WordPress started with 1 content type. A post. Over the years, that was slowly expanded to encompass links, pages, even media uploads. Around Version 3.0 (Thelonious) WordPress really expanded that power with Custom Post Types (custom post types were around before 3.0, but that’s when they really started to gain momentum). Custom Post Types allow you to extend and modify the WordPress Dashboard (or “back-end”) for many applications. When combined with custom theme templates, they are a powerful combination that allow WordPress to be customized into a powerful CMS (Content Management System). Here’s what custom post types look like in the backend of WordPress:

If you are familiar with WordPress, you can see the extra post types that we added to this theme: Portfolio, Testimonials, Team Members, News and Resources. Pages and Posts are built into WordPress by default. Those already familiar with WordPress might also notice that we have hidden the links panel and moved comments and media into their own section. Custom Post Types are all about modifying the WordPress Dashboard to fit the needs of our clients. In the new post type areas, we modify the interface to fit the needs and requirements of your content. These custom interfaces allow you to easily enter and edit data, create associations, and organize the content that drives your website. Here’s an example of the interface for a property listing (a parcel of land) for a Real Estate website that we developed:

And here is how that information displays the public facing (front-end) side of the site.

As you can see, WordPress has moved far beyond blogging. It’s now a mature, growing platform that’s robust enough to handle millions of sites all around the world. What are some pages and types of content on your website that could be more easily managed and presented by utilizing WordPress Custom Post Types?

WHAT IS CSS AND CSS3?
CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) is a stylesheet language used to define the look and format of a website. It’s the colors, layout and style of the site whereas the HTML markup is the structure and content. It’s what makes your site look good. CSS3 is simply the third level of CSS. Drafts of CSS3 were first published in 1999 and became W3C recommended in 2011.

WHAT MAKES CSS3 STAND OUT FROM CSS AND CSS2?
CSS3 also has the ability to create animations, 3D effects and much more. Agencies can develop websites with animations without using Flash, that means if users visit websites with their tablet or mobile phone they will be able to see the animations. This is a must in today’s mobile world!

CSS BUTTONS INSTEAD OF IMAGES
Traditionally, to create a good looking button you had to create the graphic in photoshop and upload the button image to your website. However, these images can slow down your site, aren’t indexable by search engines and are difficult to update. With CSS3, a good CSS developer/designer can turn any graphic (like a button) into a great looking CSS3 object.

1. BUTTON GRAPHIC

This button is simply an graphic. The pro about a button graphic is that every browser will render the graphic the same way so it’s cross browser compatible. However, search engines like Google won’t be able to read the text inside the button and images can slow down your site. Also, small changes such as changing the color of the button or changing the text inside of it become difficult. To change a button that is an image requires finding and opening the original psd file in Photoshop, changing the color or text and exporting and re-uploading the new graphic.

2. CSS3 BUTTON

This button is created purely with CSS code, no graphics. With a CSS3 button you can quickly and easily change the color and text inside of the button just by editing a couple of lines of code. Also search engines like Google are able to read the text inside the button – that will cause that your site will rank better in search results and it loads much faster. Also, those with disabilities can use software to make their computer read hard coded text which wouldn’t be possible if the text was embedded in a flattened image.

3. IE BUTTON

It should be noted that there are subtle difference in how browsers render CSS3 code. For example, Apple’s Safari browser renders shadows slightly differently than Mozilla’s Firefox would. And there’s is every developer’s nightmare, Microsoft’s Internet Explorer, which doesn’t support CSS3 until version 9. But be aware that version IE9 is not available for operating systems older than Windows 7 and most CSS3 properties won’t be available until version 10. On the other hand Firefox, Safari, Chrome and Opera are available for Windows OS users and support CSS3.

WHICH BROWSERS SUPPORT CSS3?

For more specific browser support information, please visit: WC3 Schools CSS3 Browser Support.

CSS3 PROPERTIES

For more specific browser support information, please visit: WC3 Schools CSS3 Browser Support.

It was love at first pin
Last February, a friend of mine introduced me to Pinterest.  I was looking for a new home and she said “I’ll send you an invite to Pinterest.  It’s a great way to find decorating ideas and organize them.” I decided to give it a try and a year later I’m using this “virtual bulletin board” every day and not just to decorate our new home.  Before Pinterest, if I found something on the web I wanted to remember or come back to, I had to either bookmark it, email it to myself or print it out.  Well, I wasn’t very good at doing any of these things or remembering the addresses of any blogs I visited, which is why I fell in love with Pinterest.  Hopefully after this post, I can at least spark your interest in Pinterest

How is Pinterest used? What is being pinned and shared on Pinterest?
I’ve seen people use Pinterest to plan their weddings, vacations, birthdays, baby showers and holiday parties.  Members are discovering art, furniture, fitness routines, music, gifts, books, and recipes. People are being inspired whether it be photography, interior design or DIY projects. People are even nostalgic on Pinterest – pinning vintage fashion, childhood toys and photos of celebrities from long ago.  You can pin things you find online or upload pictures to the Pinterest app from your camera phone. You can also “repin” things that anyone else is pinning. I love seeing what projects my friends are working on and sharing ideas. The pinning possibilities are endless.

