Wordpress Jedi » blogging

Thesis 1.7 vs. Thesis 1.6: What Has Changed

Wordpress Jedi — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 03:28:26 +0000

If you have been in the business of blogging and have not heard of Thesis theme so far, you have missed on a whole lot of awesomeness. There are plenty of pro blogging premium themes for WordPress that can help you start a new blog or give your blog a makeover for less. But Thesis is without a doubt at the very top when it comes to ease of use, potential, and customizability. Thesis 1.7 is the latest edition of Thesis WordPress theme and has gotten a huge boost of power to help pro bloggers focus more on what’s important for their business and worry less about issues with their theme.

The developers behind Thesis have focused on providing a set of powerful features to WordPress bloggers to help them customize the look and feel of their blogs easily and optimize their web sites for search engines in the process. So you don’t necessarily have to hard code any on-page optimization tactics to get your WordPress website ready for the search engines. Thesis 1.6 already covered a lot of these options under the options page in the back-end. But Thesis 1.7 has improved a lot in that area and does seem a bit more organized.

Thesis 1.6 Options Page

Vs.

Thesis 1.7 Site Options Page

Thesis 1.7 has some of these options broken down into various sections. So customization options for the home page have moved to a whole different page (to make the whole process less confusing). So these features have not disappeared if you are comparing the two images above.

The Design Options page has gotten a major boost in Thesis 1.7. You can not only customize the look and feel of your website from this page, you can also customize your comment section, enable Javascript libraries, and even customize how you want your posts and thumbnails to show on your blog. Best of all, these new features have been added without making the whole back-end page more confusing.

Thesis 1.7 Design Options Page

Vs.

Thesis 1.6 Design Options Page

You may ask what happened to some of the options that had disappeared from the first Options page. Thesis 1.7 comes with a whole new page (Page Options) to help you manage your pages’ settings more effectively. So you can easily customize your home page, category page, and tag page options.

Thesis 1.7 Page Options

All these options are now available in your dashboard’s option bar. So once you install Thesis 1.7, you should see these new options links in your Thesis section. Page Options, Site Options, and Manage Options are now included under your Thesis box in your WordPress dashboard.

Thesis 1.7 Options

Vs.

Thesis 1.6 Options

Now here is my favorite part. Thesis 1.7 makes it so easy to save your options and settings and have the ability to restore them if something happens to your website. The Manage Options item makes it possible to prepare yourself for the worst case scenario just in case your blog disappears or breaks.

Thesis 1.7 Manage Options Section

All in all, Thesis 1.7 goes a few steps above Thesis 1.6 and is certainly worth the upgrade. Of course, if you have the earlier version of Thesis, the option is available to you for free. If you have been waiting to have more options to optimize your Thesis theme, Christmas has come early with Thesis 1.7. Just imagine what Thesis 2.0 or 3.0 will be capable of.

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Get Started with Social Blogging with MyStream Theme

Wordpress Jedi — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:59:59 +0000

Everyday that passes by, more people take time to contribute to the social communities that they are a part of. Whether it is uploading a video to YouTube, posting tweets to Twitter, or updating Facebook, people are doing it all. The idea of social blogging has been born due to that fact. People are not only sharing content on top social media sites, but they are also sharing what they are doing on those sites with their visitors on a daily basis. That way your visitors will know what communities you participate in and how they can reach out to you there.

MyStream is a cool personal blogging theme that lets those new to blogging to get a fast start. The theme is designed with your social media profiles in mind. It lets you integrate your videos, pictures, and tweets into your blog easily. You can also let your visitors connect with you on Facebook, Twitter, Vimeo, and Flickr. That is accomplished through a widgetized zone with custom widgets to display your social media profiles in your sidebar.

MyStream comes in 6 different color schemes. So you can get started with your theme customization process as fast as possible. You also get 7 exclusive widgets to make changing things around and displaying information on your blog much easier. The theme is pretty flexible and SEO friendly as well. Of course, what you accomplish with this theme is up to you. If you don’t participate in social media networks out there, your theme is not going ot have much to show. Nevertheless, MyStream is a great way to get started with social blogging.

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Create Your Personal Blog with myweblog

Wordpress Jedi — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 10:45:28 +0000

Creating a personal blog couldn’t be easier these days. You don’t have to be a technical genius or have an Einstein-like IQ to set up a blog fast. WordPress makes it super easy to set up a website fast. Thanks to themes such as myweblog, you don’t have to spend thousands getting a custom design for your blog. You can get a well-designed, highly flexible design for an affordable price.

myweblog is highly attractive WordPress design that makes it easy to build a real community with your WordPress blog. Whatever topic you are into, you can use the integrated LifeStream info on your sidebar to let others know about your online activities. You can also change the look and feel of your design easily to make it look unique.

myweblog comes with an image re-sizer that makes it easy to add all kinds of images to your blog. You also get to create sticky posts on your featured section. You do get 5 color schemes to choose from, making it too easy to customize the look and feel of your website fast. The color coded categories at the top make the site more user-friendly. Flickr is integrated as well, enabling you to add your favorite photos to your blog quickly.

