My Recommended WordPress Plugins

• Aksimet – provides spam trapping; Akismet captures spam comments and puts them in a spam bucket; you’ll have to delete the spam manually; comes with WordPress
• Google XML Sitemaps – generates an XML sitemap (a robots.txt file) used by search engines; this helps the search engines read and categorize your pages and blog posts
• Maintenance Mode – turn it on and visitors see a page announcing that your site is under maintenance and will be back shortly; a good option if you’re making modifications to the layout or updating your theme; allows you to see your site while others will see the maintenance announcement
• WP-DBManager – provides a very nice tool set for managing you database; your page and post text is stored in a database; the database needs to be backed up regularly; DBManager also provides options to fix and optimize your database for optimal performance
• WordPress Backup – makes a zipped file of your theme and plugin files; has an option to email the files; note – it doesn’t back up all of your WordPress files, just the theme & plugin files
• WordPress Mobile Edition – creates a mobile phone friendly theme for your site; works with older phones as well as smart phones; install the plugin and the mobile theme and away you go; piece of cake! you may want to use WPtouch if most of your visitors will be using smart phones;

Other Helpful WordPress Plugins

• WP-SpamFree – prevents spam comments from being posted; you won’t even see the comments and don’t have to delete them; I recently added this to my site because I got tired of deleting spam comments trapped by Akismet
• WP Super Cache – creates a cache (HTML flat file copies) of your posts and pages so the data doesn’t have to be retrieved from the database; it may speed up a slow loading site
• All in One SEO Pack – creates site SEO options and individual post and page SEO options; allows you to specify content in the title tags, meta tags and keyword tags
• Bad Behavior – helps prevent bot spammers to your comments and contact forms; does a good job but doesn’t prevent everything
• Contact Form 7 – a widely used form creation plugin; fairly easy to use; a bit harder to style with CSS
• WordPress Table Prefix Rename – use this plugin to rename your database files; when WordPress is installed it uses default file names; hackers know the default file names and have developed some hacking techniques based on the default file names; you’ll need to use WP-DBManager to delete the old database files; if you do a manual WordPress install you can override the default file names and not need this plugin; be sure to delete this plugin after you’ve changed the database file names
• Viper’s Video Quicktags – an easy way to include videos from many sources (YouTube, Vimeo,Viddler, Blip.tv, etc.)

When selecting plugins, check the Last Updated date to verify that the plugin author is keeping it current. Also, look at the number of downloads. The more downloads there are, the more confident you can be that it’s a good plugin. Look at the Requires WordPress Version value to make sure it’s compatible with your installation.

What plugins do you like to use?

Yes, Thesis is worth the price

Thesis offers a very nice back-end that allows you to make many customizations quickly. Some of the customizations are:

• font types, colors & sizes
• number of columns (1, 2 or 3)
• width in pixels of your columns
• some borders
• background colors
• page padding
• navigation styling and positioning

These are basic modifications that every blogger or site owner wants to make. With Thesis, it’s very easy to accomplish. But Thesis also offers additional features like built-in SEO settings for each post or page. There’s also a multimedia box that displays images, allows custom code or displays a video. Pretty cool, huh? Yes, it is!

If you think this capability is worth $87.00, then Thesis is definitely worth the money. However, if you think Thesis is easy to modify, read the next section.

You can see a video on Thesis design options here: Thesis design options

No, Thesis isn’t worth the price

How easy is it to spot a Thesis web site? It’s usually very easy. That’s because learning how to modify the code of Thesis isn’t any easier than modifying normal templates. If you’re not a geek, you won’t understand hooks and filters any more than you do PHP code. Hooks and filters allow you to modify the Thesis code without changing the original files.

This is why it’s easy to spot a Thesis themed site. Most people just don’t want to learn geek stuff like hooks and filters to enhance their site. Sure, there are Thesis sites that don’t look like Thesis but the owners of these sites are geeks or spent a lot of time learning hooks and filters so they could modify it. Not a geek? Then Thesis isn’t any easier to modify than other themes.

Another reason Thesis isn’t worth the price is the lack of support for child themes. Child themes allow you to use the existing theme templates and functions. When you want to make changes to the functions or a template you create a new theme folder (this is the child) and create a custom functions file and copy a template to the new theme folder. Then you’ll see a new theme that you created. You select the new theme and now you can make the modifications you need.

