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Wordpress Templates for Offline Businesses - What's Best?

by MsMotivation1
28 replies
I have been outsourcing my website design projects for offline businesses, but I want to improve upon my WP skills and start doing some of the designing myself.

But I want a SUPER easy solution.

I know about templatemonster.com, but are there any other good WP template sources out there that you recommend? Something that I can easily tweak - but it looks very professional?

I'm comfortable adding opt-in forms and setting up the blogs.

It's just the designing part I worry about (i.e. adding a new header)... and all those little technical things that drive you nuts!

I want to compare programs and prices...

Or maybe I'll just keep outsourcing it. lol.

Thanks!
#businesses #offline #templates #wordpress
  • Profile picture of the author Chad Heffelfinger
    I would love to know the same thing. My design skills aren't there for the most part, so outsourcing is the best option, but I would like to be able to do it if I need to or at least know that I can. The best, easiest option would be appreciated from those who know.

    Thanks
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  • Profile picture of the author Dr Dan
    I used to use flexsqueeze ($299) which is very flexible and easy to set up. Then I recently moved over to headway theme ($164) because I wanted to be able to have even more flexibility.

    I set up this site of mine with flexsqeeze: Dr. Dan is The Real Love Guru! | Dr. Dan is The Real Love Guru

    This one I set up with headway: Blog | The UnSchoolers (I am still working on this one for my wife)

    Their are plenty of samples of sites and video tutorials for headway here: Showcase | Headway Premium WordPress Theme

    Both themes you can just upload the header with a couple clicks of your mouse. But headway has the visual editor that rocks! You can see what you are changing as you do it. Most other themes you have to save the changes and then go back to see the effect.

    Headway rocks!
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  • Profile picture of the author Jacer
    The best thing to do is find a super powerful and flexible theme and use it for all your sites. Customize the header image, change layouts, etc. It makes designing, especially when managing a team of designers, a breeze.

    There are a few well known WP themes that work well, namely thesis and flexx. I would recommend looking at something like that for your offline design service.
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  • Profile picture of the author SirThomas
    I just got headway yesterday, but haven't worked on it yet. I've heard only great things about Headway.

    Also Artisteer is probably the easiest to use, with 1000s of options, but limited layouts... only 1 column, 2 column or 3 column layouts with no way of combining them together :-(
    If they could modernize their layout styles, Artisteer would be untouchable!


    Thomas

    PS. To add about artisteer. You can change the designs from wordpress to Blogger, drupal, Joomla or html with a click of the button
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    • Profile picture of the author LynnM
      Originally Posted by SirThomas View Post


      Also Artisteer is probably the easiest to use, with 1000s of options, but limited layouts... only 1 column, 2 column or 3 column layouts with no way of combining them together :-(
      If they could modernize their layout styles, Artisteer would be untouchable!
      Not sure what the licence terms are, but this add-on might help: The Templateer: Home
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      • Profile picture of the author SirThomas
        Originally Posted by LynnM View Post

        Not sure what the licence terms are, but this add-on might help: The Templateer: Home
        Nice find LynnM! Thank you. I remember this guy from artisteer help forum playing with some custom solutions. It does give few more options :-)



        Thomas
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  • Profile picture of the author Fernando Veloso
    I use very basic themes and work them from the ground OR I just create them from scratch.

    But the easiest way is to use a simple theme like K2 and change header + background.

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  • Profile picture of the author mr2monster
    WordPress › Atahualpa « Free WordPress Themes is a pretty versatile theme for free.

    I've used that on numerous occasions when building sites for clients.
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    • Profile picture of the author cebaxter
      I use theme forest and choose a template to suit each business.
      I mainly use avisio, unite and display.
      I also use a few freebie templates. It just depends on the clients budget.
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      • Profile picture of the author dkblair
        Im in no way affiliated with this but I bought this WSO and found it very useful for Offline themes:-
        http://www.warriorforum.com/warrior-...fer-bonus.html
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        • Profile picture of the author CleanMountainLiving
          If you want super easy, and very well opitimized for small LOCAL business, I don't think you can beat the SmallBiz WP Theme from Expand2Web. No link, just google it, but it's super easy. And, it is all most small businesses, at least services businesses, want and need. My clients have loved it when they've seen it.

          $.02 given.
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          • Profile picture of the author MsMotivation1
            Thanks for your $.02 - I LOVE this theme. The developer's license is just SUPER expensive . But I should make that investment back with just ONE sale

            Thanks again!

            Originally Posted by CleanMountainLiving View Post

            If you want super easy, and very well opitimized for small LOCAL business, I don't think you can beat the SmallBiz WP Theme from Expand2Web. No link, just google it, but it's super easy. And, it is all most small businesses, at least services businesses, want and need. My clients have loved it when they've seen it.

