Finding themes for your WordPress site
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The document discusses finding themes for WordPress sites. It begins with an introduction of the presenter and an overview of what a WordPress theme is. It then demonstrates how the same content can look different with different themes. The document recommends searching for free themes on wordpress.org and discusses paid themes, page builders, child themes, and customizing themes. It concludes with contact information for the presenter.
Finding themes for your WordPress site
- 1. r3df.com Rick Radko Finding themes for your WordPress site Ottawa WordPress Meetup September 11th, 2019 Slides: slideshare.net/r3df
- 2. © 2019 Rick Radko, r3df.com A little bit about me Rick Radko Software, website and app designer/developer and trainer at R-Cubed Design Forge, r3df.com Creating custom web sites/applications since 1996 WordPress sites since 2008 Founding organizer of: WordCamp Ottawa 2013, 2014 The Ottawa WordPress Group 1 Slides at: slideshare.net/r3df
- 3. © 2019 Rick Radko, r3df.com What is a WordPress theme? A theme provides the front-end stylingfor your site: Overall layout/style of your site Font choices All colors (or at least it should) Widget locations Alternate page layouts (templates) In short: anything visual on the site 2
- 4. © 2019 Rick Radko, r3df.com Demo site with: Twenty Fifteen 3
- 5. © 2019 Rick Radko, r3df.com Demo sitewith: Twenty Sixteen 4
- 6. © 2019 Rick Radko, r3df.com Demo sitewith: Travel Blogger (no longer available) 5 The site looks different, BUT the content and widgets are the same.
- 7. © 2019 Rick Radko, r3df.com Paid/Premium/Commercial vs Free Pros/Cons to all themes– not necessarily an issue of price Issues are generalizations Good or bad is not directly correlated to cost 6
- 8. © 2019 Rick Radko, r3df.com Beware of Searching for Free Themes 7
- 9. © 2019 Rick Radko, r3df.com Where Can You GetFree Themes? Best place: wordpress.org/themes/ 1000’s of themes Code reviewed Some freemium/premium themes Twenty______ series Other places? - Not entirely risk free Recommendations from friends/colleagues Reviews on sites like: wpbeginner Github 8
- 10. © 2019 Rick Radko, r3df.com WordPress Twenty______ Series Started in 2010 with “Twenty Ten” Replace the 5 year old “Kubrick” theme. 9
- 11. © 2019 Rick Radko, r3df.com Kubrick 10
- 12. © 2019 Rick Radko, r3df.com WordPress Twenty______ Series Official WordPress themes Long lifetime Twenty Ten still updated (Not responsive - don’t use) Use Twenty Eleven+ No Twenty Eighteen theme – Gutenberg delays. Kinda dull… 11
- 13. © 2019 Rick Radko, r3df.com 3rd Party Themes on wordpress.org 12
- 14. © 2019 Rick Radko, r3df.com Theme Lock-in Will changing the theme “trash” the site? Becoming less of an issue except for page builders Avoiding/minimizing theme lock-in Theme should manage visual aspects of site Not always clear cut: Plugins should not drive visuals– but need CSS (calendar) Plugin customizing may need CSS– spacing vs color Use plugins for functionality– sliders, testimonials etc. Plugin will still work the same after theme change 13
- 15. © 2019 Rick Radko, r3df.com $$$ WordPress Themes Paid (commercial) themes Beaver Builder Divi (Elegant themes) Genesis (Studiopress) SiteOrigin Themeisle Theme Forest Independent Freelance themes Plus many, many more… 14
- 16. © 2019 Rick Radko, r3df.com Loading Paid Themes Need to upload the theme (at least the first install) 15
- 17. © 2019 Rick Radko, r3df.com Page builders? 16 Allow you to create complex layouts - fully responsive - drag & drop UI's - some enable theme header & footer changes More advanced than the new “Block Editor” aka Gutenberg
- 18. © 2019 Rick Radko, r3df.com There are many page builders to choose from… 17 + Many, many more! Elementor Page Builder Visual Composer & WPBakery ThemeForest
- 19. © 2019 Rick Radko, r3df.com Child Theme A childtheme: Inherits all features of a parent theme Allows you change functionality without editing the parent theme files – parent theme can be updated Default child theme will look the same as the parent No grandchildren Recommend: using a child theme right from the start Add child later -> loose settings WordPress sees it as a new/different theme 18
- 20. © 2019 Rick Radko, r3df.com Creating a Child Theme Build your own from scratch developer.wordpress.org/ themes/advanced- topics/child-themes/ Also a good resource for how to get started changing modifying your theme 19
- 21. © 2019 Rick Radko, r3df.com Creating a Child Theme Use a plugin There are several on wordpress.org - recommend the one below Creates the 2 needed files Remove plugin after use Plugin: ChildThemeGenerator wordpress.org/plugins/child-theme- generator 20
- 22. © 2019 Rick Radko, r3df.com Customizing Your Theme The more extensive the customization, the more WordPress knowledge that is required. Many free online resources to help, including: developer.wordpress.org/themes/advanced-topics/child-themes/ Some low cost resources: WordPress meet-ups. WordCamps. Books. More costly: Hiring a WordPress expert. 21
- 23. © 2019 Rick Radko, r3df.com Contact Rick Radko email: wpinfo@r3df.com twitter: @r3designforge Website: r3df.com Slides at: www.slideshare.net/r3df 22