And just for good measure a teaser…

The sizes are:

• 2560×1600
• 1920×1200
• 1680×1050

Use responsibly.

1. It’s free
2. Widely suported by developers everywhere
3. Huge list of plugins that do everything
4. Complete creative control on the look of a website
5. You can install it on your own server
6. Massive community of Themes
7. Easy to understand content editor

There are way more reasons that I could list here, but I’m sure you probably already know what wordpress is, because you are reading this article right now. And guess what? The article you are reading is built on WordPress.

Surprise!

Now that we have a basis for why WordPress is awesome, lets get started on how to leverage it for your business. And keep in mind, business can be swapped out for nonprofit, startup, church… anything that you need a website for.

Content that stays with you.

WordPress uses a database to hold all of your content. That means, text, pictures, videos, documents are all stored in the database. You may be asking why this is a big deal? This allows the visual side of your site to be updated and changed without having to recreate all of your content.

In an ever changing world, you want your website to be future proof. Now when you update your website, you don’t have to retype all of your materials, it’s already in the database for you.

Browser Based CMS

So you want to go on vacation. But you don’t want to come back from vacation broke because you weren’t watching the business while you were away. WordPress does a fantastical job of automating blog posts, as well as contact forms that have autoresponders and email forwarders.

Wait… backup a second you say. Automated Blogging? Is that some sort of robot thing? Is that the Technocolypse everyone’s been talking about?

To answer your question, yes it’s a robot. A digital robot.

WordPress has a handy feature that allows you to publish already created blogs posts at a future date. So when you are on vacation you can have your website publish articles for you, and it seems to everyone else like you are still in the office.

Perfect!

You can also have forms setup on your site to automagically send you an email from your website, as well as an autoresponder to the sender of the email, so it seems like to them that you are in your office as well.

Enjoy your vacation, I just earned you an extra week.

Blogging

You already know what blogging is, right? Right? Good. The people you are trying to reach with your business will go straight to google to find you, and guess what? If you are blogging and getting the word out there, than when they “Google” you, they’ll find you.

Blogging is a way for you to speak directly to your customers, to earn trust and buid brand awareness. This is very very important to the small business, and has been largely overlooked by the corporate giants. Don’t be like them, blog, speak in laymans terms, be real, be awesome. Your business will grow, and you will be able to point back to this article. Just pay me later ok.

Power User Ideas

Ok so you skimed this article and didn’t see anything you didn’t already know? The next few are for you my friend. From me to you.

Shortlinks

Yes every power user knows to update the permalinks from the default abomination setting. You did update your permalinks right? But do you know how to call the normal shortlink in your template files? I bet you don’t. A shortlink looks like this www.yourwebsite.com/?p=1234 and that is why you updated it in the first place, because that link makes no sense.

But say you want a link in your template that is shorter? Use the Shortlink tempalte tage:
{code type=html}{/code} It can save you loads of characters if you need it to.

Custom Templates for Pages

If you want a new layout for a different page on your wordpress website, there is a very easy way to create new templates. In your editor you can see options for different templates on the right sidebar.

Templates are perfect for pages that don’t use the normal page/post layout structure. Say you want to have a landing page, or a page that has NO sidebar. Or maybe you want 13 sidebars, who knows. This is all possible by creating a new template. Check out the code (that goes right on the top of the new template php file). This one is named: Awesome.

{code type=html}
{/code}

Custom Menus

With WordPress 3.0 you know have the option to create custom menus. If your theme is coded correctly your developer used the template tag:

{code type=html}{/code}

to call your menu, which makes custom menus active. Now you can go to Apperance / Menus and create a new menu! Horay!

The best part about custom menus is that you can make parent pages that aren’t actually pages. So say you have a whole dropdown menu that has 5 pages under the title “About Us”. No need to create a dummy page titled “About Us” anymore, you can now create a new link inside the custom menu, and as a url add: {code type=html}#{/code} Now the link isn’t clickable, and you can now add all of your dropdown menu items underneath it.

That’s It!

I wrote this article kind of aimed at the novice wordpresser, and if you sound off in the comments below that you want a advanced article, than I would love to get down and dirty with tons of code, and how to’s. Just tell me you want it.

And don’t forget, it matters who designs and develops your website. You want someone that knows what they are doing. You need someone with experience.

Until next time. I’m audi.