            $.02 given.
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    • Profile picture of the author Nancy Radlinger
      I love this theme Atahualpa and all the things that you can do with it
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  • Profile picture of the author Dennis Murphy
    iThemes : Business WordPress Themes Since 2008 has a lot of really nice themes that are perfect for small businesses as well.

    Dennis
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  • Profile picture of the author MsMotivation1
    OK, thanks everyone! Lots of options here to choose from.
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  • Profile picture of the author Quentin
    I use artisteer as I can basically copy already established html sites and make new ones.

    Quentin
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  • Profile picture of the author mattfraser
    Hi,

    I have used several different WP themes and have formal design/development training (however my design skills are not that great) but I do understand the technical side of the web including html/css, SEO, wordpress and joomla (how they work)

    So with that being said, I noticed that someone in this thread recommended the Headway theme to you. Frankly, that is the only theme that I would use.

    I've used it to build many different sites from but cannot post any links here because of being new to the forum.

    But seriously, I've tried flexx theme and various other themes including thesis (which I really don't understand why everyone raves over) and Headway theme is the best.

    That being said, I'm not sure how far along you are in your WP knowledge but if you want to learn the basics check out wordpress 101 dot com

    Hope this helps.

    To Your Success,

    Matt Fraser
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  • Profile picture of the author mattfraser
    Hi,

    Sorry, you may also want to check out builder from ithemes dot com.

    Matt
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  • Profile picture of the author Dr Dan
    I just found out about Elegant themes and they look pretty impressive. You get unlimited themes for only $39. I am playing with a few of them on new clients sites to try it out.

    Premium Wordpress Themes | Elegant Themes
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    • Profile picture of the author Dennis Murphy
      Originally Posted by rockstarinlife View Post

      I just found out about Elegant themes and they look pretty impressive. You get unlimited themes for only $39. I am playing with a few of them on new clients sites to try it out.

      Premium Wordpress Themes | Elegant Themes
      Hey RockStarInLife,

      Just make sure you read the Elegant Themes terms - if you are using them on client sites, you need to upgrade to a Developers License for $89. That is actually still an awesome deal, just wanted to make you and anybody else that uses them aware of this term.

      It's from their FAQ page, number 17:
      Frequently Asked Questions | Elegant Themes

      Hope that helps,

      Dennis
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  • Profile picture of the author Dr Dan
    thanks for the heads up on that Dennis.
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  • Profile picture of the author Frankie B Frank
    I've been looking at Headway and Ithemes Builder to add to the toolkit - yetto decide which one. Anyone got experience with both and offer out the pros n cons?
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  • Profile picture of the author newbie2011
    It looks good thing, but I did not yet try to place WP templates on my sites.
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  • Profile picture of the author Steve Solem
    As mentioned already, Elegant themes offers a ton of great themes at an incredible price and I've also used a few themes from Theme Forest which even at $30 - $40 per theme is affordable.

    While I haven't used them, Woothemes of course has a great collection of themes and a rather nice developers price tag too.

    If you want a nice free theme, prior to the WP 3.0 release I used Mandigo on a number of sites and it's super easy to customize from within wordpress, but now I have to say I love the default 2010 theme that comes with wordpress.

    With just a background and header graphic change (both easy to do from within the admin panel) you can really make a unique looking site with the 2010 theme, and in just two minutes you can locate the CSS to change the default nav bar color to whatever you like.

    I also just found this free theme 2010 weaver that gives you a bunch of options to tweak your theme from within the control panel and you may want to install and try that one out as well.

    HTH,

    Steve
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    • Profile picture of the author prmoise76
      Hello MsMotivation, also do not just limit yourself to the themes or options that are branded as the easy options. I have been creating websites for clients for just a few months now.

      Before that I was still using WP a lot because I was making all of my own product/affiliate sites. It really is a very simple platform to learn that has lots of options itself. Most templates are very simple to use. Once you get the hang of using widgets and the customizable areas like the sidebar, header and footer you will really enjoy making the sites. Most themes if they are made by a good author also come with a guide or instructions for any of the technical areas.

      Usually a google search for [premium wordpress themes] will help you find a lot of choices.

      Be encouraged on designing your websites!

      Pierre
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  • Profile picture of the author Wayne Davis
    Check out expand2web.com...Don Campbell has a SmallBiz theme that is outstanding for almost any business...If you follow on FB, there is also lots of solid training..worth a browse. Good luck.

    Wayne
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  • Profile picture of the author redlegrich
    I recommend iThemes Flexx or Builder. Lot's of flexibility and a good number of decent looking child themes. Plus, iThemes has very good support. They have full time folks that answer questions in the forums. Most other providers make you rely on the other forum members to get your questions answered.
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