Review of what some describe as the best WordPress theme framework, Thesis.
Since i started developing websites in 2007 i have tried many different platforms starting with microsoft publisher, Adobe create suite and different WordPress themes.
My first premium theme was a Woo theme then i moved on to the Genesis framework. Always looking for a easier, better option, i decided to give Thesis a try after reading the WordPress developers discussions on several of the forums.
I loved it from the start especially the excellent support provided by the full time paid experts who provide support around the clock.
I have since installed a skin on top of the Thesis framework as it added all the customization i wanted for this site.
There’s still a few features i hope Thesis includes in there next upgrade which is 2.0 due out shortly but here’s why i love Thesis as much as i love WordPress.
Thesis SEO
One of the biggest bonuses of Thesis is that it’s developed with search engine optimization (SEO) in mind. WordPress by default is one of the most search engine friendly blogging platforms out there.
However, WordPress is still far from perfect and the layout of your theme affects how search engines rank your site.
Read my tutorial on How To Setup Your Thesis Theme Seo Settings To Maximise WordPress SEO for an understanding of what Thesis owners benefit from.
Thesis has developed the ultimate code structure that is regarded as the cleanest in the industry. This not only provides faster loading of pages but you can also see an immediate improvement in search engine optimization as soon as you install and activate thesis.
I’ve been following Chris Pearson’s personal blog (Personified) and he implements his latest seo knowledge into Thesis.
Matt Cutts, the head of the Google Webspam Team uses Thesis.
Site Options
The thesis site options make it simple to use the 4 most important seo elements of your site. Thesis will construct your <title> tags automatically according to the settings you choose. Other top features include:
Easily paste your Feedburner Rss feed address into the box- Paste any Scripts you like into a special box
- Stat and Tracking Scripts placement in the perfect position for faster page loading speeds
- Easily paste your homepage seo keywords into the box provided
Design Options
The main design options that make Thesis so easy and flexible to work with are listed below:
- Uploading your own custom header with your own brand
- Simple selection and use of premium fonts
- Easy selection of features and teasers
- Automatic resizing, cropping and text wrap for images and thumbnails
The Thesis multi media and features boxes are other unique features which make it so easy to add:
Rotating images and banners- Embeded videos
- Any custom code you want
- Easy placement of feature box
Thesis Provides Upgrades and Support
Thesis provides free lifetime upgrades and support. The support is regarded as the best in the WordPress industry which is one of the reasons so many designers and developers choose Thesis to build client sites on.
Future Releases
This is interesting. There has been many posts and talk about when thesis 2.0 will be released since the middle of last year. I think its near and thats the reason i jumped in and grabbed it now as i also hear it will nearly double in price.
Time will tell but at the current level for a single site license its about 50 times less than what you would have to pay a developer to create a site to this standard.
Consider This: If you’re wanting to make a website with blog for your business, Thesis may not be the right choice. The reason for this is, you’ll need to learn how to customize your theme on your own even though you’ll receive the best support available.
If you’ve got plenty of time and are prepared to learn customization, Thesis is an excellent choice.
On the other hand, i would suggest you take a look at StudioPress & Woo themes which both provide a large range of excellent themes already made for you. All you’ll need to do is add your logo, and make some easy changes using the built in design options.
Here’s a video from the thesis website which shows you how easy it is to do it yourself.
Thesis Still Has Room for improvement
- The ability to add video and a carousel slide show in the header without using FTP
- Easier options to add more functions rather than adding php to the custom file editor
- Easier addition of custom style sheets rather than using FTP
Custom Coding
Thesis provide’s a custom file editor and all the php code ready for copy and paste into this box. Its easy to find what you want from thier list and just paste the code into the box and click save. You don’t need to write any code just copy and paste and the file is included already in the thesis options (custom file).
The next update will include more options so you won’t have to copy and paste code unless you need something out of the ordinary. Either way, its the easiest way add custom functions to your site that are very unique and normally only seen on premium sites.
Thesis has such a high qaulity following that several WordPress developers have created special free plugins to compliment and add even more features to the best premium wordpress theme. You won’t get these features and support from a free theme. Chris Pearson wrote “ its the best blog platform on the planet”
If you’re thinking about trying Thesis and are worried about losing your seo settings, don’t.
There’s a free WordPress seo plugin that i have used and reviewed under the title: How To Change Themes Without Losing Your Seo Settings.
It will be interesting to see thesis 2.0 in action when its released and current owners recieve lifetime free upgrades and support.
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I am a programmer from india. your website is one of the most useful WP resource on the web. thanks a lot