WordPress is pretty awesome and if you’re a client of 3thought’s, there’s a fairly good chance we’ve built you a website using WordPress as your Content Management System (what you may have heard us referring to as a “CMS” for short).

In this tutorial, the first of a series designed to teach you how to use your WordPress website, we’re going to cover the very first thing you need to know. How to log in. Don’t laugh, logging into the WordPress Dashboard to actually manage your website isn’t as self explanatory as you’d think. In fact, we think it’s kind of obscure.

So here’s how you log into your WordPress Dashboard:

1. Start by launching the web browser of your choosing.
2. In the URL bar at the top of your browser (not the search bar), type in your homepage’s URL and add the text “wp-admin” after the .com/, .net/, .org/ etc., then hit return/enter.
3. For example, if your homepage is www.somewebsite.com/ add “wp-admin” so it reads www.somewebsite.com/wp-admin
4. Now you should be at the WordPress Login Screen
5. Just enter your Username and Password in their respective fields and hit “login” to enter.
6. If you’ve forgotten your password or just want to change it, hit the link for “Lost Your Password” and you’ll receive instructions on how to reset/change your password

And that’s it! Congrats. You should now be in your WordPress Dashboard and ready to manage your website. Don’t forget, if you have any questions or problems, you can always call or email 3thought.

In our next lesson, WordPress Training – 02 – A WordPress Dashboard Overview, we’re going to have a look around and show you all the important buttons and features of the WordPress dashboard screen.

The post WordPress 101 – How to log into your WordPress Dashboard appeared first on 3thought.

When any designer gets married, the invitation becomes a top level priority. No ordinary invitation template will do. Shea and Matt created a map themed invitation for their destination wedding. Paired with a tissue belly band, and some of Shea’s custom calligraphy, these invitations are the perfect announcement for this very 3thought special occasion.

The post When Designers get Married… appeared first on 3thought.

The past:

When we launched 3thought, Shea and I were agency designers. Granted, we worked for a small agency and dealt with a lot more of the day to day operations than your typical agency designers. But… we were still very much designers. Organized, creative, wide eyed designers who were ready to take on the world and do things “our way”. When we ditched that life, we thought we had a pretty good idea of what we were doing, and for the most part we did. Although when you look back, there’s always those little things you’d like like to change or do differently. But, “it is what it is”, and for the most part, the last four years have been pretty enjoyable.

Some of my fondest memories haven’t been the actual projects or site launches. It’s been the people we’ve met along the way and all the learning we’ve done. Tweetups, talks, conferences, and all the networking events we’ve attended and all the people who have turned into friends and colleagues. Also, moments like the cold calls from strangers with ideas that needed our help making them come to life. The rush of the next new thing. The next great idea. That random phone call at 7pm on a Friday night, when you think, “should I answer this?”, and then you find it’s a new project. There’s also been stressful situations with money and bills and waiting to get paid. People who promise you things and can’t deliver. As a classically trained print designer, learning to work with the web has had its ups and downs. Amazing at times, but when it doesn’t work, I have asked myself if I’m in over my head. Those are the moments when you learn if this “owning your own business” thing is really the right thing for you. It’s also when you’re happy you have a smart business partner, and access to google. New experiences, new people and learning A LOT. Those are the most fun reasons to own your own business, and for me, worth it now that I look back.

The Present

I’m happy to report that as of 2013, 3thought is in a good place. We have a great working situation and love sharing an office with Nute Photography. It’s been a great 6 months here on the Plymouth waterfront, and absolutely the right move at the right time. You may have noticed we even took our first official “vacation.” The work these days is mostly fun. The projects are consistent, and the paychecks are steady. As of writing this, we will have launched our newly redesigned website, too. A  project which has been nearly 3 years in the making. Granted, the production of the site took less than 3 weeks, the portfolio and the stories have taken us years to hone in on. Our site has been cause for great debate between Shea and myself over the years. It’s tough figuring out what to say, what to look like, who you’re talking to. It something we’re used to helping others with, but when it comes to doing it for ourselves, it becomes far harder narrow the focus – it’s too personal. You question and re-question every decision. But, we’re truly happy with what we’ve created for the time-being, and believe we have a nice solid foundation for moving forward.

The Future

Where is 3thought headed? Well… first off, we want to get back to blogging. We’ve got this great website and there’s so opportunity on the internet. We figure it’s time to get serious about creating content again. This time, smarter, better content that’s more helpful to our clients and potential clients. Maybe we’re not as blogging as often as we used to, but when we do, we want it to be meaningful. And definitely on a schedule. Secondly, we’re getting to the point where we really need to bring in some extra help. Finding talented (and reliable) part-time help sure would be nice, and we’d love to find someone who we could take on part-time and transition into our first real full-time employee. Last thought on the future… Before we can do all these things, we need to make a plan and get organized. It’s kind of a core motto of 3thought. Thinking beyond where you’re currently at. Being proactive rather than reactive.

Final thoughts

And that’s what’s going on here at 3thought. I know it’s been a while since we’ve written, and we’d love know what you’ve been up to. What are your resolutions and plans for 2013? What types of design and web related questions and topics are you all interested in learning about? Let us know in the comments section below, or drop us a line with our handy contact form.

The post 3thought’s past present and future appeared first on 3thought.

1. Chrome Replace Safari and never look back.
2. Redlaser How much cheaper can I get this product elsewhere?
3. Sparrow It’s like mail, but wayyyyy better.
4. Dropbox No removable storage, no problem.
5. Waze Social traffic and it’s free? Yes please.
6. Wunderlist Create, manage and share lists like a boss.
7. Runkeeper Not just for running anymore.
8. Square Take money on the go, plus Jack Dorsey makes it.
9. Instacast Handy dandy podcast aggregator. You’ll be hooked.
10. Google+ Surprisingly useful for video calls and not too bad for socializing.
11. Air Display On the go and need a second monitor, look no further.
12. Flashlight* Just like a flashlight but always in your pocket.
13. Gas Buddy Never overpay for gas again.
14. Foursquare Not just for check ins anymore.
15. AroundMe New to the area and need to locate something?
16. CardMunch A networkers best new friend.
17. Google Drive A great way to create and share documents for free!
18. Fanhattan A cross between TV guide, IMDD and Apple TV/Roku
19. Flipboard Everything you care about online in one beautiful app.
20. CardStar You wallet will be 50% thinner.

So what apps did Matt miss? Leave your comments below and tell us what apps you can’t live without!

The post Matt’s favorite 20 iPhone/iPad apps appeared first on 3thought.

Anyone who has been handed a 3thought business card, immediately notices the large hole in it. Most people say, “oh cool”, or “wow, that’s different”. Few actually read the text that’s running around the outside of that hole. And that text read’s, “Helping companies find a visual point of view”.

So what is a visual point of view?

As a business owner, you speak to your audience with every piece of collateral, advertising, online interaction and promotion you create. EVERYTHING you say, do and create is a piece of your brand. Now more than ever it’s important you’re sending the right message, and there’s little room for inconsistent or contradictory messages. Is your message authentic to who you are as an individual or company?

Before 3thought designs, we take the time to understand who you are, and who your audience is. It’s that understanding of your company’s core DNA that let’s us create a visual point of view your audience wants to connect with.

If you’re interesting in learning more about branding and finding your visual point of view, you should join us for breakfast as we discuss: “Building Your Brand in a Digital World”. Presented by the Toolbox, inc.

Get more info and register!

The post What’s your visual point of view? appeared first on 3thought.