The document discusses key considerations for choosing a WordPress theme, emphasizing the importance of functionality, code quality, and responsiveness over aesthetics. It advises against being swayed by excessive features that may slow down the site, and highlights where to find themes, including the WordPress repository and premium providers. Additionally, it distinguishes between frameworks and themes, noting that frameworks provide essential functionality while allowing for child theme customization.

1. WORDPRESS USERS MEETUP
APRIL 2015
Choosing aTheme

2. WHAT IS ATHEME?
• Themes are responsible for laying out your
content
• Themes should provide core functionality only
• Good themes style for popular plugins

3. CHOOSING ATHEME
• Start with the objectives of your site
• Information (blog style)
• Single product/service
• Business style

4. CHOOSING ATHEME
• Layout first
• Look past the pretty pictures
• MUST be responsive
• Colours and fonts are relatively easy to change
• Images are the easiest thing to change

5. CHOOSING ATHEME
• Don’t get swayed by “features”
• Functionality should be implemented in plugins
• Excessive “features” can slow down your site

6. CHOOSING ATHEME
• Code quality
• Security
• SEO support
• Flexibility and extensibility

7. FRAMEWORKSVSTHEMES
• Frameworks provide core functionality (the
plumbing) on which child themes are built
• Framework can be updated without affecting the
themes

8. WHERETO FINDTHEMES
• WordPress repository
• ThemeForest.com
• Premium theme providers (studiopress.com,
themes.com, headwaythemes.com, etc)