Choosing WordPress Themes: Making Good Choices in Picking a Theme

How do you go about picking theme for your websites when there are thousands of them out there? We'll go over what constitutes a WordPress Theme (what it's parts are) and give a quick overview of Child Themes. We'll discuss the difference between Builders & Themes and give some pointers of what to beware of when shopping for themes and things you should look for before plopping down your hard-earned money on a premium theme.

Transcript

1. Choosing WordPress Themes
   Making Good Choices in Picking a Theme

   & Website Review
   WordPress St. Petersburg
   

   View Slide

2. Jim True
   Support Lead & Community Manager

   Pods Framework
   pods.io | @podsframework
   jimtrue.com | @jimtrue
   

   View Slide

3. WordPress St. Petersburg
   Downtown St. Pete @ TEC Garage

   1st & 3rd Thursdays / Monthly
   Meetup: https://meetup.com/WordPress-St-Petersburg

   Web: https://tampabaywp.org

   Slack Chat | Facebook Group | Meetups

   A Member of Tampa Bay WordPress Network
   

   View Slide

4. Upcoming Meetups & Events
   • WordCamp Jacksonville, April 7th & 8th

   jacksonville.wordcamp.org
   • WordCamp Atlanta, April 13th - 15th

   atlanta.wordcamp.org
   • Ask Us Anything: WordPress Crowdsourcing Workshop

   TEC Garage, Downtown St. Pete, April 19th, 6:30PM
   • Gutenberg: What is it going to mean to me?

   TEC Garage, Downtown St. Pete, May 3rd, 6:30PM
   

   View Slide

5. We are looking for SPEAKERS!
   • You actually learn more about something when you
   TEACH it
   • Getting over your fears of public speaking is much
   easier in a safe, non-judgmental space
   • It’s FUN!
   • https://tampabaywp.org/speakers/call/
   

   View Slide

6. Events @ TEC Garage
   • 4/10 Tech Talk Entrepeneur Program, Tampa
   • 4/19 Catalyst Series “From Innovator to Entrepreneur”
   

   View Slide

7. What is a Theme, anyway?
   

   View Slide

8. What is a Theme, anyway?
   index.php
   styles.css
   

   View Slide

9. Index.php Handles Content
   index.php
   styles.css Menu
   Header
   Content
   Sidebar
   Footer
   {
   

   View Slide

10. Styles.css Handles Display
    { Header
    Menu
    Content Sidebar
    Footer
    index.php
    styles.css
    

    View Slide

11. Theme Files Help Modularize Content
    Header
    Menu
    Content Sidebar
    Footer
    index.php
    styles.css
    header.php
    sidebar.php
    footer.php
    {
    

    View Slide

12. Call these files from Index.php
    Header
    Menu
    Content Sidebar
    Footer
    index.php
    header.php
    sidebar.php
    footer.php
    get_header();
    // The Loop goes here
    get_sidebar();
    get_footer();
    ?>
    

    View Slide

13. What is “The Loop”?
    Header
    Menu
    Content Sidebar
    Footer
    // The Loop!
    if ( have_posts() ) :
    while ( have_posts() ) : the_post();
    the_content();
    endwhile;
    endif;
    ?>
    

    View Slide

14. Where do these parts come from?
    Header
    Menu
    Content Sidebar
    Footer
    Posts
    Pages
    Custom Post Types
    Taxonomies
    Search
    404
    

    View Slide

15. Where do these parts come from?
    Header
    Menu
    Content Sidebar
    Footer
    Menus &
    Widgets
    

    View Slide

16. Where do these parts come from?
    Header
    Menu
    Content Sidebar
    Footer
    Also:

    Appearance, 

    Customize &

    Header
    

    View Slide

17. Themes can define:
    • Multiple MENU Areas (and Menus)
    • Multiple Widget Areas (and locations)
    • Different Page/Post Templates for Different
    Content
    • Multiple ways to Apply Content & Images to your
    site on a Site WIDE basis.
    

    View Slide

18. What about Styles.CSS?
    This is what makes a site go from THIS
    

    View Slide

19. What about Styles.CSS?
    To THIS
    

    View Slide

20. What about Styles.CSS?
    To THIS
    

    View Slide

21. What about Styles.CSS?
    Or THIS
    

    View Slide

22. What’s in Styles.CSS?
    // Defines the actual Theme Name & Details
    /*
    Theme Name: Twenty Seventeen
    Theme URI: https://wordpress.org/themes/twentyseventeen/
    Author URI: https://wordpress.org
    Description: Twenty Seventeen brings your site…
    Version: 1.0
    // More stuff here, not going into details on it.
    */
    

    View Slide

23. Also contains the actual CSS
    // 5.0 Typography
    body,button,input,select,textarea {
    color: #333;
    font-family: "Libre Franklin", arial, sans-serif;
    font-size: 15px;
    font-size: 0.9375rem;
    font-weight: 400;
    line-height: 1.66;
    }
    

    View Slide

24. So What’s a Child Theme?
    A way to prevent
    THIS
    From blowing away all your
    changes and customizations in
    your theme.
    

