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What You Need to Know About WordPress Themes

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Services for Real Estate Pros with Second Self Virtual Assistance

What Your Need to Know About WordPress ThemesYou've probably already heard of WordPress but here's what you need to about WordPress themes. Type "WordPress Themes" or "Free WordPress Themes" into your Internet browser and you will find pages upon pages of companies selling or giving themes away.

 

Noteworthy - Before installing your new theme, it's recommended that you back up your files. This is a precautionary measure to help ensure that you don't lose any of your current content. You can do this via your hosting account or  a backup plugin.

 

After you've loaded and activated your new theme, take a "live" look at it. Does it still retain all the functionality of your original theme? Do your plugins still work with the new theme? Make sure all your widgets are still there and working as they should.

 

If your new theme isn't looking quite right in the "live" view, before looking for another theme, try deactivating one plugin at a time to see if any of them are the culprit. If you find a plugin that isn't working with your new theme, replace it with another one. WordPress is filled with thousands of plugins.

 

Take a look at your new theme in Chrome, Explorer, Firefox, etc. to make sure you design looks the same in all browsers. It would be great if all browsers were created equally. Unfortunately, that's not the case.

When selecting a new theme, make sure it's widget-ready. If your current theme supports widgets but the new theme doesn't, you'll lose all of your custom text, links and images.

 

Finally...make sure your new theme is mobile responsive. Since a high percentage of people access the Internet via their iPhones, iPads, etc., you want to be sure that your site plays well with those devices.

 

WordPress is an awesome platform for your website and blog. Knowing a few little hints ahead of time, though, can save you a lot of time and frustration.

 

Cheryl Dukes . . . . . Intown Atlanta
Guaranteed Offer for your Home - eXp realty - Atlanta, GA

Lots to be concerned about. Thanks for the heads up. That's another activity to add to my VA to-do list.

Dec 17, 2013 10:00 PM
Peter Pfann @ eXp Realty Pfanntastic Properties in Victoria, Since 1986.
eXp Realty, Victoria BC www.pfanntastic.com - Victoria, BC
Talk To or Text Peter 250-213-9490

There are so many twists and turns to WP, that It scares me to thing of changing my theme,  its minor tinkering inside it that seems to works for me so far, but eventually we will build up the courage

Happy Holidays and a Pfanntastic 2014

Dec 17, 2013 10:27 PM
Grant Schneider
Performance Development Strategies - Armonk, NY
Your Coach Helping You Create Successful Outcomes

Pamela,  good advice.  I would add that you should also test the responsive format in tablets and other moble devices

Dec 17, 2013 10:45 PM
Bill and MaryAnn Wagner
Wagner Real Estate Group - Ocean City, NJ
Jersey Shore and South Jersey Real Estate

Pamela,

Been there, done that. IMHO, this is something best left to a professional with extensive WP experience.

Dec 17, 2013 10:57 PM
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

Also be sure to update plugins you use or delete those that you don't. It creates a vunerablity for attacks.

Dec 17, 2013 11:17 PM
Randy Shamburger
Movement Mortgage - Greenville, SC
FHA, VA, USDA and Conventional Mortgage Expert

Hey Pamela, excellent post.  Thanks for sharing this. 

Have a Big day,

Randy

Dec 18, 2013 03:08 AM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

Those are great tips.  I just uploaded a new theme and have NOT checked it from mobile devices, but that's next on my agenda now!

Dec 18, 2013 04:29 AM
Aaron Hofmann
Atlanta Communities - Smyrna, GA
aka Mr. Smyrna Vinings

Love Wordpress and really appreciate how quickly improvements are developed and the cool themes that are readily available.

Dec 18, 2013 04:35 AM
Alex Popovic
602 CRE - Phoenix, AZ
Alex Popovic Developer, Real Estate Broker

Pamela,

I agree with Mike, its very difficult to do unless you have extensive code and WP experience.

Dec 18, 2013 05:02 AM
Carla Muss-Jacobs, RETIRED
RETIRED / State License is Inactive - Portland, OR

I love what #19 said, and ditto that comment.  The learning curve can be too much.  I have my site designed, then maintain it.  I can clean, I can't construct!  