In your html header you need to call all three documents that you’ll need:

CSS

{code type=css}

{/code}

After that you’ll need to put in the css divs into your html document:

HTML

{code type=html}

{/code}

After that you’ll need to put in the javascript calls:

Javascript

{code type=js}
var cloudMoved = false;
var cloud2Moved = false;
var cloud3Moved = false;

$(init);

function init()
{
cloudMove();
cloud2Move();
cloud3Move();
}

function cloudMove()
{
if (!cloudMoved)
{
$(“#cloud”)
.css(“left”, $(“#cloud”).offset().left)
}

$(“#cloud”)
.animate(
{
left: $(“#sky”).width()
},
cloudMoved ? 180000 : 150000,
“linear”,
function()
{
$(this)
.css(“left”, -parseInt($(this).css(“width”)))
cloudMoved = true;
cloudMove();
}
)
}

function cloud2Move()
{
if (!cloud2Moved)
{
$(“#cloud2″)
.css(“left”, $(“#cloud2″).offset().left)
}
$(“#cloud2″)
.animate(
{
left: $(“#sky”).width()
},
cloud2Moved ? 120000 : 60000,
“linear”,
function()
{
$(this)
.css(“left”, -parseInt($(this).css(“width”)))
cloud2Moved = true;
cloud2Move();
}
)
}

function cloud3Move()
{
if (!cloud3Moved)
{
$(“#cloud3″)
.css(“left”, $(“#cloud3″).offset().left)
}
$(“#cloud3″)
.animate(
{
left: $(“#sky”).width()
},
cloud3Moved ? 400000 : 150000,
“linear”,
function()
{
$(this)
.css(“left”, -parseInt($(this).css(“width”)))
cloud3Moved = true;
cloud3Move();
}
)
}
{/code}

And now you are good to go!

Download these files here. You’re welcome.

But what is it?

Advertising? PR? Web content?

In reality, copywriting can mean all these things. When there are written materials representing you, your business or organization, you’re dealing with copy.

What makes good copy?

First, in an online context, copy is there to define your product or service. Visitors to your website must know what you’re pitching. They’ll have little interest in it if they don’t.

Secondly, copywriting defines your focus. Who are you speaking to? What are your marketing goals? Copywriting serves its purpose best when the purpose is known. Seems like a no-brainer, but getting the voice right can be difficult. It’s what matters. Copywriters do that.

That tone of voice is important. Take for example Solid Giant. We use loose language here. It’s fun. It’s who we are. But it isn’t right for everyone. That’s not to say you can’t be fun, but there is a difference between fun and professional, fun and business like, fun and caring, or just plain fun. It’s all about how you wish to appear.

What about all the money I’ve spent on a logo and tagline?
Good copywriting reinforces your identity. It doesn’t change it. Instead of saying blah, blah, blah with some worn out strap line, copy tells the customer why that motto rings true.

What else does copywriting do?

Copy makes you a resource as well as an authority. A popular product or service will have other opportunists circling around it like buzzards, hoping to siphon off some of the good juice. It’s the way of the internet. Like it or loath it. But having strong copy reinforces your importance. You’re the resource for your product -as well it should be.

But why hire a professional?

Business writing isn’t as easy as writing an email, or a white paper. There’s a whole culture of words that work for business publicity, as well as a grammar that doesn’t. The conversational tone? You need to have it. Jargon? Needs to go. When you’re deeply into your product or service, it’s hard to see the forest through the trees. A professional copywriter differentiates between what’s important, and what needs to go. The copywriter comes to it fresh and objectively. They see the faults and write them out before your potential client gets a chance.

Copywriters make it appear and disappear, all at once. We’re kind of zen in that way.

Perfect.

Feng shui.

You may ask yourself “What makes great design? Or better yet, how can it benefit me?”.

I’m glad you asked, imaginary friend, because guess what? That’s the whole reason for this article!

Credibility

With a great design, you look like you know what you are doing. That may or may not be the actual case in real life, but as far as the internet is concerned you look like you are a professional in your field. It’s like a fully geared up and ready for game time NFL Linebacker standing among highschool football players. If you are dressed like a Pro, people know you are serious. It’s game time.

