When you want a website or a blog, here are the basic steps:
- Choose a domain name.
- Purchase hosting & install WordPress.
- Install a WordPress theme that gives your site a design.
That's pretty much it in a nutshell. (You can read all my steps here for more in-depth explanation.)
The WordPress theme I use is Genesis. I used free WordPress themes for years but paid $80 for Genesis back in 2011. I have not looked back. The support forums, tutorials and features are well worth the cost.
How Genesis works
So when you use Genesis, it's actually a two-part thing.
- You must install the Genesis Framework which acts as the underlying structure for your site (think 2×4's when you're framing a house).
- Then you must also install the Child Theme, or, the "skin" that lays on top and gives your site some design (think exterior house material like brick, stucco, vinyl siding, etc.).
Make sense?
Which Genesis child theme should you choose?
That's a question I get quite a bit because there are a lot of great child themes to choose from.
But, for those who are just embarking on this website creation or blog creation adventure, I absolutely recommend Prose.
Prose is great for two reasons:
- Design options. Unlike the other Genesis child themes, Prose has "Design Options" which allow you to customize your site with minimal knowledge of CSS, HTML and PHP. Great for the beginner or for anyone who wants to be able to change things quickly.
- Mobile-ready. Like a handful of other Genesis child themes, if someone pulls up your site on a mobile device (smartphone, tablet, etc.), your site will automatically adjust to an excellent viewing experience. Super nice, since internet use is quickly becoming more mobile than computer-based.
I put some tutorials together to show you how to get started:
Can't see the video? Watch it here.
Video Notes:
- Genesis Child Themes to choose from.
- Direct link to Prose to purchase.
- Go through the purchase process and then check your email.
- Click through the link in the email to download the zip file.
- Install Genesis Framework: Go to Dashboard –> Appearance –> Themes –> Install Themes (tab at the top of the page) –> click Upload link –> choose the zip file you downloaded –> click Install Now.
- Install Prose child theme using the same process above.
- Activate Prose.
Once it's installed, set up your basic layout options with "Theme Settings."
Can't see the video? Watch it here.
Video Notes:
- From your Dashboard –> Genesis –> Theme Settings.
- Experiment with layout options (sidebars, etc.), your navigation bars, etc.
- The idea here is to get your site layout how you want it. Again, think of this as framing your house. What do you want where? Where do you want different elements on your page?
Next time we'll pretty it up and work on the Design Options. (Or, if you want to jump ahead, go to Dashboard –> Genesis –> Design Options. It's pretty self-explanatory.)
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.
Other posts in this series
- Q&A: What Genesis Child Theme Should I Use?
- Q&A: What Genesis Child Theme Should I Use? (Part 2)
You have an uncanny knack of posting just what I have questions about! I desperately need to change my theme and was totally overwhelmed when I looked at Genesis. Can't wait for the next post!
I thought genesis and child were separate themes, thanks for the explanation. I really like genesis, I've been thinking about spending the money and switching.
I just recently built my business blog with Amy's directions & a designer creating my logo & pictures. Amy's step by step process works! She makes building a blog doable for people who don't understand coding like me. The only troubles I had were understanding the particulars of my child theme (associate) & finding the right basic plugins I wanted (easy but time consuming research). Looking forward to using Prose on my next project. Thanks Amy for being so generous with your knowledge & gifts!!
I had read about Prose, but didn't understand it really when I purchased my child theme. I so wish I had chosen it. Experience surely makes us wiser.
As always….great tips Amy!
Hi Amy,
A few months ago I signed up to word-press and blogged at my website.wordpress.com. Then I purchased my .com name through word-press. I want to be self-hosted with more flexability and I want to be able to advertise. Am I self hosted at the moment? Can I switch an existing .com(wordpress) blog to self hosted blog?? Sorry if this is already listed. Please link me to a suitable answer. Love you site!
I agree with you that Genesis. I bought the all theme package a couple of years ago and it was the best investment.
Oh man, Jeff, I am TOTALLY kicking myself for not doing the same thing when I had the opportunity a while back (I had a rockin' coupon code). That's awesome!
I've been using Genesis for a couple years and have many child themes. I love them all! A questions for you, do you have a tutorial on adding a demo site? I would like to have a demo so I could design a new theme without uploading it. Does that make sense, I hope so.
