Most of the websites I have worked on over the last couple years have been built using WordPress, one of the best Content Management Systems available. It is extremely flexible and powerful, with great tools for Search Engine Optimization already built in. For a new user, however, it can be a little overwhelming once they log in for the first time. The WordPress backend is a little bit heavy and offers so many tools that it can be confusing for those new to the system. At first I was spending a lot of time on the phone talking clients through the same basic issues over and over. How do I add a new post? How do I create a new category? While these were new issues for them, I had to repeat myself over and over. So I put together a document that provides basic instructions for using WordPress and I have

Posted In: Articles, Blog, Downloads, Resources, WordPress, WordPress Tutorials.
Tags: custom web design, how to, Resources, web design resources, web design tips, WordPress

WPJumpStart is a collection of tools and instructions that will drastically speed up your WordPress theme development or blog design. WPJumpStart is: A system of tools that will improve theme design workflow. Built especially for designers and developers with experience building themes for WordPress. A helping hand for those with intermediate knowledge of WordPress themes. WPJumpStart is not: Meant for those new to HTML or completely new to WordPress. A complete guide or manual to the inner workings of WordPress. What Exactly is it? WPJumpStart is a compilation of resources that will improve your workflow and allow you to create cleaner designs, build themes faster and optimize WordPress itself. Bring your WordPress projects to a more professional level and decrease the time you spend on projects. BlogStarter - An emptied out blog theme, ready to be quickly styled into a custom theme. BlogStarter is now actually two themes - a Two-Column simple blog layout, and a wide One-Column layout complete with

Posted In: Downloads, WordPress, WordPress Resources.
Tags: Downloads, products, web design resources, web design tips, WordPress, WPJumpStart

This is a list of WordPress Plugins that I use and recommend for almost every WordPress site I work on. I will try to keep it up to date with the best that I can find in each category. There are plenty of great plugins out there, but I find myself using these ones over and over again. If anyone knows of better options or can add ones that I missed, please leave a comment below and I will try to add them in. Best Plugins for Spam: Askimet - One of the default plugins. It has been all I have needed for spam so far. Activate this right away. Best  Plugins for SEO: All in one SEO Pack - Lets you control metadata on everypage and post. Google XML Sitemaps - Automically generates a sitemap and submits it to Google, MSN, and Ask.com. KB Robots.txt - Easily control your robots.txt file and help search engines

Posted In: Articles, WordPress, WordPress Resources.
Tags: plugins, web design resources, web design tips, WordPress, WPJumpStart