The document discusses choosing and customizing WordPress themes. It explains that a theme controls the colors, layout, and user interface of a site but does not store content. Free themes can be experimented with but may not be well supported, while premium themes between $30-100 are professionally designed with more features and support. The document provides guidance on where to find themes, what to look for in a theme like design, functionality, updates and security, and how to install and customize themes.

1. CHOOSING
& CUSTOMIZING
YOUR THEME
WORDCAMP NYC 2014
INTRODUCTION TO WORDPRESS
Jamie Schmid
hello@jamieschmid.com
@jamieschmid

2. WHAT
IS A THEME? GROUP OF FILES
That control your site’s
colors, layout & user
interface.
IT DOES NOT
Store your content!
AKA..
Global Template
OFTEN DESIGNED FOR
Special purposes:
News, blogging, gallery,
portfolio, real estate

3. FREE VS
PREMIUM
• Can experiment as much as you like
• Downloadable across the internet
• Non-reputable sites could have unsafe code
• Not necessarily supported or documented
• Limited functionality/features
• Rarely updated
FREE
• Professionally designed & developed
• Advanced features: ecommerce, styling, custom
widgets, sliders, galleries etc
• Great support/documentation
• $30-$100
PREMIUM

4. WHERE TO FIND
THEMES
• WP Theme directory
www.wordpress.org/themes
• Or install directly through wp-admin
• WooCommerce, Themify, WPShower
• Do not just search Google & download
any theme!
FREE
• WooThemes, iThemes, ThemeForest,
Elegant Themes, Themify
PREMIUM

5. WHAT TO LOOK FOR
IN A THEME
KNOW WHAT YOURE LOOKING FOR!
• Create site goals
• Inventory content you currently
have or will have
• List desired functionality:
• Necessary vs nice to have
• Blog, or full website/CMS

6. WHAT TO LOOK FOR
IN A THEME
DESIGN
• Relates to your industry
• Get as close to your final layout as
you can!

7. WHAT TO LOOK FOR
IN A THEME
FUNCTIONALITY
• Strive for simplicity
• Load time?
• Complex code?
• Usable?
• SEO friendly?
• Plugins
• Never pick a theme that
handles your content
• Once you deactivate the theme
that functionality is gone
• Ex: SEO functionality
• Menus: 1 or 2
• Footer nav or widgets?
• Ecommerce?
• Sliders?

8. WHAT TO LOOK FOR
IN A THEME
CHECK FOR MALICIOUS CODE
• Theme Authenticity Checker
http://wordpress.org/plugins/tac/
BROWSER & DEVICE SUPPORT
• What browsers/versions?
• Responsive?
• Check the demo!
REGULAR UPDATES
• Works with your version of WP

9. INSTALLATION/
SETUP
• Download & install .zip file
• Install directly through admin
• Unzip & FTP files to wp-content/themes
folder

10. CUSTOMIZING
YOUR THEME
• Customizer
• Child Themes
• http://codex.wordpress.org/Child_Themes
• Individual theme functionalities
• Frameworks

11. THANK
YOU!
WORDCAMP NYC 2014
INTRODUCTION TO WORDPRESS
Jamie Schmid
hello@jamieschmid.com
@jamieschmid