This is an exciting week at WebDesign.com…unveiling two new training series on CSS and PHP, plus the first Business Development Coaching with Cory Miller!

iThemes.TV – WordPress101
April 10, 2012 – Tuesday – 11am (CDT)
Overview: If you’re new to WordPress or simply thinking about making the switch from another CMS, this class is for you! Join us for our WordPress 101 series of webinars which will walk you step-by-step through the basics of WordPress. You’ll learn everything from installing the software to creating your first post. Sign up today!
Instructor: Benjamin Bradley
Length: 1 hour
Skill Level: Beginner
Requirements: No requirements
Registration Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/422062810

The CSS Dojo – Session One
April 10, 2012 – Tuesday – 4pm (CDT)
Overview: Master the basics of CSS. Session One will focus on everything you need to know about CSS and Images. This live webinar has now been opened to the public!
Instructor: Benjamin Bradley
Length: 1 hour
Skill Level: Beginner
Requirements: Willingness to Learn
Registration Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/280428514

Business Dev Coaching – Group Session One
April 11, 2012 – Wednesday – 6pm (CDT)
Overview: Members of WebDesign.com can signup to be in the audience right now. If you want to be a part of the actual coaching, make sure you have filled out the Go Pro Survey in order to have a chance to be selected. Topics covered: Marketing – from getting clients, using content and educational marketing to build your ‘know, life, trust’ brand development to gleaning referrals.
Instructor: Cory Miller
Length: 90 Minutes
Skill Level: Everyone
Requirements: Member of WebDesign.com
Registration Link: Members of WebDesign.com and Live Webinar Pass holders can register after they login to site.

The PHP Dojo – Session One
April 12, 2012 – Thursday – 4pm (CDT)
Overview: Learn the basics of PHP. Session One will focus on everything you need to know about working with variables.
Instructor: Benjamin Bradley
Length: 1 hour
Skill Level: Beginner
Requirements: Willingness to Learn
Registration Link: Members of WebDesign.com and Live Webinar Pass holders can register after they login to site.

Check out the full schedule of webinars for the month on our Events page!

The month of April boasts 3 free, kick-butt trainings to help you with your search engine optimization,  becoming a dojo master of CSS and developing secure ecommerce on any WordPress site.

Check out the three trainings below and pick the ones you want to attend. Our treat!

SEO for 2012
Friday, April 6, Noon Central Time
Overview: Join “The Professor” for lunch as we look at the keys to successful SEO during 2012.
Instructor: Benjamin Bradley
Length: 1 hour
Skill Level: Everyone
Requirements: No requirements
Register:
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/592034162

The CSS Dojo – Session One
Tuesday, April 10, 2012, 4pm Central Time
Overview: Master the basics of CSS! Session One will focus on everything you need to know about CSS and images.
Instructor: Benjamin Bradley
Length: 1 hour
Skill Level: Beginner
Requirements: Willingness to Learn
Register:
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/280428514

Secure eCommerce For Any Site
Monday, April 16, 1pm Central Time
Overview: WordPress is used on a wide variety of hosting providers. But how can you provide secure eCommerce to clients who don’t have their own IP address or SSL for their site? Now you can with Cart66 and mijireh.com.
Instructor: Benjamin Bradley
Length: 1 hour+
Skill Level: Intermediate
Requirements: Knowledge of WordPress
Register:
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/725618762

Be sure to follow us on Twitter to get the latest news: @WebDesignCom

In addition to our monthly “Getting Started with iThemes Builder” webinar on Tuesday at 11am, this week’s schedule also includes webinars on search engine optimization, using Builder to design a unique custom site with full length sidebars, split content, etc. as well as our twice monthly Members’ Only Chat.

For the full schedule of webinars, visit our webinar events page.

This Week’s Webinars:

Members Only Chat
April 02, 2012 – Monday – 7pm (CDT)
Overview: This twice monthly event is an exclusive event for members of WebDesign.com. Members control the content and the direction of the discussions.
Instructor: Benjamin Bradley
Length: 1 hour
Skill Level: Everyone
Requirements: No requirements
Registration Link: Members of WebDesign.com and Live Webinar Pass holders can register after they login to site.

