Annie Anderson | Blog

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Before I show you my new theme preview, let me say that yesterday’s post about being picky was *supposed* to be about not finding a new theme for this blog that totally fits my vision. I had intended to talk about being picky about my site design. Well, that didn’t happen. LOL

Anyway, although there are many themes I truly do like and wish I could use them all, there just isn’t one (that I’ve found, yet) that follows exactly what I see this blog as being. So, I thought since I’m a graphic designer - but not a web designer, technically - I would try to create my own. And I’m happy to say that coding with WordPress (the platform this blog uses) is fairly straight forward. Although, if any of you pro’s out there have any tips for me, I’m all ears!

The weekend was largely spent learning the basics of coding a theme with WordPress and yesterday I threw together the graphics vision. It’s not entirely finished yet and I don’t plan on having it live until next week at the earliest but I thought I’d give you a preview. I would greatly appreciate any feedback you have for me.

Please tell me what you think and again, if you know a thing or two about creating a WP theme from scratch, please do share any tips you have.

Have a great day!

In the arena,

(The gallery seems to be having a few issues. If you can’t see the image in the box above, click the middle of the box and it will open the image in a new window.)

By the way - if this is your first time here, or you haven’t done so yet, please consider subscribing to my RSS feed. You can use any feed reader you wish.

Annie Anderson is a freelance copywriter and graphic designer specializing in the small business and real estate markets. Her tagline “Making your business, my business” means that she’ll take the utmost care when creating words and images for your business - just as if it were her own.

It’s time for a new theme here at AA|Blog but I’m not sure what I really want. I have *some* idea - 2 or 3 column, widget compatible, custom header image capable and preferably free - although I am considering a premium theme.

So far, I really like Fresh News, WP Remix and a couple of others. On the one hand, I’d like something “newsy” or magazine feeling but on the other - I’d rather have full articles on the front and not have truncated posts like many of the magazine or news style themes have. I like being able to read the whole post without having to click to another page to finish it.

I also want to be sure the theme doesn’t truncate (or cut off) the RSS feed. That’s one of my biggest pet peeves as an RSS reader - having to click to the website to finish reading something. Trust me - if I want to post a comment or something, I *will* click through. Just don’t expect me to click to finish reading. It’s not only cumbersome, it’s time consuming and when I have a bajillion tabs already open, it’s just not fun. Let me read the whole post in my RSS reader or I’m likely to unsubscribe.

It’s about value.

Oh, but anyway . . . I was talking about a new theme, wasn’t I? LOL . . . it’s been a long day. Can you tell?!

Yeah, I think a new theme is what I’d really like. I do like this one, though but it’s kinda limited in what I really want to do with the site and some of the newer premium themes have some great options.

All of that to say - do you have a favorite theme? Would you purchase (or have you) a premium theme? How much are you willing to spend on such a theme?

Please tell me your thoughts.

In the arena,

By the way - if this is your first time here, or you haven’t done so yet, please consider subscribing to my RSS feed. You can use any feed reader you wish.

Annie Anderson is a freelance copywriter and graphic designer specializing in the small business and real estate markets. Her tagline “Making your business, my business” means that she’ll take the utmost care when creating words and images for your business - just as if it were her own.

This week is going to bring many changes across the board on nearly all of my sites. As I gear up to really take my businesses to the next level, I will be getting everything aligned for ease, stability and optimum performance. That means there will be some really exciting things happening.

Many of you have seen my artwork in various places including my .Mac webpage, where I have a gallery of images I’ve created - most notably, the original Mandala collection. Feel free to stop by there and take a look at those if you haven’t already. And look for some additional designs coming very soon. Just remember, those images are copyrighted material and you may not download or use them without permission.

Recently, I’ve had several inquiries as to what I charge for designing logos, business cards and book covers. To date, I have not ever had that information on my websites (because each project is different) but I will be posting some very general guidelines as to pricing in the near future to help those seeking that information.

And along those same lines, I’ve had lots of questions regarding my writing services. I’m very pleased that the updated Write Point website will be completed very soon - it’s coming along nicely. Again, I’ve not had any pricing guidelines there but I will be adding some basic fees to that site as well.

There are also many new things coming for my Real Estate Investing adventures as well including a launch of the brand new paperback version of my Real Estate Research Basics book. So, keep your eye out for that. It promises to very exciting indeed! And I can’t wait to share it with you.

If there is something you’d like to see or you have any questions or suggestions, please don’t hesitate to send me a note.

Thanks for stopping by! Enjoy your day and I’ll talk to you again soon!

~Annie

This blog and website are where I’ll be posting things that are relevant to all of my on-going projects, thoughts, ideas and whatever else comes to mind. You’ll find links to my other websites, projects, clients I’ve worked with and sites I like and recommend.

Since August 1, 2007 I’ve been working on The Thirty Day Challenge hosted by Ed Dale and Dan Raine. Now that it has ended, I’ll be working on this site as well as some of the sites I’ve been created during the challenge. Of course, I’ll still be freelancing and doing all the things I normally do, too.

School is starting next week for the kids and although we’ve homeschooled for the last 4 years, my oldest daughter who is entering 8th grade wants to go back to public school and as hard as the decision has been for my husband and I, I think we’re going to let her. I’m not sure about the younger kids, though. I think I’ll keep them home one more year and maybe send the oldest boy, who will be 5th grade next year, at that time. We’ll see how the 8th grader does this year.

Anyway, end of summer this weekend so we’re going to enjoy it!

Talk soon!

~ Annie

This is Annie Anderson’s website about real estate, graphic design, writing and more.

I appreciate you stopping by. Have a look around, post a comment and download my free report on Overcoming Writer’s Block.

Have a great day!