The great thing about WordPress is the massive amount of themes available today. WordPress themes can usually run anywhere from free to around a hundred dollars for a premium theme. Let’s say that one of the themes that are currently available on the market today doesn’t suit your needs, you can always get one custom built. The problem with this is that this usually costs a pretty penny. Fortunately, there is a better solution.
What is Headway?
In between custom built themes and premium themes is something known as a framework. These frameworks allow you to quickly update and modify the look and layout of a theme but the mechanics behind the theme are already in place. A framework provides you with a lot of flexibility at a cost very close to that of a premium theme.
Headway falls into the framework classification. By using the Headway Themes framework you are able to create custom looking sites without having to go in and edit the code. You can modify the layout, change the colours and backgrounds all from an easy-to-use visual editor. However, if you are familiar with CSS, you can add some custom CSS to your layouts. If you don’t even know what CSS is, you’ll still get by just fine. Headway isn’t the only WordPress theme framework out there but, in my opinion, it is one of the best.
The video below is a sneak peak at the upcoming release of Headway 3.0 and it’s also what solidified my move to Headway. After you watch the video you’ll get a better idea of what Headway is and how it can speed up the creation of your next site.
(If you’re reading this in email or RSS, click here to watch video.)
Why I’m Switching to Headway
It doesn’t matter whether I am building a site for myself or building a site for someone else, I don’t want to have to spend too long on the layout or waste time reinventing the wheel every time I put something together. In order to save time and to keep the budget low, I usually started out with some type of premium theme and massaged it to suit either my needs or the needs of the party that I was building the site for.
Headway Themes gives me the flexibility I need to put together a website that has a custom look and feel without having to design a theme from scratch. It’s as if the foundation and building walls are already in place and all I need to do is add the paint and partition walls to divide up the rooms.
I have a developer license that allows me to put Headway on any WordPress website I build as part of the services I provide. This provides me with the ability to deliver faster turn-around times while still providing a customized look. I’ll eventually rebuild MatthewHooper.com in Headway when I have time.
I have been looking at moving to a theme framework for a couple of months now. In the end I settled on Headway Themes because it has a sold list of features and it provides the most layout variations of any framework I’ve seen.
Why You Should Switch to Headway
If you watched the video above and you’re not absolutely blown away by the ease of creating a new website then there isn’t much I can do to convince you. I understand that Headway isn’t the best solution for everybody since it isn’t a true turn-key solution. A beginner may still prefer to look at a premium theme that simply needs to be installed. However, if you want to build a website or even multiple websites that have a unique look and feel, then Headway Themes is probably one of the best bets out there today.
You can also add your own custom CSS to create something even better. Knowing CSS gives you another tool in your tool belt but you don’t need to know any code if you want to start using it today.
Headway 3.0 Release
As of writing, Headway 3.0 is set to be released on the 25th of November. The great thing is that all current Headway Themes license holders get unlimited updates for life. After the release of Headway 3.0, licensing will require an anual renewal fee plus the cost of a developer license will increase. A Headway Themes personal license will only set you back $87 and you’ll be able to put it on two different sites. The developer package is slightly less than double that price but you’ll be able to put it on as many sites as you choose. This is what I have. Get it before the 3.0 release and you’ll get all future updates without having to face an anual fee.
If you want to check out Headway Themes click this link to learn more.
Did you watch the video above? What do you think of the new Headway Themes 3.0 framework? Is this something that you think you will use? Have you tried it already?
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