News

On this weekÔÇÖs episode, weÔÇÖre joined by Brian and Jennifer Bourn of Bourn Creative. They are a vibrant, creative studio that delivers purpose driven design and engaging experiences for businesses who want to stand out and step into the spotlight.

Brian and Jennifer love challenges and deadlines, and are brand building, WordPress wielding, Lego playing nerds dedicated to creating beautiful, flexible, powerful platforms for rapidly growing businesses.

In this 38-minute episode Jennifer Bourn, Brian Bourn, and I discuss:

• The founding of Bourn Creative
• Using Genesis within a Creative Agency
• Choosing a business size that fits your lifestyle
• Tips for maintaining a consistent workflow from home
• Creating a work/life balance that revolves around family
• The importance of scheduling and client communication
• Building a profit margin into your client services
• Creating partnerships to create recurring revenue streams
• Evaluating expenses on a consistent basis

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The post How to Sustain a Profitable Creative Agency appeared first on StudioPress.

This blog was originally posted on Studiopress.com This post is in no way associated with Kembel.ca. For more posts by this author, please click here.

The team here at StudioPress is very pleased to announce today’s release: Genesis 2.4.0. This version of the Genesis framework includes several enhancements, bug fixes, and general housekeeping items.

A big thanks to Ron Rennick and Gary Jones for stepping up this release cycle and contributing tons of code. As always, this community continues impress. Thanks guys!

Read on to find out more about Genesis 2.4.

Markup API

In Genesis 2.2, we introduced something we called ÔÇ£Genesis Markup API.ÔÇØ This feature was a way to control the output of html tag attributes, as well as a means to facilitate the conditional loading of HTML5 markup for newer themes. It also allowed us to inject things like Schema.org microdata attributes.

It really transformed the way markup is output in Genesis, which no other theme was doing at the time.

All along, weÔÇÖve wanted to expand the functionality of this feature to include not just the conditional output of HTML5 tags, or the addition and removal of tag attributes, but to grant full control over the markup output throughout the framework, as well.

Genesis 2.4 is a big step in that direction.

Our team has enhanced the Markup API to allow for full customization of the opening and closing tags themselves, in addition to the attributes.

Look for tutorials and snippets in the near future explaining how to use the Markup API to customize the markup in a theme or plugin.

Inline Documentation and Code Standards

Our contributors continue to prioritize accuracy and readability in the Genesis code.

When it comes to standards and documentation, I believe Genesis is second to none. Genesis 2.4 includes tons of updates to the inline documentation and maintains strict adherence to WordPress coding standards (a fact we’re proud of).

And, as always, this release includes lots of little enhancements and bug fixes. For a detailed list, see the changelog below.

Additions

• Added unfiltered_or_safe sanitizer.
• Added or corrected lots of inline documentation.
• Added phpcs.xml file for code standards testing.
• Added identifying classes to featured posts’ “More Posts” section title and list.
• Added $wrap and $title to the passed arguments of the genesis_post_title_output filter.
• Added new features to the Markup API, allowing for open and close arguments, passing content, and new filters.
• Added js-superfish class to all menus that support it.
• Added missing “to” in genesis_prev_next_post_nav()‘s comment header.
• Added new functions that handle the logic for meta and favicon markup, and amended existing output functions to use them.

Changes

• Changed URLs for gravatars on the “What’s New” page to use HTTPS.
• Corrected typo on SEO settings screen.
• Changed Featured Post widget to use placeholder instead of default value for number of posts to show.
• Updated CHANGELOG.md with release notes going back to 1.6.0.
• Changed CPT archive intro setting to use unfiltered_or_safe sanitizer.
• Changed some code and all documentation to better match WordPress coding standards.
• Moved h1 elements outside the form on admin settings pages.
• Changed Featured Post entry header to display wrapper even when only byline is showing.
• Changed heading on the import/export admin page to h2 from h1.
• Extracted XHTML from Genesis output, and added it back in with new Markup API filters if HTML5 is not supported.
• Moved SEO tooltips to Help tab on post editor screen.
• Changed to use of time constants in update check transients.
• Changed sitemap to hide Posts-related sections if the site has no Posts.
• Changed genesis_user_meta_default_on() and Genesis_Admin::create() to do return checks earlier.
• Moved genesis_create_initial_layouts() to the genesis_setup hook. Possible breaking change, in order to ensure compatibility with WordPress 4.7+.

