Getting Started with your New Theme

Introduction

Welcome! If you are here, you most likely just purchased a Flotheme.

To help you get your theme up and running, we have created a step-by-step guide that is specific to your theme and is available 24/7. We suggest opening a new tab so that you can follow along here while getting everything set up!

If you already have WordPress and your Flotheme installed, you will want to move on to the next section. If not, here are the installation sections that you will need to complete first:

How to Install WordPress

How to Install Your Theme

Once this is taken care of, there are 2 routs you can take:
1. Setting up a theme from scratch
2. Setting up a theme using our demo content

For those of you, who already have a Flotheme please refer to the section at the bottom on how to switch themes.

Please note that there is no easy way around this 🙂 so make sure you are comfortable, grab a coffee and let’s begin!

Setting up a theme from scratch

Starting from scratch is great if you already have a game plan. The video below shows everything you need to know about starting from zero and building up your website. It may be a bit long, but it’s worth the time.

The Process

If you’re not interested in watching the video, or you just want to see the steps in writing read more below. This is the process that we normally follow when creating a new site from fresh.

Step 1.  Create Sitemap – decide on the pages and site structure. A standard sitemap usually looks like so:

Home / About / Portfolio / Blog / Contact

Of course this will be depending on your business and website needs. It’s always best to map out the structure before getting started, so you have a clear idea how the site will perform.

Step 2. Install WordPress – check out how here.

Step 3. Install Theme – check out how here.

Step 4. Check widgets – Sometimes after installing the theme there will be some random widgets showing on the site. It’s best to remove all widgets at the start and only add them as required. To do so, go to Appearance > Widgets, and check all the widget areas on the right hand side, remove all widget blocks.

Step 5. Add your Favicon – Add your own icon to the tab in your browser for a more custom feel. Check out how here.

Step 6. Add Google Analytics. Check out how here.

Step 7. Add your Logo + Choose header layout

Step 8. Choose your footer layout

Step 9.  Create Slideshows

Step 10. Create Galleries

Step 11. Create Home Page and Set

Step 12. Create About Page

Step 13. Create Blog Page

Step 14. Create Portfolio (Optional)

Step 15. Create Contact Page

Step 16. Create Other Pages

Step 17. Create Main Menu – Go to Appearance > Menu, select the pages for the menu, and then set as the primary menu. Check out how here.

Alternatively, you can import the demo content, and then remove all pages that you don’t need, and update with your own content. Preferably, it’s better to build the pages from fresh as it will teach you more about using the themes, and you’ll be able to create only the pages you need so you don’t bloat your site.

Setting up a theme with demo content

Importing demo content is great if have no idea what to do or where to begin. It allows you to “play it by ear” and figure out your strategy for the site as you go along.
The video is roughly 17 minutes long, but it’s worth the time.

Switching between WordPress Themes

The Process

Step 1. Setup Flo Launch. With Flo Launch you can set up a test site and work on your site in the background.

Step 2. Install Theme – check out how here.

Step 3. Check widgets – Sometimes after installing the theme there will be some random widgets showing on the site. It’s best to remove all widgets at the start and only add them as required. To do so, go to Appearance > Widgets, and check all the widget areas on the right hand side, remove all widget blocks.

Step 4. Add your Favicon – Add your own icon to the tab in your browser for a more custom feel. Check out how here.

Step 5. Add Google Analytics. Check out how here.

Step 6. Add your Logo + Choose header layout

Step 7. Save your existing menu, go to Appearance > Menus, and make sure to set the primary menu.

Step 8. Choose your footer layout

Step 9.  Create New Slideshows – If upgrading, you’ll most likely need to create new slideshows, create one for each page.

Step 10. Create Galleries – Normally the galleries will move from one Flothemes to the next, just check them out and make sure to set the view for them in gallery settings.

Step 11. Update your existing pages with the new template. Check out the documentation for the page builder to see how it works for your theme, and update all existing pages.

Step 12. Create New Pages – Add any new pages to the site.

Step 13. Once ready, launch the new site.

Next Steps

Now that you decided which direction you’re going to head into – Starting from scratch or Importing demo content, be sure that you follow the steps we showed in those videos and you shouldn’t have any issues at all.

Please refer to the left hand sidebar of this page and follow each section step by step to finalize your website setup.