20 Expert Wordpress Tips for Pro-Developers

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Wordpress has been growing sensationally as the tool to use for Blogging. We’ve compiled a list of things that are good practice and you must do if you are a pro wordpress blogger or developer.

Writing/Blogging Workflow

1. Keep it updated. Publish it later. Keeping it updated can be a laborious, arduous task. In order to do something like this I highly recommend writing 2-3 articles at a time and publishing them later at another date.
2. Use Shortcodes. Shortcodes can save you a lot of time and provide you with text and bbedit type shortcuts. Using text like: [shortcode]. It replaces the need with formatting text and easily allows you to insert a template or snippet.
3. Editing offline? Use Google Gears to kick your writing abilities offline. While using Google Gears Turbo can write, edit things locally then sync them later.
4. Write posts via email: This is something people tend to forget about only because its such an unutilized feature. But with the ubiquity of smartphones it makes sense to write posts via email. (Thanks to @dmassad for the tip.)

Mobile Design

1. Do you have an iPhone? Wordpress.org is creating an iPhone application just for the iPhone to keep your blog updated
2. Update Wordpress by Text Message using Twitter Updater
3. iPhone themes for Wordpress: WP Touch , iWPTouch

Backing Up Data

1. Importing and Export Feature – Keep your posts backed up on your server as well as multiple different places.
2. Use the Backup Plugin to automatically

Wordpress with CMS Superpowers

Because of Wordpress’ very attractive backend. Using Wordpress seems like a very promising move. The following will make it happen:

1. Devlounge explores the pros and cons and possibilities of using Wordpress as a CMS. What to consider if you’re using Wordpress as a CM
2. Rewriting Wordpress Functions: WeFunction Explores the idea of using wordpress’ add_meta_box as a means of creating seperate custom fields. I warn you it doesn’t look very easy. The tutorial is very well documented though.
3. Flutter is very promising plugin that allows awesome features such as editing in place as well as allowing many different post types. Also covered and reviewed here.
4. Darren Hoyt discusses the client-web developer/designer problems with making Wordpress a CMS
5. How to “plan and think of Wordpress as a CMS”
6. CMS Plugins: Looking for plugins to make Wordpress a cms? Make sure you check out My Page Order , pageMash , Page Management Dropdown , PageRestrict, etc. (Source: Mashable)

Twitter Implementation

1. 10 Best Twitter tools for Wordpress.
2. Find out who tweeted or retweeted your post using the Tweetback Plugin

Wordpress Custom Theme Development

1. Use a Parent-Child Theme to rapidly jump-start theme development
2. Import Sample Content to help develop and refine your themes typography
3. Why reinvent the wheel when you can use a blank theme: found here , here , and a whole list of them here

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Further Reading

• Use the Link Description in Wordpress 3.0 Menus
• The Business Case for Microformats
• Essential Plugins for Wordpress 3.0
• 5 Rocking Google Analytics Plugins for Wordpress
• Old Design is New – 33 “Hip” Circles in Web Design

More?

Posted on 16. 02. 2009
Filed as Hacks, Themes, Wordpress
By Dejan Cancarevic