How to Install and Set Up WP-Smooth
It doesn’t take a lot to install and set up your new WP-Smooth WordPress theme. Read on, and you’ll have it knocked out in a snap.
Step 1 – Unzip the File
The file you downloaded can be unzipped with any standard unzip program (if you don’t have one already installed on your computer, Stuffit Expander is a popular option for PC or MAC users). When you unzip the file, you’ll end up with a folder named either wp-smooth-basic, wp-smooth-prem or wp-smooth-dev, depending upon which license you purchased. Within it are all the theme files along with the end user license agreement (please take a moment to read over the license agreement).
How to Add Images for Your Featured Articles
Step 1: Make Sure You Get the Size Correct
The ideal size for the images that appear in the Featured Articles section are as follows:
width: 630px
height: 250px
Step 2: Use the “Get The Image” Plugin
This plugin, created by a savvy WordPress developer named Justin Tadlock, will greatly simplify the task of placing your featured article images right where they belong.
Download the plugin here. Installation is pretty simple …
- Unzip the file.
- Upload get-the-image.php file to your wp-content/plugins folder.
- Activate the plugin on your Plugins page.
What this plugin will do:
1. It will look for any images that you’ve uploaded to your post.
2. If it finds one or more images, it will automatically place the 1st image – as a featured article image – where it belongs on your site.
Note 1: If you have uploaded multiple images to your post, it will use the #1 image as set in the gallery section of your media uploader (click thumbnail to the right).
Note 2: If you don’t want the image to appear in the post content, just don’t insert it into the post. The plugin will still grab the 1st image you’ve uploaded to the post and place it correctly.
3. If it does not find any images (because you didn’t upload any) for the post, no image will appear for that post in the Featured Article section. As for the post thumbnails, it will place a default thumbnail unless you have deactivated that feature on your Theme Settings page.
Step 3: Upload Your Image
Click the “Add an Image” button just above the post editor, and upload your image. There’s no need to insert the image within the post content unless you want to do that.
Once you upload your image, the theme will choose the first image it finds that you have uploaded and use it as the image for the Featured Article section. If you upload more than 1 image to your post, just make sure your Featured Article image is #1 image listed in the gallery (you may have to move the image up to the #1 spot).
Another Option: Use a Custom Field
Although the above method seems most simple, you may want to use the custom field method instead.
To do so, add a new custom field named: home_feature_photo
In the Value field, you’ll need to add the URL path to the image.
Example: http://demo.solostream.com/wp-smooth/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2009/04/smoothshot.jpg
And that’s it. The theme will do the rest.
How to Add 125×125 Banner Ads to Your Right Sidebar
Many people like to display 125×125 banner ads in their sidebar. In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to add them to your own site.
How to Add Post Thumbnails to Your Posts
If you look at the home page of this site, you’ll see that each post below the featured articles has a thumbnail image next to it.
To add these images to your posts, you have 2 options …
Option 1 – Use the “Get The Image” Plugin
This plugin, created by a savvy WordPress developer named Justin Tadlock, will greatly simplify the task of placing your post thumbnail images right where they belong in your WP-Smooth-driven site.
Download the plugin here. Installation is pretty simple …
- Unzip the file.
- Upload get-the-image.php file to your wp-content/plugins folder.
- Activate the plugin on your Plugins page.
What this plugin will do:
1. It will look for any images that you’ve uploaded to your post.
2. If it finds one or more images, it will automatically place the 1st image – as a thumbnail – where it belongs on your site.
Note 1: If you have uploaded multiple images to your post, it will use the #1 image as set in the gallery section of your media uploader (click thumbnail to the right).
Note 2: If you don’t want the image to appear in the post content, just don’t insert it into the post. The plugin will still grab the 1st image you’ve uploaded to the post and place it correctly.
3. If it does not find any images (because you didn’t upload any) for the post, no image will appear for that post in the Featured Article section. As for the post thumbnails, it will place a default thumbnail unless you have deactivated that feature on your WP-Smooth Theme Settings page.
Option 2 – Use Custom Fields
If, for whatever reason, you prefer not to use the plugin, you can simply use custom fields. With this method, you will need to scroll down to the Custom Fields section on the Write Post screen and fill in the appropriate data.