Removals

• Removed colons from labels on settings screens.
• Removed errant $ in the URL used in the “parent theme active” admin notice.
• Removed unused global for Admin Readme class.
• Removed dead code in two post shortcode callback functions.
• Removed unused parameters in genesis_nav_menu_link_attributes().

The post Genesis 2.4 for WordPress Now Available appeared first on StudioPress.

This blog was originally posted on Studiopress.com This post is in no way associated with Kembel.ca. For more posts by this author, please click here.

On this weekÔÇÖs episode, weÔÇÖre joined by Bill Erickson. Bill is a WordPress Developer, an entrepreneur, a husband, a father, a skier, an avid reader, a gardener, and a winemaker living in Georgetown, TX. HeÔÇÖs been developing with WordPress and contributing to the community since 2006.

Bill has written 20 plugins, which have been downloaded 668,661 times and has spoken at 13 conferences regarding WordPress. Last, but certainly not least, Bill is a core contributor to our very own Genesis Framework project.

In this 40-minute episode Lauren Mancke, Bill Erickson, and I discuss:

• Bill’s decision to become a freelancer
• Transitioning from Thesis to the Genesis Framework
• Building your brand and your business with shareable content
• Using your website to prequalify potential clients
• Scaling your business through efficiency
• The importance of contracts
• Building a work/life balance that works for you

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The post How to Scale a Freelance Business appeared first on StudioPress.

This blog was originally posted on Studiopress.com This post is in no way associated with Kembel.ca. For more posts by this author, please click here.

On this week’s episode, we’re joined by Carrie Dils. Carrie has been around the Genesis community for a number of years. SheÔÇÖs a WordPress developer, consultant, speaker, and teacher.

She loves sharing what sheÔÇÖs learned with others to help them be more successful in their business. She hosts a weekly WordPress podcast at OfficeHours.fm and is a course instructor for Lynda.com.

In this 29-minute episode Lauren Mancke, Carrie Dils, and I discuss:

• What open-source means
• How open-source projects can be attractive to developers
• The pros and cons of open-source
• Using helpfulness to build authority
• The benefits of an open-source ecosystem
• The expansion of the Office Hours podcast

Subscribe to StudioPress FM in iTunes and Listen

The post Why Open-Source-Based Communities Are So Powerful appeared first on StudioPress.

This blog was originally posted on Studiopress.com This post is in no way associated with Kembel.ca. For more posts by this author, please click here.

On this weekÔÇÖs episode, weÔÇÖre joined by Tonya Mork of Know the Code. Tonya likes to rethink the way she does things to find a better path, one that is more efficient, effective, leads us forward, and is balanced with intent.

She likes to share ideas, plant seeds, and inspire folks to consider a different approach. Her blog, Hello from Tonya, is all about the way she thinks. It’s meant to inspire you to stop, assess, and rethink the way you are doing things.

In this 30-minute episode Lauren Mancke, Tonya Mork, and I discuss:

• Tonya’s 30-year career
• Not letting an ugly twist in life stop you
• Monetization strategies for an educational business
• Being an expert before your an educator
• Expanding beyond your current training areas
• Opportunities in the community for educators

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The post How to Build an Online Education Business appeared first on StudioPress.

This blog was originally posted on Studiopress.com This post is in no way associated with Kembel.ca. For more posts by this author, please click here.

With Elegance, Stephanie Hellwig has created a gorgeous theme that showcases your photos with a combination of large images, stately typography, and no distractions. If youÔÇÖre ready to elevate your site presentation, Elegance is the way to go.

Looking for refinement and polish in a theme? YouÔÇÖve found it.

Elegance is designed to highlight your work while being responsive, image-friendly, and highly customizable.