iThemes.TV – Getting Started with Builder
April 03, 2012 – Tuesday – 11am (CDT)
Overview: Have you ever wondered how to get started using iThemes Builder? Well, this is the class for you. You’ll learn the basics from downloading and installing, all the way to putting together your first layout. Not to mention you’ll get some Q&A time with one of our awesome instructors! Join us for the next Getting Started with Builder class… Coming up soon!
Instructor: Justin Kopepasah
Length: 1 hour
Skill Level: Beginner
Requirements: Basic knowledge of WordPress
Registration Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/382654962

BluePrint Basics – Building BuilderDen.com
April 04, 2012 – Wednesday – 6pm (CDT)
Overview: Building non-traditional websites is key in providing clients with unique and custom sites. This course is a step-by-step process to build non-traditional sites with the power of Builder. Learn how to make sidebars go full length, split content areas easily in your code, and so much more.
Instructor: Benjamin Bradley
Length: 2 hours+
Skill Level: Intermediate
Requirements: Basic knowledge of Builder and WordPress
This is a PREMIUM event.
Registration Link: Members of WebDesign.com and Live Webinar Pass holders can register after they login to site.

SEO for 2012 – This Private WebDesign.com Event Has Been Opened to the Public to Attend Live
April 06, 2012 – Friday – Noon (CDT)
Overview: Join “The Professor” for lunch as we look at the keys to successful SEO during 2012.
Instructor: Benjamin Bradley
Length: 1 hour
Skill Level: Everyone
Requirements: No requirements
Registration Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/592034162

And coming up next week…

The CSS Dojo – Session One – This Private WebDesign.com Event Has Been Opened to the Public to Attend Live
April 10, 2012 – Tuesday – 4pm (CDT)
Overview: Master the basics of CSS. Session One will focus on everything you need to know about CSS and Images. This live webinar has now been opened to the public!
Instructor: Benjamin Bradley
Length: 1 hour
Skill Level: Beginner
Requirements: Willingness to Learn
Registration Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/280428514

Business Dev Coaching – Group Session One
April 11, 2012 – Wednesday – 6pm (CDT)
Overview: Members of WebDesign.com can signup to be in the audience right now. If you want to be a part of the actual coaching, make sure you have filled out the Go Pro Survey in order to have a chance to be selected. Topics covered: Marketing – from getting clients, using content and educational marketing to build your ‘know, life, trust’ brand development to gleaning referrals.
Instructor: Cory Miller
Length: 90 Minutes
Skill Level: Everyone
Requirements: Member of WebDesign.com
Registration Link: Members of WebDesign.com and Live Webinar Pass holders can register after they login to site.

The PHP Dojo – Session One
April 12, 2012 – Thursday – 4pm (CDT)
Overview: Learn the basics of PHP. Session One will focus on everything you need to know about working with variables.
Instructor: Benjamin Bradley
Length: 1 hour
Skill Level: Beginner
Requirements: Willingness to Learn
Registration Link: Members of WebDesign.com and Live Webinar Pass holders can register after they login to site.

In addition to our main event this week, the Plugin Palooza, you can also find the full April schedule of webinars posted on the Events page!

This week at WebDesign.com:

iThemes.TV – How to Build a Website
March 27, 2012 – Tuesday – 11am (CDT)
Overview: This beginners-level webinar will walk you step-by-step through the process of getting your website up and running. You will learn everything from purchasing a domain name and hosting to how to quickly set up a site and get the ball rolling for your business online.
Instructor: Benjamin Bradley
Length: 1 hour
Skill Level: Everyone
Requirements: No requirement
Registration Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/370613018

Plugin-Palooza – Day 1
March 30, 2012 – Friday – 8:30am – 5pm (CDT)
Overview: This power-packed, in-person workshop will cover all the hot plugins from PluginBuddy, plus how to write your own custom client plugin! You will also learn about other critical premium and free plugins all developers should know about. Your Plugin Palooza will have you sitting pretty for profits and piece-o-cake web design.
Instructor: Benjamin Bradley
Length: 8 hours
Skill Level: Intermediate
Requirements: Basic knowledge of WordPress
This is a PREMIUM event.
Registration Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/766256522

**Please note, even though this is scheduled as a Premium Event, we have opened the live version to the public and the recordings from sessions 1-4 on Day 1 will be made available to everyone!

Plugin-Palooza – Day 2
March 31, 2012 – Saturday – 8:30am – 5pm (CDT)
Overview: This power-packed, in-person workshop will cover all the hot plugins from PluginBuddy, plus how to write your own custom client plugin! You will also learn about other critical premium and free plugins all developers should know about. Your Plugin Palooza will have you sitting pretty for profits and piece-o-cake web design.
Instructor: Benjamin Bradley
Length: 8 hours
Skill Level: Intermediate
Requirements: Basic knowledge of WordPress
This is a PREMIUM event.
Registration Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/334879082

Plus check out what’s happening the first week of April!