Modifications to the child theme are made by adding new functions to the child functions file or by editing a child page template. In this way, all of the original theme files are maintained and the theme can be updated without losing your modifications. The skill level required for child theme modifications is similar to the level you need for Thesis. Thesis has a unique way to separate the original code from modifications. The Thesis method isn’t better, it’s just different.

You can see a good example of making Thesis page templates here: Berchman.com

Thesis pricing is a bit steep in my opinion. $87 for a single license and $167 for a developer’s license that’s not really a developer’s license. The developer’s license allows you to use it unlimited times on sites that you own. I thought developers created sites for other people. I guess I’m stupid. If you want to build sites for other people it’ll cost you $40 more for each site.

Last but not least, what is with the marketing tag line in the footer? I pay $87 for a license and Thesis gets to leave their marketing tag line on my site? Really? Wow, that’s fair. Most premium themes require that you leave a link in the footer. However, most don’t put their marketing tag line in the link. Get real Thesis!

Bottom Line

If you’re buying it for your site(s) and are happy with the back-end customization options, then by all means buy Thesis. Thesis is professionally coded and has great support. You may even want to take the time to learn how to make some modifications to the code. Be advised that Thesis does a great marketing job which makes it sound easy to modify the theme. It’s not any easier if you’re not a geek.

If you’re buying it for development purposes, look elsewhere. You’d be better off with Thematic, Themehybrid or Studiopress. All three of these use the WordPress recommended child theme framework. Thematic and Themehybrid are free while Studiopress allows unlimited use by purchasing the theme once. These are much better options for developers.

The best way to locate individuals is to ask around. Ask on sites where you hang out, ask others who have sites or ask your friends and neighbors. Word of mouth is the best way to find someone. After all, that’s really what the internet is all about. A big, gigantic community bulletin board!

What to Look For

1. Locate their web site. They gotta have one, right? Check it out. Does it have a nice design? Is it organized well? Is the information helpful? Does it have unique features? How does their portfolio look?
2. Determine how easy it is to contact this person. Is there a contact form? If not, you must be on the wrong site. Does the expert have a phone number? How about an address? Real businesses have phone numbers and addresses.
3. Determine if the expert does this for a living. If not, just have your neighbor’s son’s friend’s cousin set up your site. He’ll have it up and running in no time or when he gets around to it. You want an expert that is available during normal working hours not someone who sets up web sites at night and on the weekend. You may have to ask the expert to find out if he/she is full-time.

Try Out the Expert

1. Contact the expert using their contact form. How long does it take to get a response? Is the response helpful? Does their writing style work for you?
2. Call the expert. Does he/she answer or return your call within a reasonable period of time? How well do they communicate on the phone? Can the expert explain technical issues in an understandable way?
3. Start with a small job. If you want to try someone, ask if they’ll do a small job for you. It may cost you $25 or $50, but it may help you avoid a disaster. How quickly is the job done? Was the expert helpful in explaining what was done? Did they ask if you were satisfied before being paid?

Find a Good Mechanic

Most of us have cars. If you don’t, this analogy can be related to any other service provider. Anyway, most of us have an auto mechanic that we like to use. The mechanic I use is good, but I also think he’s expensive. However, I’ve had repairs done at other shops and settled on him. Even though I think he’s expensive, he does good work and I trust him. Therefore, I don’t care about the difference in price.

A good web site mechanic is worth their price. Find a good web site mechanic and stick with him or her. You won’t have to worry about the quality of their work. Besides, you can tell everybody your web site mechanic is the best, but boy is he expensive!

bizFX 1.2 is a free WordPress theme. Check it out. Download it today!

1. Download bizFX 1.2.
2. Install bizFX by the normal process you use.
3. Check out the setup & install videos.
   

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bizFX 1.2 Features:

• WordPress 3.0 ready (requires 3.0)
• CU3ER 3D image slider
• Page-based design
• Page templates: Product/Service list page, Product/Service page, Contact page, Full-width page
• Dropdown menus
• Clean, fast loading graphics
• Easy custom field configuration for the home page boxes
• Two color schemes
• IE6  fixes
• Tested in FF, IE, Chrome & Opera with WordPress 3.0
• Valid XHTML
• Widget ready sidebar

Click here to view the embedded video.

See a live demo: High FX Test.com

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bizFX 1.2 Features:

• WordPress 3.0 ready (requires 3.0)
• CU3ER 3D image slider
• Page-based design
• Page templates: Product/Service list page, Product/Service page, Contact page, Full-width page
• Dropdown menus
• Clean, fast loading graphics
• Easy custom field configuration for the home page boxes
• Two color schemes
• IE6  fixes
• Tested in FF, IE, Chrome & Opera with WordPress 3.0
• Valid XHTML
• Widget ready sidebar

The following videos assume that you have installed the theme in the normal way and that you have uploaded all of your images and icons. There is a readme.html file in the bizFX folder with all of the setup instructions.

