Find a Theme and Define Your Brand

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase using one of the links in this post, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you, Thanks for your support!Hi friends!  Time for the next step!  Let's make that blog of yours look beYOUtiful!Quick note: if you haven't already started your WordPress blog, go back to this post, to get a domain and go live!  I know there's a temptation to not "go live" until everything is just perfectly perfect, but trust me, it's unlikely that anyone will be going to your blog if you haven't told anyone about it, so feel free to play around while it's already live.  That way, you can see exactly what the changes you make will look like!

Picking a Theme

Themes and branding are easily the most fun part of blog set up!  Now, like most things, you tend to get what you pay for.  So yes, I do recommend paying for a theme instead of using the free ones on WordPress.  However, I don't necessarily think that you need to pay a designer to make a custom one!  There are a million beautiful themes out there for just a little extra money.  My FAVORITE place to look is on Etsy.  You can either search "responsive WordPress blog themes" or check out some of my favorite sellers here:City House DesignBites to Brand (she did mine!)Pish and Posh ShopHello You Design StudioThese themes range in price from $15 - $85 - totally reasonable compared to a designer!  And most of them come with directions for self-installation.  If you have some technical experience (or really can follow directions...), I think you can do it yourself.  If not, most of these shops have an add on where they will install it for you!  Here are a few things to look for when you're picking out a theme:

1. Genesis Child Theme and Framework - this is universally easy to use and already SEO-friendly.
2. Customizable colors (unless you just LOVE the colors it comes with)
3. Fit with your content - think about whether you need scrolling pictures a the top, a standard blog post format, or menu buttons on the front page.
4. Instant download and installation directions
5. Customizable menus
6. Worth repeating: make sure it's "responsive," which means that it changes sizes appropriately when your site is viewed on a computer, tablet, or phone

If you have any theme questions specifically or need help getting set up, I do work with people one on one.  Feel free to shoot me an email.  I'll be happy to help!

Installing a Theme

Your theme should come as a zip file, and you just upload them under Appearance > Themes > Add New > Upload.Make sure the theme you want is set to "Active."  Then, you can click "Customize" to make it yours!

Customizing Your Site

There are a zillion customizations you can make to your site, but I would start with some basics:

Site Identity

This language will show up in search engines.  Make your blog or site title the site name and include a tagline if you wish.There will also be an option to include a site icon that shows up to the left of your URL.  You can create a very simple site icon in PicMonkey or Canva using the pixel requirements provided.

Colors

I would recommend leaving your background color white unless it doesn't go along with your theme.  Your primary color and accent color will be a part of your brand, so choose carefully!  We'll talk more about colors and branding in the next section.

Header Image

This is the tippy top of your blog page where your blog title and logo go!  You'll want to create a header image with your logo in either PicMonkey or Canva using the pixel requirements provided.

Widgets

Here you want to make sure you get rid of all the theme branding and put in your own.  For instance, if there is a social media link section, the icons probably link to the developer's Instagram, Pinterest, etc. as a placeholder.  Go in, poke around, and replace any existing content with your own.

Defining Your Brand

Branding is an essential part of having and online presence.  If people can't meet you face-to-face, they're relying on meeting you through your blog.  The former English teacher in me likes to think in terms of adjectives.Adjectives you want you readers to use to describe you.Adjectives you think might describe your readers.Adjectives you want your readers to feel when they're on your site and after they leave.If you want some individual help planning out your brand, feel free to shoot me an email!From here, you have three decisions to make: colors, fonts, and logo.

Colors

For your blog colors, you want 1-3 colors plus black and/or white.  Once you have a general palette (based on the adjectives you came up with above) or even just a favorite color in mind, hit up my bestie, Pinterest. You can search "your color" + "mood board" to find a ton of color combos within that color palette. I recommend making a secret blog board that you use for pinning brand and post ideas. Pin every palette that catches your eye for a few minutes. Then, go back to the board and look for trends. Consider what will look good in text, over photographs, and in your header.Pro tip: Use a site like this one to find hex codes (computer language numbers that represent colors) of pictures and mood boards you find online.  Save the hex codes somewhere easily accessible, so you can just copy and paste them into your site and on PicMonkey. That's how I make sure my branding is consistent everywhere!  My hex codes are #45ded5 for the aqua and #ff6d6e for the coral.

Logo

I created my logo (which is really just my header right now - I'm still working on a logo that I'm completely in love with!  see: going live before things are perfect above) in PicMonkey.  You could easily do this with the free version, but I recommend upgrading, so you can save an editable version.  With the upgrade, which is only $8.99 a month, you can also save custom effects, get access to more touch up features, and more.  Totally recommend it.Pro tip: I save at least an hour each week because I can just go into templates I've already saved to create my branded graphics!!  Trust me - worth it!

Fonts

Another reason I love PicMonkey is that you can use their fonts OR the fonts on your computer.  That means that you can download any free fonts from Pinterest or Google and use them consistently across your graphics, website, and any printed products you create.  Try to keep your font selections to one basic, easy to read font and a bold or block font.  Throw a script font in there if it fits with your brand, like my scripted name in my header.  For reference, I use Montserrat from Google, Playlist Script, and Futura Bold.Pro tip: Simple is better.  Especially if you're planning on marketing on social media, think about finding a font that will be easy to read when people are scrolling through Pinterest in bed at night!I use GoogleDocs to keep track of all this information, so I can easily go reference it, copy hex codes, and make sure that my content and my blog's appearance continues to fit the brand I'm creating.A final word on branding and site set up: you can absolutely DIY this process.  I did it, and I'm not exactly a tech junkie.  I used YouTube and Google when I got confused, and pretty much figured things out as I went (which is why I'm sharing these tips with you!).  Of course, having a partner to bounce ideas off of would have been awesome. I can be your brainstorming buddy!  OR I'm also happy to work on your site directly to get it up and running with the brand you want.  It all depends on how much time you have and how clear you are on your brand.  If this sounds like something you might be interested in, reach out here, and we'll come up with a plan just for you!Stay tuned for next week's post: Selecting plugins and add ons!  This post will get you set up with all the extras to make your life easier, track your stats, and make your blog look professional.