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Bought OptimizePress & ProfitTheme is it possible to creat a new skins?

by LollyGreen
20 replies
  • WEB DESIGN
    • |
I bought both Themes and feel frustrated at the skins with both of them. I want a nicer looking site, I only want a small section to be blog, some membership, some squeeze and sales pages.

I bought DAP to go with them and so need to integrate that somehow (when I work out how).

Are people able to make new skins based upon for example a website that I like?

I know I could just find a website I like and get someone to make a copy so to speak, but love the shortcodes I get with these other themes.

Must say I prefer that Profit Themes shows what the shortcode image looks like and Optimize Press does not.

Any suggestions please?

Preferably from someone that uses these and knows what they are talking about!

With Gratitude

Lolly
#bought #creat #optimize press #optimizepress #profit theme #profittheme #skins #theme
  • Profile picture of the author Kevin Hill
    Hi Lolly,

    I use Optimize Press and, yes, there is little leeway regarding customizing it...besides changing the header, logo, etc.

    However, you can easily hire someone for cheap on the freelance sites to make "tweaks".

    If you look at my for-hire site below you can see I made some small modifications...mostly the subheads.

    Regarding the Optimizepress shortcodes, you CAN see what the shortcode images look like before using them using the "Add Shortcode" button, but they do not show up in your preview window.

    I do not have the other theme so I cannot comment on that one.

    Kevin
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  • Profile picture of the author Ross Cohen
    If you struggle making the new skin I always go for themes on ThemeForest and ElegentThemes... might want to take a look if you're trying to save some time and shell out a few bucks. Great support, too (at least from my experiences on ElegentThemes).
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  • Profile picture of the author Istvan Horvath
    Child themes is the answer...
    Child Themes « WordPress Codex

    It keeps the functionality (options, settings etc.) and you can modify/customize the look.

    Very simple once you get the hang of it
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    • Profile picture of the author LollyGreen
      Thanks so much for your quick response but I have just canceled Profit Theme and am about to do it with Optimize Press having read the thread where Profit Theme was asked about the code and they did not explain it and it takes me so dam long to build a site that I do not want to risk something goes wrong with a server or something and I end up losing customers.

      I guess I need to find a site that I love that is for sale (phew that takes so dam long) or find one already built and get someone to make me the same, then find a way to add shortcodes or something like a plugin.

      This site is too overwhelming any suggestions for where to go for someone to build one for me for $50 or so?

      Again thanks heaps!
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      • Profile picture of the author Istvan Horvath
        Originally Posted by LollyGreen View Post

        Thanks so much for your quick response but I have just canceled Profit Theme and am about to do it with Optimize Press having read the thread where Profit Theme was asked about the code and they did not explain it and it takes me so dam long to build a site that I do not want to risk something goes wrong with a server or something and I end up losing customers.
        With the solution I suggested... nothing goes wrong.
        Note: you must be new around here, so you don't know that I my WP related answers are always tested and/or based on experience. I never just "guess"... If I say you can make a child theme to ANY theme - then you can bet on it!

        Originally Posted by LollyGreen View Post

        I guess I need to find a site that I love that is for sale (phew that takes so dam long) or find one already built and get someone to make me the same, then find a way to add shortcodes or something like a plugin.
        Again... why don't you try to digest the info you were given before "guessing". You are completely off.
        So, read it again:
        1. You have a theme with special functions (like ProfitsTheme or OptimizePress) BUT you don't like the look.
        2. You create a child theme of any of those (read the documentation before replying!!!) and it means: it keeps ALL the functionality of the original theme + it gives a new look.
        3. You will have a site that does what themes promise to do on the backend and it looks like you want on the frontend.

        Originally Posted by LollyGreen View Post

        This site is too overwhelming any suggestions for where to go for someone to build one for me for $50 or so?
        Which site?
        Post it the "Wanted..." section and see if you can find somebody for that amount.
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        • Profile picture of the author JennySweets
          Originally Posted by Istvan Horvath View Post

          1. You have a theme with special functions (like ProfitsTheme or OptimizePress) BUT you don't like the look.
          2. You create a child theme of any of those (read the documentation before replying!!!) and it means: it keeps ALL the functionality of the original theme + it gives a new look.
          3. You will have a site that does what themes promise to do on the backend and it looks like you want on the frontend.