Authenticity

We know when someone is authentic, and then someone is faking it. Have you seen the Chinese iphone knockoffs? Or maybe a pair of designer sunglasses for $5? We know fake when we see them. In a world dominated by the internet, some would assume that it’s easier to pull the wool over our eyes, but it’s quite the opposite. We know it when we are being hocked a product by advertisers. We know when someone is giving us the cold shoulder.

When a website has a great design, the message is crystal clear. The website ha s purpose and the user knows what that purpose is. If it’s done well than it comes off as being genuine and authentic. If not, it may feel like an infomercial. Good luck with that.

Recognition

Quality is recognizable. We understand craftsmanship and beauty. And when you combine those two the perfect storm brews and out comes recognition in your sphere of influence. It happens all the time. A great example is a KickStarter project by the name of TikTok. It started out as an idea for a well designed watch for the ipod nano and because it was crafted well it gained so much recognition it raised almost a Million Dollars! Check it out here: TikTok

Conclusion

When a site has a great design it helps build the business, credibility, authenticity, recognition, and in turn builds your business or effort. It’s a hard road to great design and only a few web designers out there have the experience and know how to make it happen.

Be the best in your field. Exude quality and craftsmanship. Have the best website that anyones ever seen! The benefits will pay off for years in the future.

The website

Website copy is the bread and butter of many businesses and organizations. When someone wants information, they’re likely to search a website. The yellow pages are no longer a solid place to find information about business. It’s gone the way of the dinosaur; burned up by a meteor. Or something.

Imagine the web is the meteor! It’s coming towards businesses at 160,000 miles per hour! If you’re not prepared with a good defense, say, good copy, you’re finished.

Maybe the analogy doesn’t work. But good copy is the best defense against the fiery flame of the search engine, the all burning eye of the savvy web surfer.

Blogging

Blogging is the most basic, updatable copy you’ll find on the web. Blogging keeps your website fresh and relevant. The constant, running fire burning across the internet landscape means you need to keep your information up-to-date to fend off would-be detractors, or the next breed of businesses vying for your position.

Here at Solid Giant, we use WordPress for blogging -the most powerful blogging software available. With the right tools, creating content for yourself is a breeze.

Branding

But good copy is not limited to what is on the web. Logos and mottos, as well as all other written material you produce, is copy. Branding makes a unified you, a vision or what you are. Without it you’re toast. Your website copy needs to match the materials you send out. Otherwise you will look unfocused.

What makes good copy?

There are three main points you should consider when writing copy.
• Is your copy jargon free? Acronyms and tricky technical terms is off putting.
• Are you focusing on the features of a product or service as opposed to the benefits? Potential clients want to understand what you can do for them, not how you do it.
• Are you clear, concise and persuasive? You should say what you need to say in the least amount of words necessary. Plain and simple sentence phrasing, in a conversational tone, is a must.
• Good headlines! Writing good titles and body headlines informs the reader what they’ll find on the page, and what they’ll find next.
• Use a conversational tone. Talk to your readers. It makes it personal. Talk to one person at a time.
• Really study and understand your product or service. This helps you write the best copy the first time.
• Make the reader act. Write copy that makes them want to get up and shout about what you’re doing. If you have the right product or service, this is never too difficult.
• Make your copy digestible. Using bold headings, bullet points or numbers to make the main points clear. Most folks tend not to read an entire page of information. Make it easy to skim.

Writing good copy isn’t rocket science, but it takes practice. You work on your business cards and pitch constantly as a way to promote yourself. Copy is just another extension of showing the best you possible.

No?

Alrighty, well anyway I would still like to share the code behind the floating G up in the header that you see above. I spent many many hours perfecting this. Actually one hour, but still.

So lets get started with this beast!

You’ll need the jQuery from here: http://code.jquery.com/jquery-1.4.4.js into your header of your website. Once you’ve got that you should create a javascript file with the following .js code.

1. $("#solidgiant_logo li").hover(function() {
2. var e = this;
3. $(e).find("a").stop().animate({ marginTop: "-20px" }, 100, function() {
4. $(e).find("a").animate({ marginTop: "-14px" }, 150);
5. });
6. $(e).find("img.shadow").stop().animate({ width: "80%", height: "60px", marginLeft: "30px", opacity: 0.50 }, 150);
7. },function(){
8. var e = this;
9. $(e).find("a").stop().animate({ marginTop: "4px" }, 250, function() {
10. $(e).find("a").animate({ marginTop: "0px" }, 250);
11. });
12. $(e).find("img.shadow").stop().animate({ width: "100%", height: "60px", marginLeft: "0", opacity: 1 }, 250);
13. });

Now that you have the code you’ll need the css to make this look legit. Well as legit as you are able. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder right?

