(Part 3 in a series of 4)
In the previous two lessons, we’ve been talking about WordPress. Lesson #33 covers getting started with WordPress. Lesson #34 covers several of my recommended WordPress settings. And now we’re going cover the fun stuff!
(Watch this video…)
Main points:
-There are hundreds of free themes at: http://wordpress.org/extend/themes/
-A nice thing about selecting a theme from the WP site, is seeing if it is compatible with the latest version, seeing user comments, etc.
-Tip: If you intend to do very much customization to your theme, you might want to choose one that is NOT heavily dependent on graphical design.
-Advanced tip: web designers may submit their own theme to WP’s directory (see guidelines first). This could result in exposure from thousands of downloads and back links.
-There are also thousands of 3rd party themes for sale and for free.
Plugins that I currently use:
Akismet
All in One SEO Pack
Dofollow
Ajax Comments-Reply
Flickr Photo Album
ShareThis
UPDATE: I no longer use the ShareThis plugin, and now I use Simple Facebook Like Widget. For more information, see this post about Facebook plugins
There are three main ways…
-You could use an AdSense-ready theme (such as an AdSense template, or search the WP themes directory for one)
-You could use an AdSense WP Plugin, such as Adsense Manager (search the Plugins directory for AdSense). In general, this would be my recommendation.
-You could add it manually to your theme (for example you could insert your ad code into the header.php, sidebar.php, or single.php files)
Action steps:
1) Choose a theme for your WordPress site and install it.
2) If you’re going to allow comments, activate the Akismet plugin.
3) Explore the other plugins.
In the next lesson, we’ll look at how to customize your WordPress theme.
If you need help, please check out the forums at: http://wordpress.org/support/
As always, you are welcome to post your questions and comments below 🙂 Feel free to let us know your favorite themes and plugins!
Have a great day!
Hi Eric.
Fantastic tutorial!
My question is if there is way to check if the new theme will be compatible with existing blog before you do the changes. I tried to simply put new theme on my blog and got some funny characters. Fortunately it come back but now I am afraid it could get damaged permanently.
Hello Gord,
The great thing about themes, is they change the way your site looks, but aren’t tied to your content! You may simply select a new theme from the “Design” section of your WordPress admin panel. If you don’t like the way it looks, you may simply choose a new theme, or go back to your original theme. Either way, the content on your site remains intact!
Hello Gord,
The first thing that you’ll want to do, is to make sure the theme is for a WordPress blog, instead of another blogging platform.
Secondly, some themes are only compatable with more current updates of WordPress. You may see what your current version is from the home page of your WordPress admin panel!
The best way is just to upload the theme and test it. Just do not overwrite your old theme. It will not damage it permanently; you can switch right back to your old theme. You could always run a full backup (including MySQL) via cpanel first if you’re worried.
Hi Eric, You make things sound simple but I find that one little change just bogs me down!. I’ve been working on the theme transfer for most of 12 hours. I use host gator, have a reseller account. Now, I d on’t know if it’s WP or Hostgator or filezilla but I don’t know what my host account is, I don’t know what files to ftp from WP and I get a messge on WP theme page that my stlye sheet is missing! It’s which step to take first and what transfers from WP download onto the live site that has me really frustrated. Sorry but I was really excited about doing something simple that I could finish myself…
it looks like maybe you got it to work?
I am guessing that maybe when you unzipped your theme (befoe uploading it), that it created a folder within a folder. Or perhaps the style sheet was missing, corrupt, or somehow not being uploaded?
Eric,
These tutorials are very helpful. I would have given anything to have seen them a year ago (but I still learn from them).
Thanks
Wow! Beautiful photos Eric! Also, just want to say I always look forward to receiving your tips.
I’m learning a lot watching your videos. However, I’m more interested in becoming an affiliate marketer. Can you direct me to a marketer that’s honest? I know you mentioned someone, but I haven’t been able to find his name or site in my kept “Eric’s Tips” lessons.
