Your blog theme controls the visual layout and appearance of your blog.
Edublogs provides over 100 themes for you to choose from ranging from themes that can’t be altered i.e. “use as is” to themes that are “extremely customizable” i.e. change image header, font types, font color and background color.
Every newly created blog has the same default theme which you can easily change using the Appearance > Themes area of your blog’s administration panel.
Features worth considering when choosing a blog theme include:
1. What Is Your Preferred Layout?
Blog themes normally include a header, a content area (for your posts), sidebar area (for your widgets) and come in several standard layouts:
- Single column with no sidebar (widgets are located at the bottom of the blog)
- Two Column – normally a wide column for content and narrower sidebar
- Three Column – with sidebars side-by-side on one side of the blog or either side of the wider content column
- Four Column – one content column and three sidebars. The content column is often the same width as the other columns. This type of layout tends to be cluttered looking and less suited to reading lengthy content.
Two or three column are the most commonly used layouts.
When considering layout you need to think about which side(s) do you prefer the sidebar to be located? Also make sure you check out the width of the blog and the post area.
2. Do you want your tagline displayed in the blog header?
The concept behind a blog tagline is to create a memorable phrase that sums up the tone and premise of a blog.
Ideally all blogs should have a tagline since they instantly tell first time readers what your blogs all about and whether you write posts in topic areas that interest them.
3. Do you want to be able to upload your own Custom Image Header?
Being able to upload your own custom image header means you can add your “own personal touch” to your blog.
You can use a custom image header as a work around for blog themes that don’t include taglines i.e. Add the tagline to the image header using tools like PhotoShop.
4. Do you want navigation tabs across the top of your theme which links to pages?
Some blog themes have links to pages as navigation tabs at the top of the theme while on other themes you need to use the page widget in your sidebar.
5. What are your preferred color scheme?
When choosing your theme remember that if color scheme makes your content hard to read you will lose readers. So balance your personal preferences with readability since ultimately you want people to read your content.
Don’t just look at the overall color — remember to check closely the color of: the header; the background; post text and links; post titles; headings in posts; widget titles and links.
While most of the standard Edublogs themes color schemes can’t be altered i.e. “use as is” there are a few themes that allow you to change the theme’s color.
6. What type of font do you like?
Most of the standard Edublogs themes don’t provide the ability to change font type i.e. “use as is” however there are a few themes that allow you to change their font.