          I went over to the child theme link you posted. It does say "With a little understanding of HTML and CSS, you can make that very basic child theme modify the styling and layout of a parent theme to any extent without editing the files of the parent theme itself." and "With a basic understanding of PHP, WordPress Templates, and the WordPress Plugin API, you can make the child theme extend virtually every aspect of a parent theme,"

          How about for someone who has pretty much no knowledge of these things. I'd love to say I'll learn them but at the moment, time will not permit more than I'm already trying to learn *chuckle*

          How difficult would it be for someone like me, and would it be better to hire someone to make that child theme css for me? I haven't actually got funds for outsourcing unless I looked somewhere like Fiverr but there seem to be a lot of things I can get done there.

          BTW Istvan I'm stalking you tonight. OK NOT REALLY! But I did look you up because I remembered you are a WP expert, and I have a truckload of questions right now that I am not even sure how to word. I figured following your posting trail would be very informative. Or at least help me formulate my questions. I'm glad I decided to do so because I've got some things somewhat straightened out in my head, and it's helping me focus a bit. And now I have about 50 more questions to answer *laugh!*
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        • Profile picture of the author LollyGreen
          Hi Istvan, I am sorry if I appear to be questioning your answer, I was just trying to understand better as after reading the article I was still totally confused as the article was way over my head! lol And so my question was for clarification, I will try and be clearer next time that I am seeking more understanding.

          I am now thinking that a child theme sounds like its just a separate theme (either copy of original or a different theme) and would come after the domain name (ie www dot XXX/newtheme) type thing.

          If so that is what my partner created for himself, he choose two different wordpress themes one for his front end and a shop one for his backend, once he did that I realised that I might be able to do the same (shame I already got the money back for both themes and have now installed a new one).

          What I did to solve my problem is bought the 'Profit Theme's Premium List Magnet Plugin' which has some of the features of the Profit theme and I will start playing around with that this weekend and that should give me the effect that I was trying to create.

          Thanks you for your advice it was much appreciated and I think it helped me connect the dots together, you are much appreciated.

          With Gratitude

          Lolly
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          • Profile picture of the author Istvan Horvath
            Originally Posted by LollyGreen View Post

            Hi Istvan, I am sorry if I appear to be questioning your answer, I was just trying to understand better as after reading the article I was still totally confused as the article was way over my head! lol And so my question was for clarification, I will try and be clearer next time that I am seeking more understanding.
            Sorry, I didn't see your reply earlier...

            Well, that's the eternal problem with WordPress. It is easy to install and it is easy to add/upload an existing theme - and start blogging.

            Problems come when new users without a basic understanding of the tool they have in their hand, try to do things that require way more experience... but based on the ease of installation they expect everything would be that easy.

            Originally Posted by LollyGreen View Post

            I am now thinking that a child theme sounds like its just a separate theme (either copy of original or a different theme) and would come after the domain name (ie www dot XXX/newtheme) type thing.
            Half true... And again, you are into assuming. Don't do it. Just read the facts and base your opinion on that.

            Any theme in WP MUST have a stylesheet (style.css) and at least one template file. Your WP installation recognizes the themes (and displays their info) based on their style.css.

            Now, a "child theme" while it has its own directory, needs to have only a stylesheet - which is also calling for the templates from the parent theme. In plain English, it will use all the template files (index, archive, page, single etc.) from the parent theme; it will even use the style (CSS) information from the parent - EXCEPT whatever you define in the child stylesheet.

            The child stylesheet will over-ride the original. You can have as much or as little in the child stylesheet as you want.

            The idea is: changing just certain elements for a different design BUT not messing with the original (in case you need to upgrade it).
            Also, you can create new template files your your child theme: if a template file exists in the child theme (e.g. page.php) WP "knows" this one should be used instead of the page.php from the parent.

