Alan Smith - Web Design and Development

Alan Smith is a web designer and web developer using WordPress as a CMS and the Genesis Framework. I am a devoted husband and father, a Christ Follower and a Georgia Bulldog Fan (Go SEC!)

It’s Impossible to Optimize a Website

building site traffic

Here's the deal.  SEO, Search Engine Optimization, is a nice fancy word that tends to freak people out.  After all, when you use letters instead of words, it's got to be important. Right?One of the misconceptions a lot people make about SEO is that it's about optimizing a site. It's Impossible to Optimize a Site When you go to Google and search for 'hermit crab food,' you don't expect Google to send you to a site, you expect to be sent to a page about hermit crab food.Google serves up ten pages that it deems relevant to your search.  You click on the first … [Read more...]

How to Install Genesis Framework and Child Theme

How to install studiopress

The Genesis Framework is the most stable, secure, and extendable theme for WordPress I've used.  It can also be a little intimidating to modify.Over the next few weeks, I'm going to provide customization for a few StudioPress users.  I'll connect and spend about an hour helping get your child theme looking the way you want it to look.  I'll do some coding and provide some cut/paste code for you to include.And I'm going to do this for FREE!No sales pages, no opt-ins required, no questionnaires!All you have to do is leave a comment on this post, … [Read more...]

Creating Navigation Menu with StudioPress

Genesis Theme Settings

Adding navigation to a StudioPress child theme is a simple process when you know the steps.  In version 1.8, you will need to use the WordPress Menu creator to generate your Primary and Secondary navigation menus.  But first,  you have to make sure Genesis is setup. Setting Up Genesis In the Dashboard, go to Genesis>Settings>Theme Settings.  This will take you to the Genesis setup window for you to set all the defaults.Scroll down to the Navigation Settings meta box.  Here you will see two check boxes, one for Primary Navigation and the other for … [Read more...]

Four Ways Pinterest Can Work for Your Business

logo-pinterest

Pinterest is a very fast growing social network that has a lot of people talking.  It is a bit unique in how you share content.  If your not using Pinterest and do not have an idea what all the fuss is about, go check it out.  If you need an invite, let me know and I'll send you one.Source: mashable.com via Alan on Pinterest  4 Ways to Make Pinterest Work for You 1.  Add a Pin It ButtonYou can add a Pin It button to your website.  If your on WordPress, use a plugin that adds the social media icons to your Posts or Pages.  Check the plugins … [Read more...]

13 Pinteresting facts about Pinterest users

Pinterst Demographics

Have you heard of Pinterest?  It's only the "hottest" new social network on the planet.  Yes, Facebook is the largest and Twitter is the "coolest," but Pinterest is the new up and comer who will challenge both of these social rivals.Its unique position is how you share information.  Instead of posting updates or information about you life,  you "pin" images from the web to your "pinboard."  It's a virtual pin board for all the cool and interesting things you see on the web.It has potential for being a traffic driver to your website.  The current data … [Read more...]