choosing the right wordpress theme

Choosing the Right WordPress Theme for Your Project

@chrisburgess - chrisburgess.com.au - #wpmelb

What We’ll Cover…

•  What is a theme? •  A word about plugins

•  What is a good theme?

•  What is a theme framework?

•  Different types of themes

•  Popular Free Themes

•  Popular Commercial Themes

•  Why is it important to choose the right theme for the job?

•  How do you install a theme?

•  How do you change a theme?

What is a theme?

All WordPress sites are made up of

WordPress Core, Theme and Plugins.

A word about plugins…

“A WordPress Theme is a collection of files that work together

to produce a graphical interface with an underlying unifying design for a weblog.

These files are called template files. A Theme modifies the way the site is displayed, without modifying the

underlying software.”

https://codex.wordpress.org/Using_Themes

What is a good theme?

Actively developed, well supported,

lightweight and compatible with popular

plugins.

For free themes on WordPress.org check date last updated, number of installs and reviews

Theme choice is critical not just for

design but for flexibility, usability,

accessibility, security, compatibility,

performance and maintainability.

What is a theme framework?

“Frameworks are for theme developers. They offer a set of standards for theme developers to use in creating their own

themes. They’re a set of functions/features created to aid development.”

https://codex.wordpress.org/Theme_Frameworks

https://www.sitepoint.com/4-popular-wordpress-theme-frameworks/

4 popular frameworks

Genesis Thesis

WooFramework + Canvas Gantry

Ultimatum Mysitemyway iThemes Builder Genesis Thesis Devine-elemente Presswork Headway WooFramework Roots Beans X ThemeFusion Odin Gantry Themeblvd WordPress Jump Start SEO Design Framework Kaytwo or K2 Cherry Framework

Options Framework Theme UpThemes Framework Reverie Vafpress Titan Backbone Skematik Nouveau Fluent Carrington Build Theme 500 TemplateToaster Pro Framework Simon WP Framework Seed Theme Tesla Framework

RtPanel Hybrid Core Thematic Runway WonderFlux Unyson FoundationPress Warp Framework Sparky Reactor Volatyl Omega StartBox Maera Xtreme One Redux WP Casa Startup Whiteboard YA Framework

https://www.sitepoint.com/wordpress-theme-frameworks/

Other frameworks

Different types of themes

Starter Themes

Page Builders

Starter Theme - Roots

https://roots.io/sage/

Starter Theme - Quark

http://quarktheme.com/

Page Builder – Divi

http://www.elegantthemes.com/gallery/divi/

Popular Free Themes

Twenty Sixteen

https://wordpress.org/themes/twentysixteen/

Responsive

https://www.sitepoint.com/10-of-the-most-popular-free-wordpress-themes/

Customizr


Zerif Lite


Vantage


Hueman


Virtue


Spacious


Sydney


Graphene


Evolve


Popular Commercial

Themes

StudioPress

http://www.studiopress.com/

WooThemes/WooCommerce

https://woocommerce.com/product-category/themes/

Elegant Themes

http://www.elegantthemes.com/

Theme Marketplaces

h"ps://themeforest.net/category/wordpress

Why is it important to choose the right theme for the job?

Decide first what type of site you are building (e.g blog, news, business site, ecommerce, online training, portfolio,

community etc.) and find the right theme to fit your needs.

How do you install a theme?

How do you change a theme?

•  WebPagetest.org (http://www.webpagetest.org/) •  Google Page Speed Insights (

https://developers.google.com/speed/pagespeed/insights/) •  Pingdom Speed Test (https://tools.pingdom.com/) •  GTmetrix (https://gtmetrix.com/) •  Akamai Mobitest (http://mobitest.akamai.com/m/index.cgi – a

mobile testing tool by Akamai) •  More page speed tools can be found here:

http://chrisburgess.com.au/page-speed-testing-tools/

Page Speed Testing Tools

Panel Discussion

? ? ?Thanks to: @maddisondesigns @50Lux @ChrisLaNauze

choosing the right wordpress theme

Small Business & Entrepreneurship