Need help? Check out our Support site, then


WordPress.com Forums » Support

Tips for trying a new theme...

  1. sallybr
    Member

    This might be a silly question, but I'll take a risk.

    I get email notifications of new theme designs quite often, and some are so beautiful and tempting...

    How do you guys "try" a new theme without going for it? Do you have a practice blog with large enough content to play around with themes? Or is there a way to change your theme in some kind of a "private" way before going public?

    The blog I need help with is bewitchingkitchen.com.

  2. 1tess
    Moderator

    Sally,
    Just set up another blog to use for testing. It's free, and you can leave it private until you are happy. You can even export your real blog to it so you can see how it will actually look in different themes.

  3. arifsali
    Member

    WordPress solution is to do Preview prior to changing your theme (go to Dashboard - Appearance - Themes - click the Preview link next to the theme you wish to try).

    However, having a test blog for yourself wouldn't hurt. You can setup a new test blog as private, import contents from your original blog and then test/play with themes.

  4. timethief
    Member

    Hi Sally,
    I have just published a 3 part series on this exact topic and I had guest authors form wordpress.com publish posts on the topic too. I recommend getting another blog and setting it to "private". Then you can use it to create "a mirror" blog for testing various themes and their features prior to making the switch on your main blog. That way you don't disturb your readers while you are in the testing and trying phase. See here > http://onecoolsitebloggingtips.com/2010/05/19/how-to-select-a-wordpress-com-theme-part-1/
    Hope this helps :)

  5. sallybr
    Member

    Helps a lot, thanks everybody

    I particularly like the idea of "exporting the real blog" - I do have a practice blog, which I set up when I started - but it has only the front page and nothing else, I think exporting content into it makes it better to try a new theme

    I will now read your articles, timethief, and go from there

    (can you guys believe that this Wednesday my baby blog turns 1 year old????? I am thrilled!)

  6. timethief
    Member

    My article provides very specific step-by-step instructions for the set up export and import, Sally. :)

  7. sallybr
    Member

    Yes, indeed... Just looked at it, very very helpful!

  8. 1tess
    Moderator

    Happy Birthday Sally! Will you be baking a cake?

  9. sallybr
    Member

    Already did that.... it pretty much almost killed me, I'm glad I only do this kind of stuff once every passage of the Halley comet (sigh)

  10. timethief
    Member

    @Sally

    ♫ Happy Birthday
    Happy Birthday
    We ♥ you
    Happy Birthday
    Happy Birthday
    May all your dreams come true
    When you blow out the candles
    One will stay aglow
    It's the lovelight in your eyes
    Where ere you go ♫

  11. sallybr
    Member

    Oh, so sweet!

    Loved it!

    Thank you.....

  12. timethief
    Member

    You're welcome and may you have many happy returns. :)

Topic Closed

This topic has been closed to new replies.

About this Topic

Tags