You can login with either your Facebook or Twitter account and it shows you which friends from those networks are also on Pinterest.  You can also follow strangers on Pinterest that share the same tastes and interests. I like that I am able to follow my real life friends but that I can also follow people I’ve never met without having to “become friends with them” and it doesn’t make them follow me just because I’m following them.

Might as well face it, you’re addicted to Pinterest
This week Mashable posted a January 2012 study titled “Pinterest Drives More Traffic Than Google+, YouTube and LinkedIn Combined” Wow!  I was floored when I saw this. I knew Pinterest was gaining a reputation just by seeing the number of my Facebook friends joining daily, but I didn’t realize just how popular it had become. Just imagine the value of this free exposure for companies whose products are being pinned and repinned hundreds of times! The study Mashable posted said “Pinterest accounted for 3.6% of referral traffic, while Twitter just barely edged ahead of the newcomer, accounting for 3.61% of referral traffic.”  A website coming just under Twitter for referral traffic last month should make any marketer or business owner want to know more.

One of the reasons I believe Pinterest is so popular is because it’s a simple and visual site. When you pin a blog or website, it grabs an image from the website and automatically creates a link back to that website. So when you are browsing your pin boards or your Pinterest feed, it’s all pictures with small captions that link back to the original source.

How to harness the power of Pinterest for your company
There are two things you can easily add to your website to connect your brand with Pinterest and directions for adding these buttons to your site can be found here on Pinterest’s website.  You can add a “Follow Me on Pinterest” button to your website and create a Pinterest account in the name of your business or have it link to a personal account.  You can also add ‘Pin It’ buttons to your website to encourage your visitors to share your products, videos, blog posts and articles on their pin boards.  We have already integrated the ‘Pin It’ button on a couple of our clients sites and the results have been great.

Entice your customers to pin pictures of your products – offer something in return for them spreading your brand on Pinterest.  Remember that images of good quality on your website are key because Pinterest is all about the visual.  As with any social networking site, it’s important to behave on Pinterest as you would in the offline world.  Don’t just shout your brand.  Follow other users and boards related to your areas of interest and like other Pinterest users pins by clicking on their Pinterest Like buttons.  Remember to advertise your pins on other social networks such as Facebook and Twitter. You are now able to post what your are pinning to your Facebook Timeline.

Do you see a way your brand could benefit from the rising power of Pinterest?

I hope you found this blog post pinteresting! If you need an example of pin boards and what Pinterest is all about, please feel free to visit my personal Pinterest page.  Also, if you need an invite to Pinterest, email me.

A logo is the centerpiece of your branding strategy. It defines not only your “look and feel”, but the emotive qualities that underscore who you are as a business. Your logo should instantly communicate that message in a way that connects with your target audience.

What are the different types of logo design?

▪ Iconic / Symbolic – Uses visual imagery to relate to your product, company name or even communicate the intangible such as positioning, mission or ethics. Often these are the most recognizable brands in the world because a symbol can stand on it’s own, even without the brand name.

▪ Logotype / Wordmark – Uses the details of typography to communicate the essence of your brand. The subtle personality  differences of typography should never be underestimated. What typography characteristics best represents your business?

▪ Combination Marks – The combination of the symbolic and wordmark logos. This is the most common type of logo because it combines the power and recognition of a symbolic logo with the awareness from being able to read the company name.

Many brands often have a version of each type of logo giving them versatility when using their logo in various space constraints. These brands have an approved symbolic logo, wordmark and combination logo that each have defined roles and uses. Some brands also evolve their logo over time. For example, Starbucks recently simplified their logo by dropping the type. Considering that my 3-year old (who can’t read yet) knows the Starbucks logo means coffee it’s safe to say they have enough brand recognition for a symbolic mark to stand alone.

Anyone with a pirated copy of Photoshop can choose a random font, draw a shape, and call it a logo. However, at MODassic, we are interested in building brands. That starts with developing a logo that tells a story. Your story. Being that your logo is the foundation of your brand and marketing strategy, we believe investing in your logo design is a smart move. For us that all starts with the creative brief where we dive into the goals, audience and other important details needed to create a new logo and brand. The creative brief is just a conversation guide – a starting point. Based on the answers given we dive much deeper into the details that will become the inspiration for your logo.

Download our logo design creative brief to help you start thinking through the many important elements that go into devloping a logo, and give us a call when you’re ready to get started!

There are also many sites online where you can browse logos to get inspiration for your own. Logopond and Dribbble are great sources of design inspiration.

Taylor is going out to this big, dry land to connect with our fellow WordPressers, learn a thing or two, represent Texas (and visit his parents).