Members Only Chat
April 02, 2012 – Monday – 7pm (CDT)
Overview: This twice monthly event is an exclusive event for members of WebDesign.com. Members control the content and the direction of the discussions.
Instructor: Benjamin Bradley
Length: 1 hour
Skill Level: Everyone
Requirements: No requirements
Registration Link: Members of WebDesign.com and Live Webinar Pass holders can register after they login to site.

iThemes.TV – Getting Started with Builder
April 03, 2012 – Tuesday – 11am (CDT)
Overview: Have you ever wondered how to get started using iThemes Builder? Well, this is the class for you. You’ll learn the basics from downloading and installing, all the way to putting together your first layout. Not to mention you’ll get some Q&A time with one of our awesome instructors! Join us for the next Getting Started with Builder class… Coming up soon!
Instructor: Justin Kopepasah
Length: 1 hour
Skill Level: Beginner
Requirements: Basic knowledge of WordPress
Registration Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/382654962

BluePrint Basics – Building BuilderDen.com
April 04, 2012 – Wednesday – 6pm (CDT)
Overview: Building non-traditional websites is key in providing clients with unique and custom sites. This course is a step-by-step process to build non-traditional sites with the power of Builder. Learn how to make sidebars go full length, split content areas easily in your code, and so much more.
Instructor: Benjamin Bradley
Length: 2 hours+
Skill Level: Intermediate
Requirements: Basic knowledge of Builder and WordPress
This is a PREMIUM event.
Registration Link: Members of WebDesign.com and Live Webinar Pass holders can register after they login to site.

SEO for 2012
April 06, 2012 – Friday – Noon (CDT)
Overview: Join “The Professor” for lunch as we look at the keys to successful SEO during 2012.
Instructor: Benjamin Bradley
Length: 1 hour
Skill Level: Everyone
Requirements: No requirements
Registration Link: Members of WebDesign.com and Live Webinar Pass holders can register after they login to site.

Become a member of WebDesign.com.

We have four webinars this week on a wide range of topics: How to Build WordPress in a Sub-Directory, Getting to Know Your Strengths (part of the Make Waves 2012 initiative), WebDesign.com Members Only chat, and the monthly webinar, Getting Started with BackupBuddy.

iThemes.TV – Getting Started with BackupBuddy
March 20, 2012 – Tuesday – 11am (CDT)
Overview: Have you ever wondered how to get started using the BackupBuddy Plugin? If so, this class is for you! Join us as we show just how easy it is to get up and running with this awesome plugin that allows you to backup, restore, and migrate your WordPress site with ease!
Instructor: Bes Zain
Length: 1 hour
Skill Level: Everyone
Requirements: No requirements
Registration Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/723065610

BluePrint Basics – Building WordPress in a Sub-Directory
March 20, 2012 – Tuesday – 4pm (CDT)
Overview: There will probably be a client who wants you to keep their static front page in place, but to build a blog into one of their sub-directories. Come learn the correct way to do this as well as how to pull parts of the WordPress loop OUT OF WORDPRESS and into the static page without using RSS.
Instructor: Benjamin Bradley
Length: 2 hours
Skill Level: Intermediate
Requirements: Knowledge of WordPress
Registration Link: Members of WebDesign.com and Live Webinar Pass holders can register on the Events page after they login to site.

Life Dev: Getting to Know Your Strengths
March 21, 2012 – Wednesday – 12:00 pm (CDT)
Overview: To kick off LifeDev in March with the theme of “Know Yourself,” we are going to be talking about two tools we’ve used extensively at iThemes to get to know yourself a little better — StrengthsFinder and Kiersey Sorter (based on Myers-Briggs Personality Test). We’ll be talking about StrengthsFinder and Myers-Briggs and how it’s shaped my life and career and how we’ve used it internally on our team for more efficient and happy people. We’ll do 30 minutes of presentation about these, then 30 minutes of discussion and Q&A. So come ready to share and discuss. And the recording will be posted to the LifeDev Blog (as well as iThemesTV) afterward. Read more at the Make Waves Blog to find the links to the resources.
Instructor: Cory Miller
Length: 1 hour
Skill Level: Everyone
Requirements: StrengthsFinder.com (Read more here.)
Registration Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/872586386

Members Only Chat
March 23, 2012 – Friday – 2pm (CDT)
Overview: This twice monthly event is an exclusive event for members of WebDesign.com. Members control the content and the direction of the discussions.
Instructor: Benjamin Bradley
Length: 1 hour
Skill Level: Everyone
Requirements: Member of WebDesign.com
Registration Link: Members of WebDesign.com and Live Webinar Pass holders can register on the Events page after they login to site.

