WebDesign.com PluginBuddy.com iThemes.tv

Security Tips for Your WordPress Site from the Sucuri Pros: Free Webinar

As part of our Make Waves campaign for 2012, we believe every WordPress site should be safe and secure. This means not only having a backup strategy, but also making sure your site is clean of malware and security holes.

In the last couple of months, we’ve seen an increase in hacked sites in our customer community. So we asked security expert Dre Armeda, CEO and co-founder at Sucuri, to share security tips for locking down your WordPress site via a free webinar on Wednesday, April 25 at 1 p.m. Central.

Signup for the WordPress Security webinar April 25 with Dre here

You’ll learn how to do basic garage cleaning on your WordPress site, what security hacks Sucuri is seeing and tips on helping reduce your site’s risk.

We’re very excited about Dre sharing these tips as we’ve had the Sucuri free SiteChecker in BackupBuddy for almost a year now and has helped our community immensely.

If you are unable to make this webinar, it will be recorded and posted both to iThemes.TV and to the Make Waves blog.  In the meantime, be sure to check out the Sucuri Security plans here and to check your site’s security with the free SiteChecker tool.

Welcome to the Dojo: New Series of Foundational Webinars

 

Welcome to the Dojo!

Introducing a new series of webinars to bring you mastery over foundational topics such as CSS, PHP, MySQL, HTML and jQuery. Our first Dojo session is today @ 4pm CDT, free and open to everyone. In CSS Dojo – Session One, you’ll learn everything you need to know about CSS and images. Join us!

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
Free Registration Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/280428514


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: Visible to WebDesign.com members after log-in

 

Be on the lookout for more Dojo courses, on the way soon. For the latest listing of WebDesign.com courses, visit our events page. For access to all of the Dojo Series of webinars, become a WebDesign.com Member.

This Week at WebDesign.com

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!

Does Your SEO Prepare You For The Future?

In SEO in 2012, today’s luncheon conversation with WebDesign.com, The “Professor” Benjamin Bradley introduced the concept of Advanced Search Optimization. Unlike many of the technical teaching webinars, this was more of a conversation about positioning and what web designers (and website owners) ought to be thinking about as they look to position their business within the broader market, always keeping the future in mind.

Basic search engine optimization focuses on writing good content, getting quality links, performing the day-to-day optimization tasks and how to read stats. This is what most “SEO Experts” focus on when providing SEO service to their clients. While this is great…the question is, does this really prepare you to deal with the future?

Advanced Search Optimization focuses more on what is yet to come with the entire Brand Value in mind, not just the day to day search engine ranking.

Someone employing Advanced Search Optimization (ASO):

  • understands trends – to help predict future events and circumstances, and how you’ll respond to those changing trends and be positioned to solve new problems (even before they happen, sometimes)
  • builds resources – so they are prepared to deal with surprise events, such as changing SEO algorithms or attacks on your brand, so that search engine ranking doesn’t suffer, or bounced back quickly in times of change
  • utilizes metrics – to understand the bigger picture, make forward-thinking decisions and to put the brand value in context

and uses SEO to enhance their already-existing brand value.

There was a LOT of information and philosophical perspective shared in this webinar so you’ll probably want to watch the replay.  It will be posted to the blog in an upcoming post and will also be available for viewing in the member library.

Not a member of WebDesign.com yet? Check out your membership options.

And remember to join us for the next two open-to-the-public training webinars:

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

and

Secure eCommerce for Any Site
April 16, 2012 – Monday – 1pm (CDT)
Overview: WordPress is used on a wide variety of hosting providers. But how do you provide eCommerce (secure eCommerce) to clients who either do not have or cannot get their own IP address, or do not have a SSL for their site. Now you can with Cart66 and mijireh.com. This live webinar has now been opened to the public!
Instructor: Benjamin Bradley
Length: 1 hour+
Skill Level: Intermediate
Requirements: Knowledge of WordPress
Registration Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/725618762

Three Completely New (and Free) Web Design Trainings This Month!

