A rich content blog will gain more traffic. If you want your blog to be popular among the blogosphere, you will have to put in more afford to produce something original, unique and interesting. This is not an easy task. One of the factors that make your blog unique is your blog interface or design.
Psychologically, most readers will pay more attention to a blog with beautiful or simply impressive design. However, you have to make sure the way you customize your blog is almost ‘lag-free’. [Tips: Don’t make your blog loaded with too many flash components.]
Normally, your blogging platform will provide several default layouts. You would want to change your blog layout (template, skin or theme) to something different that can brighten up your readers’ eyes. However, to customize your blog layout, you will have to be able to understand codes like CSS, HTML, XML, PHP (WordPress), etc.. This is a nightmare for beginners!
Instead of going too deep into customization, you can first try to use some ready-made customization done by other designers. There are plenty of resources available for FREE in the world wide web.
For own-hosted WordPress platform, you can find more themes at:
Note: If you have a blog in WordPress.com and you want to use themes other than those that are provided, you have to pay.
For Blogger (blogspot) platform, you have to know one thing before you choose your desire blog template.
There are 2 types of template for Blogger:
- XML Template
- Classic Template
“What’s the difference?” Some of you may ask.
XML template is also known as template for Blogger Beta or New Blogger. By default, if you create a blog in Blogger, the template is an XML template. This kind of template enable you to use the built-in widgets to add on components to your blog – making it easier for you to add contents to your blog.
Classic template is the template used in Blogger before it was in Beta mode. If you are using classic template, you will not be able to add components to your blog by using the built-in widgets. You will have difficult navigation (link to older post or newer post, this is done automatically in the XML template) around the blog. You will not be able to have a “category” unless you add in manually. However, most impressive template is made for Classic template.
“How to know which template I’m using?”
If you have the trouble of differentiate which template mode you are currently using, there’s a simple way to differentiate it.
Login to your Blogger account and under the “Dashboard“, you can see all your blogs. If you spot the word “Layout” means it is using XML template. Whereas, the word “Template” indicates that your blog is using the Classic template.
Now, you already know what template mode you are using, you can start choosing your beautiful templates.
Here are some good sites for you to get FREE Blogger templates.
freeskins.blogspot.com
blogger-templates.blogspot.com
geckoandfly.com/blogspot-templates/ (WordPress theme for Blogger)
Tired of your old blog theme? Let’s make a change today!
By Jimmy on May 1, 2010
I’ve used blogger and wordpress and I’m no expert, but I prefer wordpress.org for best control. Nice blog!
By Lydia on Dec 12, 2010
I like this website so much, saved to bookmarks .
