Unzip this file first : Cottonwood-master-file.zip
Installing the theme
On your WordPress Dashboard, go to Appearance >> Themes >> Click Add New >> Click Upload Theme >> Click Choose File and choose genesis.zip from your computer path. Repeat the same step and upload the second theme, which is the Cottonwood-genesis.zip.
Activate the theme
So you have uploaded 2 themes, but you will only activate the child theme, which is the Cottonwood theme. Click Activate Cottonwood theme.
Installing plugins
Go to Appearance >> Install Plugins.
Check all plugins, select install and click “Apply”.
Go to Plugins >> Installed Plugins.
Check all plugins, select activate and click “Apply”.
Importing demo content
Go to TOOLS >> IMPORT. Scroll down to the very bottom where it says WordPress, and click Run Importer.
If you want to import the whole demo content (including demo posts):
Click Choose File, and select this file from your computer: Cottonwood-demo-content.xml
If you just want to import the DEMO PAGES ONLY:
Click Choose File, and select this file from your computer: Cottonwood‐demo-content-pages-only.xml
Click Upload File and Import
Fixing thumbnail size
You can skip this step if you don’t have any posts other than the demo ones.
Go to TOOLS >> REGEN. THUMBNAILS. Click Regenerate All Thumbnails.
Set up widgets to look like the demo
Go to TOOLS >> WIDGET IMPORTER & EXPORTER.
Under import widgets, click CHOOSE FILE. Choose the Cottonwood‐demo-widgets.wie file from your computer and click IMPORT WIDGETS.
Set up homepage
Go to SETTINGS >> READING.
If you want your homepage to have the blog look, under “Your Homepage Displays” choose YOUR LATEST POSTS.
If you want your homepage to have the informative homepage look, choose “A Static Page”. Then, for the Homepage, choose “Homepage”. For Posts Page, choose “Blog”.