WordPress 4.3: Two New Features Add Efficiency & Security
WordPress 4.3 brings text formatting “autocompletions” and automatic password generation (and weak password shaming!). Check out these features that even the most casual user should know!
Tools & Resources
A WordPress Formatting Manifesto
I recently released the MRW Web Design Simple TinyMCE plugin for WordPress. It’s a plugin that came directly out of the work I do to serve clients and make using WordPress as easy as possible. In this post, I want to share how I made the final decisions for what buttons I removed from the default WordPress editor, and provide a framework for what it means to format content well on the web.
How to Pick a WordPress Plugin
I recently presented on “How to Pick a Plugin.” A lot of time went into thoughtfully walking people through the process, so I want to share the tips (and an exciting update to one piece of the presentation) with a broader audience.
Two New Things From Google for Webmasters [link]
Whether you love them or hate them, Google offers a lot of tools and services that most of us use. Two recent changes caught my eye and I want to pass them on to all you website owners and builders.
Why Contrast Matters
Contrast. You know it when you see it. Literally! Using sufficient contrast in web design ensures that EVERYONE can use your website. To make your site accessible, you’ll need to understand how contrast is measured and how to test it yourself.
WebAIM’s Superb Hierarchy for Motivating Change [link]
When focusing on the nitty-gritty details of website accessibility, it’s easy to forget that tools and techniques aren’t enough to make an accessible web.
Writing Tips (Hint: #1 is Start now!) [link]
Here’s a great to-the-point list of tips for writing for the web.
WordPress 3.8: New Color Scheme and More!
WordPress 3.8 is out, and if you don’t see it coming, you might get smacked over the head with the drastic change in colors. However, it’s easy to change the default color scheme.
Tiny but Useful Web Utilities
Web utilities are single-use websites that do helpful little tasks. I use a whole bunch of them all the time. Here’s a list of my favorites.
Child Themes Redux [gallery]
Let me pull back the curtains a bit so you can see how one WordPress theme—think of it as a design—can be turned into many unique websites. In this case, the Twenty Twelve theme helped two clients get beautiful sites.
Let Your Software Be Your Guide [aside]
Software settings can only personalize so much. In the end, we must balance the need to find something that makes sense to us with learning how it’s intended to be used.
Power User Tip: Chrome Application Shortcuts
Google Chrome’s application shortcuts are way underappreciated if you ask me. I use them to keep myself working when I need to work and playing when I need to play. Learn why I love them and how to make them for your favorite “web apps.”
Don’t Use These WordPress Theme Features
If I had to give people buying a WordPress theme one piece of advice, this would probably be it: Ignore most of the features, save yourself the headache of the “lock-in effect,” and learn to love plugins!
I ♥ WorkFlowy
As a freelancer, I have to stay organized and productive. I use lots of tools to do this, but one of my favorites is WorkFlowy. (There’s a bonus happy announcement at the end of the post.)
Vote with Your Mouse for the Best WordPress Ideas [link]
Even if you’ve never written a single line of HTML, JavaScript, CSS, or PHP code, it’s still easy to contribute to the future of WordPress! WordPress.org’s “Ideas” section is a tucked-away but important way to submit feedback to the WordPress team. Everyone from a plugin developer to a first-time WordPress user can express their opinions, … Continue reading “Vote with Your Mouse for the Best WordPress Ideas [link]”
Screen Options: Little known. Greatly needed. [video]
If you’re a WordPress user, read this post. “Screen Options” let you control customizations to many pages in the WordPress administrative interface. Unfortunately, the way you change these is a little confusing unless you know where to look. Here’s a good video giving you a very quick overview.