Did you use one of the “one click” installation methods for setting up your WordPress site? If so, you saved yourself some time (and having to learn a few bit of required info), but you may have left a security hole or two.

Today (March 16th) at 3pm Central Time, Benjamin Bradley will lead a webinar on How to Fix your WordPress Installation for members and LIVE pass holders of WebDesign.com.

Whether you used a one click installation service, or your installation is just really old and you’re not sure it was done correctly, or you just want to make sure you’re up-to-date with the latest WordPress installation security best practices, you’ll want to join this important webinar.

Members can log in and view the registration link on the Events page.

Not a member but want to attend?

You can join WebDesign.com as a premium annual member, or grab your one year or one month LIVE pass to check it out. See the membership level comparison chart to find your best option.

One of our core values at the iThemes family of companies is … learn and grow, then teach and share.

We believe in investing in each of our team members … and say that no one should be plateaued … we should have no “flatliners” on our team … each of us individually should be on an upward path of learning.

This is part of our core philosophy, as well as part of our Make Waves 2012 Manifesto.

LifeDev is about taking the core values, philosophies and best practices we teach and coach internally and sharing that with our customer community.  It will be a 10-month program and each month will have a theme to go with it. Through the program we’ll be announcing special webinars, blog posts and other resources to help you learn and grow.

You can sign up to be a part of LifeDev and get the latest updates.

Our kickoff webinar will be Wednesday, March 21 at noon Central Standard Time.

Signup for the LifeDev: Getting to Know Your Strengths Webinar here

Why talk about personal development when you’re trying to run a business?

Cory Miller, iThemes founder & CEO, will be talking about StrengthsFinder and Myers-Briggs and how they have shaped his life and career and how we’ve used it internally on our team for more efficient and happy people.

We’ll do about 30 minutes of presentation followed by 30 minutes of discussion and Q&A.

Come ready to share and discuss.  (The recording will be posted to the LifeDev Blog (as well as iThemesTV) afterward.)

What you want to do beforehand:

• Buy StrengthsFinder book (or Kindle version). The book is where you get the coupon for the online assessment and it costs around $14.
• Take the online assessment at StrengthsFinder.com. Find about 30 minutes of quiet, undisturbed time to take the assessment. This will give you a report with your top 5 strengths and descriptions. (By the way, Cory and his wife Lindsey have found this a great resource for their marriage – so you might ask your significant other to do so with you for talking points! Cory will share more about this in the webinar.)
• Read up on your top Strengths. The StrengthsFinder book has descriptions, Ideas for Action and more. Study these and take notes of how you see these strengths being used in your life, career, etc.
• Overachievers will also take the Kiersey Sorter. This costs around $20 for the full assessment and is based on the Myers-Briggs Personality Test. We will be touching on this during the webinar. You take the free version first, then you’ll be asked if you want the full paid report, which you want. Read over that. Take notes. Think deeply. Be ready to discuss.
• Post your results on the Life Dev Blog at Make Waves! We can start the discussion now in our LifeDev community.

But join us even if you can’t get all these items done ahead of time.

Be sure to signup for the LifeDev: Getting to Know Your

Great News! The Plugin Palooza training event, March 30 & 31st, has been converted to an online-only training and is available to the public at no cost. No strings…just lots of plugin goodness.

All you have to do is reserve your seat for both days:

Reserve your seat for Friday, March 30, 8:30am-5pm CDT:
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/766256522

Reserve your seat for Saturday, March 31, 8:30am-5pm CDT:
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/334879082

This power-packed, online workshop will cover all the hot plugins from PluginBuddy, plus how to write your own custom client plugin. Here’s a quick look at the schedule, and you can read more details by clicking on the schedule tab.

