How to Pick a WordPress Theme - A Guide for Beginners

How to Picka WordPress

Theme− a Guide for Beginners −

withChristina Hills

WordCamp Los Angeles 2016

@christinahills | #wclax

Christina Hills Background: Visual Effects Artist for Film & TV

Star Wars E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial Jurassic Park Mars Attacks! And more…

Christina Hills Now: WordPress Trainer and Coach since 2008

Let’s Talk About WordPress Themes!

slides: www.christinahills.com/wclax2016@christinahills | #wclax@christinahills | #wclax

Some Themes Are Simple

Some Themes Are More Complex

Simple vs. Complex

When Picking a Theme You have a Few Decisions to

Make…

Blog Homepage or Custom Homepage ?

"Blog Homepage" Design

“Custom Homepage“ Design

“Free” Themes vs.

“Premium“ (Paid) Themes

Free: WordPress Theme Directory

Find a Free One on WordPress.org

Evaluate the Free Theme

Visit Theme Homepage

View the Demo

Browse Their Documentation

Evaluate How Active their Support Forum is

Then…Install Theme Inside WordPress

If You Like the Free Buy Pro!

Same Theme Different Customizations

How Many Widgets Does the Theme Have?

How Many Page Templates Does the Theme Have?

Are they in business?

Are they selling themes?

Or is this just a “fun project” from a developer who might get bored?

What is the Business Model ?

Automattic, Inc. (Official WordPress Free Themes)

https://wordpress.org/themes/author/automattic

Make Sure Your Theme is Mobile Responsive

www.StudioPress.com/responsive

Does Your Site/Theme Pass Google’s Mobile-Friendliness Test?

www.google.com/webmasters/tools/mobile-friendly

WP Touchwordpress.org/plugins/wptouch/

Plugin to Make Your Theme Responsive

What is a Theme “Framework” ?

Genesis Framework from StudioPress

Explanation of a Theme Framework

Third Party Designers on StudioPress

Third Party Designers: Restored316

Genesis Community on Facebook

“Child” Themes

What is a “Child Theme” ?

Parent-Child Themes in Admin Dashboard

Why You Would Want to Use/Create a Child Theme

• With a child theme, you can customize your website beyond the customization options available in the customizer without affecting the original theme

• You will not lose your customizations when the parent theme updates

• Creating a child theme is much easier than you think!

If Your Theme Company Does not Come with a Child Theme, You can make one with a

Plugin!

@christinahills | #wclaxhttps://wordpress.org/plugins/one-click-child-theme/

One-Click Child Theme Plugin

@christinahills | #wclaxhttps://wordpress.org/plugins/child-theme-wizard/

Child Theme Wizard Plugin

Themes with Blank Child Theme

Page Builders

https://theme.co/x/

X Theme

http://avada.theme-fusion.com/

Avada Theme

www.elegantthemes.com

Divi From Elegant Themes

https://www.elegantthemes.com/

Divi Page Builder

www.wpbeaverbuilder.com

Beaver Builder

www.wpbeaverbuilder.com

Beaver Builder Page Builder

What to Watch For

BEWARE: Google Results for Theme Search

@christinahills | #wclaxhttps://wordpress.org/plugins/theme-check/

Test Your Theme

@christinahills | #wclaxhttps://wordpress.org/plugins/theme-check/

Old Theme with Errors

How Detect a Theme From a Website You Like: WPThemeDetector.com

Theme Detector Website with Results

Does The Theme Have a Community?

Good Website Design = Professional PicturesEasy Intuitive Layout

Great Web Copy

Bottom Line:

Go with a reputable company Look at the popularity Evaluate the theme demo Evaluate the documentation Does the theme have a community Don’t let price be the deciding factor Try it out!

This presentation will be available at:www.christinahills.com/wclax2016

Connect with Me!

www.ChristinaHills.com/facebook

@christinahills

www.ChristinaHills.com/linkedin

christina@websitecreationworkshop.com

wwwwww.WebsiteCreationWorkshop.com

How to Pick a WordPress Theme - A Guide for Beginners

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