As a blogging platform, WordPress is fairly ubiquitous. There were 202 million users worldwide in September 2009, according to Jason Calcanis. And if you’ve ever scoured the Web in search of ways to customize your WP site, it might have seemed as if there were just as many themes to choose from. Some of them are good, and many of them are bad. But, regardless of what you’re finding, the plethora of choices can make putting together a WordPress site a real chore. And if you’re looking for free themes, the task can be downright painful.
There is hope, however! This week, Barb Dybwad posted her picks for 14 Fantastic Free WordPress Themes over at Mashable. Here are the two that struck me the most:
Dybwad positions Irresistable (Woo Themes) as a theme more fit for a personal blog than a professional or corporate one, but I think its slick, clean interface—with clearly delineated areas for blog posts, photos, and a social stream—would work for any organization with a diversified mix of content on offer.
And, for the business owner looking for something a little bit more traditional, iBusiness (New WordPress Themes) offers above-the-fold space for both a bold, extra-large photograph and a brief, focused About Us blurb or mission statement. Below that, there’s also room for a blog and a clearly laid out sidebar with several calls to action.
If none of Dybwad’s choices seem like the right fit for you and your business, another useful resource is Best WordPress Themes. It breaks down free and premium themes both by number of columns (1, 2, or 3) and by intended use (magazine, photo gallery, or specialized).
I hope this is helpful to those to you who are looking to put a fresh coat of paint on your WordPress site, and I hope that, if you have any additional theming resources, you’ll share them in the comments below.
Now, go and have some fun on this Fun Stuff Friday!
