For years I used free WordPress themes. I've used them as is, I've tweaked them some, I've almost completely rebuilt some of them. But recently I took the plunge and bought Genesis.
I am in love. I find it very easy to use and the support forums have been great. It's a paid-for theme, but in my opinion, it's worth the cost. (If it's not in your budget, don't worry. There are plenty of free themes you can use. I would start with the default theme that comes with WordPress called TwentyEleven. You might also check out last year's similar default theme, TwentyTen, which I did a video tutorial on here. Another is Atahualpa which I wrote about before too.)
Introduction to the Genesis Theme Framework
Can't see the video? Watch it here.
Video Notes:
This was a basic tour and explanation of the Genesis Theme Framework. Remember that there are two parts to Genesis:
- The Framework (Genesis). It's like the skeleton.
- The Child Theme (I'm using Metric). It's like the skin that lays over the skeleton, giving you the design.
Both parts are needed. If you've never purchased Genesis before, you can purchase the framework and your child theme in one fell swoop. If you have purchased Genesis before, you can purchase another child theme separately.
Next time I'll show you how to install it, activate it and we'll start to customize!
Anyone else use Genesis? What's your take?
Disclosure: I am compensated for purchases made via the referral links in this post.
We use Genesis + Serenity child theme on our website and I love it! It's easy but powerful.
I'm in the process of getting my website up and running, and just purchased Genesis and Bee Crafty child theme last night. Love it so much more than the others I've tried. The support forums (and your site) have been a God-send for me getting this project going!
I use Genesis with the Prose child theme. I do love it. It's very easy to use and customize!
I use Genesis with the Lifestyle theme. It’s not *quite* as beginner-level-friendly as I thought it would be as far as customization (and I still haven’t found the time to figure out how to tweak some things), but the support forums alone are worth every penny (and keep in mind I know nothing about html/CSS, so obviously there's a big learning curve here – for someone with those kind of skills I'm sure Genesis themes are easy peasy to customize!)
I use Genesis plus the Pretty Little Thing theme. But in hindsight I realise I could have chosen any of the child themes and customised them fairly easily. The money was definitely worth it.
Like Betsie, I purchased Genesis with the Lifestyle theme. It definitely isn't as user-friendly as I hoped it would be, but I'm ready to learn and the forums are very helpful. I'm just starting out with my blog and want to get it right, and I think I'm headed in the right direction by going with a paid-for theme and Genesis looks to be the one to go with!!
So, dopey question time….
If I hire a designer who creates a custom theme using Genesis (what I'm thinking about doing), is that a "child," theme?
I'm tempted to buy and install it myself, but I'm afraid that everything I have already will be a giant mess. Can you say a few words about what happens to your existing blog when you change themes? Does that even make sense? Right now, I'm using 2010 Dream Weaver on Word Press, and I feel like I've sort of taken it as far as I can. I'm looking for a more magazine-y look, which is why I'm thinking about Genesis.
Any thoughts on how it compares to Thesis? Seems like that was the one everyone was touting for a while.
TIA for any thoughts. Love the new look!
Never be afraid to ask questions here, Maegen. We're all learning!
I recommend choosing one of the child themes offered for Genesis and then have your designer customize it. Choose the child theme that has the layout you want (i.e. things are on the page where you want them to be on the page).
When you activate a new theme, your old one will be replaced by the new one. It should still be in there (i.e. not deleted entirely) but the new one will show in its place. I recommend you save your current theme before you activate a new one just in case you need to revert back to your old one.
I never used Thesis myself, but the person I trust the most with these sorts of things (Joy at Five J's Design) said she prefers Genesis over Thesis. She's the one that initially convinced me to take the plunge and I'm so glad I did.
Thanks for that, Amy! I really appreciate your time and thoughts.
I'm not sure I'd ever have started my blog if I'd realized all that went into it, but I am having a great time, so in a way I'm glad I jumped right in-even though the learning curve is overwhelming at times. Thanks again.
Magen, I use Thesis, but I'm cosidering changing to Standard Theme or Genesis. I'm also concerned about switching and all that it will entail, but I've noticed that in my niche almost everyone uses Standard Theme. I'm not sure if that is a reason for me to switch or to avoid it. But, Genesis looks good, too!
Hey Keri, if you decide on Genesis and want something much like Thesis, try the Prose (affiliate). It's got similar design options.
Just a note about Genesis for you, Amy. Did you know that the links to commenter's websites do not open in a new window? I don't know if that's something that can be customized, but it should be
. I was here checking out the themes that others are using!
You can force them to open in a new window by holding down the Control key (on a PC) or Command key (on a Mac) while clicking.
Hi Amy, I don't know if you understood me or not. I meant that your commenters links were opening up in a new window.
I've been used Genesis for about a year and I SO LOVE IT!!! I'm also a designer and I use Genesis for all my client sites. It is so well built, easy to customize, and the community is amazing. Not only are the forums great, but if I tweet a question I usually get an answer/help there as well.
