Please note, I have used the SmallBiz theme a ton and only built a few sites with Woo, so feel free to use the comment section to share your knowledge.

Note: Woo Themes is a Framework, which means there are a core set of files and lots of different themes, layouts and designs (I have used the Simplicity Theme), but there are e-commerce themes, Magazine, Blogs, pretty much whatever you need.  The SmallBiz is one theme with eleven different layouts and design capabilities, it may not be your theme of choice for e-commerce or a blog.

Why I like Woo:

• My favorite thing is that there are two style sheets: the main one for the website (style.css), and the custom CSS (custom.css).  You can easily copy a piece of code from the style sheet, paste it into the custom CSS, and revise.  If you don’t like your changes or made a mistake, just delete the info out of the Custom CSS and your files are still perfectly in tact.
• The Theme Options panel is very easy to follow: you can easily add a logo, favicon, Google Tracking code, breadcrumbs, link color, background color (or image), font color and size, layout and navigation, footer links, etc.
• Subscribe and connect options allows you to enter your Feedburner ID or Mail Chimp Subscribe URL.  You can also easily add the urls of social media accounts to display icons with links to those sites.
• Framework Settings allows you to brand the theme with your company logo
• Sidebar Manager allows you to create different sidebars for different pages and customize the widgets for each page.
• Update Framework is handy because with one click you can update your website, yet due to the custom.css, you won’t loose any of the customization that you have done, or harm the infrastructure of your site.
• The backup settings allow you to setup another website with the same settings, which can cut down on set up time for websites.
• The seo capabilities are built in and easy to use.
• In relation to the the Simplicity theme:
• The homepage slider was easy enough to use.  You can have an image with text (and links).  You can control the speed of the sides via the Options Panel
• The portfolio features I found a bit of a challenge to set up.  I have used the theme twice and I am pretty sure I will be scratching my head when I need to update either sites portfolio.  The good side, it looks great, with thumbnails, lightbox, and resized images.
• The testimonials were super easy to add and update.  Just like the rotating slideshow you can update the speed of the rotation in the Options Panel.
• I did visit the forum a few times, and while the navigation was a bit awkward, I did receive an email within 24 hours of sending it to the help desk.  There is an extensive video library and theme documentation.

Why I like the Small Business Theme:

• The first thing you will find in the Options Panel is a Video Tour of the theme, a Users Guide PDF, and a color scheme assistant for those who may feel a little design challenged.  The color scheme assistant allows you to upload an image for a digital analysis, which will return the hex values of the colors.
• The Options Panel is an actual To-Do list of everything I need to do for a client.  The features are heavy on SEO, which is fantastic for all sites!   This includes homepage title tags, meta descriptions, keywords, Google Analytics and webmaster tools.  This list serves not only as a reminder of best practices while I am building, but there are actually links to the specific pages where you create your Google map, analytics and webmaster tools.  With one click I am able to generate the needed code and pop back into the theme to continue work.
• There are eleven options for design layouts,  some of which allow for the use of video or slideshows on your homepage, along with feature boxes that you customize with content that best represent your business.
• The Theme comes enabled for a mobile. This means you can customize a specific pages for people who come to your site via a smart phone, iPad or iPod. See my mobile websites page for further details and samples.
• The SmallBiz theme comes with a Facebook Application which allows you to create custom Facebook Pages.  See my Customized Facebook Pages portfolio for samples.
• Font choices & size and color choice for Headers, Menu’s, paragraphs & footers.
• The connection with social media.  The Expand2Web Small Business theme already has the icons built into the sidebar of the  page, all you need to do is input your link urls.
• Support.   Don Campbell, President of Expand2Web or one of his dedicated team members will help you through any and all questions.  Don has a YouTube channel devoted to instructional videos, his blog is loaded with tips and tutorials, and there is even a FAQ page with step by step instructions.  If you are looking for more coaching you can register for one of his online classes or join his Member Forum.
• Customization.  You can easily upload a background image, or change the color, change the font, size and color, add a custom header.
• There are six different options for pages with sidebars
• The theme comes with a Home page, Find Us page, Contact form, Business Hours and built in blog.