The categories at the top are all drop-downs, making it possible to add a whole lot of categories. The search function is in a prominent place to let your readers find content on your blog without too much trouble. myweblog by WooThemes is another good option to consider for everyone who’s looking to create or enhance her/his personal WP blog. It’s easy to use, user-friendly, and highly customizable. It’s not that expensive either.

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20 Cool WordPress Themes for Technology Bloggers

52 Best Premium Themes For Pro Bloggers

Wordpress Jedi — Tue, 26 May 2009 13:25:53 +0000

WordPress is the most popular platform for bloggers. You name a decent blogger, and he/she has probably heard and used WordPress in the past. There is much to love about the platform. Not only there are thousands of plug-ins available to enhance your site’s functionality, there are lots of themes to choose from to get the design you love on your site. With that in mind. Here are 36 top pro blogging themes for WordPress.

1. Thesis: Thesis is made specifically for bloggers. It’s not only lightweight, but very easy to customize. Many super bloggers are already using Thesis, and sometimes even I wonder why I am not using it. So don’t be surprised to see me dump my current theme for Thesis soon (in the next few weeks).

2. Blog V3: Bob version 3 is one of the most good looking themes designed for bloggers. The design is superb, and it comes with everything you need to knock out your blog out of the park.

3. Streamline: Streamline is a highly flexible theme from StudioPress. It’s easy to customize and comes with a dynamic menus and ad ready.

4. Urban Elements: another great theme just for bloggers. Urban Elements is very simple and easy to change. You don’t have to be a programming expert to customize the look and feel.

5. Stylish Blog: a beautiful pro blogging design. Stylish Blog is not only stylish but comes social media and ad ready.

6. BusyBee: A great theme from WooThemes. BusyBee not only attractive, it’s flexible too. Very attractive and highly customizable.

7. TrueBlogger: TrueBlogger a great blogging theme for folks who want to have a ProBlogger lookalike. It’s not a complete copycat, and it is highly customizable.

8. Arthemia: Arthemia is a very good looking magazine theme that with some modifications makes a great blogging theme.

9. Platformate: Platformate is a great looking theme with thumbnail support and everything.

10. WP Remix: WP Remix an all in one WordPress theme that can be used to create all kinds of websites.

11. Our Community: Our Community is a highly attractive problogging theme that can help you build a real community around your blog. Very clean.

12. Creation: Creation is another clean blogging theme that comes with everything you need to start your blog fast.

13. FlashNews: FlashNews is a sophisticated and well-designed theme that should help you get started with blogging fast.

14. TheStation: TheStation is designed for people who are looking to put up their blogs fast. Highly customizable.

15. Viva7: Viva7 another great theme that is highly customizable and can be used for super blogs.

16. Blogging Success: Blogging Success a video ready blog that is designed for folks who want to start their own site as soon as possible.

17. Arras Theme: Arras Theme a niche blogging theme designed for gamers. It comes with a dark background and perfect for geeky websites.

18. EarthlyTouch: EarthlyTouch is a flexible theme that allows you to run your website as a portal or a blog.

19. WP Premium: with WP Premium, you get multiple layouts and can create your own blog family.

20. Pro-Pemuda: a great looking theme that makes it easy to put up more complex blogs up fast.

21. myweblog: myweblog is designed specifically for probloggers. Comes integrated with LifeStream and 5 color schemes.

22. Sketchd: Sketchd is an artistic WordPress theme that would look awesome on any blog.

23. QuickRise: QuickRise is a highly attractive theme for serious bloggers. It’s very dynamic and comes with international language support.

24. ColdStone: a great theme for bloggers. ColdStone comes with a clean code and is social media ready. You get 3 layouts.

25. Citrus: one of the most attractive blogging themes on the Internet. Citrus comes in 6 layouts that you can use to create all kinds of niche blogs.

26. One Theme: OneTheme is another great theme that gives you plenty of options to start and customize your problogging theme.

27. DeepBlue: DeepBlue is a great looking theme for technology, gadget, and gaming bloggers.

28. Elegant: Elegant is another dark theme for technology and gaming bloggers. It is easy to customize and you get the PSD files as well!

29. Clean Slate: Clean Slate is a very clean and attractive pro blogging theme. It’s easily customizable and lets you promote your content easily.

30. Chaapar: Chaapar a dynamic pro blogging theme that comes in 6 colors, ads management, PSD files, and sidebar login.

31. TechGate: TechGate Ultimate is a 6 in 1 WordPress theme that comes with a clean code and supports all kinds of content. Great for hybrid bloggers.

32. OmniTheme: OmniTheme is a complete blogging solution for those who have multiple blogs. You get multiple layouts, and OmniTheme is highly customizable.

33. MotherTheme: dubbed as the mother of all WordPress themes, MotherTheme is a dark/light theme designed for blogging professionals.

34. Credit Crunch: Credit Crunch is an attractive WordPress theme designed for finance bloggers.

35. Hawaii: if you are into blogging about vacations and Hawaii in specific, you are going to love Hawaii WordPress theme.

