WordPress is by far the most popular blogging platform among professionals. It has virtually unlimited options for style and structure, and unlike other professional grade blogs, it is free. That being said, it can be difficult to sift through the thousands of blog templates to find a theme that is everything you want your blog to be: hip, cool, technically savvy, and businesslike. Most templates are either a snooze-fest or look like they belong to an aspiring rock star. That’s why I’ve taken the time to find some of the best templates for young businesses.
This is a list of ten professional WordPress themes that don’t stink. I chose them because they are unique enough to be memorable, but are smart enough to be taken seriously.
1. Glossy Light
A simple color scheme that stands out because of the ‘light’ motif; it is both professional and inspirational.
Download: http://themes.rock-kitty.net/glossy-light/
Preview: http://www.isoftwarereviews.com/theme-demo/index.php?wptheme=Glossy%20Light
2. Dotted Blue Blog
A youthful theme with a slightly groovy edge; it looks both smart and creative.
Download: http://www.wpskins.org/themes/6281/Dotted-Blue-Blog-Theme/
Preview: http://www.wpskins.org/testrun/index.php?preview_theme=6281
3. Keep It Simple
This excellent theme manages to be both organic and businesslike. It would be a great site for any “green” company that wants to avoid appearing too “crunchy.”
Download: http://www.styleshout.com/templates/preview/KeepItSimple1-0/index.html
Preview: http://www.styleshout.com/templates/preview/KeepItSimple1-0/style.html
4. ClearPress
This design is the ultimate in simplicity, but what makes it a standout is the vibrant contrasting color scheme which manages to be bold without being obnoxious and hard to look at.
Download: http://www.blogohblog.com/wordpress-theme-clearpress/
Preview: http://wpthemes.blogohblog.net/
5. Theme #2357
This theme takes chocolate brown and makes it look hip and modern with the use of a few curves. It is understated cool.
Download: http://www.wptmp.com/preview/2357/
Preview: http://www.wptmp.com/preview/2357/
6. Agregado
A mature, deep purple with a slightly feminine tone that translates well to professional content with a creative or inspirational edge.
Download: http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008/09/08/agregado-a-free-wordpress-theme/
Preview: http://www.darrenhoyt.com/demo/agregado/
7. Zinmag Redux
Urban but not “grungy.” The sans serif font and the color scheme look cool, but not immature. This particular theme is ideal for sites with plenty of multi-media goodies to show off.
Download: http://topwpthemes.com/zinmag/
Preview: http://web2feel.com/demo5/
8. Modern Marvels
These colors are sexy enough to represent a cutting edge company; and the global graphic makes the blog look like a contender in the cyber marketplace.
Download: http://topwpthemes.com/modern-marvels/
Preview: http://wordpress.topwpthemes.com/
9. Greenland
An understated but sophisticated theme that is light, welcoming, and easily adaptable to wide range of businesses.
Download: http://wpthemeland.com/theme/greenland/
Preview: http://wpthemeland.com/preview/greenland/
10. Digitalboxes
Dark and technical, this theme is conservatively colored with gray and slate; but the geometrically inspired banner graphic gives it a sense of style.
Download: http://wpthemeland.com/theme/digitalboxes/
Preview: http://wpthemeland.com/preview/digitalboxes/
Of course, your theme is just the beginning. If you want to represent your company in the best possible way on your blog, you’ll want to make sure that you regularly post valuable information and resources along with editorial content that is a true reflection of your company’s mission and goals.
Are you using a WordPress theme that you are particularly proud of? Got any theme suggestions for other business-bloggers? Leave us a comment and a link to your site!
“Small Business, Big Vision provides a framework for you to unleash your driven and relentless passion to achieve unprecedented growth.”
I’ve had similar issues with finding clean, professional themes – so started making my own.
The first one out the door was for my own use too, and can be downloaded from here – http://tinyurl.com/9bs3xl
Great WordPress themes indeed. Thanks for sharing. Some of them could be very easily be listed as premium.
Jonathan: Thanks for the comment. I checked out your theme. Looks good.
Web Design Beach: Glad you liked them!
I find the hardest is not to find a free theme that looks good but rather to find a theme that is nicely coded and also SEO optimized. I have still to find the perfect site.
Thanks for the list. I downloaded a hand full of the themes based on your suggestions.
Very nice simple and clean themes there I had trouble finding one that I liked so I designed my own and got someone else to create it.
#1 is the best one :), thx for this
Very useful. I will download them all that is for sure. So, thanks for this list.
Nina
Thanks for the nice themes. Most of them look premium.
i like glossy light theme.
thanks for download link.
Thanks for this post … I didn’t think I was going to find much of interest, but I did, shows once again that it pays to look and read rather than just sklm.
I little 2 cents worth tip to theme designers and bloggers who are thinking of making a change:
1. Avoid dark backgrounds … they are hard to read on some monitors/lap tops.
2. Make your menus gracefully handle more than one level of menu pages or categories. I can’t count how many themes I have give a trial run on sites with a thousand posts and 20 or 30 pages and seen the themes fall apart. Make sure you can hadle larger blogs.
Hello!
Very Interesting post! Thank you for such interesting resource!
PS: Sorry for my bad english, I’v just started to learn this language ;)
See you!
Your, Raiul Baztepo
Downloaded 7th and 8th for my next blogs … i like magazine theme a lot more then a simple one … it looks awesome ;)
Great list for bloggers looking to start up their blogging engines or upgrade their blog. I’m a new blogger it will be gr8 resource for me. Thanks:)
Must say that this is really a great wordpress theme..
will surely download the theme and implement on my blog :)
Thnx for sharing wid us..
thanks a lot for your list. i have take a look at new wordpress theme which is good for my scholarship news blog. i hope found something interest from your list.
Thanks.
Cihuy.
Even I am fascinated with the themes which are provided by the WordPress. It is very easy and convenient to post a blog with these superb themes……………
Wow Great List,
Amazing list of themes. It is one of the best list of wordpress themes i have ever read till date.