Where can you place that “subscribe” link and that orange icon?

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I happen to be just using a text widget to create the sideblog, but there is a nice plugin that allows you to post snippets to your sideblog by assigning a specific category to them.

1. Change the permalinks from the meaningless default set up. I personally prefer /%postname%/ to get the best looking URL, but there is a lot of disagreement about what the best structure is. Just don’t use the default.

2. Take all the defaults out of the blogroll and add your own.

3. Burn a feed at Feedburner and then install the FeedSmith plugin so that all your feeds will be funneled through Feedburner giving you a more accurate count of subscribers.

4. Get your WordPress API key and activate the Akismet plugin.

5. In the Options/Discussion tab, un-check the boxes about the administrator always approving a comment and readers needing to have a previously approved comment. Those two items make it more difficult for readers to comment, and you want to make it as easy as possible.

6. Set up a pMetrics account and a Google Analytics account and install the code. I like to put it in a sidebar widget, so that if I change themes, I won’t lose the code and miss some days of tracking.

There are zillions of other plugins and tweaks specific to each blog’s needs, but these are steps I take with every single new blog. Is there anything I’ve left out that you think is an absolute must for any blog?

But what about non-paying clients?

As much as I pride myself for being a tech geek, an internet guy and a web-whatever, there have been some things I have avoided to learn simply because I was intimidated by them. You see, every thing I know about computers and the internet is self taught, so when I come into contact with the “Goliath” of new technology, I sometimes have a tendency to run.

Which I did at first, with the idea of widgetizing my WordPress Themes.

However, you’ll see that it’s pretty obvious people want Widget-Ready themes. And since I would like to get my name out there in the web design world, I am happy to jump head first into the pool and do the widgetty thing.

• Is your theme really widget ready if you haven’t pre-syled for widgets?
• Using Custom Fields for different reasons
• Using Your Blogroll to Manage Text Ads - who needs WP Text Ads?
• An Introduction to query_posts, a WP designer’s best friend
• Using WordPress Page Templates
• Integrate a Plugin with your WordPress Theme
• Cory redesigned his site
• 11 Principles to a Great WordPress Theme
• Global Variables and the Loop - An in-depth explanation.
• If you like to compete, there’s a WordPress theme competition going on

Enjoy!

I normally start with graphing paper. I can’t draw straight lines to save my life, and even the graphing paper can’t make it perfect, but at least it keeps track of spacing I normally draw the layout (no colors) and label my divs.

Once the layout is drawn, and my divs are named and listed (with a description), I open up an html template file with the CSS embedded. Depending on whether or not the design needs it, I’ll use Photoshop to get the colors and layout right. I chop the image up and upload the images to the test server (or use them locally).

Then, I go to work on the markup. I add my divs, add filler content, and start styling the design. Once the design is styled and looks good, I cut it up and paste it into the WP theme template files. When the file is cut up into the different template files, I cut and paste the CSS into the style.css file.

Then, I start adding and editing the WordPress functions to the template files to get them calling the correct stuff. Since I already have everything styled, this is a very easy step, especially if you’re familiar with the WP functions.

Finally, I activate the theme, do the final tweaks, style the comments, validate, etc., and zip it up.

Sound easy? It isn’t

Happy Coding!

But I definitely should be doing it weekly, if not more, and it’s always nice to get a little reminder from one of the feeds I keep track of.

Thanks MinTheGap for reminding us!

If you would like a good explanation on how to back up your WordPress databackup, head over to the site and check it out. He has download links, a small explanation of the plugin, and a couple other tips.

HT: MinTheGap.com

Chris Pearson and Brian Clarke have made the old Copyblogger theme public. Check out the release post over at the site, and be sure to check out the features of the blog.

As a WP designer, I found some of the features interesting like the custom CSS file for changing the colors for the theme. That’s a really cool feature IMO.

Head over and check it out, demo it, and download it.