I downloaded and installed the Authority Pro Theme, and I’m really impressed with its performance. I was skeptical at first because I didn’t want to spend too much time learning something new. But after seeing the benefits of this theme on various types of websites, I decided to write a full review.
Authority Pro is a premium WordPress theme designed to create beautiful websites. The theme comes with tons of features, such as custom widgets, shortcodes, and a drag & drop page builder.
It has a clean design, and it looks great on desktop, mobile, and tablet devices. In addition, the theme offers lots of customization options, allowing you to customize every aspect of your site.
If you like the theme, you can get the Authority Pro Theme from StudioPress which is now with WP Engine. If you need to get WordPress, a hosting plan, and the theme, you can do that at Ballen Brands.com. Jeff and Paul are my brothers, and they provided managed WordPress hosting, platforms, and themes along with other tools from the marketing suite. If you want to talk to them about building it for you, give them a call at 702-917-0755.
My Authority Pro Theme Review
Overall, I think Authority Pro is a clean, responsive design that is visually appealing both on mobile, and on desktop. It’s a flexible theme for sure. It’s one of the better business themes that Genesis makes. I appreciate that it offers multiple page layout choices including a full-width layout with no sidebar.
While many bloggers that monetize their website with google Adsense or Ezoic ads need the sidebar, others prefer a more modern look. The simple theme allows you to have a clean, minimalist layout without having to learn anything new.
The best-selling theme includes multiple page templates, blog posts, archives, single posts, featured content sliders, and more. The default homepage layout is ideal for brands. The key features include several blocks for a call to action, testimonials, and a “Hello Bar”.
Here are some of the most notable features.
One-Click Install
I’ve been building my own WordPress websites for more than a decade. While installing themes used to be clunky, and time-consuming, these days, the 1-click demo importer make it easy to install any theme in minutes. And if you’re not happy with the results, just uninstall the theme. That’s why I love the one-click installation feature of the Authority Pro Theme.
It allows me to quickly install the theme without having to mess around with FTP or messing up my server settings. It even uploaded the demo content so you can have placeholders out of the box. These essential features help you create business websites, fast.
The one-click installation also makes it easy to update the theme later.
Page Load Speed
Authority Pro loaded fast even with a variety of WordPress plugins that were previously installed. It’s important to note that the theme does not include any caching or optimization features.
This means that if you’re running a lot of plugins, there could be some lag in loading times. However, when I tested the theme with plugins, it still loaded quickly. The load time was 1.2 seconds when I tested it.
Header Options
While the header is customizable, it’s also very flexible. You can add social media icons, logos, and links. There are also two different header styles: fixed and fluid. With the fixed style, the header is always visible above the content area.
With the fluid style, the header adjusts according to how much space the content takes up.
Custom Widgets
As mentioned earlier, this theme includes a number of custom widgets. These widgets allow you to display information, such as recent posts, featured images, and categories. For example, you can create a widget that displays recent blog posts.
Theme Customizer
The customizer tool allows you to change almost everything about the theme, including colors, fonts, background images, customizable header images, footer text, logo, social media links, and more.
The best part of all these customization options is that they’re easy to use. There are no complicated settings to learn, just click and choose what you want.
Gutenberg Blocks
While some bloggers have been hesitant to move away from the WordPress classic editor, I jumped in feet first with the Gutenberg block editor. I was pleasantly surprised by how well it worked. I really liked the new blocks, especially the block library. With this tool, you can easily add different types of content, such as videos, audio, quotes, and much more.
My favorite feature of Gutenberg blocks is the ability to save a block as reusable. The next page or post you create that can use the previously created block will automatically pull it into the editor. This saves you time because you don’t have to go back and re-create the same block over and over again.
Authority Pro is Gutenberg block enabled, although you can revert back to the classic editor if that’s more your thing.
Call To Action Bar
Another reason Authority pro is a perfect theme for bloggers is the call to action bar above the header. If you have a special offer or want to make your contact info easy to find, the banner can do just that. It’s also easy to disable if you don’t like it.