36. Convergence: another social media ready blogging theme. Great for building solid communities.

37. Member: a simple pro blogging theme that comes in 3 colors. Perfect for personal blogging.

38. DarkCommunity: Darkcommunity is a cool WordPress theme with the intent and focus on creating a community site around your blog. Comes social media ready (Digg, Twitter, …).

39. Bloggingstream: Bloggingstream has a very good looking theme for personal bloggers. Comes integrated with YouTube. Has a magazine look and feel to it.

40. Cool Theme: Cool Theme another good looking yet simple theme for beginner bloggers.

41. MoneyBlogger: MoneyBlogger is a very attractive blogging theme by BlogOhBlog that is perfect for Web 2.0 websites.

42. CafferaTheme: CafferaTheme a super clean Javascript-heavy theme that can be used for personal blogging.

43. DarkNote: DarkNote is a dark pro blogging theme that comes with 5 color schemes including: Blue, Orange, Pink, Green and Red. It also integrates Twitter as well.

44. Technoholic: a very simple and flexible too for tech bloggers. Technoholic is affordable too!

45. Personal Press: a blogging theme by Zidalgo, it comes with an attractive color contrast and is made for colorful bloggers.

46. Alaska: Alaska is an affordable and SEO-friendly theme that is excellent for starting Web 2.0 blogs. But by no means you are limited to that topic.

47. Venice: Venice is very similar to Alaska but it comes with a warmer contrast of colors.

48. Personal Blog: as the name suggests, Personal Blog is the perfect theme for blogging beginners and those interested in creating their personal blogs.

49. Who’s Who: Who’s Who is another great theme by ElegantThemes that allows you the option to run a portal or blog.

50. ArtSee: ArtSee is a light blogging theme that comes with AJAX and drop down effects and is easily customizable.

51. Open Air: Open air is one gorgeous theme. You can use it for other purposes than blogging, but it makes one good blog, if you decide to use it.

52. CherryTruffle: CherryTruffle is a social media blogging theme that allows you to easily integrate your YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and other accounts into your theme.

Please feel free to add your favorite pro blogging WordPress themes below

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Duplicate ProBlogger with Money Blogger

Wordpress Jedi — Mon, 04 May 2009 09:27:26 +0000

A few of my blogging colleagues have asked me a few times about a WordPress theme that would allow them to create their own ProBlogger copycat. Problogger.com uses a very attractive, custom-designed theme, which means you are not going to find anything like it on the market. But there are a few themes that come close. Money Blogger by BlogOhBlog comes closest to anything I have seen on the market. It not only has an attractive design, it’s highly customizable as well.

Money Blogger is a theme created for super bloggers. It has everything you would expect in a pro-blogging theme. You get your RSS and subscription box right at the top of the page. You have your links lined up at the top of the page. The logo can be changed easily in the code. You also get an about me section that you should use to communicate with your readers on the reasons they should be reading your material.

Blog monetization is very easy with Money Blogger. You’ve got two options for your ads. You can use the left sidebar to display your 125*125 ads. Another way to go is by putting your vertical ads on your right sidebar. If you need more space for ads, you can put a 468 * 60 banner under your content tabs (which are CSS based and highly customizable as well).

The code is clean and easy to customize. The guys at BlogOhBlog have create a modular theme in Money Blogger that can be easily customized without too much effort. Overall, if you want to start your very own problogging theme, Money Blogger is an affordable way to get started right away.

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Become a Pro WordPress Blogger with Bob v3 Theme

Wordpress Jedi — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 09:47:47 +0000

I have talked a lot about niche themes on WP Jedi. But one thing that I have probably not talked about is the mother of all niches – blogging. You have probably seen it by now. There are many folks around us who make decent living from teaching other how to blog or make money with blogging. I personally have no trouble with that as long as these guys actually make money from blogging before they started getting yours and my money.

But the truth is, many folks get into the blogging niche without actually making the millions first, and I don’t have a problem with that either. Pro blogging is a very hot niche these days, especially with the economy breaking down. Who wouldn’t want to be able to make a decent amount of money without the hassles of dressing up and going to work everyday?

Bob v3 is one theme that is just made for pro bloggers. As the name indicates, there are three version of this theme. The theme has evolved through the past couple of upgrades, and is now one SEO power house for pro bloggers. Bob v3 comes with the one feature that every pro blogger needs – “my favorite posts.” You get to promote posts that are the most popular on your blog. I also like the fact that you have an “about me” section to promote and sell your background.

The tabbed content is very useful. The content Ajaxified slider is “cool,” and you can use the tab feature to save real estate and show your readers more things. One thing I would change about this theme is the advertisement section. I believe it’s too low on the page, and I have not had success with my ads on that spot. It may work for you, but I am personally biased there.

Overall, Bob v3 is a very contemporary looking pro blogging theme. It’s very easy to navigate, and it’s easy on eyes. With a bit of modification, you can have your very own super blogging theme. One thing I would say is Bob v3 is a theme for serious bloggers. It is not a cheap theme as it comes with many premium features, so if you are not planning to have a serious blog, you should probably look at free theme. Good luck.

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