make a home page and categories of our choice and never show that archive things? also can we maintain software listing through blogs :-s
19. Craig July 27, 2009

    You sure can.

    As soon as you start using widgets, you’ll get to control everything being listed in your sidebar.
    Play with it, you’ll love it
20. Chad August 11, 2009

    Hi Craig,

    I have a couple more questions about your theme.
    1) How can I remove/hide the search bar?
    2) Do you know of any widgets that let you control which side bar items appear on certain pages?

    Thanks again.
21. Jerry August 28, 2009

    Hello,
    I too come from Tiffany Dow’s advice ,,, I see why she guided me here ,,, Your site is very impressive, I look forward seeking my valuable information from you Craig.
    Thank you in advance.

    Jerry
22. Mike Stokes August 30, 2009

    Hi Craig,

    Your info is fantastic! Thank you so much.

    My question is, I was watching your video on how to change the page names in the header.

    Why couldn’t you just go to “Page” in the admin panel and change them there?

    Thanks,

    Mike
23. Diane November 29, 2009

    Hi how about some “Summer” Christmas themes – I have never even seen snow!
    Thanks
    Diane
24. Simon January 3, 2010

    I really like your simple sky theme and switched my wordpress blog to it. I only use Linux so I didn’t now any better but a friend alerted me that the right side column was not displaying properly in Internet Explorer 8.

    Any idea of what the problem might be and how to fix it? (Looking at the wordpress forum there seems to be a lot of problems with IE8)

    regards,
    Simon
25. Craig January 4, 2010

    This is an easy fix.

    You’ve posted too much content in “pages” and it’s adding way too many navigation tabs under your header image which is throwing the theme off.

    Take the content you’ve posted in pages and post them as Posts.

    Every time you post pages, WordPress will automatically add tabs in your navigation bar. Pages are used for TOS (terms of service) contact forms or any other static info.

    Five pages per blog is good. More than that will throw your theme off.
26. Ipb January 18, 2010

    Hello, Craig!

    Great looking WordPress themes and I learned
    something from the video already.

    Question: I need 770px wide 2-column theme.

    Do you have one or a video showing how to
    re-size a theme?

    Thanks.

    ~ Ipb
27. Craig January 28, 2010

    resizing a theme is a nightmare.

    I suggest you download Artisteer, create a theme, send it to me and I will remove the water mark for you

    See artisteer banner ad in the sidebar of this blog. No need to buy to try and make a theme.
28. Monte February 11, 2010

    Hi Craig,

    Came to this site via Tiffany Dow’s blog. Your helpful approach to blog building is refreshing. Most of the time we are constantly trying to fix easy things and it takes lots of time. Here you’ve got the info we all need to answer the basic questions. Thanks.

    FYI: The Blue Ridge 1.0 theme download link is broken.

    MonteL
29. Craig February 11, 2010

    Thanks!

    Thanks on the heads up about the link. It works for me and some others but not everyone. Very annoying.
30. Eric March 10, 2010

    I’m starting a new WP blog and love your themes, but the Blue Ridge 1.0 theme link is broken.

    Can you please let me know when its fixed, where I can get this theme, or if you have any substitute ideas?

    Thx
    Eric
31. Tom L April 2, 2010

    Hi Craig,

    Like others, i wandered over from Tiffany’s blog.

    I like the “Simple Sky” theme look.

    However, is there a 3 column version available, also?

    Many thanks,

    Tom
32. Fritz Offill July 7, 2010

    Thanks for such awesome wordpress templates, I have been seeking for a long time and these templates are what I want to use one my blog.
33. Changis August 25, 2010

    Any pros and cons for 2 col versus 2 col Word Press themes?

    Any major downsides in the future that cannot be overcome if you are just starting out with your very first blog?

    Should I worry about support for any of the free WP themes?

    I am another fan of Tiffany Dow too.

    Thanks.
34. Craig August 26, 2010

    There are no downsides.

    Here’s what I like to think about when designing, “What’s best for the user?”

    For this blog here, I put the sidebar on the left side so my report would be seen first. It’s also the hottest spot where the surfing eye hits most. This blog is about “how to start a blog” people coming here are looking for that info. I want them to get it right away and fast.

    Think like your user, you can’t go wrong.

    All the best.
35. Diana September 27, 2010

    Thank you for the free themes.

    I’m wanting to set up products to promote and wonder how many pages you can add? Do you have to do the parent thing in the widgets to add more pages so it doesn’t look so crowded or just add them as posts like new comment.

    Do you add more widgets to the left and right columns to add more products if not changing the theme?

    Thank you for all the information and help.
    Diana
36. Craig September 27, 2010

    Hi there Diana,

    As for the “How pages can you add?”, it’s unlimited. Just make sure you use this plugin http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/exclude-pages/ or you’ll end up with too many links added to your top nav bar which will throw the theme off.

    If you want to add product covers to the sidebars like Tiffany’s blog, adding text widgets will work just fine.
37. Andy September 28, 2010

    Hey Craig,

    Thanks for all these awesome themes. Highly appreciated. I’m personally digging the simple_sky theme, which is the one almost simillar to the one you’re using.

    I’m having one problem though. I would like to set up an opt-in box at the top right hand side of the blog, just as where you put the Search box in the tutorial video.

    Do I use text side bar widget, put some HTML in there so it will have an image and the opt-in sign up form below the image?

    Thanks in advance

    Andy
38. Craig September 28, 2010

    Thanks Andy

    Yup… you use a text widget and then put your html in there. It’s exactly how I do it.
39. Dianne October 14, 2010

    Hi Craig,

    That cute little waving sign-up guy…is that something that can be purchased from you? I notice it is on your site as well as Tiff’s.

    Also, is that a great converter? I am wondering if the waving hand is an eye-grabber and people are more likely to sign up? Just wondering what your statistics were on any testing you did (if you did any testing) vs. what your findings were on a static sign-up box?

    Thanks!

    Dianne
40. Craig October 15, 2010

    I’d say it sure does increase optins.

    Just click on it and drag it to your desktop. Upload it to your server and use it
41. Sue October 20, 2010

    Hi Craig

    I have tried to download your YouBlue theme and it won’t activate, just becomes a broken theme link.

    thanks
42. Craig October 20, 2010

    Hi Sue,

    I’ve tested it and it works.

    Here’s what I think is happening…

    You uploaded a folder called “Youblue” but it’s the wrong folder. Inside that folder is a folder called “YouBlue” which is the folder to upload. Let me know
43. Sue October 20, 2010

    Thanks Craig, got it uploaded now.
44. Craig October 28, 2010

    Just grab it
45. Gary November 10, 2010

    Hi Craig

    and yes, I also came here through Tiffany Dows site. Here is my question. The theme that Tiffany is using for her main site, and also for her physical products..the sushi one…Is that available through you? I love the way it looks…just like a static website….Your help would be greatly appreciated..and thank you for the WordPress EBook that you have for free…excellent!

    Thanks in advance
    Gary
46. Craig November 11, 2010

    Hi Gary, That is a custom theme made just for Tiffany. Sorry.
47. Diane January 14, 2011

    I’d love a theme with flowers down each side, across top & bottom (like an invitation). where you could write the blog name in fancy print.

1. Question regarding Artisteer May 24, 2009

   [...] Question regarding Artisteer Here are some themes I’ve made Free WordPress Themes | How To Start A Blog: Blogging Guides Ask Blog Question Here [...]
2. Yes you can use my theme June 9, 2009

   [...] Free WordPress Themes [...]
There are no trackbacks to display at this time.

Leave A Response