Totally makes sense, Kristin. It's easy to do if you have a host that allows for unlimited domains. You could do something like create an add-on domain and install WordPress to that domain just as you would your regular one. Then I'd put it in maintenance mode. Probably the easiest thing to do is simply to call your host and have them walk you through. Hope that helps!
I think this was posted just after I'd bought genesis and a different child theme. I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed with figuring out the theme I chose. Do you suggest I suck it up and spend the extra $25-35 to get this theme? I'm leaning that way. Is it much easier to use than the others (ie fashionista).
Thanks in advance and thank you for all your post!
Hey Jamie, I'm sorry I was a bit late here for ya.
Did you buy your other theme within 30 days? There is a return policy. I'd contact them to see if you might be able to exchange this one for Prose?
Thank goodness for Blogging with Amy.com. I started here with the hand-holding needed to start a web-site and read about Gensis here too. I'm very happy with Gensis (I have the Lifestyle child theme). And I think my site looks pretty good for a non coder. There's a learning curve but you don't have to be a geek to make things work!! Thank you Amy!!
(Following from the comment I left above) Just wanted to say that I'm getting it! I'm started to understand the concept and the site is coming along nicely now
. So, ignore the questions above.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Amy- now that I've bought Genesis and Prose, can I use them at more than one site?
Yes.
Yahoo! Thanks Amy.
So good to have a question answered without having to ask it. I bought the Genesis and Prose combo for my blog and am looking to also set up a website. I was going to ask if I can use it for other sites….and found this comment. Thanks so much!
I have Genesis with the Blissful Child theme.
I got to the limit of what I could do with a free theme and paid a designer. I truly wish I had done it sooner. It's always tough to invest when you're only making peanuts, but I think I really slowed down my growth as a business by not having a more professional look sooner.
If I had your skills, Amy, I'd have gone on my own, but I had definitely hit a wall!
Love Genesis and definitely recommend even a beginner using a premium theme these days.
Ah yes, that tricky-to-navigate spot of needing the help but not sure you want to spend the money. I'm there right now! I agree with you, though, that I'm generally glad I just paid someone to help.
I always prefer Genesis framework. after checking all child themes i decided to use news child theme for my site
Hi Amy, I came here from Confessions of a Homeschooler where she recommended you how to transfer the blog from Blogger to WordPress. I find your site the easiest to understand and follow. I am currently trying to decide which theme to pick for my blog. I really liked Lexicon, but know that it has been retired. I have looked and looked at the other themes but I really like the layout of Lexicon. I know you recommended Prose (since I am very new to WordPress) but is there any way I could create the design like Lexicon?
Amy, this entry is so timely. I've been struggling with choosing a theme for a couple of weeks. I have also looked at Luscious through your other link above. Can you tell me if that one is a good one for a brand-new-clueless-newbie like myself? Thanks for being such a fantastic resource!
Amy, I'm looking at upgrading to Genesis & a child theme, thanks to your recommendation, and a huge hiccup over my current (free) theme being causing problems with the latest wordpress update. Do you think prose would work well for a food blog? The main thing I like is a slider at the top, and excerpt posts, with a thumbnail shown. Is that possible with this theme?
Do you still use plug-ins the same way you do with the free themes? Thanks!
Thanks for sharing your theme
Thanks for nice post… very helpful for me!!
Hi Amy
I'm just a beginner. Is prose or genesis something I must have in order to get my functional. May sound like an elementary question, but I'm just learning. Thanks for your reply
I am currently in the middle of installing Genesis Prose on my blog and had to take a quick break to say thank you, thank you, THANK YOU, for your wonderful videos that make me believe I can do this!! I so appreciate your blog which I just found the other day.
Amy, You are simply great! I purchased the Genesis framework a while back and a different child theme. It was a bit overwhelming so on your advice, I have switched over to Prose. I'm working on making some changes to it now and hope to have my site up and going much sooner than I had previously expected. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us!
I am switching from blogger to wordpress. I have purchased a domain name hosting package through GoDaddy. Now I need to either learn coding or purchase a theme. Is Genesis a one time purchase or do you pay yearly?
Hi Diana, you purchase it once. Hosting, on the other hand, is paid monthly or annually. Did you see How To Start a Blog series? It breaks it down into steps. Hope that helps!
I already am paying for the hosting through goDaddy. Is the Genesis a one time purchase then and not a hosting site…just a theme/website template site?
Right, each Genesis child theme is a one-time purchase. This is separate from your hosting account.