    View Slide

25. So What’s a Child Theme?
    // Bare Minimum, Theme Name & Theme its based on
    /*
    Theme Name: Jim’s Theme
    Template: twentyseventeen
    */
    https://developer.wordpress.org/themes/advanced-topics/child-themes/
    

    View Slide

26. Easier Method?
    https://wordpress.org/plugins/child-theme-configurator/
    

    View Slide

27. Themes vs. Plugins
    Design

    Layout

    Responsiveness

    Content Options

    Images & Fonts
    FRONT END
    Content Types

    Taxonomies

    Functionality

    Access & Control

    System Interaction
    BACK END
    vs.
    

    View Slide

28. Themes vs. Plugins
    FORM FUNCTION
    vs.
    

    View Slide

29. Picking a Theme (5 Point Checklist)
    • Does it have a free or trial version?
    • Is it on the WordPress.org Theme Repository?
    • If I change themes, is my website still functional?
    • Does it focus on front-end & layout?
    • Does it have good support?
    

    View Slide

30. Divi from elegant themes
    • Theme with Front-end Editing
    & Layout
    • Visual Drag & Drop Builder
    • Multiple possibilities in
    design and ‘modules’
    • Most popular premium WP

    Theme (in the world!)
    

    View Slide

31. Divi: Does it have Free or Trial?
    Free / Trial?
    WP Repo?
    Functional?
    Front-end?
    Support?
    

    View Slide

32. Divi: On the WP Theme Repo?
    Free / Trial?
    WP Repo?
    Functional?
    Front-end?
    Support?
    NOPE!
    

    View Slide

33. Divi: Switch Themes, Functional?
    Free / Trial?
    WP Repo?
    Functional?
    Front-end?
    Support?
    NOPE!
    

    View Slide

34. Divi: Focus on Front End & Layout?
    Free / Trial?
    WP Repo?
    Functional?
    Front-end?
    Support?
    

    View Slide

35. Divi: Good Support?
    Free / Trial?
    WP Repo?
    Functional?
    Front-end?
    Support?
    

    View Slide

36. Genesis from StudioPress
    • Genesis Framework based on
    WordPress Standards
    • Child Theme Marketplace
    • Responsive Turnkey Designs
    • Large Developer Network
    

    View Slide

37. Genesis: Does it have Free or Trial?
    Free / Trial?
    WP Repo?
    Functional?
    Front-end?
    Support?
    NOPE!
    

    View Slide

38. Genesis: On the WP Theme Repo?
    Free / Trial?
    WP Repo?
    Functional?
    Front-end?
    Support?
    NOPE!
    

    View Slide

39. Genesis: Switch Themes, Functional?
    Free / Trial?
    WP Repo?
    Functional?
    Front-end?
    Support?
    

    View Slide

40. Genesis: Focus on Front End & Layout?
    Free / Trial?
    WP Repo?
    Functional?
    Front-end?
    Support?
    • Primarily ONLY Focuses on
    Front-end & Layout
    • Some Widgets & Shortcodes,
    Mostly Page Layouts
    • Rainmaker Platform is
    focused on SEO/Real Estate,
    etc.
    

    View Slide

41. Genesis: Good Support?
    Free / Trial?
    WP Repo?
    Functional?
    Front-end?
    Support?
    • Almost all REAL Support is
    hidden behind a Paywall
    • Support focuses on driving
    you towards hiring a Genesis
    Developer
    • Theme Customization is ALL
    Hooks & Action Filters (ie PHP
    Required)
    NOPE!
    

    View Slide

42. GeneratePress
    • VERY Customizable, Responsive &
    Flexible Theme
    • NEW Site Library of professionally
    designed themes (automatically
    loads plugins & builders as needed)
    • Works flawlessly with Beaver
    Builder & Elementor
    • FAST and Reliable
    

    View Slide

43. : Does it have Free or Trial?
    Free / Trial?
    WP Repo?
    Functional?
    Front-end?
    Support?
    

    View Slide

44. : On the WP Theme Repo?
    Free / Trial?
    WP Repo?
    Functional?
    Front-end?
    Support?
    

    View Slide

45. : Switch Themes, Functional?
    Free / Trial?
    WP Repo?
    Functional?
    Front-end?
    Support?
    

    View Slide

46. : Focus on Front End & Layout?
    Free / Trial?
    WP Repo?
    Functional?
    Front-end?
    Support?
    • Seamless Integration with
    Beaver Builder & Elementor
    • GP Premium provides
    complete flexibility for
    Headers, Mega Menus, Layout,
    Sidebars, Colors & More!
    • One Click Import/Export of
    Settings
    

    View Slide

47. : Good Support?
    Free / Trial?
    WP Repo?
    Functional?
    Front-end?
    Support?
    • Great Documentation &
    Support Forum.
    • Community Support,
    Facebook Group & Designers
    • Thom Osborne, Developer,
    friendly and very responsive
    WINNER!
    

    View Slide

48. Builders vs. Themes?
    • Provide Front-end Design with Drag & Drop and No code
    • Beaver Builder/Themer, Elementor, Divi Builder, Visual Composer, Site
    Composer (and others…)
    • Avoid SHORTCODE-Itis!
    • Does it provide a FREE or TRIAL version?
    • Support Saved Layouts and Work with Custom Post Types or NOPE!
    • Too much here to discuss in less than an hour – Dedicated Talk on Builders
    

    View Slide

49. What Themes Do YOU Love?
    

    View Slide

50. Questions?
    

    View Slide

51. Get the Slides & Video
    • tampabaywp.org/meetup/st-petersburg-
    downtown
    • Also on Facebook & on Meetup
    • Published by Friday
    • Thank you for attending!
    

    View Slide