I always use basic HTML, hand coded, the simpler the better. If you look look at the source code like a bot does, you want to see a minimum of markup. Wordpress and any other CMS produces tons of spurious superfluous junk...a bit like Frontpage used to do (anyone still use that?) and Dreamweaver to a slightly lesser extent.
totally agree(SEO which is largely smoke/mirrors/bull that goes out of date every time Google changes its algorithm)
Most people spend their time trying to please Google. The others who spend their time pleasing their customers/visitors are the ones who make money.
<header class="site-header" role="banner" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://schema.org/WPHeader">
One thing I like is the Genesis Framework with the StudioPress child themes. They currently have 43, of which 30 have been converted (or added) to HTML5. They constantly update Genesis and it looks like they are shifting all child themes to HTML5 and adding third party ones as well. With that comes automatic schema. However, you will need to get within the theme editor and add more schema data than what is already included.
E.G.
HTML:<header class="site-header" role="banner" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://schema.org/WPHeader">
In newer versions of released themes, they will include niche specific schema data as seen on this blog post: http://wpsites.net/wordpress-themes/adding-custom-schema-in-genesis-for-your-specific-niche/
However, if you want to save money, there is a free plugin to add custom schema data to your pages and posts: http://wordpress.org/plugins/schema-creator/
If you decide to go with Genesis + a child theme (or not) you can use http://schema-creator.org/ to easily create schema data.
https://my.studiopress.com/checkout/?product_id=15886 (THIS IS NOT AN AFFILIATE LINK, DIRECT PURCHASE LINK TO GET ALL FOR $399 + FRAMEWORK) and see all themes available at http://my.studiopress.com/themes/
One thing I like about the product is that it's very customizable. With that being said though, since it basically builds a "sandwich" (easiest terms I can put) of WordPress as the bottom layer of bread, Genesis as the goodies such as smoked turkey and a child theme the top layer of bread it can be difficult at times. You can easily modify the top layer of bread by adding a decoration (say a toothpick with a flag on it), but it's more difficult to remove the top layer once the sandwich is prepared to rearrange the insides to make it a "5 star sandwich".
There are people who know Genesis and you can find freelance workers to modify it to do incredible things or you can browse through their member area and find what you want to do (it's most likely already been asked and done). At that time, it's just trial and error of getting it right on your website.
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