            BTW, themes are NEVER referred in the way you did above. All the themes should be in their own folder under .../wp-content/themes/ and never ever accessed directly from the net (as it would be the case you gave as example: example.com/newtheme <-- that's plain wrong!!!)

            Unfortunately, if one has no idea how the theme system works in WordPress... it is not easy to grasp the concept of child themes.

            Originally Posted by LollyGreen View Post

            If so that is what my partner created for himself, he choose two different wordpress themes one for his front end and a shop one for his backend,
            I doubt that. There is no theme for frontend and backend. Backend is your admin panel (example.com/wp-admin) and it is completely independent from your frontend theme, aka your design!

            Originally Posted by LollyGreen View Post

            once he did that I realised that I might be able to do the same .
            I don't think so...

            Originally Posted by LollyGreen View Post

            What I did to solve my problem is bought the 'Profit Theme's Premium List Magnet Plugin' which has some of the features of the Profit theme and I will start playing around with that this weekend and that should give me the effect that I was trying to create.
            Hmm... It's getting even more confusing than it was.

            Plugins and themes are not the same. Some more advanced themes might have added functionality, too, which they achieve by creating a hige functions file (or library) - it works like a bunch of built-in (and invisible) plugins. But the primary role of a theme is to be the "clothing" of your content = the look, design, layout etc.

            Adding functionality to a basic vanilla WP - is, usually done via plugins.

            Maybe you should not attempt to do things that you don't understand. It can cause too much frustration...
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            • Profile picture of the author LollyGreen
              Gosh thanks for taking the time to explain it more, seems like its back to the drawing board when it comes to child themes. I appreciate that you took the time to explain things to newbies in the forum, you are awesome.

              I guess going in way over my head is something I have done since I got my first Amiga computer about 25 years ago, I just had to take it apart and rebuild it and learn how to write code - because I wanted to learn and because if I really want to learn something I always do.

              Personally I prefer WebPlus X5 but went back to WordPress because I wanted to use Digital Access Pass and I lost some of its features by not using WordPress, so I am having to learn all over again a new system.

              The Premium Magnet Plugin from Profit Themes is great as it is similar 'in my mind' to what I wanted from their Profit Themes, but gives me more choice as its only a plugin. I guess that sounds strange to anyone else that did not know what I was seeking by initially getting Profit Themes.

              I will do some more reading on child themes but sadly will have to assume I am getting some understanding from it even if some ideas I form are way out! lol

              What I do like is the idea of using two different themes from Elegant Themes one on what I call the front end as in my Welcome Page, and one on the Backend meaning my shopping cart side and then use Premium Magnet Plugin for my sales pages.

              Not sure what that is called but for now it will give me the effect that I am looking for.

              I do have a question that I wonder if anyone can answer and that is if I have a theme that is installed as in www.xxx/NewThemeSalesPage and it is for selling only and people bounce off it might google downgrade my whole site or will having my sales page separate like that keep the bounce separate from my main website?

              I apologise if I do not know the right language to use, I guess we all have to start somewhere and I am doing the best that I can, so please be patient with me while I learn how to talk properly!

              With Gratitude

              Lolly
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    • Profile picture of the author LollyGreen
      I am just wondering if I use a child theme and use it as a sales page only does that reduce the risk of bounces on my main theme being seeing by search engines like Google? Or does it have to be a totally different domain name? And thank you for your advice it is much appreciated.
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      • Profile picture of the author Istvan Horvath
        Originally Posted by LollyGreen View Post

        I am just wondering if I use a child theme and use it as a sales page only does that reduce the risk of bounces on my main theme being seeing by search engines like Google? Or does it have to be a totally different domain name? And thank you for your advice it is much appreciated.
        I don't really understand this question... and I am afraid you don't either - because it just doesn't make sense. Sorry.

        Rule of thumb: make sites/design for people - they pay. Forget the search engines
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    • Profile picture of the author Thomas_Banks
      Originally Posted by Istvan Horvath View Post

      Child themes is the answer...
      Child Themes « WordPress Codex

      It keeps the functionality (options, settings etc.) and you can modify/customize the look.

