WordPressPremium ThemesTHEY CAN BE FAST BUT THEY’RE FAR FROM FOOLPROOF

Introduction

Intended audience – beginning designers & developers Six main topic segments Pros & cons An opportunity to learn as much as you can Workflow Recommendations Three examples: Commercial – ICR Triggr Creative Resources What the future holds Review + Q & A

Pros & Cons

Pros Way to get started Build a portfolio Professional finished look Provides a solid framework for child themes Lots of opportunities to learn from the Pros

Cons It’s not your design Function follows form Pricing conundrum Premium themes seldom mean premium clients Can facilitate some bad habits

Learning – Theme Types

Free & Vetted – WordPress Dashboard Premium or Paid – Upload in the Dashboard

Watch for double-zipped packages

Theme Frameworks: Genesis by StudioPress Headway Elegant Themes Thesis Builder – iThemes WooThemes Gantry

Learning - Installing

Installation in WP 3.9Free & Vetted

Preview | Install | ActivatePremium & Frameworks

Vetted | Previewed outside of WordPressUpload Zip File (watch for double zipped

files)Install | Activate

Learning – File Structure

Theme file structureCore files (wp-content/themes/ by default)

Style sheetsTemplatesFunctions.php (optional) JavaScript

Learning – Client Interaction

KNOW and Set Firm Development GoalsAlways think of yourself as a Professional in the

making15 mos. Or 5 websites WECFAs soon as my portfolio is ready

Get Solid Agreements with Prospects & Clients Firm Deliverables (and Payment Milestones) Under Promise and Over Deliver

Workflow Recommendations

Look thoroughly and choose carefullyMake sure core functionality is supported –

Sales supportCore feature setMenus, Widgets, etc.

Look for Framework possibilitiesLook for Child theme possibilities

Workflow Recommendations

Local Development Environment (Staging Server?) No “FTP Commando”

ToolsCodex – Always Start Here Inspect Element – Your Sherlock Holmes SpyglassSOS – Start Out SimpleExamine Alternatives that are a Good Fit for You

Three Examples

Trigger CreativeCREON Template Monster

My Michigan Lakefront HomeSimple Press from Elegant Themes

Insite Commercial Realty TurnKey from MoJo Themes

Resources & Tools

Codex Template Hierarchy Inspect Element – Google Chrome

Development Tools Dreamweaver Lynda.com Tuts+Premium Sublimerge – Sublime Text

Resources – Sites

Choosing a Theme http://www.premiumwp.com/best-premium-wordpress-themes-

collection/

http://themeforest.net/

http://www.woothemes.com/

http://www.templatemonster.com/

http://www.elegantthemes.com/

http://www.studiopress.com/

http://athemes.com/collections/best-wordpress-theme-frameworks/

Resources – Sites

Sites for Premium Theme | Website Comparisons

http://www.templatemonster.com/demo/39256.html http://triggrcreative.com/ http://www.mojo-themes.com/item/turnkey-a-simple-real-estate-

theme-for-wordpress/ http://fusethemes.com/demos/turnkey-standard/ - MoJo Themes http://insitecommercialrealty.com/ http://www.elegantthemes.com/demo/?theme=SimplePress http://mymichiganlakefronthome.com/

Resources – Sites

Other Resources

https://github.com/manovotny/wptest

http://wptest.io/

http://codex.wordpress.org/Theme_Development

http://codex.wordpress.org/Using_Themes

http://serverpress.com/products/desktopserver/

http://www.sublimerge.com/

http://tommcfarlin.com/

THANK YOU