Friday – March 30th
8:30am – 10:00am – – DisplayBuddy 1-2-3: Configuration, Customization, Enhancement
10:15am – 11:00am – – BackupBuddy is Money in the Bank (using BUB for improving your companies bottom line)
11:15am – Noon – – Communicate Efficiently and Effectively with EmailBuddy
Noon – 1:30pm – – LUNCH
1:30pm – 2:30pm – – Maximize the Flexibility of your Site with LoopBuddy
2:45pm – 4:00pm – – Writing your own LoopBuddy Functions
4:15pm – 5:00pm – – Q & A with Dustin Bolton and PluginBuddy Team

Saturday – March 31st
8:30am – 10:00am – – Mobilize Websites for Financial Profit
10:15am – 11:00am – – Top Premium Plugins every developer must own
11:15am – Noon – – Top Free Plugins every developer should know about
Noon – 1:30pm – – LUNCH
1:30pm – 2:30pm – – Writing your own Custom Client Plugin
2:45pm – 4:00pm – – jQuery is your super-powered friend: Writing jQuery Code
4:15pm – 5:00pm – – Summary and Weekend Takeaways

We have four big webinars this week – from a basic WordPress 101 training, to WordPress SEO, to how to pitch – and win – a new client, to fixing your WordPress installation if you used Fantastico to install it. (Fantastico and other “one-click” installations make installing WordPress easy, but can leave some security holes.)

WordPress 101 is taught through iThemes.tv and is available to the public, while the remaining webinars are for members of WebDesign.com.

Become a member of WebDesign.com to gain access to all live webinars and the training library with over 350 hours of on-demand training already available!

iThemes.TV – WordPress 101
March 13, 2012 – Tuesday – 11am (CT)
Overview: If you are new to WordPress or simply thinking about making the switch from another CMS, this class is for you! Join us for our WordPress 101 series of webinars which will walk you step-by-step through the basics of WordPress. You will learn everything from installing the software to creating your first post.
Instructor: Benjamin Bradley
Length: 1 hour
Skill Level: Everyone
Requirements: No requirements
Registration Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/279972074

Why does your WordPress SEO Fail?
March 13, 2012 – Tuesday – 5pm (CT)
Overview: Yes, WordPress is one of the easiest and quickest platforms to use for search engine optimization. But are you killing your search traffic by installing SEO plugins or tweak your theme? Come learn why you might be doing more harm than good for your site.
Instructor: Benjamin Bradley
Length: 1 hour
Skill Level: Everyone
Requirements: No requirements
Registration Link: Members of WebDesign.com and Live Webinar Pass holders can register after they login to site.

Pitching a New Client
March 14, 2012 – Wednesday – 10am (CT)
Overview: For many developers the toughest part of the freelancer-lifestyle is the need to pitch a new client. Come learn some best practices for pitching (and finding) a new client.
Instructor: Benjamin Bradley
Length: 1 hour
Skill Level: Beginner
Requirements: No requirement
Registration Link: Members of WebDesign.com and Live Webinar Pass holders can register after they login to site.

Fixing your WordPress Installation
March 16, 2012 – Friday – 3pm (CT)
Overview: Has your WordPress site been installed for a long time. Do you know if you installed it correctly? How can you fix those “one-click” installation sites? Have you checked for security issues? This training session will walk you through all the steps to fix your older WordPress installations.
Instructor: Benjamin Bradley
Length: 1 hour
Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Requirements: Basic knowledge of WordPress
Registration Link: Members of WebDesign.com and Live Webinar Pass holders can register after they login to site.

Follow WebDesign.com on twitter for all the latest updates: @WebDesignCom.

The WordPress Developer Course (March 1-3, 2012) is the powerful, multi-day, basics-to-advanced WordPress training featured at WebDesign.com, exclusive to WebDesign.com members. Whether you are a professional web designer, WordPress developer, or a business owner managing your own site, you’ll learn a whole range of essential WordPress skills to customize a WordPress site for maximum results.

We’re excited to share a free preview of the entire first session (Thursday, March 1 from 5-9pm) which includes access to the livestream of the first session.

Grab your seat here:
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/173807594

Upgrade to a WebDesign.com membership (now 35% off with coupon code WPDEV35) and get access to the rest of the livestream, PDF handouts, video replays of all of the sessions, plus the chat room for asking questions and participating in discussions.

UPDATE
For everyone attending the preview day – we’ve got a 7 page PDF that you can download that walks you through the full course and includes a coupon for full membership. WordPress Developer Course Preview - March 2012 PDF (238)