Genesis Theme Review UPDATED November 12, 2011.
FYI: There are NO more Genesis discount code OR any StudioPress discount codes! StudioPress informed me they are no longer accepting any StudioPress or Genesis discount codes OR coupon codes.
Is the Genesis Framework good? Yes, but I do have some dislikes which I set out below as well.
I use the Genesis framework for most of my websites (including this very site – it’s the Magazine child theme). The flexibility, style and design (using child themes), functionality, features, attention to detail, and SEO integration are simply second-to-none.
I use the Enterprise child theme for my offline business website (which results in great conversion rates. I’ve even had competitors call me and tell me they’re impressed with my site and wonder who built it).
“I’ve been researching premium WP themes for a while and because of your posts, think I am going to go with Genesis. Thanks for the info.”
- Rich at MarketerAtLaw.com
Why Use a Premium Theme?
This article explains some of the downsides to using free themes. Besides, with a premium theme such as the Genesis Framework, you get much more customization options and functionality than using a free theme.
What is the Genesis Theme Framework by StudioPress?
Genesis Theme is StudioPress’ parent and child WordPress theme framework. This means theme upgrades are no hassle and you will see a lot of great new child theme designs.
Not sure what the parent and child theme concept is? Click here to read my article about parent and child themes.
The Genesis parent and child framework is so simple to use, and it lets you change your site’s theme with simply installing a new child theme of your choice. Once you install the Genesis theme (it’s the same process as installing any theme), then all you need to do is install and activate the child theme of your choice and your site is ready to go.
Matt Mullenweg, the founder of WordPress, says the following about the Genesis Parent/Child Framework:
“Child themes are the only way you should build your WordPress site on top of a framework, and Genesis has great support for child themes and other WordPress functionality” (source: StudioPress).
Mashable rates the Genesis Theme as the best premium WordPress available.
Genesis Framework Features
You get all the great StudioPress features as before, plus more functionality and a LOT more themes to choose from. Key features include:
Genesis Framework Features |
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| Style and Design |
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| Built-In SEO (no more SEO plugins) |
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| Sidebar Customization |
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| Complete Menu Navigation Control |
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| Layout Options for Any Page and Post | Traditionally, any theme you bought had a pre-defined layout for every page – whether a 1, 2, or 3 column layout. StudioPress changes this by offering 6 layout options FOR ANY PAGE OR POST. This means that some posts can have 2 columns and other posts 3 columns. The 6 page layouts you can choose from are as follows:
Using this feature with the customized sidebar function means you can make every page completely unique – both in content and sidebar(s). |
| Customized Footers & Headers |
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| Loads of Widget Placement Options | The number of widget options varies from child theme to child theme. However, every theme has the option to use widget placement for the home page content (and of course sidebars) except for Prose Theme. This gives you much more flexibility with the home page content and sidebars. |
| Featured Posts Function |
StudioPress is well known for it’s ability to create excerpts of posts on the home page pulling in an image sized as a thumbnail. Well, you can now choose any category to list in batches as a featured posts section on the home page. Click here to read more about setting up Featured Posts in the Genesis Framework. |
| Clean CSS Style Sheet | StudioPress lays out its CSS style sheets in a nicely organized format making it easy to edit and change your design. Each section has headings. |
| Decent Forum Support | Have a question, it’s either been answered or will be on the StudioPress forum. That said, it’s not a free-for-all. If you have design questions, you may be kindly told to hire a StudioPress sanctioned coder. |
| Tutorials | StudioPress has many tutorials for customizing pretty much every element of their themes. |
| Automatic Theme Upgrading |
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| Feedburner Subscription Integration | You can easily add a subscriber feature integrating with Feedburner. Set up a Feedburner account, grab your feed, and place it in the indicated area within the eNews and Updates widget. Voila, you can now easily have readers of your website read posts via e-mail. |
| Need Help Setting Up Your Website? |
Not interested in setting up your own website? StudioPress offers 3 website set up packages for you – all of which include the Genesis framework and one child theme. They are (NOTE – THESE ARE NOT THE THEME PRICES, BUT INSTEAD PRICING TO HIRE SOMEONE TO ACTUALLY SET UP YOUR WEBSITE THROUGH STUDIOPRESS):
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| StudioPress or Genesis DISCOUNT CODE | StudioPress is no longer accepting ANY StudioPress or Genesis discount codes or coupon codes. |
| Mobile Design | UPDATE NOV. 12/11: StudioPress announced that version 1.8 of Genesis will include “Responsive Design” which means themes built with Genesis will include a mobile device version.
