How To Choose The Right Blogger Template

If you're on the market for a new theme for your Blogger blog or you're just getting started it can be a daunting task.

There are new ones being pumped out every single day and it's easy to be anxious and just choose the first nice looking one you see.

This could end up being detrimental to you in the long run only having to swap it out for a new one down the line.

If you're starting a new blog it's always a good rule of thumb to pick a good theme and stick to that design until you need to branch out and add new features.

So picking out something you can grow into is crucial in the beginning.

Today I'm going to be showing some of the key things to look out for that can save you a lot of time and frustration in the future.

Layout

-navigation
-columns
-how big is the post section (how much space do you need)

The first thing you'll notice when you look at a template is usually the color and header section.

You should have a good idea of what color scheme you want to go with, although most will allow you to customize it to your needs.

After you get your color sorted out one of the most important aspects of the template is the layout.

Do you want a 2 or 3 column layout?

Each format has their pros and cons. With a traditional 2 column layout you'll be able to have a larger post section.

A 3 column blog will be able to have better navigation capabilities and broaden your advertising space above the fold.

Above the fold is a term describing the space that you see before you start to scroll down, generally 800px or so from the top.

You should have a clear idea of how much space you need in your posts.

If you're going to be having a lot of large pictures you're going to need more space so I'd go with a 2 column.

This blog is a 2 column and I do a lot of tutorials and things so I need that area for that, I widened it even further myself and have a good 700+ pixels to play with.

Having the extra space comes in handy but you can be just as creative with 500px of post.

The theme I use is originally a 3 column but I chopped one column off just to free up the space, think of it as knocking down a wall in your home to make room for an addition.

Only you don't need a permit just some CSS knowledge.

Features

-search
-drop down menus
-video/pic blog/magazine/personal/tech?
-SEO (post titles)
-adsense spaces
-social media buttons
-automatic read more
-how customizable?

Another factor that should go into your decision is what kind of bells and whistles you want it to come with.

Nearly all templates can be modified to add features but that requires know how.

If you don't have much experience with HTML or CSS you're most likely going to be stuck with whatever features it comes with.

First off, ask yourself what kind of blog are you going to have, is it going to be personal? A personal blog wont require too many fancy features, just the basics will suit you fine.

There are many video and picture templates out there already set up for this purpose if this is what you plan on creating.

These make it easy to add videos and pictures in more of a gallery format, if you plan on having a video blog search these out.

If you're going to have a news type blog you'll want to seek out "Magazine" style themes which already come with the setup you need to have an online magazine.

One feature I always look at is how "sharable" it is. Does it already have sharable social media buttons? One of my most popular posts is how to add these, because many templates do not have them or than the basic bland icons.

If you're going to want to sell advertising or use Google Adsense you'll want to pay attention to the ad spaces the theme provides. Many will have space up top for a banner ad and pre-made ad clusters on the sidebars. This can save you time later when you decide you want to start monetizing your blog.

Some come SEO ready and have optimized post titles if SEO makes your eyes glaze over and you don't want to worry about it and just want to blog using an SEO optimized template will go a long way to get you started.

Free or "Premium"

I am in no way trying to take money out of theme designers pockets because I know how much effort and skill it takes to create a professional template.

That being said, I recommend you get a free theme then possibly upgrade in the future once you get serious.

There are many phenomenal free ones out there that look just as good as some of the ones that cost an arm and a leg.

Last year I had a post Top 25 Most Stunning Blogger Templates of 2010 it features some awesome designs.

There are more coming out every minute and I try to keep track of some of the nicer ones in my New Releases posts that go up every few weeks.

Styles

-minimal/clean
-elegant/fancy

Lastly I want to touch on the style of the design you choose. A popular blog expert once said "don't make me think" meaning your design should be simple and easy to read.

Typically a white background with black text is the best route to go. Darker backgrounds and odd color text can turn some people off.

I know for a fact if I visit a website and I can barely read it I'll leave almost instantly. People on the internet usually have about as much patience as a 3-year-old when seeking for information or entertainment. They want to find what they're looking for quickly and anything that impedes that will send them running half the time.

This is why I prefer the minimalistic style of blogs over the fancier looking ones.

A wonderful designer that creates almost all minimal concepts is our friend over at www.deluxetemplates.net

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