There are plenty of great things to say about both WordPress themes.  A few samples of sites I built with SmallBiz: Freitas Package Store, Top Candidate Recruting, and Discover Specific Chiropractic.  I used Woo for: Sweet Gum Horticulture and InSideDesign.

Here is the code to create a link to an email address:

<a href=”mailto:Name@domain.com”>Name@domain.com</a>

If I can be of help with WordPress website design or the SmallBiz theme, please give me a ring, 508.317.7355.

This new feature is only available for fan pages that list a physical address. If you don’t have an address associated with your Fan Page:

• Go to Edit Page
• Select Basic Information from the list on the left (see image below)

What if you get a dud review? Hover over it and click ‘x’.

It is impossible to ignore Facebook this week! Need a custom page for your business? Please give me a call, 508.317.7355 or visit my gallery of Custom Facebook Pages.

Login to your WordPress Dashboard
Go to Appearance
Editor
Look for: /* You can add your own styles below this line. */
add this line (change the hex code to whatever you want): #footer a {color:#4BC1DD;}

For help with WordPress or designing a website for your business, please call Eileen, 508.317.7355.

Beate first called me about 18 months ago, as she wanted a little help with her Facebook page, from that we have worked on many projects, including the opportunity for me to be in a Beta session of her online class The Women’s Code (check out her blog).

Last week we launched a new Facebook Page for Beate, which has a video and interactive test for you to see if your life is in balance. If you have a couple of minutes, take the test, my results surprised me!

For the techies out there, I built this Facebook mini website using the SmallBiz Theme for WordPress. I wrote a post on how to use the Facebook App as a stand alone product How to Use the SmallBiz Theme Facebook App on a Subdomain.

1.  The sky has yet to open with angels singing any time I have hit publish

2.  I love comments and feedback

3.  It is smart to have a focus: I would say pick three keywords and create content around those keywords.  Things change, so don’t be afraid to refine your focus.

4. Sometimes good enough is actually terrific.  Fretting over each comma and italicized word is just a waste of time.  Just hit publish!  Keep going!

5.  Tutorials get the most traffic

6.  Appreciate your relationships.  My gang at Expand2Web has been incredibly gracious with their Likes, +1′s and retweets, I reciprocate as often as possible.

7. Comment and leave feedback on other blogs!  If you appreciate a post, let the author know.  Some great things have come from my commenting: a gig as a guest author on Search Engine People Blog and I have landed a few really cool clients who have seen my comments, visited my blog and hired me!

8.  Share your “voice” – it is nice to know there is a person behind the posts.

9.  Don’t get all worked up over the Analytics, but do keep track.  If you check every day you will go crazy, but by checking in to see what is working is pretty interesting.

10.  Blogging is great for SEO.  Each blog post is like opening another entrance into your website, the more doors, the more people who you attract.  Take the extra two minutes to give your post a title tag and meta description.

This blog has been good for me and for my business.  I am proud of 125 posts – thanks for reading.

PS Make my day and Like, +1, Tweet or Comment, please!

Once someone clicks on the icon you land on the custom designed mobile landing page that we created using the WordPress theme with Mobile landing pages by Expand2Web.

If you would like a custom video made for your clients or if you would like to know more about the creating Mobile Websites with WordPress please feel free to give me a ring, 508.317.7355.

WordPress.com
Benefits:

• Quick and easy to get started
• Hosting is free, if you want the option of your own domain name you pay $15 per year
• You have the ability to create both pages and posts, giving you a full functioning website

Drawbacks:

• You can not add plugins (which increase the functionality of your website)
• You share a url (eileenlonergan.wordpress.com vs eileenlonergan.com), this is fine for a child’s school report, not professional for a business.
• You can not upload your own theme and you can not edit the CSS files of their templates, thus limiting your customization options.

