Creating A Community and More
- Filed under: Wpdesigner.com
Over the weekend, I took a break from blogging, but didn’t stop updating Wpdesigner to attempt to build a community around WPD and allow it to be more than just a blog. The changes you’ve seen for the past two days are just the beginning.
New Plugins
Top Commenters was installed to encourage more user comments by rewarding you for getting involved in discussions. If you make it to the Top Commenters list (in the right sidebar), Wpdesigner will send traffic to your site. Also, the link to your site under the Top Commenters list doesn’t have “nofollow” attached to it. This list will reset weekly.
I also installed a translator plugin to make news and tutorial lessons available to non-English users. You can find it at the bottom of the the right sidebar.
Design-wise
I removed the Wpdesigner title image and moved the top menu tabs to the right hand side for easier browsing through different areas of this blog.
WordPress Themes Listing
The small thumbnail screenshots were replaced by bigger thumbnail screenshots. Now, the download link comes first; second is the screenshot; third is the description. I don’t know if it makes a difference in browsing through WordPress themes, but I definitely like the bigger screenshots. Does it make a difference for you?
Advertisement
I’m beginning to monetize Wpdesigner’s traffic because I’m dedicating more and more of my time to this blog and really can’t afford to blog and create themes and tutorials for free anymore. In the past, I’ve turned down donations and Amazon Wish List offers because I did not start Wpdesigner.com for money.
For the past two months, I did sell a few text links on Wpdesigner, but only to pay for hosting. Right now, I’m looking to sell more text links and hopefully banner advertisements too.
Sounds good. I look forward to seeing you make your million.
links on the right are definetly more suitable. maybe you could extend header and put your logo on the left. logo it’s important
I agree, the logo should come back as it’s definitely an important way for users to recognize your site. Also, I’m not a big fan of banner ads – I think text ads would definitely suit your site better. Alas, that’s just my two cents!
A great idea. Monetize your site when it got traffic and popular is really a good idea. Thumbs up.
Cool. I have Adblock, but I’ll turn it off for this site since you’re tutorial series has been so helpful. I know CSS and XHTML but I didn’t know where to start with the WordPress tags. Oh, and I was just wondering why there was an American flag next to “English” on the translate bar.
I agree with jan and Dean – I think you need a logo or title to make the name of the site clear.
I’ve wondered about the translator – let us know if you get feedback on how well it translates, especially your tech stuff.
Loud and clear. The logo will return.
@Kenneth – You’d have to ask the plugin’s creator
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@Freesitebuilder – I haven’t heard anything from anyone about it. I opened up Wpdesigner in IE6 to check out the translator listing and it looks awkward. I don’t know if it’s just my browser…
I really like the translate feature you added although I speak english its pretty cool to give people the option of translating it…is this hard to incorporate into my blog design? Looks pretty straight forward.
Pretty straight forward like you said. After installation, follow the instructions to add it to your sidebar.
If you’re using a widget sidebar, put the codes inside a PHP Code block, then drag that block into your sidebar.
cool that’ll logo come back
Personally, I don’t think any harm comes from not having that logo. The picture of you with an orange in your mouth is more remember able than your previous logo. I hardly can notice the old one is gone.
Welcome back!.. and good luck with building your online community.. I just discovered your site a few days ago and I’m looking forward to watching it grow!
Hmmm….I’ll actually consider purchase advertising soon(ish). I’ve been thinking of making a wordpress-related section on my site, so some extra advertisement could come in handy.
– Dave
http://www.cleartutorials.com
I am very impressed with your site and will definitely share it with my friends. I am building a wordpress blog soon and you offer a lot of easy to follow step by step tips. Thanks, keep up the good work.
Dave – Whenever you’re ready.
Marshall – I’m actually trying to make a million dollars.
ZOOM TO THE TOP OF THE LIST WEE!!
Anyway, it looks good. Your new stuff certainly looks nifty, but I’d put the logo back. Otherwise we don’t know what site we are on and we all need to know that.
I agree with Brian. My orange-monkey face is memorable enough, but an extra logo wouldn’t hurt either, also useful for favicon use.
Great idea with the additional plugins. Bringing people back to comment helps the stickiness for sure.
If you plan on adding a logo again, I would have to disagree with bringing back the one that you had designed by hand. I just didn’t like it and it didn’t appeal to what the site was–albeit creative, just not really aesthetically pleasing.
I think maybe you could find someone to do a vector graphic for you to use as a logo, and then of course you can use that as a favicon. =)
i agree to jordan. why don’t you use the logo as your favicon! seems that’s one thing missing in your site.
I notice in IE7 that although the underlines disappear from the links when you mouse over, that doesn’t happen in the “Translate” section – so it looks to visitors as though they can’t be clicked (although they do click OK!)
I don’t know what the plugin’s author was thinking there… even the mouse over cursor isn’t normal.
The top commenters is a plugin?
These are all great ideas. Your site is very usable. Good job!
I just discovered your blog (I didn’t see the previous version) and I think it’s very well done: usable, well-designed and, most of all, there are very nice wp themes. Congratulations.