Mobile website versions display websites in a way that makes them easier to read and navigate. It prevents having to constantly zoom into each section. This update will be released soon. Should you wait to buy Genesis? There’s no need because your purchase includes lifetime updates. Moreover, updates are easily executed in your WordPress dashboard with 2 clicks. Therefore, if you buy Genesis now, you’ll be able to easily update to Genesis 1.8 when it’s released and have a mobile version of your site display on mobile devices. I wrote about StudioPress Responsive Design here. |
| Add a Tabber Section to any Child Theme | StudioPress developed the Genesis Tabs plugin which enables you to add a tabbed section to any of their child themes. Now, if you want a tabbed box on your site, but the child theme you want doesn’t have it by default, you simply install the free Genesis Tabs plugin and you can add a tabbed section to any of the Genesis child themes. |
UPDATE: New Genesis Features with Genesis 1.5
StudioPress doesn’t relent. They are continuously adding functionality to Genesis, which adds functionality to the child themes. 2 notable new features I like are:
- Up to 6 text columns within a page or post
- Easy website background customization in the WordPress dashboard.
1. Up to 6 Text Columns within a Page or Post
I want to be clear here – this is different than the 6 website layout options you get with a Genesis website. The “up to 6 text columns” features makes it easy for you to actually format individual posts and pages into columns – anywhere from 1 to 6 columns. Rather than explain, take a look at the following screenshot:
You can format individual posts and pages so your text and images read in any of the above layouts. Again, this is different than website layout. If you choose a 6-column text option within a post, your website layout can also be customized by any of the following layouts:
- Content / Sidebar
- Sidebar / Content
- Sidebar / Sidebar / Content
- Content / Sidebar / Sidebar
- Sidebar / Content / Sidebar
- Full-Width layout
2. Easy website background customization in the WordPress dashboard
Now you can easily change the color of your website background or easily upload a custom image for your backgroun in the WordPress dashboard. Check it out:
UPDATE: Genesis 1.8 (coming)
Genesis version 1.8 will soon be released. The big change worth mentioning is it will include “Responsive Design.”
What’s Responsive Design?
It’s the ability to automatically create a mobile version of your website. Mobile versions display your website in a more user-friendly version on mobile devices such as iPhone, iPad, Blackberry, and Android devices.
If you buy Genesis now, you’ll get the update for free (Genesis includes lifetime updates for free).
END OF GENESIS 1.8 UPDATE
Child Theme Marketplace
Because child themes have much less code, developing new child themes is much simpler and faster. The result, many child themes to choose from including StudioPress’ classic themes. Click here to see all the child themes. More are rolled out all the time.
Migrating from another theme to Genesis
Leave it to StudioPress to make it easier on you to migrate from another theme to Genesis with respect to migrating your meta SEO data.
If you have meta data entered for individual pages and posts on any particular theme, either using the built-in SEO panel or an SEO plugin, when you switch to Genesis (or another theme), and you wish the SEO meta data be entered into the new theme’s SEO panel (database), you USED to have to re-enter it all (I’ve done this for hundreds of posts on a theme migration and it’s not fun at all).
StudioPress, with their free SEO Data Transporter plugin automatically transports your meta SEO data. I’ve used it on a recent migration and it works like a charm.