WordPress.org

Benefits:

• You may use one of thousands of free themes, or upgrade to a paid theme.
• You have unlimited control over the appearance of your website.
• You can use plugins, which is a simple (and inexpensive) solution to increase the functionality of your website.  A few of my most used free plugins are WP Database Backup, XML Sitemaps, the spam filter Askimet. For a low fee I like RoyalSlider which allows me to have slides with html or Visual Composer which allows you to drag and drop layouts.
• Search Engine Optimization (this is really the number 1, 2, & 3 reason!) Many themes have seo features built in or you can use either a plugin (All in One SEO or Yoast are both great), which will allow you to customize the meta titles and page descriptions for each page and post.

Drawbacks (and the solutions!):

• You need to obtain hosting.  Look for a company that provides MySQL databases and FTP access.  I use BlueHost.com, they specialize in WordPress sites and have support (24/7 – not that I have ever called at 2am….) or SmallBiz Cloud
• The idea of getting started can feel overwhelming.  There are loads of great resources:
• You can call me or visit my blog.
• Join a group, I am a member of The SmallBiz Entrepreneurs which has an online forum for help with the SmallBiz theme and also has weekly classes on using WordPress, SEO, industry trends and how to run a business as a web consultant.
• Buy a Theme that offers support: Woothemes offers support, Thesis has an active Forum, Gensis has free support and of course so does the SmallBiz theme.
• Search through YouTube for thousands of “how to” videos.
• You will need to manage backups and WordPress updates.  You can either use plugins to help, or purchase The SmallBiz Cloud Hosting and that is automatically taken care of.

I hope this clarifies the difference between WordPress.org and WordPress.com. Please feel free to connect if you have any questions and get started!!! As WordPress claims “both free and priceless at the same time.”

To do this, use your favorite ftp client (Text Wrangler for Mac users or Filezilla for PC or Mac’s are both free to download). Navigate to the layout and look for CSS file of the layout you are using, it will look something like this:

/public_html/YOURDOMAIN/wp-content/themes/smallbiz/layouts/rotator (or rotator-video)

Open the CSS File and look for the code related to the homepage boxes, copy it and paste into your website:

Dashboard > Apprearance > Editors > Style CSS (will open by default)

You want to edit background:#f5f5f6; change the #f5f5f6 to any hex color you want.  If you are feeling playful change each box to a different color!

I have included a video tutorial and the code below. If you don’t feel like navigating in with Filezilla, copy the code and paste it into your CSS file.

#homepage-box1{
float: left;
width: 200px;
height:200px;
background:#f5f5f6;
margin-right:18px;
margin-left:3px;
margin-bottom:15px;
padding-left:10px;
padding-right:10px;
padding-top:10px;
padding-bottom:10px;
overflow:hidden;
border-style:solid;
border-width:1px;
border-color:#686c8a;
}

#homepage-box1 img{
border:solid 1px #999;
padding:2px;
}

#homepage-box2{
float: left;
width: 200px;
height:200px;
background:#f5f5f6;
margin-right:18px;
margin-bottom:15px;
padding-left:10px;
padding-right:10px;
padding-top:10px;
padding-bottom:10px;
overflow:hidden;
border-style:solid;
border-width:1px;
border-color:#686c8a;
}

#homepage-box2 img{
border:solid 1px #999;
padding:2px;
}

#homepage-box3{
float: left;
width: 200px;
height:200px;
background:#f5f5f6;
margin-right:18px;
padding-left:10px;
padding-right:10px;
padding-top:10px;
padding-bottom:10px;
overflow:hidden;
border-style:solid;
border-width:1px;
border-color:#686c8a;
}

#homepage-box3 img{
border:solid 1px #999;
padding:2px;
}

#homepage-box4{
float: left;
width: 200px;
height:200px;
background:#f5f5f6;
padding-left:10px;
padding-right:10px;
padding-top:10px;
padding-bottom:10px;
overflow:hidden;
border-style:solid;
border-width:1px;
border-color:#686c8a;
}

#homepage-box4 img{
border:solid 1px #999;
padding:2px;
}

The SmallBiz Theme has a ton of awesome features that can easily be customized. Eileen Lonergan has built many WordPress Websites with the Theme reach out if you have any questions.

