This is Part 3 of a 6-part series on diving "under the hood" with WordPress. Today, we're covering CSS, known as "Cascading Stylesheets". Using CSS, you can modify any property of an HTML tag and have the web look exactly like you see fit! Other posts in this series: Intro HTML CSS - Introduction CSS - Examples PHP jQuery Now that we understand the basics of HTML,…
This is Part 2 of a 6-part series on diving "under the hood" with WordPress. Today, we're covering HTML - the markup language that allows a web browser to interpret and display content. Other posts in this series: Intro HTML CSS - Introduction CSS - Examples PHP jQuery Every time you visit a website like one of those eloboost websites, blog, web application, or even…
This is Part 1 of a 6-part series on diving "under the hood" with WordPress. Other posts in this series: Intro HTML CSS - Introduction CSS - Examples PHP jQuery There's no doubt about it: WordPress is a powerful CMS. Whether you're wanting to run a world famous restaurant site, the next big craft blog, or a membership site to inspire millions... WordPress can handle…
Back in Dublin, I did a session on Google Authorship for the Travel Blogger's Expo (TBEX), explaining the process and meaning behind linking your website to Google+. The process, while it seems intimidating, is actually very easy, and is (essentially) linking your profile and site together. I wanted to amend my session notes with some other information I've discovered since speaking, and provide those notes…
There's a mantra I repeat when people ask what they should be doing online: "Go where the people are". A good rule of thumb is to ask your readers what social media they frequently use, and strive to connect with them there. The one resounding link I've always gotten: the ability to listen to podcasts when they're on the go or commuting. The good news? It's…
With all of the various tutorials I post on CSS, HTML, and website design, I often get emails from readers that resemble something like this: "This looks awesome, but I have no idea where to start. Do you have anything that talks about the basics of [css/html/jQuery/etc]" It's worth going back to the very beginning to set a great foundation for the other tutorials…
CSS Transitions, when used properly, are a great way to provide a bit of eye candy to your site. Providing movement and motion, either upon scroll or reveal of content, is a great way to subtly draw a viewer's attention. It's also a way, unfortunately, to annoy the ever-loving crap out of your readers. When CSS Transitions were first revealed, people worried that they…
Adding a featured image (or a post thumbnail) to WordPress is one of the easiest ways to add some spark to your blog post. Most modern themes support at least some form of the featured image, and any custom-made themes can implement a featured image fairly easily, and with just a small bit of code. But some themes only scratch the surface when it comes…
Of the two "pieces" of your website (your domain and your hosting), finding appropriate hosting is the most important the appropriate thing would be to choose one of the top hosting ranking agencies. Beyond that, it can also be the most challenging, as there are literally hundreds of choices, with varying price points and features between them. New website owners may find themselves overwhelmed…
Sometimes, when you're taking WordPress beyond a typical blog setup, the need arises to leverage the accounts system in WordPress (to purchase items, to access information, etc). Earlier on I told you how to check to see if a user is logged in, but when your only login box is in the back-end, that makes it hard. The first time a client told me…