Also, you don’t have to be migrating to Genesis. It works between other themes and many popular SEO plugins.
Genesis Theme Benefits
1. Save a ton of money on building a new website.
For the price of a theme and the Genesis Framework ($79.95) you can build as many websites as you wish with that theme. Or get the Pro Plus Membership for $299.95 and have access to every theme now and released in the future (in my view the best premium WP theme deal available).
2. Build websites fast.
Once you become familiar with StudioPress themes, you can crank out sites in less than an hour (I do routinely). Of course, if you do some customization of the theme, more time is required.
3. Easy on-site SEO configuration.
If you’re tired of messing around with SEO plugins, then this theme framework is for you. You have total control of all the on-site configuration you wish and need for optimal search engine optimization.
4. Great all-theme pricing:
It didn’t take me long to pony up the full $299.95 for access to all the themes. Guess what? I never have to pay for another great theme again as long as StudioPress is in business. I have full access to all past and future child themes.
5. Great License granted
You’re not restricted to a set number of domains on which you can use your StudioPress theme purchase. You can build as many websites as you like for you and/or your clients.
6. Perfect for all kinds of websites such as:
- commercial websites,
- business,
- e-commerce (with an shopping cart plugin or e-commerce software integratoin),
- magazine and newspaper sites,
- photography sites,
- professional services websites such as attorneys, law firms, accountants, doctors, medical facilities, etc.
- video blogs,
- bands,
- wedding websites,
- affiliate websites,
- realtor and real estate websites,
- fitness and personal trainer websites,
- hospitality business (restaurant, hotel, spa, etc.) websites,and
- personal blogging sites.
Check out the themes and you’ll see they are very nicely designed for a variety of uses.
Genesis Theme Criticisms/Dislikes
- Forum support doesn’t help out too much with customization. StudioPress could improve in this department.
- StudioPress showcase should give a clearer disclaimer that many of the showcased websites were customized by people who knew coding. Most of the showcase themes could not be set up by beginners.
- Prose Child Theme only offers a blog-format. This means there is not widget options on the home page (other than the sidebar). Since Prose is Genesis’ “design-from-the-ground-up” theme, in my view, it should have the option to be more than just a blog-format.
Genesis Theme Pricing
$59.95 for the Genesis framework, and then $24.95 per child theme ($79.95 for both 1 child theme and the Genesis Theme Framework).
If you become a Pro Plus All Theme Package Member by purchasing the all-theme package for $299.95, you get the following:
- lifetime access to all present themes, AND
- future themes, including child themes, AND
- lifetime forum access.
If you buy a single theme license and wish to upgrade, no problem, you only pay the difference.
Is there a Genesis Discount Code or Coupon Code Available?
Regrettably StudioPress no longer accepts ANY Genesis discount code, coupon code or StudioPress discount codes!
- July 26, 2011
You may have seen Genesis discount codes and coupon codes published all over the web. I’m informed by StudioPress that they are NO longer effective and that StudioPress is not accepting ANY StudioPress or Genesis discount code and coupon code offerings published on the Web.
If you’re curious why StudioPress isn’t accepting any discount or coupon codes, read my article Looking for a StudioPress Discount Code or Coupon Code?
License Granted with a Genesis Purchase
Plain English: as with all StudioPress themes, you can use the Genesis Theme to build as many sites as you want. You can sell those sites, and/or give away those sites. You can also customize the theme(s) as much as you want.
Technical terms: GPL license.
That concludes this Genesis Theme Review. Click below to test run this StudioPress offering.
UPDATE JULY 13/11 – NEW VIDEO AFTER RELEASE OF GENESIS v. 1.7
Whirlwind Genesis WordPress Theme Video By Me (THIS IS MY OLD VIDEO – NEW VIDEO IS ABOVE).
>Click here to visit the Genesis Theme Website<
End of the StudioPress Genesis Theme Framework Review
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