User:Dan Saltman

Daniel Saltman Any website running the free WordPress software can make use of theme designed for the WordPress platform. When you first download the program you will be given one standard theme that serves the site until you replace it with something else. Your job then is to browse through the free themes offered on the WordPress site or to independent sites offering professional Wordpress themes from private designers.

If you go with a theme from a designer not connected directly to the WordPress website, make sure that the theme is compatible with the most current version of WP being downloaded. You should also make sure that the theme comes with complete instructions on how to successfully download the theme into your computer and then into the WordPress program.

Some free themes won\'t come with adequate instructions and can be complicated to download and make use of. If you pay for your theme, then you should have very detailed instructions telling you exactly how to download and use the theme.

Instructions can vary because there are different elements of different designs. Some may have files that others don\'t have and some may require you to preserve the directory structure when downloading. All of these special instructions must be provided by the designer, since WordPress won\'t be familiar with the features of a design not created by them personally.

Once you do find a theme that you want to use on your website, you will go through a process similar to this:

1. Download all files provided to make the theme functional. Follow the directions on how to save the files to your computer so you can correctly follow the next steps. You will extract various files related to the theme during this process. These files are what make different functions of the them work properly.

2. Create a directory that saves your theme. It will look something like this wp-content/themes. You will need an FTP client to get into your web host server to do this, unless the theme you purchase comes with the directory already created for you.