DISQUS

Dave Starr · 2 years ago

I don't have a theme/site to recommend, Everton. Organizing information is one of the weakest points in nearly all designs. I use TypoXP Reloaded successfully in several places, but as you note, it has it's limits, too. Any theme will do for a 'daily web log' but when you are trying to store and allow users to readily find thousands of pieces of information the search/pageing/aorganizational schemes of most themes are lacking.

An idea for a better designer than I ... look at the concept of the way we used to store info in thick 3-ring binders ... saving up research notes to write a book for example. When the binder began to get full we add divider pages with tabs to show the contents at a glance ... if the book got really full we could add dividers with tabs along the top of the binder (kind of the the tabs on the top edge of the Typo theme ... so look at a model that resembles a three-ring binder with tabs along the top and the side ... or maybe the bottom to allow the text to be handled easily ... I have yet to see a theme that mimics the very smart way Microsoft Excel handles the tabs for the infinite number of worksheets one can place in a workbook ... surely that Uni-dropout Gates isn't the only guy smart enough to implement pages and categories/tags that way?

Keep us posted on the new design.

Everton · 2 years ago

Thanks Dave. I agree that blog designs don't provide a way for old relevant posts to be found very well

3gp · 2 years ago

Can i ask how much the designer is charing for the custom design?

Everton · 2 years ago

$350 with no payment until I'm happy. Could have got it done for cheaper, but I liked their work and the no risk option.

Michael Lankton · 2 years ago

I really like the xmark theme. Then I found about half a dozen other sites running it, whihc kept me up at night. Instead of ditching what I still felt was a nearly perfect theme, I modified the crap out of it so I wouldn't see a doppelganger of my site while out surfing.

Everton · 2 years ago

Is xmark the theme on this site?

Michael Lankton · 2 years ago

Yes, but modified.

Shashank · 2 years ago

Have you given any deadline to your designer..
I would only suggest that make the logo to be on the left side than on the right side.

Nirmal · 2 years ago

Looks like the John Chow theme changing is having a great effect on all probloggers. :D

Mathew · 2 years ago

Smashing Magazine often showcases the best Wordpress themes. Almost every one is a gem

Everton · 2 years ago

@Shashank

I'm definitely not putting a logo on the left. It adds no value to the site, and will only create noise around my only adsense unit that still accounts for nearly 50% of my income.

@Nirmal

John Chow was actually one of the last people to roll out a new theme. The new problogger and gHacks themes are the ones that made me decide to change. They incorporated things I wanted to add, and I quickly decided it was easier to start from fresh and get a theme built. I also decided it was time to invest some of my blog earnings, and what better way than to get a new theme built?

@Mathew

thanks - will have a look

Dave Starr · 2 years ago

John Chow and Darren Rowse both have inspired me to get my theme ducks in a row ... but in a somewhat negative fasshion ,,, especially John's new look. For an advertiser he gives up a hige number of pixels for that ugly montage of car and whatever. For a person whp need SERPs to stay in business his design and many, many otrhers with logos and sidebars around the top left corner miss the whole point.

Human eyes and search engine crawlers all start in the top left corner ... it's the hottest spot on the page. It's the place to showcase contetn ... not place a picture or logo that is around on every page, every day.

That's a real strength of Typo XP, the most current article ... and an advertising slot ... are in the "hottest spot" on the page.

Everton · 2 years ago

@Dave

Totally agree about hotspots and there's no way I'm going to put a logo or something of low value in a hotspot. Blogs that have HUGE headers just don't make sense to me - why make users scroll to see the important stuff?

John Chow's new theme is interesting...his header is awful. On my laptop I only see one line of content above the fold. I think he's gone too far trying to push his affiliate deals by packing them in at the top, but, the thing is, his readers are loyal and won't leave, so it won't affect his traffic and will probably push up his earnings. So is his theme successful from a revenue perspective? Yes. From a design perspective? No

Shashank · 2 years ago

Still you have got a best deal @350$ and unlimited iterations..so when we can expect a new theme.

Everton · 2 years ago

True $350 is reasonable for a custom theme. I probably could have got it done for cheaper, but I liked the no payment offer. I also liked the fact that it was the designer's first job on getafreelancer.com. I like to give jobs to the new guys as they are keen to get their ratings up so that they can get the bigger jobs, and thus tend to be hungrier and do better work.

focsa · 2 years ago

this theme right now is simple and perfect . just improve this one
cheers

Michelle · 2 years ago

Hi Everton,

Another site you should check in the future if you're looking for a freelancer is oDesk (http://www.odesk.com). It's free to post a job and unlike other sites, there are no membership fees. oDesk has made it very easy for both providers and buyers to keep track of work hours through oDesk Team, eliminating the need for time sheets (and miscommunication). One of the neat things about oDesk is also the ability to communicate easily with your offshore team members. It's got a rating system, too, so you'll find it easy to use!

~Michelle, oDesk

john · 1 year ago

Great site. Get your self some banners from cj to make extra $:)