PS I am always asked about hosting for WordPress, and always suggest BlueHost. The offer one click WordPress installation and are available 24/7 with support.

If you found this post helpful, sign up for my newsletter, a once a month roundup of my best tips + a few gems reserved just for you!

I am going to show you how to edit the CSS file of the SmallBiz Theme for WordPress to change the background color of the four feature boxes on the homepage of the Rotator  or Rotator-Video Layout.

To do this, use your favorite ftp client (Text Wrangler for Mac users or Filezilla for PC or Mac’s are both free to download). Navigate to the layout and look for CSS file of the layout you are using, it will look something like this:

/public_html/YOURDOMAIN/wp-content/themes/smallbiz/layouts/rotator (or rotator-video)

Open the CSS File and look for the code related to the homepage boxes, copy it and paste into your website:

Dashboard > Apprearance > Editors > Style CSS (will open by default)

You want to edit background:#f5f5f6; change the #f5f5f6 to any hex color you want.  The border color is border-color:#686c8a;, change that, and also border:solid 1px #999; If you are feeling playful change each box to a different color!

I have included a video tutorial and the code below. If you don’t feel like navigating in with Filezilla, copy the code and paste it into your CSS file.

#homepage-box1{
float: left;
width: 200px;
height:200px;
background:#f5f5f6;
margin-right:18px;
margin-left:3px;
margin-bottom:15px;
padding-left:10px;
padding-right:10px;
padding-top:10px;
padding-bottom:10px;
overflow:hidden;
border-style:solid;
border-width:1px;
border-color:#686c8a;
}

#homepage-box1 img{
border:solid 1px #999;
padding:2px;
}

#homepage-box2{
float: left;
width: 200px;
height:200px;
background:#f5f5f6;
margin-right:18px;
margin-bottom:15px;
padding-left:10px;
padding-right:10px;
padding-top:10px;
padding-bottom:10px;
overflow:hidden;
border-style:solid;
border-width:1px;
border-color:#686c8a;
}

#homepage-box2 img{
border:solid 1px #999;
padding:2px;
}

#homepage-box3{
float: left;
width: 200px;
height:200px;
background:#f5f5f6;
margin-right:18px;
padding-left:10px;
padding-right:10px;
padding-top:10px;
padding-bottom:10px;
overflow:hidden;
border-style:solid;
border-width:1px;
border-color:#686c8a;
}

#homepage-box3 img{
border:solid 1px #999;
padding:2px;
}

#homepage-box4{
float: left;
width: 200px;
height:200px;
background:#f5f5f6;
padding-left:10px;
padding-right:10px;
padding-top:10px;
padding-bottom:10px;
overflow:hidden;
border-style:solid;
border-width:1px;
border-color:#686c8a;
}

#homepage-box4 img{
border:solid 1px #999;
padding:2px;
}

In the comment box leave a link to your website, I love to see what other creative people are doing with the SmallBiz theme!

The SmallBiz Theme has a ton of awesome features that can easily be customized. Eileen Lonergan has built many WordPress Websites with the Theme reach out if you have any questions.

PS I am always asked about hosting for WordPress, and always suggest BlueHost. The offer one click WordPress installation and are available 24/7 with support.

To do this, use your favorite ftp client (Text Wrangler for Mac users or Filezilla for PC or Mac’s are both free to download). Navigate to the mobile layout.

Look for the frontpage.php file, open it with a text editor and find “Call Us” change to whatever you want.

Change to whatever you want it to say.

This quick video will walk you through the steps. For more tips and help on using the SmallBiz theme for WordPress call Eileen, 508-317-7355.

You may find these posts helpful when customizing your WordPress Mobile Layout with the SmallBiz Theme.