Ahhh! Help, please. I have been reading through all of your wonderful and very helpful post. Great site! I have switched from Blogger to WordPress and have even (kinda) figured out how to put a few things on WordPress (I'm not computer savvy at ALL). I did not really like the page I was creating with WordPress and then read this post about Genesis and the Child Themes (I feel like I am speaking a different language right now). Point is, I would like to go that route, but how do you pick? I've looked at what people said they had and then what their site actually looks like and they are so different! It seems like you can customize so much, how do you pick what Theme you want to start with? My head is spinning.
I recommend you choose the child theme that has things in the places you want them to be. And then customize from there.
Hi Amy,
Love what you're doing here because I'm trying to create my own subscription membership website/blog using WP. My host is iPage.
Is there a way to combine both a static and blog website? I want the features of a professional looking static website, but also the features found on a blogging site (to discuss topics and recieve comments from my members) on the same site as well. I will be offering my members a consulting service too.
Your thoughts on what type of Genesis template to use (like your husbands template/theme, but your video suggest its only appropriate for static websites).
TIA…
John
Yes, you can use any of the Genesis child themes as a static website plus blog. If you want your domain to point to a page, simply change the setting in Settings–>Reading. Then you can link to the blog portion in a link (like in the navbar). Simply create a page but use the page template "Blog" (located in the right sidebar). Bottom line: WordPress is a great way to incorporate both static and blog!
Appreciate it Amy!
John
Amy, what do you recommend for a food blogger?
I know a lot of food bloggers use Genesis. Choose a child theme that has the layout you like (like would you like a large photo at the top or would you like a magazine-type layout etc) and then customize as necessary.
Hi! I'm thinking about taking the plunge and getting the Genesis framework. I planned to do it eventually, but my original plan was to build a readership and monetize my blog first, and use the revenue to put back into the business and invest in Genesis.
My colors on my present blog were chosen because they were similar to the "Pretty Young Thing" Theme I planned to purchase, but now I'm thinking of going with the "Bee Crafty" theme because I found an illustration on istock photo I hope to use on my banner (if legal*) that matches those colors. However, it looks like maybe the colors on the Genesis child themes can be altered?
Now I'm not sure my original plan was the best one. Not only does my blog look rather amateurish at the moment, I have been spending a lot of time on technical tweaks, I haven't even created a child theme like I'm supposed to, and I feel like my time would be better spent focusing on writing, building my readership, and securing sponsors. My time is also limited with obligations outside my blog. (My kids are crawling all over me at the moment-literally.)
So, sorry for the zillions of questions – but here's what's holding me back:
I discovered Studio Press had a Black Friday deal – 40% off – and now I'm kicking myself that I missed it! Are deals with Studio Press common or only a once a year thing? I signed up for their email updates, and I'm eager to get started, but will be mad if they run another deal a week after I join. Does anyone know how often they run deals?
I might just take the plunge – it's tax-deductible and not a huge expense, but I just spent $200 registering as a sole proprietor, and I'm fearful of sinking too much money into my blog, before seeing some return on my investment.
Thanks so much – this site has helped me get off my butt and get started!
No, they don't have sales often.
Thanks for the quick response. I suspected as much and went ahead an bought the package. I will keep black Friday in mind for next year incase I want to buy more themes. Maybe they will repeat the sale : ) I was just mad at myself because if I had made this decision a couple of weeks earlier I could have saved a little, but maybe in the scheme of things it's not that much money.
I haven't monetized my site yet, but I put your button and Money Saving Mom's button in my sidebar to see how advertising could potentially look there, and while your buttons appear in Chrome, they don't show up in IE. In the past I would have had time to trouble shoot these things, but not now. I did a quick search and someone else complained about this problem with Twenty Eleven's sidebars. I won’t have much luck monetizing my blog if over half the population doesn't see the ads!!! Everyone will just all have to switch to Chrome : )
I vote you use any browser except IE!
If I don't use the genesis framework, can I still use one of their free themes on my blog?
Yep!
Hi Amy
I have a question for you and should help others. I have the Bee Crafty Theme and needed to upgrade to a newer version. I had some custom elements on the footer and navigation etc…
When I upgraded to the newer version, I lost everything. Luckily, I only had a couple of image elements on the site and I could replace them all fairly quickly. My question is, how can this be prevented? I couldn't imagine having a customized theme and loose everything in a sec. I have a couple of ideas on what to do but want to hear it from a pro. Thanks!
Ok I am such a newbie to this. Can you please tell me where to get step by step instruction on how to use wordpress and genesis. I previously used blogger and I am completely lost. I need stats and my adsense is not working. HELP! Thanks.
Hi Amy! I understand your confusion. I put everything in a step-by-step process here. I hope that helps!
I enjoy reading your useful blog and its pleasant, helpful style. So, to help support such good work, my plan is to use your affiliate link to sign up for Genesis.
The next step, which you suggested somewhere, will be to experiment with a free child theme before investing in paid themes. The copyblogger theme will probably be my initial choice since it appears to be free, fit my new subject matter, and have plenty of flexibility. Do you happen to have strong recommendations for other paid and/or free themes for what will primarily be a blog (with a few static pages) that supplements a static web site.
