Presentation from CMS Expo 2010 in Chicago, IL. This covers; what makes a theme good, where to find themes, how to manage themes and more.

1. HOW TO
CHOOSE
THEMES FOR
WORDPRESS
CMS Expo 2010

2. Who the @%!*#
is This Guy?
CMS Expo 2010 - Chicago

3. Jonathan Lackey
Known in social circles as zuno
•
Creative director at Zuno Studios
•
Based in Redondo Beach California
•
Over 10 years experience in design &
•
web
CMS Expo 2010 - Chicago

4. WHAT ARE WE
GOING TO CHAT
ABOUT TODAY?
CMS Expo 2010 - Chicago

5. HOW TO
CHOOSE THEMES
CMS Expo 2010 - Chicago

6. WHERE TO
FIND THEMES
CMS Expo 2010 - Chicago

7. DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN PAID &
FREE THEMES
CMS Expo 2010 - Chicago

8. WHAT MAKES A
THEME GREAT
OR NOT-SO?
CMS Expo 2010 - Chicago

9. HOW TO
MANAGE THEMES
CMS Expo 2010 - Chicago

10. HOW TO
CHOOSE A THEME
CMS Expo 2010 - Chicago

11. • Think about the structure and
functionality
of the site you’re building
• Have a brand? How many other blogs
use a potential theme?
• Is it flexible?
• Is it accessible? “SEO” friendly?
• Does it validate?
• Is support available?
CMS Expo 2010 - Chicago

12. WHERE TO
FIND THEMES
CMS Expo 2010 - Chicago

13. • Wordpress.org/Extend/Themes
• WP admin [appearance -> add new
themes]
• Template/theme clubs
• Professional developers
• Other blogs [Look at the source code]
• “Top 10” lists
CMS Expo 2010 - Chicago

14. DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN
PAID & FREE
THEMES
CMS Expo 2010 - Chicago

15. • Licensing. GPL, single & developer
licensing
• Support staff vs community support
• Professionalism. Quality assurance.
• Theme fullness & flexibility
CMS Expo 2010 - Chicago

16. WHAT MAKES A
THEME GREAT
OR NOT-SO?
CMS Expo 2010 - Chicago

17. GREAT THINGS
• Web standards
• Flexibility • Intuitive user-interface
• Uniqueness design
• Ease of use • Fast loading
• Easy updating• Helpful community/
support
CMS Expo 2010 - Chicago

18. NOT-SO GREAT THINGS
• Lots of extra unused code [javascript
& css]
• Excessive number of images
• Complex options/controls
• Lack of documentation & poorly
documented or undocumented code
CMS Expo 2010 - Chicago

19. MANAGING
THEMES
CMS Expo 2010 - Chicago

20. INSTALLATION
1.Download your theme [.zip file]
2.Unzip & upload with FTP
[wp-content -> themes]
1.Appearance -> Add New Theme
CMS Expo 2010 - Chicago

21. ACTIVATION
1.Admin -> Appearance -> Themes
2.Activate Theme
CMS Expo 2010 - Chicago

22. THEME OPTIONS
• To many options vs not enough
options
• Ability to control sidebars, colors, etc
• Theme frameworks [i.e. Thesis or
Gantry]
CMS Expo 2010 - Chicago

23. THEME ANATOMY 101
• Header
• Sidebars
• Content [categories, pages,
comments ]
• Footer
CMS Expo 2010 - Chicago

24. CREATIVE WAYS TO
USE SIDEBARS
• Controlled through theme options
or functions.php
• As a footer
• Multiple sidebars [left, right, 2 rights]
CMS Expo 2010 - Chicago

25. MANAGING
HEADER IMAGES
• Through theme options
• Through CSS [style.css]
• Through header.php [requires PHP]
CMS Expo 2010 - Chicago

26. RESOURCES
CMS Expo 2010 - Chicago

27. REFERENCES
http://delicious.com/zunostudios/cmsx10
TWITTER @ZUNO
http://twitter.com/zuno
THIS PRESENTATION
http://slideshare.com/zuno
ZUNO STUDIOS
http://zunostudios.com
CMS Expo 2010 - Chicago