Thanks,
James
A couple of affiliate marketing teachers that I would recommend are Rosalind Gardner and Ewen Chia
Hi Eric,
Back at it again, interesting how taking a turn here or there takes you on a whole journey around the web. Anyway, it seems that I will be best served trying this on my own instead of finding a partner. The first thing that I want to do is start building a list while I am designing my site. Maybe the wrong order, but the list seems to be the whole key to what I want to do. You have recommended AWeber and I wanted to use your link to them, I tried finding it in one of your archived articles but don’t see it. I am sure I will be ultimately using many outsources, but for now I have to start somewhere. I just can’t afford the $500 a month and there are no people who are looking to do that side of the business, if they know that, they are doing their own!
Yes building a list is definitely a top priority. My aweber link is:
http://toplevel.aweber.com/
thanks
I like this lesson epsecially when combined with the knowlwdge of the purpose of your blog (personal branding or niche expert).
My question/request Eric is, can i get a theme that is similar/exactly like yours.
I really don’t like too many things on my blog than pure content like yours.
Can i get something of this type?
Once again Eric a very interesting lesson. I am currently loading the program to start my blog.
Thanks
you can find some good simple themes if you search for “minimalist” or “white” or similar words in the WP theme directory. My theme is based partly on an older theme called “silverlight” which you can probably find.
WELL, BACK IN BUSINESS – MULTIPLE DUTUES. wILL TRY TO CATCH UP SOON. TAKE EXTENSIVE NOTES, AND PLAN ON STARTING NEXT MONTH ON WEB SITES. WORKING ON COPY. GREAT HELP – I CAN’T TELL YOU ENOUGH HOW MY VISION AND ‘BELIEF’ LEVEL HAS GONE UP. BY THE WAY, THERE WILL BE A NEW EMAIL SITE – SHORT AND SWEET – LESS CONFUSING. THIS ONE IS NOT A BUSINESS SITE. AL
I guess this video came in at the right time as my site is just a couple of months old and I still am experimenting with it, making tweaks here and there. Although I’ve heard this all-in-one SEO pack and it seems to be recommended a lot by people in the know, I still haven’t decided to give it a try until I hear you recommending it yourself. I think I’m gonna try it today. Thanks Eric.
I still can’t get this theme.
Can i get it from you Eric? I will do my own customization.
Please!!!
(And i just noticed something here right now while typing. Spelling correction? Is that a plug-in in effect or its just part of the theme)
Ok here: http://ericstips.com/silverlight.zip
I’m not sure about the spell check… maybe that’s something on your computer?
OMG! I could have never got this far without your help Eric!
I think I’ve done this correctly? Could someone click on my page. The title page to my blog did create a permalink that will show in the title bar but only if it is clicked on.
Akismet is working great and I tried Sotollo newsletter plugin but having problems with it. I think I have figured out what I’m doing wrong and just need to tweak that. And, not sure if I can do a newsletter with Hatchling?
Other than that I LOVE WordPress. The structure, simple look and feel is pretty much what I want. Of course content at the moment is just filler but wow! Thanks Eric what a huge step I’ve made.
How do i remove the Blogroll & Meta stuffs?
Hello Kola,
You could remove these items from within your WP admin panel. They are located in the “Design” section, followed by the “Widgets” link.
Thank you Micah.
How exactly will i remove them. On getting to the widget page, it listed available and inactive widgets. I draged the ones i don’t want to the inactive ;ist but it’s still there.
What am i doing wrong?
You may have more than one sidebar that the widget’s need to be removed from. Just below the “Current Widgets” area, you should be able to edit additional sidebars if they are included in your theme.
Here is the direct link to the WordPress support for the best help:
http://wordpress.org/support/
I don’t quite understand.
Tell me how to do it precisely. What do i do to remove them?
Hello Kola,
Here is a link that explains another solution:
http://wordpress.org/support/topic/226195
Eric,
thanks for the tip. My service provider gives me a wordpress account but I can’t add plugins. It is their template. but it does get the job done.
thanks for the tips.
you finally answered the questions i asked in lessons 1&5 thanks it cleared my head knowing that answer.i have a wp acct finally now gmail won’t accept it but i’ll get it going some how.i still don’t know what i’m going to do it seems to change from time to time oh well it was a good lesson.
Hi Eric…great lesson.
Back to my little giveaway. ,
Hi Eric
I’ve found your lessons amazing.
In the last couple of weeks I have been through all 52 lessons a couple of times and the information is fantastic.
I recently had a site built for me in WordPress (Which I am now administering). After finding your tips I am now in the process of building another site:ifloserswrotebooks.com.