Dec 18, 2013 05:09 AM
Michael Ha Elmhurst
Rego Park, Forest Hills, Jackson Heights, Corona, Middle Village - Elmhurst, NY
Woodside, Maspeth

Not to mention, the creator of these Wordpress Themes offer affiliation programs where pay  per click referals are practiced. One can gain additional $$$ for these WP themes online passively.

Dec 18, 2013 03:31 PM
Gabrielle Kamahele Rhind
KGC Properties LLC, Tucson Property Management & Real Estate - Tucson, AZ
Broker/Owner

GOOD MORNING PAMELA ... Can I hire you?!  I've bookmarked this and hope to get in touch with you by early January.

Dec 18, 2013 07:51 PM
Bryan Robertson
Los Altos, CA

I just upgraded our site to Wordpress 3.8 and like what it offers.  There is a lot of detail underlying themes that will take users time to fully explore. Some of the items that need to be changed in a theme can only be done at the code level which scares a lot of folks.

Dec 18, 2013 10:08 PM
Pamela Cendejas
Second Self Virtual Assistance - Kingman, AZ
Second Self Virtual Assistance (928) 692-3235

If you ever need help, Wayne, please let me know.  Not doing anything could cause more problems than trying.

Dec 22, 2013 04:41 AM
Pamela Cendejas
Second Self Virtual Assistance - Kingman, AZ
Second Self Virtual Assistance (928) 692-3235

Laura - That's for sure!

Thanks, Ralph!  Glad to provide some helpful information.

Dan - There's always something to learn.

You're welcome, Steven.

Good point, Andrew.  We need to stay on top of changes as they occur or possibly suffer the consequences of doing nothing.

It sure is, Debbie.

Let me know when it's done, Cheryl.  I'd love to take a peek.

Good luck, Liz and Bill.  Let me know if you have any questions along the way.

Thank you, Michael.

Absolutely correct, Rick.  The more sophisticated our handhelds become, the less necessary our PCs become.

Yay, Cheryl.  VAs are awesome!

 

 

Dec 22, 2013 04:49 AM
Pamela Cendejas
Second Self Virtual Assistance - Kingman, AZ
Second Self Virtual Assistance (928) 692-3235

Hi Peter - Find a good Virtual Assistant with great WordPress skills and get it done.  It costs less than you think and will save you a ton of headaches.

Dec 22, 2013 04:50 AM
Pamela Cendejas
Second Self Virtual Assistance - Kingman, AZ
Second Self Virtual Assistance (928) 692-3235

That's good advice, Grant.  I'd add that WordPress themes that are mobile responsive will usually say so in their product description.

Dec 22, 2013 04:51 AM
Pamela Cendejas
Second Self Virtual Assistance - Kingman, AZ
Second Self Virtual Assistance (928) 692-3235

That's a very wise decision, Bill and MaryAnn.

That's true, Joe.  Thanks for the reminder.

Thank you, Randy.  Same to you!

Have you checked it yet, Kat?  How'd it look?

I agree, Aaron.  It's my favorite platform.

If you want some CSS work done, Alex, a professional with coding experience would be wise.  However, a WordPress expert can do just about anything required to make your site look, "feel" and perform the way you want.

That's where a professional absolutely comes in handy, Carla.

I haven't tried the passive income thing, Michael.  Have you?

Let's talk in January, Gabrielle.  I know I can help.

That's where a person with code experience will come in handy, Bryan.  But, it's nothing to be scared of.

Dec 22, 2013 04:59 AM
Rodrick Branum

Yeah, it is very important to look at certain aspects while choosing any WordPress themes for your projects. Firstly, you have to be particular about your needs and requirements and then go through with the features of the templates that you are going to employ on your portal. For reference, one may consider http://dailynulled.com/category/theme/ for getting some trendy and feature packed templates.

Apr 06, 2014 08:40 PM
Pamela Cendejas
Second Self Virtual Assistance - Kingman, AZ
Second Self Virtual Assistance (928) 692-3235

Thank you for your insight, Rodrick.

Apr 07, 2014 03:25 AM