• SmallBiz Mobile Theme | How to Modify Header Color & Font Style
• How to Change the Header Background Color in the SmallBiz Mobile Theme Layout
• How to Change the Header Background Color in the SmallBiz Mobile Theme Layout

PS I am always asked about hosting for WordPress, and always suggest BlueHost. The offer one click WordPress installation and are available 24/7 with support.

If you are looking for a WordPress website designer, please contact MA based Eileen Lonergan, 508.317.7355.

Most successful entrepreneurs out there want to help new business owners learn how to succeed through their experiences. One of the best ways to find these entrepreneurs is to get a business mentor. Most professionals will do this service for free, and the information you can get from them could help you immensely.

While this is a fantastic opportunity that you should definitely take advantage of, there are also many experienced entrepreneurs who have shared their experiences online. There are so many successes and mistakes that you could learn from when you search online. These are just a few tips I have found online, as well as a few personal experiences I feel you could learn from.

Keep Your Personal and Business Finances Separate
This is probably the most common piece of advice you will hear from experienced business owners, but that is because it is extremely important. When you try to, for example, use a personal credit card for business expenses, you could confuse your personal and business expenses in your financial statements. This confusion could lead to a mistake when you file your taxes, which could cause the IRS to audit you or your business. You should try to avoid these mistakes by keeping all of your personal finances separate from your business finances. A great way to do this is with a small business credit card. Not only will a card like this keep you from making financial mistakes, but it will also help you build business credit, which will come in handy in the future should you need to recruit investors or get a loan. However, you also need to make sure you don’t go into too much debt with this business credit card. This will, obviously, have a negative effect on your business credit and could seriously harm your chances of being successful.

Set Goals and Keep Control
A great way to set your goals and know exactly where you would like to go with your business is to come up with a business plan. If you aren’t planning on presenting your plan to investors or lenders, you shouldn’t have to write out a long report about exactly how you will run your business, but if you write down on paper what you want to do with your business, then you will have a reminder of your exact goals and give you the motivation to succeed.

You also need to stay in control of the details related to your business. The road to success isn’t easy for a startup business owner, but you will need to deal with the minor details and organize your business yourself. Only you know exactly what decisions will be best for your business. Don’t settle for less, and always maintain your integrity.

Keep a Positive Attitude
It is very easy to get stressed out in the first few years of being a business owner, but it is very important that you keep a positive attitude. Only hard work and enthusiasm will show your employees and your customers that your business is a great one. If you are able to show that you are genuinely enthusiastic about your business, your passion will bring in customers and motivate those who work for you to be enthusiastic as well.

Networking is Key
When you know the right people, success seems to come a lot easier. Others who are experienced in your field can give you a lot more detailed and specific advice on how to succeed in your particular business or introduce you to others who could help you succeed in other ways. Do some research and put yourself out there as much as possible. The more people you meet, the better chance you have of meeting someone who will help your business.

For my client, Cassy West, a real estate broker in Marion, MA, I wanted to do a little customizing to her mobile layout, changing the color of the titles from black to white.

Default h1 Color is Set to Black

Mobile h1 Font Color Changed to White

To do this, use your favorite ftp client (Text Wrangler for Mac users or Filezilla for PC or Mac’s are both free to download).  Navigate to the mobile layout.

Once open you will see the code for the h1, h2 & p, edit the text to the color you want. You may also change the font family (which I pointed out in orange).

If you are a video person this quick screen cast will walk you through the steps of changing the h1 color of the SmallBiz mobile layout title from black to white.

 
PS I am always asked about hosting for WordPress, and always suggest BlueHost. The offer one click WordPress installation and are available 24/7 with support.

Eileen Lonergan is a freelance website designer who has built a boat load of websites using the WordPress SmallBiz theme from Expand2Web. Feel free to give a ring if you need more help, 508-317-7355.

Login to your WordPress site and navigate to:

Dashboard >Appearance >Editor >CSS

Copy and paste this code into your CSS file:

#headerstrip{
background:#000000;
}

Change the #000000 to any hex color you want.

Default Color

After

PS I am always asked about hosting for WordPress, and always suggest BlueHost. The offer one click WordPress installation and are available 24/7 with support.