Here is the CSS styles for ya.

1. #solidgiant_logo li {
2. width: 261px;
3. height: 301px;
4. position: relative;
5. float: left;
6. }
7. #solidgiant_logo a, #solidgiant_logo a:visited, #solidgiant_logo a, #solidgiant_logo a:hover {
8. margin: 0 auto;
9. width: 261px;
10. height: 301px;
11. text-indent: -9999px;
12. overflow: hidden;
13. background: url(../images/g_logo.png) no-repeat;
14. display: block;
15. position: relative;
16. z-index: 2;
17. }
18. #solidgiant_logo li img.shadow {
19. margin: 0 auto;
20. position: absolute;
21. bottom: 0;
22. left: 0;
23. z-index: 1;
24. }

You’ll of course need to add these styles into your own css document, but if you are here than you probably already knew that.

If you want the files for this download the javascript file here.

If you like this article, than be sure to comment here, or even share this beast wherever. Twitter would be nice if you wanted to share. xoxoxo

Words on Steroids

Most businesses and organizations know the value of a great website. A rockin’ color scheme, and super shiny web ‘2.0’ buttons, will attract customers to your product or service. A good logo doesn’t hurt either.

But just as good design grabs the attention of a potential customer, bad content has the ability to turn them away.

Does powerful copy really make such a difference?

You bet your socks it does.

What does it do then?

First things first – it influences search engine ranking. A customer must find your website.

Unless they pick up a flyer or a business card they’re likely to go to a little place called Google. If you don’t show up in the results?

I’m sure you can guess what happens then. Nothing.

But why does content matter to your search engine ranking?

Google, Bing and the … um … others, look for fresh  and relevant content when creating page ranking. If you don’t have quality copy with the best keywords possible, updated regularly, your website will never end up on the first search page. That means death in a web based world.

But our search ranking is good! We hired some SEO (Search Engine Optimization) guru for that. Why does content still matter?

Good content also acts as PR and advertising rolled into one. When your content is fantastically relevant and informative, you’ve separated yourself from the regular Joe or Jane Blow company or organization. You’re the expert. You’re the creme de la creme. SEO only goes so far.

Doesn’t good copy cost money?

Yeah.. sure… but in the end it makes you money. If that’s your goal.

How?

Imagine you’re a customer. You have a question about a product. You go to the website for the product, searching for an answer. What?! A copywriter has answered the question in the FAQ page. And there are articles as well, all about up and coming product launches and events.  You’re drawn in. You want to know more. You buy.

Or imagine you’re an organization trying to reach a goal. The same applies! Someone navigates to your page and finds you have what it takes. You’re the one.

A great copywriter will understand your product or service and implement that knowledge into the content. Copywriters -the best ones- know your customers, and craft the information you must provide to survive.

Think of copywriters as sorcerers of persuasion. Or wizards of knowledge.

So what kind of content is important?

Powerful content serves a purpose or entertains. When writing content, consider these points.

• Write your posts in an entertaining way, that also informs. Readers want the best of both worlds. They don’t want to feel like they’re sitting in school exactly, but they don’t always want the circus either.
• Link to other pages on your website. Linking makes it easy for visitors to find the information they need, and also increases your page views. That’s good for your page ranking.
• Use short sentences and information that is well organized.
• Is the content up to date? Readers want the freshest information possible.

On that point; updating constantly is the best way to use content to your advantage. Staying current in a world of websites that update several times a day keeps you from losing your appeal. Just think back to the last time you saw a site that looked like it was built in the 90s.

How did it make you feel? Comment and let us know.

This journal will be a place where Solid Giant in general, and Josh Starr (me) specifically, will be writing:

• Design advice and pointers
• Development insights
• WordPress tricks and tips
• Photoshop UI tricks and tips
• Business lessons learned
• Business lessons not learned
• Copywriting tips and ways to sound reel smart.
• HTML / CSS tricks and tips
• Funny Pictures

If there are any other topics that you would like to see here let a brothah know. Also if you don’t want to see anything than be sure to not let me know. Kidding.