      Very simple once you get the hang of it
      Istvan, you just saved me a big headache and probable a nice chunk of change as well. I have been looking for a similar solution and had resigned to the thought that I would have to hire a programmer to reverse engineer optimize press and rebuild it with my design requirements.

      This is a much better solution. My designer didn't realize that this could be done either and he is quite excited about it as well! (He wanted to rewrite all the native style sheets, but I raised the question of what happens when I update the theme. So much for that idea!)

      Great post. Thanks very much.
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  • Profile picture of the author Istvan Horvath
    Without understanding html and css... it would be not easy to try to modify a theme. I'd outsource.

    If somebody does it for $4 (that's how much they get on fiverr) - that's either a starving artist or a scammer. Or both: a starving con artist...
    (and I used to rant about the "cheap" offers around here, like making a theme for $50, LOL)
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    • Profile picture of the author JennySweets
      Hrmph *chuckle* I have some big brass bangles for trying to start a business with nearly no funds *laugh*

      Thanks Istvan. I think I am going to scale back my ideas for now until I've made enough to outsource for my bigger dreams hehe
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  • Profile picture of the author Chris Cole
    Originally Posted by LollyGreen View Post

    I bought both Themes and feel frustrated at the skins with both of them. I want a nicer looking site, I only want a small section to be blog, some membership, some squeeze and sales pages.

    I bought DAP to go with them and so need to integrate that somehow (when I work out how).
    I would also like to add...

    ... Optimizepress has some pretty amazing tutorial videos for integrating your site with DAP and setting up a membership site, as well as other membership scripts (I didn't watch the others). They also have some videos on tweaking your site.

    Did you notice and watch the videos that are provided for all of the optimizepress customers?

    They are actually worth taking the time to watch IMO
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    • Profile picture of the author JuryDuty
      Originally Posted by Chris Cole View Post

      ... Optimizepress has some pretty amazing tutorial videos for integrating your site with DAP and setting up a membership site, as well as other membership scripts (I didn't watch the others).
      Can you list what membership scripts they have videos for integrating? I've been thinking about getting Optimizepress and would be interested in knowing what membership scripts they have tutorials on.
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      --JuryDuty

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  • Profile picture of the author Istvan Horvath
    I will address only this:

    What I do like is the idea of using two different themes from Elegant Themes one on what I call the front end as in my Welcome Page, and one on the Backend meaning my shopping cart side and then use Premium Magnet Plugin for my sales pages.
    What you described above sounds like TWO WordPress installations:
    example.com <-- your first WP install at the root
    example.com/shop/ <-- second install in the "shop" folder (or whatever it's called)
    Otherwise you wouldn't be able to use 2 themes.

    And no, the frontend/backend is not correct in this context: every CMS (content management system), not only WP has a
    frontend = what the visitor sees (example.com)
    backend = where the site admin manages the content (example.com/wp-admin)

    The "liberal" use of terminology is always a sure chance for misunderstandings
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    • Profile picture of the author LollyGreen
      Yes, that is what I meant one wordpress theme installation on the root domain and one on the domain folder. Wish I had known originally that it could be done!

      And yes I now see why you call it a back and front end as in the wordpress itself, and what I was referring to was talking about my website front end as in what someone sees when they first land and the backend where the exit which is hopefully through my store.

      Thank you for pointing out how unclear I must sound, I will try and make sure that I write fuller sentences so as not to confuse anyone.

      Maybe I will look for a dictionary of wordpress terms for dummies! Anyone made one?

      You are so kind and helpful, you are appreciated.

      Also due to your fantastic guidance I now I know that I don't need the child theme. Phew that saved me a ton of work trying to get my head around child themes.

      With Gratitude

      Lolly
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  • Profile picture of the author mikelray031
    Regarding the Optimizepress shortcodes,you CAN see what the shortcode images look like before using them using the "Add Shortcode" button,but they do not show up in your preview window.
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    • Profile picture of the author LollyGreen
      Hi Mikelray031

      Thanks you for posting. Yes I did realise that I could preview them I could just not see them in the preview window, but thanks for being helpful.

      With Gratitude

      Lolly
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