Some of the powerful features specific to Elegance are:

• Custom built-in page templates which include: traditional archive; custom archive with featured images; blog; portfolio; proof gallery; and a styled pricing table
• Unlimited color options for text links, background colors, and more
• Plugin installer
• Photography-friendly plugin styling for tools like Instagram Feed, Genesis Portfolio Pro, and Soliloquy
• PixProof for a smooth client proofing workflow
• Genesis Enews Widget
• Jetpack Contact Form and Share
• Gravity Forms

Elegance also includes all the reliable features youÔÇÖve come to expect with StudioPress themes:

• A mobile-responsive design that looks amazing wherever itÔÇÖs viewed
• Support, documentation, and the StudioPress community forum
• The best rankings possible because of our clean code and mobile-friendly design
• Super-fast page load times
• One-click theme updates
• Airtight security so you can rest easy

Click here to experience Elegance in action

The post The Elegance Theme for WordPress Introduces Your Photography with Grace and Style appeared first on StudioPress.

This blog was originally posted on Studiopress.com This post is in no way associated with Kembel.ca. For more posts by this author, please click here.

If you arenÔÇÖt already running it, download and activate┬áGenesis Beta Tester plugin and ÔÇ£updateÔÇØ to Genesis 2.4 Beta.

Because of some of the more significant changes, specifically with the Markup API, we’re going to give this beta a 2 week test, so we can locate as many issues as possible, and make 2.4 as stable as we can before releasing.

As always,┬áfeel free to send any bug reports to our support team, or you can simply give me a shout on Twitter (@nathanrice) and IÔÇÖll look into it. See below for a detailed changelog. Please spend some time with this beta and let us know what you find. It helps make Genesis better for all of us!

• Added unfiltered_or_safe sanitizer.
• Added or corrected lots of inline documentation.
• Added phpcs.xml file for code standards testing.
• Added identifying classes to featured posts’ “More Posts” section title and list.
• Added $wrap and $title to the passed arguments of the genesis_post_title_output filter.
• Added new features to the Markup API, allowing for open and close arguments, passing content, and new filters.
• Added js-superfish class to all menus that support it.
• Added missing “to” in genesis_prev_next_post_nav()‘s comment header.
• Added new functions that handle the logic for meta and favicon markup, and amended existing output functions to use them.
• Changed URLs for gravatars on the “What’s New” page to use HTTPS.
• Corrected typo on SEO settings screen.
• Changed Featured Post widget to use placeholder instead of default value for number of posts to show.
• Updated CHANGELOG.md with release notes going back to 1.6.0.
• Changed CPT archive intro setting to use unfiltered_or_safe sanitizer.
• Changed some code and all documentation to better match WordPress coding standards.
• Moved h1 elements outside the form on admin settings pages.
• Changed Featured Post entry header to display
  

  wrapper even when only byline is showing.

• Changed heading on the import/export admin page to h2 from h1.
• Extracted XHTML from Genesis output, and added it back in with new Markup API filters if HTML5 is not supported.
• Moved SEO tooltips to Help tab on post editor screen.
• Changed to use of time constants in update check transients.
• Changed sitemap to hide Posts-related sections if the site has no Posts.
• Changed genesis_user_meta_default_on() and Genesis_Admin::create() to do return checks earlier.
• Removed colons from labels on settings screens.
• Removed errant $ in the URL used in the “parent theme active” admin notice.
• Removed unused global for Admin Readme class.
• Removed dead code in two post shortcode callback functions.
• Removed unused parameters in genesis_nav_menu_link_attributes().

The post Genesis 2.4 Beta Now Available appeared first on StudioPress.

This blog was originally posted on Studiopress.com This post is in no way associated with Kembel.ca. For more posts by this author, please click here.

On this weekÔÇÖs episode, we’re joined by Shay Bocks of Feast Design Company. Shay started hustlin’ in 2008 to connect her creative gifts and ravenous curiosity with the ambition of creative entrepreneurs. Nowadays, that dream has manifested into a full-time operation serving other dreamers just like herself.

