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Themes That Make You Go Hmmm: Theme Strategies For Designers
Elana Rudick - @designisyummy
You chose this session over sleep.
THANK YOU!
What’s a Theme?A WordPress theme leaves your content
the same, but changes how that information is displayed to the user.
(i.e.: visual changes to the site’s layout)
• Site Performance • SEO • Look and Feel • Extensibility
Theme Types
Free• Code Quality • Support • Backlinks
0 $
PremiumPricing models: Single site license Multiple site license Theme club (membership)
Premium Themes: The Pros• Better documentation • More updates • Better security • Better SEO • Ongoing support • No attribution links • Custom administration panel
Premium Themes: The Cons• Custom administration panel • Too much configuration • Unwanted features • Unwanted plugins • “Bloated themes”
FREE: WordPress theme directory: wordpress.org/themes/
PREMIUM: elegantthemes.com themelab.com studiopress.com designwall.com headwaythemes.com ithemes.com
rockettheme.com themeforest.net themify.me woothemes.com
Where to Look For Reputable Themes
What to Look For When Choosing a Theme
Given: Responsive, mobile friendly, retina display support (Google’s mobile-friendliness tool)
• Functionality • Feature-light • Large file formats = bad • Plugins + Compatibility • Design • Usability, UX
What to Look For When Choosing a Theme
• Compatibility • Documentation • Common problems • Good code (updates) • Ease of customization • Support
What to Look For When Choosing a Theme
• Speed (GTmetrix, Google PageSpeed Insights) • SEO (SEO Site Tools) • Security
No theme is perfect
Custom• Built from scratch • Use custom code • Only the plugins you want • More streamlined / less heavy • $$$ • Time
You don’t need to reinvent the wheel.
Customized• Custom look without the custom cost • Less development time • Cost savings*
Disclaimer: Create a child theme if you plan on modifying the theme’s code.
Planning Your Theme StrategyASK THE CLIENT:• What type of website? • What do they need the site to do? • Specific plugins to be integrated? • Budget? • Timeline? • Style?
Planning Your Theme StrategyASK YOURSELF:• What is your skill level? • What do you think the site needs to do? • Specific plugins to be integrated? • Budget? • Timeline? • Style? • Are you trying to reinvent the wheel?
@designisyummy
Questions?