Thanks!
Hi Mike, if you go with Genesis, it already utilizes child themes. Thanks for your support!
Is Genesis a good tool for beginners? I "inherited" a site which was designed by someone unknown and is hosted on GoDaddy. Can I install Genesis on my PC and use it to tweak the existing design?
I've been looking at Genesis for a while now, and I like the child themes they provide, but I'd really like to attempt making my own. I have a very little bit of coding experience…do you know of anyone who has attempted to make one? And would it be worth it to try and make one on my own? Thanks for the help!
Many people have learned how to customize their own themes (including myself) and it's fun, but it does take time to learn. If you need something a bit quicker, you might check out the list of Genesis theme developers (aff).
Ok. I really wanted my blog to start with a bang- looking cute, all set up with pinterest, etc., but I feel like giving up. I purchased Pretty Young Thing and have NO clue what to do. It's totally needing colding knowledge. I should have listened to Amy and gone with Prose. I think I am switching.
When I first got a few free wordpress themes, they wouldn't work, so I decided to purchase. Are there any free wordpress themes that can be made cute without knowing how to get into the style coding? Or will they just look stiff and businesslike?
I don't want to get down about this, but I am. Waaaaahh! Any advice or insight would be appreciated!
Hi Mary, as I tell my kids, "Most things in life are fixable!"
I understand your frustration but you can do this! StudioPress has a 30-day money back guarantee so I would just email them and ask to exchange for Prose if you're still have trouble. There are definitely more user-friendly options with Prose. As far as making it your own, as you can see in the StudioPress Showcase for sites using Prose, you can do all kinds of things. Now, I will say, the fancier a site looks, the more coding is required but for basic editing, color changes and that sort of thing, Prose is a great option. Hang in there my friend!
Hi Amy,
I just spent the morning reading your excellent tips about getting started. I had been thinking about using an Elegant Themes template for my blog. Have you or any of your readers had experience with their themes? They are beautifully styled, which is something I want for my site.
Thanks so much.
Ellen
I've never used any themes from Elegant Themes so I can't speak from experience, but I do see they have a money-back guarantee which I always like so maybe it's worth a shot. The price seems to be very reasonable. The things I would make sure they include are support, mobile-responsiveness, SEO-optimized and I would also want them to use a child theme framework so I wouldn't have to customize each time I update. If you decide to go with them, I'd love to hear your feedback. You're right, they are very nice!
Hi Amy,
Found your website while spending way, way too much time traveling the web trying to figure out the best way to upgrade my website. I've been leaning towards Genesis. Since my web interest began in '08, I have received a ton of free information from Copyblogger and I thought I'd like to repay them for that. But anyway I checked around looking into Thesis, Headway, and of course Free themes at the WP.org site. I came away comfortable with Genesis but still concerned about the tech of it. Then I discovered your site which actually addressed several concerns.
Actually, I've built my Video Blog in '10 on a free theme designed by a University Student. It has worked flawlessly. I did learn some code so I can edit color, font, spacing but not too complex stuff. Of course time & tech change and I want to be current. I've left my site dormant for over 1 year as I decided where I wanted to take it. It still gets monthly views as does my YouTube site, it's carried on iTunes & Vimeo and all in all it's been OK. But now,
I've decided to clearly separate my blog from the plethora of others in my category, to present my information more uniquely, to turn it into a base for business, and to focus on an International audience. All of this while remaining True to my initial motivation(s).
So, I have some questions about Genesis which I wonder if you know. Essentially, can I make some changes to the theme I choose regarding Font or Font Color, or how about Header Size to handle more than one Title line. That kind of basic stuff.
I've been looking at Genesis "Mindstream" as it's Responsive and handles both Video & Audio files. At some point I want to introduce the ability to purchase products I produce, and too, I'd like a reliable way to build a Community and a List. So there's more than you probably wanted to know, but I'm happy to share my limited tech information with you or any of your readers. I record Audio professionally and I'm pretty good with video…I'll be shooting all or most of my new shows outdoors in Tokyo…anyway, if you have any comments,
I'd love to hear from you,
Tom Dolan
Hi Tom,
Yes, you can definitely customize pretty much anything with Genesis. Of course, the more coding knowledge, the easier it will be, but it can be done. If you're not super comfortable with code, you might also consider hiring one of the Genesis developers to help.
Help plz?
Unpacking the package…
Installing the theme…
This theme requires a parent theme. Checking if it is installed…
The parent theme could not be found. You will need to install the parent theme, genesis, before you can use this child theme.
Theme installed successfully.
Return to Themes page
Hi Al, make sure you have the Genesis Theme Framework installed, not just the child theme. In other words, you have to go through the installation process twice–once for the Genesis Theme Framework and then again for your child theme.
I googled for help to set up a blogsite and came across you and I am so delighted and relieved to be on your site. I want to take my blogsite to a professional level but need soooo much help. Do you hire out as a consultant? I've read and don't grasp the stuff I'm reading. Look forward to hearing from you.