Within the Genesis community, Shay is best known for her Foodie Pro theme, one that has continually been the #1 selling theme on StudioPress. She followed that up with a theme called Brunch Pro, and just recently released another one called Cook’d Pro.

In this 31-minute episode Lauren Mancke, Shay Bocks, and I discuss:

• How Shay’s first 7 jobs shaped what she does today
• Challenges she faces as a small business owner
• The popularity of the Foodie Pro Theme
• What makes a successful food blogging brand
• A recipe solution: the Cookbook Plugin

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The post The Business of Food Blogging: Is it Lucrative? appeared first on StudioPress.

This blog was originally posted on Studiopress.com This post is in no way associated with Kembel.ca. For more posts by this author, please click here.

On this weekÔÇÖs episode, weÔÇÖre joined by Rebecca Gill of Web Savvy Marketing. Rebecca is a WordPress developer, an SEO consultant, and a general business consultant. SheÔÇÖs an active member of the WordPress community with a variety of participation as a WordCamp speaker, podcast guest, and SEO educator.

Her company, Web Savvy Marketing, was founded in 2009 and is a creative agency based in Southeastern Michigan. They work with clients across the globe who range from bloggers and small businesses to large enterprises and universities.

The Web Savvy online store offers more than 20 professionally designed Genesis themes ideal for businesses, marketers, educational institutions, and bloggers.

In this 29-minute episode Brian Gardner, Lauren Mancke, and Rebecca Gill discuss:

• The accidental entrepreneur
• Empowerment in training others
• A holistic approach to SEO
• How to avoid risky black hat tactics
• The 3 most important elements of SEO
• Long-term SEO strategies

Subscribe to StudioPress FM in iTunes and Listen

The post A BeginnerÔÇÖs Guide to SEO that Works appeared first on StudioPress.

This blog was originally posted on Studiopress.com This post is in no way associated with Kembel.ca. For more posts by this author, please click here.

This fresh new theme from the makers of Foodie Pro offers a buffet of features aimed at food bloggers who also value the beauty of minimalism.

Mouth-watering and easy on the eyes, CookÔÇÖd Pro makes responsiveness and crisp design a priority ÔÇö while giving you a host of tools for featuring images and recipes.

The CookÔÇÖd Pro theme is a satisfying solution for content-hungry visitors

This third-party theme comes packaged with a variety of powerful features and is designed to help your content work for you while maintaining an alluring minimal style.

Some of the features specific to CookÔÇÖd Pro are:

• Large hero area for featured posts
• Widgetized home page for a flexible layout
• The ability to upload your own retina-quality logo and favicon OR simply type in your blog title to match the default styling
• Recipe filter index (you can even create multiple recipe indexes without editing any code)
• Flexible grid archive options in Customizer
• Strategic areas for ads and opt-ins: header; primary sidebar; secondary sidebar; after entry widget; footer widgets
• Built-in Featured Posts widget with flexible options
• Works with HeartThis
• Built-in shortcode to display limited categories
• WooCommerce ready, enabling you to add your own products/affiliate links
• Built-in ÔÇ£read moreÔÇØ button
• Styled responsive drop down menu
• Landing page template (full width template)
• Styled share buttons, subscribe widget, contact form, and comment form
• Easy integration with your email subscription service

CookÔÇÖd Pro also includes all the reliable features youÔÇÖve come to expect with StudioPress themes:

• A mobile-responsive design that looks amazing wherever itÔÇÖs viewed
• Support, documentation, and the StudioPress community forum
• The best rankings possible because of our clean code and mobile-friendly design
• Super-fast page load times
• One-click theme updates
• Airtight security so you can rest easy

Click on the button below and imagine what youÔÇÖll whip up with CookÔÇÖd Pro.

View the Cook’d Pro Demo

The post Welcome to Cook’d Pro: An Appetizing Minimalist Theme appeared first on StudioPress.

This blog was originally posted on Studiopress.com This post is in no way associated with Kembel.ca. For more posts by this author, please click here.