Best Premium WordPress Themes For A Non-Blog Look
Remember the post I wrote a couple of months ago, titled When Is A Blog Not A Blog? Well, I was reminded of that post when I started thinking about a new site I’m about to begin working on. You see, I plan to use WordPress to run the site, but I don’t want the site to look like a blog. It won’t be date-oriented, like a blog is, and in keeping with the idea of having it be more like a regular site, I want it to have a non-blog look as well.
Not all WordPress themes have to look like blog themes. In my quest to find just the right look for my new site, I realized that there was a “style” that could be useful to others looking for the same thing. Generally speaking, that style is called “magazine style” or “newspaper style”, but I find that some of them could be referred to as “corporate style” as well. So rather than trying to put a specific name on this, I’ll just refer to the following styles as the “non-blog look”. That work for you? Good.
The next thing you should know is that I chose my favorites to present here, but each of them is a premium theme, which loosely translated, means they aren’t free. Still, the features and options warrant their cost in my opinion. Sometimes, it’s necessary to spend a little. (And just for those of you who absolutely won’t spend money on a theme, I’ve included a link to a review of some free non-blog themes at the very end).
All prices subject to change, and I may not know about it
Flexx $79
Click here to view more details
Flexx is by far the most flexible and most awesome premium theme I’ve seen. Frankly, all you need to know is that with just a few clicks of your mouse, you can change the layout to any one of over 1000 different possible layouts. You decide how many columns you want, where you want them, where to put special widgets, how to organize the menu, etc., just by clicking your mouse. Seriously, it’s so cool, it’s unreal! So the screenshot below is just ONE of over 1000 possible looks! Lots of other way cool features, too, like flash-like rotating headers, seo friendly, and plug and play graphic changes.
WP Remix $75
Click here to view more details
WP Remix comes with:
- 20+ Custom Layouts
- Multiple Page Templates
- 5 Homepage Options
- 10 Sub Page Options
- 2 Product/Portfolio Pages
- 2 Event Listing Pages
- FAQ Template
- Testimonials
- Multi Level Drop Down Menu
- 1, 2, and 3 column Pages
- SEO optimized
- Image Gallery
- Newsletter form
- and on and on and on
The screenshot only shows one possible layout, but the layout options are almost endless.
Fjords09 $99
Click here to view more details
This magazine theme is great for displaying images with each post. If you are showcasing products or just need a visual aspect for each post, this will work great. Nice use of ad spots, and comes with free setup and install as well.
Revolution and Its Iterations $79.95 each
What can I say about Revolution? It comes in various flavors and each is wonderful and highly flexible.
Original Revolution:
Click here to view more details
Revolution Magazine:
Click here to view more details
Revolution News:
Click here to view more details
Revolution Sports:
Click here to view more details
Revolution Tech:
Click here to view more details
EggHead $49
Click here to view more details
This theme has a very nice admin options area that makes it easy to customize the text for each section.
Features:
- 8 color schemes
- 2 layouts
- Dynamic menus
- Easy ad placements
Egghead works well for a traditional web site look.
That’s it. I haven’t yet decided which I’ll choose, but I’m leaning heavily towards Fjord09 at the moment. Anyway, as promised, here’s a link to a good review of 11 Free Magazine Style WordPress Themes for those of you who insist on free. (I insist on free at least 99% of the time, so I totally understand).
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Posted on February 7th, 2008 by DazzlinDonna
Filed under: WordPress
14 Responses to “Best Premium WordPress Themes For A Non-Blog Look”
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For those who want a custom look but are terminally cheap, the online documentation at Wordpress.org is pretty helpful toward creating your own themes. You’ll need a bit of knowledge of XHTML and CSS, but otherwise, it’s not too difficult, IMO.
I want to do my site like that too, but can’t afford any of these (right now).
Buy the way, did you read caroline middelbrokes book? it’s about wordpress for sites!
here you go;
http://www.caroline-middlebrook.com/blog/
her book is free!
Donna – I think you read my mind too much, been looking for some WP themes like this for my other projects … thanks for posting these!
Excellent template examples. I am on a crusade to get most small businesses to junk their old sites and replace them with WP-based websites.
Here’s an article I wrote last week on this topic: http://contentmarketingtoday.c.....right-now/
Hi Donna, this is a truly useful resource for people like us, thanks. Quite timely for me too. How long does it take you to customize a template (roughly of course)?
Those are some great looking themes.
great job, thanks.
Donna, it’s encouraging to see new premium Wordpress themes released on a daily basis. I’m also building a website utilizing the Wordpress platform that I want to look more like a traditional website as opposed to a blog. Luckily, I think designers and application developers are recognizing the need to satisfy people looking to do just this.
Huge, HUGE thanks on my own behalf &, assuredly, the multitude(s) who never bother to write & say so…
Am FINALLY about to initiate 1st site; have approx 1st 3rd or so of my (simple brochure-type) site’s content written.
Learned about you from the “Blog-Well” boys; planning on fwding using a (free) wordpress.COM blog.
My question(s):
1. my simple fooling around w/wordpress.com blog seems to indicate there will still be some standard blog tools/links on page despite having been able to strip away a majority – any way to vanquish those last, stubborn, obvious signs of blog?
2. possible to use custom templates/themes w/a wordpress.com blog?
3. any problem(s) w/linkage following the redirection pathway? MIGHT consider having a paypal “donate” button due to articles I’m making available to my industry on creative commons licenses…
Again, HUGE thanks for these templates; eagerly await your considered opinion(s) -
Jim Conrad, Dallas
Jim, I’m no expert on wordpress.com blogs because I always use the self-hosted version, but you are definitely going to be limited in what you can do by choosing to go with a wordpress.com blog. I’ll have to refer you over to their support to answer your questions fully, but I have to pass along my recommendation to reconsider using wordpress.com. It’s just limiting – now and in the future. It’s not … yours. Ya know?
For a “non-blog” look – definitely Premium Themes will do it. This post is a great resources. Also be sure to check out the best designers at themereviewer.net
Hi Donna.
You list the WP Remix template for $55. On their site, where we get redirected to download it lists it for $75. Just thought you might want to know in case you want to update.
Richard