If you need a mobile version of your website, contact Eileen Lonergan. Eileen Lonergan designs WordPress websites, websites for Facebook & mobile websites.

First, toggle from your personal page to your business page and Use Facebook as the Business:

Click Like!

You may enjoy my ebook, Social Media Class | How to Use Social Media | Eileen Lonergan.

PS I would appreciate you Liking EileenLonergan.com on Facebook!

If you would like to modify the font, ftp into your website:

/public_html/new/wp-content/themes/smallbiz/css

open the CSS file. Change Arial, Sans Serif to whatever font family you would like.

I frequently will copy the CSS file and paste it into the Appearance >Editor file, I find it easier to make changes via the WordPress dashboard than with ftp, and if I make a mistake my original file is safe!

Or copy this code and paste it into your CSS file.

body {
font:85%/125% Arial, Sans-Serif;
}

h1 {
font:bold 28px Arial, Sans-Serif;
padding-top: .5em;
}

h2 {
font:22px Arial, Sans-Serif;
}

h3 {
font:20px Arial, Sans-Serif;
}

PS I am always asked about hosting for WordPress, and always suggest BlueHost. The offer one click WordPress installation and are available 24/7 with support.

Visit WordPress website designer Eileen Lonergan’s portfolio to see more of her SmallBiz Theme customizations.

Are smart phones as ubiquitous as shoes?  If mobile use is even CLOSE, then it is time to get a mobile version of your website.

My favorite WordPress theme, SmallBiz, is mobile ready.  What this means is that there is a designated section for uploading your mobile content, a space for a link to your Google maps and the ability to uplaod an image.  The process takes only a few minutes and will make a huge difference in the ease of use by your clients.

Google is uber focused on mobile and has this site, HowToGoMo.com you can enter your sites url and it will show you what mobile visitors will see on the site.  It also asks you a few questions about the site and will give you a rating from 1-4.

Tips for Mobile site design:

1.  Click to call dialing & directions

2.  Location & phone number are visible

3.  Keep it simple

4.  Design for visibility

5.  Make it local – if someone is searching on their phone, chances are they want to get to you, either by car or by phone.

6.  Give the option for users to view the full version of the site (and make sure your site doesn’t have flash and people can view it on their mobile devices!)

I have been testing the sites I have built for mobile with HowToGoMo.com and all have achieved a rating of 4 out of 4! I need to boast a little

PS I am always asked about hosting for WordPress, and always suggest BlueHost. The offer one click WordPress installation and are available 24/7 with support.

If you are looking for a WordPress mobile ready theme, I highly recommend the SmallBiz theme from Expand2Web.  If you need assistance setting up your site, please feel free to give me a ring, 508.317.7355.

Catherine has a very interesting story, she approached landscape design from the point of view of using your outdoor spaces to enhance your family’s love of the outdoors.  She believes in play spaces, plantings that naturally repel unwanted insects and draw in the more fascinating sides of nature: butterflies, dragonflies and tiny frogs.  She explores many topics related to the outdoors, children in the garden and more in her Journal.

If you are looking for a WordPress website to showcase your portfolio of work, please give me a ring, 508.317.7355.

For this site I used The SmallBiz Theme from Expand2Web. I created a custom homepage, as I wanted rotating images with text that the client can update as new jobs are posted and others are filled. For this I used  a premium plugin and a few PhotoShop Elements tricks.  I dug through Subtle Patterns to find a background that would appeal to the engineers who would be using the site.

Betty Serafino is top notch, as you can read from her testimonials.  Betty and her team are offering an iPad2 or $500 for each referral that leads to a client landing a job, so if you know anyone in manufacturing looking for a job check out her site, it may solve your holiday gift giving issues!

Eileen Lonergan specializes in building WordPress websites. Eileen is located in Massachusetts and has clients throughout the country.

If you need some holiday decorating ideas for your WordPress website, please be in touch with WordPress Web Designer Eileen Lonergan, 508.317.7355.