Kadence is quickly becoming my favourite choice for a free WordPress theme. With a variety of templates, it’s incredibly easy to set up a website in just minutes.
I’m excited to guide you through building a site that’s visually appealing using this theme. Everything from menus to photos can be customised to fit your needs.
We’re going to accomplish this swiftly and efficiently.
I’ve set up a demo site to show how simple it is to start from scratch with Kadence. We’ll go through installing the theme, using starter templates, and importing content to finalise the setup.
It’s a straightforward process, and once you’ve followed these steps, your website will be ready to go.
Key Takeaways
- Kadence is an easy-to-use free WordPress theme.
- Starter templates simplify the website setup process.
- Customisation options let you tailor your site to your needs.
Summary of Kadence
Advantages of Free WordPress Themes
I absolutely love using free WordPress themes like Kadence. They fit perfectly within a budget since they cost nothing, which is fantastic!
While it’s free, you might still want to upgrade some plugins if you desire additional features on your website. It’s essential to choose a theme with good reviews and solid support.
Kadence has excellent support and documentation, providing incredible value without any cost.
Important Elements of Kadence
Kadence makes website creation straightforward right from the start. You begin by adding the theme through the dashboard.
The starter templates are easily installed, with options to choose from AI-generated templates or classic ones.
When setting up a website, there’s flexibility in importing everything, from complete sites to just certain pages. The theme suggests only the necessary plugins for a seamless experience.
This theme also includes demo pages, posts, and media files, all ready for customisation.
Initiating a website is quick and simple, showing how powerful Kadence truly is.
Beginning with Kadence
Setting Up WordPress for Kadence
To start, ensure that WordPress is installed on your site. I’ve set up my demo with WordPress using the 2023 theme.
It’s best to have a blank WordPress setup to avoid overlapping existing content. If you have a cluttered site, it might cause confusion.
Start with an empty setup for a smooth experience.
Adding the Kadence Theme
Next, go to the dashboard, navigate to ‘Appearance’, and select ‘Themes’.
To add a new theme, click on the ‘Add New Theme’ button. Type “Kadence” with a “K” in the search bar and hit enter. After finding it, click ‘Install Now’.
Once installed, activate the theme. You might notice the site does not look as you expected. No worries, simply follow the next steps to bring the setup to life.
Starting and Setting Up the Design
Finding Your Way to Activate Kadence
To kick things off, I head over to the dashboard. I select ‘Appearance’ and then find ‘Themes’.
Up at the top, I spot a button to add a new theme. I type in “Kadence” with a “K” and hit enter. Once it shows up, I click on ‘Install Now’.
After activating it, the fresh look of the site invites me to explore further.
Checking Out First Impressions
After activating the theme, I find a button that offers AI starter templates. I decide to try a classic starter template instead.
With plenty of choices, I settle on a cool camping site called Yosim. I have the option to bring in the whole site or just selected pages.
I choose to import everything, letting the required plugins load. Once done, my site looks just as I envisioned, ready for any edits I might need to make.
Everything falls into place quickly and smoothly, bringing the demo features directly to my site.
Making Use of Initial Templates
Setting Up Basic Templates
To start with Kadence, first, I went to the WordPress dashboard. Under the “Appearance” tab, there’s an option for themes.
I clicked “Add New Theme” and searched for Kadence, spelt with a “K”. After finding it, I installed and activated the theme.
It’s important to start with an empty WordPress site to avoid any content clashes when activating a new theme.
Once Kadence was active, I noticed a button to install starter templates. It offered a choice between generating a template with AI or picking a classic one.
For the demonstration, I chose the classic starter template. The options labelled “pro” need an upgrade, but I stuck with the free choices, specifically selecting a camping site theme.
I imported all the content, including custom settings and widgets, following the suggested plugins to achieve the demo look.
Adjusting the Kadence Basic Templates
With the templates imported, I could easily modify the pages and posts provided in the demo.
From the dashboard, I accessed all pages and changed the content to fit my preference. Editing the homepage was straightforward, allowing me to update text and images as needed.
The media files and required plugins were conveniently included.
If there’s a budget for upgrading to the pro version, even more customisation options and designs become available. This flexibility allows for crafting a unique website experience tailored to specific needs, making Kadence an impressive choice for free WordPress themes.
Bringing In Website Content
Picking Content for Import
When setting up a website with Kadence, it’s essential to start with a clean slate. I use the classic starter templates because they offer various free options.
This allows me to choose a template that best fits my needs without paying for extras. I can preview demos and then decide if I want to import the entire site or just specific pages.
This flexibility is crucial, allowing me to tailor my content according to my requirements.
Managing Essential Plugins
To achieve the desired look of the demo site, I need to install certain plugins.
Only the essential plugins are necessary, which makes the process smoother. I stick with these required ones initially to ensure everything works properly, but I have the option to add more later if needed.
This approach helps me maintain site performance while still utilising necessary features for the template.
Completing the Site Configuration
Checking the Imported Camping Template
I’ve just installed the Kadence theme, and it’s time to look over the camping site template I’ve imported.
It’s exciting to see how everything fits together. By picking the classic starter template, I made sure all the pieces are in place for this project.
The template gives me everything—pictures, menus, and placeholder text. The design is there, and now I can make it my own.
Customising Pages and Changing Content
After the template is in place, I can jump into customisation.
All pages can be found in the dashboard, under the pages view. Each one is editable, from the homepage to the smallest post.
I can change any text, pictures, or items to match my vision. It’s as easy as clicking on a section, making my edits, and hitting update to publish the changes.
Summary of Extra Tools
While setting up, I encountered some plugins necessary for the full functionality of the theme.
Kadence gives some suggested plugins, which I’ve decided to keep minimal for now. These tools help to make sure the site runs smoothly.
The media files included in the demo are now available for me to use as needed. With all these resources, the theme offers great flexibility to adapt the site to my needs.
Wrapping Up: Takeaways and Suggestions
Reviewing Free and Paid Options
When comparing the free and paid versions of Kadence, there are a few points to keep in mind.
The free version is packed with plenty of features that make it ideal for those on a tight budget. It’s surprising how much you can do without spending a penny.
The ease of use is appealing, especially with the wide range of starter templates. This makes setting up a website a breeze.
However, if you have a budget to spare, the Pro version unlocks more advanced features. These include extra design options and greater flexibility.
For those focused on creating a unique and polished site, upgrading could be a worthwhile investment.
Reflections on Kadence
Using Kadence has been a great experience for me. The theme stands out due to its simplicity and straightforwardness.
Installing templates and customising them to fit my requirements was easy. I didn’t face any issues, thanks to their comprehensive support and documentation.
Kadence provides both beauty and function in its free version. The Pro version takes this further with additional customisation.
Whether you’re just starting or looking to expand your website capabilities, Kadence offers resources suitable for many needs.