I have installed the minimalist theme from your lesson on that site.
Being a newbie I have two questions.
1. Is it easy enough to delete The Blogroll”” and “Meta” links on the sidebar.
2. I have tried to set the home page as a static page but when I click on the static page on the “reading settings”and choose the home page it changes the info displayed on the home page to that of the blog post. Am I missing something basic?
This has been really great info about WordPress. I’ve had a blog on another site for a couple of years with tons of spam arriving daily, now I know how to get rid of it!
Hi Eric
Found the answer to the first question in a post above (Sorry I didn’t read that first).
I think my second question may be an issue with WP being ion a sub folder and not the route.
1- yes it’s very easy to remove those from the sidebar. You can remove all the links from within your Admin panel. If you’re using one of the newer widgetized themes, you could drag and drop them out of the sidebar from within your admin panel. If it’s not widgetized, another option would be to simply remove those lines of code from your sidebar.php template.
2- As for the static home page… hmm that’s strange. I’m assuming you did create a static page first, and then selected it from the dropdown menu?
Hi Eric,
I’ve been waiting for the lesson # 36, the lessons are very useful especially a newbie like me.
I have 3 days off so I can read and repeat the lessons but I’m still waiting for lesson # 36.
Thanks and God Bless with your family.
Hi Eric,
I need your recommendation and your reply for my query, hoping you can able to assist me during your busy days.
I have existing moneyonline domain which is not giving me any income from PPC google adsense, could i use my same google adsense account with the new website that will create with the use of profit bot?
I need your advise / recommendation.
Thank you always for giving me an informative lessons and giving direction to real world of internet marketing.
Yes you can use the same Adsense account.
I do not know where Wordpres and how do I use it, in what programs we made please give an explanation
thanks
Thank you for the wonderful advice. I am a web developer and have been using wordpress for a while but i’ve learnt a thing or two from this lesson especially about the Akismet plugin.
I am running behind on lessons but i’m hoping to catch up soon. My website is http://www.peakanddale.com. Have a lovely day.
I have the silverlight template on my new blog but there is Text Link Ads on banner kind of thing on it by default.
How do i remove it?
check it at http://kolaadebayo.com
Just a quick note to say thnx to you Eric for such awesome tutorial at a real humane price. I can already imagine the feelings of “giving back” you must feel. I commend you Sir. I will follow.
Thnx again.
Len
Thanks, Eric, for your series of lessons on Setting Up of Website using various unique features. It is amazing that you can give out such great resources free of charge. You are indeed a man with a large heart. God bless.
But can you produce the same in CDs or DVDs for
distribution to your subscribers/customers?
Sylvester
Actually I do plan on selling the course on DVD’s in the future 😉
Eric,
Lesson 35 would not load movie —
May 13th @ 5:30 AM
Please try these solutions:
Got It!
Looks like FF has a bug… played everything up
to #35; then played up to #41 and stopped again,
But after a reboot of FF they both played just
fine.
As for the lessons… It’s amazing how much you
miss the first time you watch it… or in my
case how much you “FORGET”!!!! 😀
Hello Eric,
I am yet to choose which of the 5 ways to Build a Website. Having gone through all the 5 ways on your tutorial, it looks like the WordPress is the way to go for me.
However, I am not sure whether I can use WordPress for the prevous website which was design using ASP.net framework.
All the files was transfered to my HG reseller Linux server and cannot be replicated.
I was told to get a programmer to re-code this website.
Is there a possibilty to use WP to tweak or is there any plug in for the re-coding.?
I doubt if there is a plugin or any easy way to recode the website from ASP.net to WordPress.
If you were very familiar with WP, you could probably re-create the site yourself.
But if you’re new to it and/or not real comfortable with HTML and PHP, then your best bet is probably to hire a programmer to rebuild the site in WP for you.
I think it will be well worth it, and you will really appreciate the WP interface.
Hi, Eric
From the beginning until now, i am more interesting, thanks for the free lessons.
I just beginner on this. I want to know what the different between Theme and Template, is it related to SEO?
On this lesson you mention WordPress.org and WordPress.com what that? thx
Interesting Eric, I picked up a helpful tip on the SEO all in One plugin and like the idea of using the ajax comments-reply!
Thank You!