• Add Product/Service Pages
• Configure the CU3ER
• Finish Page Setup
• Change the Logo
• Add Social Icons
• Add/Organize Categories
• Edit Footer Links
• Change Color Scheme

Add Product/Service Pages

Watch this video to see what pages to add and what information to collect for the CU3ER configuration file. The video was created prior to the release of WP 3.0. Create your pages and use the new WordPress Menu option to create your menu the way you want.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Configure the CU3ER & Upload It

Watch this video to see how to configure the CU3ER (config.xml) file and upload it. This file is located in the bizFX/cu3er folder and controls the 3D slider.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Finish Page Setup

Watch this video to see how to add the custom fields to populate the home page boxes, add a thumbnail to list pages, add an image to product/service pages and add icons to the home page boxes.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Change the Logo

Watch this video if you have a logo file with a different name or if you uploaded your logo with the Media option. If you have a logo.png file, upload it to bizFX/images. Your logo will now appear in the header. Your logo should be 300w X 95h. If you want to use your site name in the header, just delete the bizFX/images/logo.png file on your site.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Add Social Icons

Watch this video if you want to add more social media icons in the header.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Add/Organize Categories

Watch this video to see how you can add, delete or organize categories.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Edit Footer Links

Watch this video to change or remove the footer links for Terms & Conditions and Privacy pages.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Change Color Scheme

Watch this video to see how to change the color scheme.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Thanks for your understanding and for using bizFX!

Kurt

WordPress is a Great Start

WordPress makes the initial set up easy. Get a domain, get a web hosting account and install WordPress. The web hosting company may even provide a click and install option. How easy is that? Well, that’s just the beginning.

A basic WordPress, 5 plugins & theme install should be no more than $50.00. However, if you want a 100 page site, want to have memberships or sell hundreds of products that could be a bit more.

What Do You Want People To Be Able To Do On Your Site?

In order to determine an estimated price up front (notice I said estimated), you need to figure out what you want on the site. Just as important, you need to define what you want people to be able to do on your site. Here’s a beginning list of questions you need to ask yourself:

• How many pages do you want?
• Do you have a WordPress theme that you like?
• Is there anything you want changed in the theme?
• Do you have a custom logo to install?
• Do you have social links or icons you want set up?
• Do you want videos, audio clips or flash elements set up?
• Are you selling products? Hard goods? Digital?
• Will your site be a membership site?
• What do you want people to be able to do on your site? Sign up for a newsletter? Download your ebook? Sign up for your feed?

There are many more questions that you could ask yourself. If it’s not part of WordPress or your theme, that’ll be extra.

Start By Finding What You Like

The first thing you need to do is define what you like about certain sites. Second, find a WordPress theme that comes close to what you want. Determine what you want people to be able to do on your site. Last, find someone who can put it together for you if you can’t or don’t want to do it yourself. Once you define how much you want, how you want it to look and what you want people to be able to do, a price can be determined.

High FX Media offers a basic WordPress site for $399.95 or a complete hosted package for $64.95 per month. Check it out on the pricing page.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Some theme authors will put compiled code into a WordPress theme. Compiled code is a computer program that has been rendered for a computer to use. This compiled code looks like jibberish when viewed in a text editor. In the offending theme, removing the compiled code from the footer where it was located broke the theme. The theme wouldn’t display correctly when the offending code was removed. The author of this theme also had links back to his site hidden from view. Believe it or not, you can actually position web page elements (links, images, whatever) out of view. Weird, huh? Yeah, images can actually exist but not be visible on your monitor.

The purpose of putting this junk code into free themes varies. This particular author generated links to several sites which appeared in the footer. I must say that the linked sites were an odd collection of links. Very odd indeed. Other authors may actually put viruses into free themes. So the tale here is to only download free themes from sites that are mainstream. Also, if you know someone who has used a theme without problems, that’s a good source.

The absolute best place to get free themes is WordPress.org. If you’re familiar with sites like SmashingMagazine, this would be a good source also. Some premium theme authors offer free themes as well. My suggestion would be: If you don’t know the site, find someone who does. Otherwise, don’t download free themes from the site.

Okay, you want to know the culprit so you don’t download it. Here it is: Offending theme