For post thumbnail images:
- Name = post_thumbnail
- Value = the URL for the image (get the image URL from the media uploader)
How to Create a Site Map Page
You may have noticed the Site Map page on this site. That’s done with the built-in Site Map template, and it’s easy for you to create a site map for your own WP-Smooth driven site.
How to Write a Post with WP-Smooth
Don’t let the title of this post fool you … I’m not meaning to insult your intelligence when I imply that your DON’T know how to write a post with WordPress (I’m sure you do). It’s just that there are a few features built into WP-Smooth, and it’s worthwhile to tell you how to get the most out of it.
This is a Test Post, This is a Test Post With Some Comments
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Morbi quis risus at nisl blandit feugiat. Ut vel orci quis sem dapibus iaculis. Aliquam ut nunc quis nisi tincidunt tincidunt. Pellentesque enim. Sed et leo nec augue mollis pharetra. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Morbi quis risus at nisl blandit feugiat. Ut vel orci quis sem dapibus iaculis. Aliquam ut nunc quis nisi tincidunt tincidunt.
Another Test Post Here
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Morbi quis risus at nisl blandit feugiat. Ut vel orci quis sem dapibus iaculis. Aliquam ut nunc quis nisi tincidunt tincidunt. Pellentesque enim. Sed et leo nec augue mollis pharetra. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Morbi quis risus at nisl blandit feugiat. Ut vel orci quis sem dapibus iaculis. Aliquam ut nunc quis nisi tincidunt tincidunt.
10 Tips For Writing Better Articles
I actually wrote this article a few years ago (before blogs rose to prominence), so it may seem a bit out of date. I think there’s still some good tips in it though, so have at it.
10 Tips for Writing Better Articles
Writing articles is a great way to create exposure for yourself and your business. In fact, I’d suggest it’s one of the best marketing tools you can use. Webmasters and newsletter publishers are always looking for good content. Further, aside from your time investment, it’s completely free advertising.
Here are 10 practical tips to ensure your articles get published and read by others.
1. Write to serve.
Before writing an article, ask yourself what problem it will help others solve. Some of the more common issues people deal with revolve around a lack of something, whether it’s time, money, self-confidence or just joy in life. How will your article help with these issues.
2. Grab their attention early.
If possible, intend to “hook” your reader right from the get-go. Ideally, your title should be the hook. When creating the title, ask yourself if it would make you want to read the article. Your first paragraph should also serve as a hook , as well as a general introduction to the article content.
3. Write to one person only.
Forget the fact your article will be read by many people and write to only one person, just like I’m doing with you now.
4. Keep the flow logical.
Don’t bounce around from one idea to the next. Each paragraph should logically follow the next. Although there may be different ideas expressed in each paragraph, they should dovetail off each other.
5. Use quotes to support your main idea.
Quotes from famous people are a great method to reinforce your ideas. They help you make your point and add credibility to your overall message. I use the quote library found at Motivation Mecca http://www.joshhinds.com or Uinspire at http://www.uinspire.com
6. Keep your paragraphs short.
Ideally, 4-6 lines per paragraph is what you want to shoot for. It looks and feels much more appealing to the reader to see “bite-sized” paragraphs.
7. Inspire action in your article.
If your article is, in fact, intended to solve a common problem, give people practical suggestions for taking action. Remember the formula “insight + action = growth.”
8. When possible, tie your message to everyday activities.
A good example of this is “life is like a box of chocolates.” Make it easy for your reader to relate to your ideas. That will also make it easier for your reader to apply your ideas in their life.
9. Summarize the article in the final 1-2 paragraphs.
Briefly summarize the main points of your article, how people can take action from the information and what results they can achieve.
10. Don’t forget the resource box.
Provide a brief resource box following your article. It should tell a little about you, your business, how you serve others and how to contact you. Be sure to include your URL and email address with an invitation to contact you or visit your site.
Using these 10 tips should help you write powerful articles that get published and read. Above all else, remember this. A writer writes. So – first – be a writer in your own mind.
This is a Test Post This is a Test Post This is a Test Post, and I Like It
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Morbi quis risus at nisl blandit feugiat. Ut vel orci quis sem dapibus iaculis. Aliquam ut nunc quis nisi tincidunt tincidunt. Pellentesque enim. Sed et leo nec augue mollis pharetra. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Morbi quis risus at nisl blandit feugiat. Ut vel orci quis sem dapibus iaculis. Aliquam ut nunc quis nisi tincidunt tincidunt.
