It’s now at the point where it’s simple to knock up a website in a matter of moments, literally.

It sure beats my old templating system I developed and teach in my classes. Well the templating system is a  good introduction to using PHP at least and has some applications for small sites.

It’s probably how WordPress started out. I’m just way too late…

Anyway, WordPress has now got my full attention to the point that I’m learning how to throw in all my past PHP code snippets into it via Plugins. Which at the beginning, like most things, has a wee learning curve. But there is a lot of good information available on the internet to help out.

I’ve even gone and bought a domain name and have been slowly building the website up.  It’s a place where I’ll be providing all my new found WordPress Knowledge and providing links back to some good sources.

Which leads me to a dilemma. I’ve got this website where I ramble on about things. I’ve also got http://www.LookingOverMyShoulder.com which I use as my base site for  my teaching ( Note to self:  It needs a major revamp – hey install  WordPress on it  – what a great idea! ).

And the tutorial site for WordPress is http://www.AdvancedWordPressTutorials.com.  So my thinking is to stick with these sites and use them as they do cover some of the different areas I’m working in.

I use these sites to “record” what I’ve learned so I guess they work like my own personal reference sites. Sites where I can collect all the vast resources available and hopefully merge them into a central location.  Something to consider when you create your own websites. And don’t go pillaging  from other sites. Link to them and provide any extra useful information to make things clearer if need be.

So when I go – “umm where did I see that” I can go to one of my sites and dig up the information. Plus it helps you build your website.

I’m just creating a new plugin – my first – at the request of a mate that wanted a new plugin.  So I’m busy learning up on the ins and outs of WordPress. The plugin – actually works – but there is a bit more to do on it. Umm , yeah I am being a bit vague on what it is!

Still, with all the little snippets I’ve developed for my hand coded sites, it’ll be a great adventure to turn them into plugins and add their abilities to WordPress. Why reinvent the wheel? It’s better just to make new ones!

Have a very happy New Year and I’ll keep plodding along.

Cheers

Tim Brownlaw

The Realization.

This is inspired by all the Tweets and Squeaks I’m seeing about making a few dollars here and there by referring signups through various programs related to Twitter.

And I’m guilty of doing the same kind of thing. That being, putting in major effort to promote something to earn myself a few bucks One Time, to help line someone elses pocket for ever.

That equation doesn’t quite gell with me anymore.

There is something wrong with driving traffic to benefit someone else. Don’t get me wrong. To start out with it’s the only way to Fly. But for how long can you afford to continue to do it?

Long term means Long Term.

You can’t afford to keep driving traffic for others for a low gain. So it’s time to get geared up and turn things to your advantage. Long Term means Long Term. This is a business you are wanting to build. Isn’t it?

So think like you are actually running one and not, “I’ll just try this and see…..”.

You need to be more driven and focused on the Goals you want and how to get there.

So start making those plans.

Get a bit of paper and just start writing. Don’t apply any rules to what you are writing. There are no “Wrongs”. Do not “Self Judge” It’s a matter of practice and this is how to do it. Just write.

Ask questions like… If I need to do this , what do I need and what would I need to learn. Without any restrictions. Don’t catch yourself thinking, “Great, I’ll never learn that…..”

At this stage you are just exploring whats needed. The who, whats and wheres can be sorted out later.

After a few goes you’ll start to see the path through what looks like an impenetrable forest.

It’s time I went and started my plans, without restrictions and see what comes out.

Happy Planning.

So the TODO is to have a play with this templates CSS. It’s something I know how to do as I’m doing it on everyone elses at the moment.

Just completed this and handed it over to my mate so he can go crazy with his newly found place on the internet.

He’s a songwriter, specializing in the music writing and he’s looking for help with the word writing bit. I’d help out but I’m not sure he’d like my crazy lyrics.

Check him out – http://www.StevieBarnes.com