This is a "mini" presentation on how to choose the right theme for your WordPress website or blog. I first gave this presentation at the Ottawa WordPress Group's Workshop on Customizing Themes in October 2013.
1. Tactics for Choosing a
Theme
Presented by Jasmine Vesque
@Jasmine Vesque 2013
#wpottawa
@jasmineVesque
2. A little about me
Communications/Marketing/Webmaster
Nedlaw Group
Forget for a Moment Foundation
Co-organizer of WordCamp Ottawa 2013
Social Media Junkie: @jasmineVesque
@Jasmine Vesque 2013
#wcottawa
@jasmineVesque
3. What are you Building?
Blog
Business
Portfolio
eCommerce
@Jasmine Vesque 2013
#wpottawa
@jasmineVesque
4. What do you Need?
Consider layout, templates, and
functionality over colour scheme
Build a list of required and “nice to have”
functionality
Don’t be afraid to sketch out your layout
How much customization do you require?
– It may be better to choose a simple theme
and augment it with plugins
@Jasmine Vesque 2013
#wpottawa
@jasmineVesque
5. Website Structure
Layout
– How many columns?
– Slider
– Responsive
Templates
–
–
–
–
–
–
Home page
Inner page
Blog
Portfolio
Landing page
Contact
@Jasmine Vesque 2013
#wpottawa
@jasmineVesque
6. Where to get your Theme?
General Google Search is not recommended
WordPress Theme Directory:
http://wordpress.org/themes/
WooThemes: http://www.woothemes.com/
iThemes: http://ithemes.com/find/themes/
Elegant Themes:
https://www.elegantthemes.com/
ThemeForest: http://themeforest.net/
StudioPress: http://www.studiopress.com/
Frameworks: Genesis, Thesis, etc.
@Jasmine Vesque 2013
#wpottawa
@jasmineVesque
7. Other Things to Consider
Ease of Configuration/Customization
Documentation
Support
Read reviews, not just the star rating
@Jasmine Vesque 2013
#wpottawa
@jasmineVesque
8. A Word of Caution
Premium themes often use Custom Post
Types which you will lose when you
change themes.
@Jasmine Vesque 2013
#wpottawa
@jasmineVesque