WordPress Premium Themes

1. WordPressPremium Themes They can be Fast but They’re far from foolproof

2. Introduction • Intended audience –beginningdesigners & 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

3. 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 meanpremium clients • Can facilitate some bad habits

4. 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

5. Learning - Installing • Installation in WP 3.9 • Free & Vetted • Preview | Install | Activate • Premium & Frameworks • Vetted | Previewed outside of WordPress • Upload Zip File (watch for double zipped files) • Install | Activate

7. Learning – File Structure • Theme file structure • Core files (wp-content/themes/ by default) • Style sheets • Templates • Functions.php(optional) • JavaScript

8. Learning – Client Interaction • KNOW and Set Firm Development Goals • Always think of yourself as a Professional in the making • 15 mos. Or 5 websites WECF • As soon as my portfolio is ready • Get Solid Agreements with Prospects & Clients • Firm Deliverables (and Payment Milestones) • Under Promise and Over Deliver

9. Workflow Recommendations • Look thoroughly and choose carefully • Make sure core functionality is supported – Sales support • Core feature set • Menus, Widgets, etc. • Look for Framework possibilities • Look for Child theme possibilities

10. Workflow Recommendations • Local Development Environment (Staging Server?) • No “FTP Commando” • Tools • Codex – Always Start Here • Inspect Element – Your Sherlock Holmes Spyglass • SOS – Start Out Simple • Examine Alternatives that are a Good Fit for You

12. Three Examples • Trigger Creative • CREON Template Monster • My Michigan Lakefront Home • Simple Press from Elegant Themes • Insite Commercial Realty • TurnKey from MoJo Themes

13. Resources & Tools • Codex • Template Hierarchy • Inspect Element – Google Chrome Development Tools • Dreamweaver • Lynda.com • Tuts+Premium • Sublimerge – Sublime Text

20. 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/

21. 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/

22. 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/

25. THANK YOU