Mobile Responsive Theme
Authority Pro is designed to work great on mobile devices. It’s a lightweight theme without the heavy page builders. When I tested the theme settings on my iPhone, looked great. The site loads quickly, and the layout looks good on both desktop and mobile.
WooCommerce Optimized
While I don’t have a store on this website, I often use WooCommerce when building an eCommerce store using WordPress. Authority Pro supports WooCommerce out of the box, so you can start selling right away.
Just add the WooCommerce plugin.
Translation Ready
If you plan on translating your website into another language, Authority Pro has you covered. All of the translated strings are stored within the.po file. This makes translation simple and quick.
Custom CSS
You can customize every aspect of the theme, including color schemes, font styles, and more. You can also download custom CSS files for free. The minimalist design allows you to focus on what matters most: content.
Breadcrumbs
I love breadcrumb navigation. It helps visitors navigate through my blog posts and pages. Authority Pro comes with a built-in breadcrumb system. You can also turn off the breadcrumbs if you prefer. Breadcrumbs are great for SEO purposes because Google uses them to create relationships between posts and categories, as well as with pages.
Social Media Links
There are plenty of social media buttons included in this multipurpose theme. These include Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and more. You’ll be able to connect your accounts in seconds.
Google Fonts
The theme includes several Google fonts, which means you won’t need to install any additional plugin to get the look you desire.
Featured Image
On individual posts, images appear as a hero image and are 1200 x 385 pixels wide. It looks really nice.
Visual Builder
This theme has a visual builder. It’s similar to Visual Composer but easier to use. You can drag and drop elements to build your own unique layouts.
Accessible Theme
Authority Pro was developed with accessibility in mind. There are many features that help people who may not have full access to their computer. For example, there’s a screen reader option available.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Easy to Install (one-click install)
- Easy to use (once you learn blocks, widgets, and plugins, the rest is a breeze)
- Great Support
- Lots of Features
- Search engine friendly
- Mobile Responsive
- One time fee, nothing recurring
- Lifetime updates
- Subscription box on the home page
Cons
- Lack of Caching or Optimization
- Footer is a bit lacking
- Genesis framework can be slow, although this theme passes the speed test
- Lacks color options and advanced design elements
Genesis Framework
The Authority theme was developed by Genesis Framework, which is one of the most popular theme builder frameworks available today. In order to install Authority Pro, a child theme of Genesis, you also need the Genesis framework. It is included when you purchase Authority Pro.
The framework gives you tons of features, but it can sometimes be difficult to figure out what each button does. That said, there is a lot of documentation available online.
In addition to the documentation, there are lots of tutorials available from the Genesis team. They’re not always easy to follow, but they will help you understand how to use the framework.
Overall, I think Genesis is a fantastic framework. However, if you’re looking for something easier to use, then Authority Pro may be a better option for you.
Who is Authority Pro Best For?
I am a consultant and coach, course creator, and real estate, agent. I think Authority Pro is a perfect choice for each and every one of those brands. While the home page can be customized to include any widgets you want, it’s an excellent brand page to establish authority.
A speaker, author, writer, or influencer could use Authority Pro to build a website that showcases their work. A business owner could use it to showcase their products and services. Personal bloggers could use it to promote her/his content.
In addition, you could use it for any other type of website, such as real estate, by adding 3rd party premium plugins to add functionality.
How to Install Authority Pro
If you have WordPress Already
1. Buy the Theme
2. Download the Genesis Framework
3. Download the child theme
4. Go to appearance -> Themes -> Add New
5. Upload the Genesis Framework, and activate
6. Upload the child theme, and Activate
7. Click the one-click Install
8. Customize the theme starting with the home page.
9. Add your header menu and footer menu.
If you need WordPress
1. Visit Ballen Brands
2. Purchase a hosting plan
3. Receive your Website within 24-hours
4. Follow the steps above to purchase, download, upload, and install your Authority Pro theme.