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

SEO for 2012, BluePrint Basics and More – This Week’s Webinars

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 2012This 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 OneThis 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.

 

Web Designers Can Get 1-1 Coaching with Cory Miller and Benjamin Bradley

Due to popular demand, we are rolling out (and testing) two different approaches to providing 1-1 coaching for web designers and developers. We hosted a preview webinar last week outlining the two programs. This also supports our Make Waves 2012 initiative to help (at least) 10 web design freelancers go full time in their own businesses.

The first coaching option, the one-on-one coaching with Cory Miller in a public format, will occur on 3 Wednesdays, April 11, 18 and 25, 6-7:30PM Central Time. There is no cost to participate in this beta program.

If you would like to be selected to be one of the three people to receive the one-on-one coaching, make sure you have completed the Going Pro Survey. Participants will be selected from those who have completed the survey.

The sessions will be open to members of WebDesign.com to listen in, and recordings will be made available in the WebDesign.com library.

The second coaching option announced was the one-on-one coaching with Benjamin Bradley. This is private, one-on-one coaching – no one else will be listening in. If you are interested in this, please contact us and let us know coaching topics or areas of support will be most helpful for you.

We’re excited about rolling out these new ways of providing support to our members. Watch the video and slideshow to learn more about the specifics and why we are doing this.

View more presentations from Cory Miller
Remember to fill out the Going Pro Survey to be considered for the coaching with Cory Miller; and use the contact form to express interest in coaching with Benjamin Bradley.

This Week’s Webinars – Plus April Schedule Posted

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.

Coaching Services Coming to WebDesign.com

WebDesign.com is happy to announce that there are multiple coaching opportunities coming to the upcoming schedule. We have heard your requests for this type of training and would like to invite everyone to join Cory Miller and Benjamin Bradley on Friday, March 23rd at 11am (CDT) for a free preview webinar that will walk people through the coaching process.

Signup for the free preview webinar here –> https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/237258922

There will be two different styles of coaching offered through this new initiative. The first style of coaching is Business Dev Group Coaching. iThemes founder, Cory Miller, will be offering one-on-one coaching in a public group format related strickly to business development for freelance web designers starting in April 2012.

This is part of our Make Waves Campaign, specifically helping 10 freelancers go pro in 2012 by offering resources, training, and just we’re here with you help. This first group of coaching opportunities will serve as our beta test to do this type of coaching regularly in the future. As such this will be open to WebDesign.com community members and at no charge to participants during the initial roll-out phase.

So what will the format of the group coaching look like?
The WebDesign.com team will choose 3 people who have completed the Go Pro Survey to be coached via webinar with Cory. This will not be a private call though as we will be opening it up for others to listen in and glean experiences and tips to use in their own journey.

The participants will be talking live with Cory while others are allowed to listen in and through the chat share their thoughts, ideas, tips and experiences. The goal is to exchange experiences, let others know where you are in the journey in order to give insight for the whole group while getting one on one interaction.

“As a new entrepreneur, I know realizing you’re not alone and then seeing how others are working through similar problems or hurdles to yours helps take out so much of the fear and worry out of starting your own business.” — Cory Miller

Topics that will be covered during the initial roll-out phase of the group coaching will be:

  • Marketing – from getting clients, using content and educational marketing to build your ‘know, life, trust’ brand development to gleaning referrals.
  • Going Pro – getting to part-time, going full-time and pro, and ongoing professional development.
  • Work-Life Alignment – balance is unrealistic, but alignment with your personal and family life goals is possible.

All live group coaching events will be recorded and used for training and marketing purposes. All members of WebDesign.com will have access to all recordings.

When will the initial roll-out phase of the group coaching take place?
For this open-to-all preview of the group coaching, starting on April 11th, the group coaching will take place on Wednesdays at 6:00pm-7:30pm (CDT). 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.

But wait there is more…

That’s right, we told you that there would be two different types of coaching coming to WebDesign.com. Starting in April, you will have the opportunity to have one-on-one coaching with The Professor of WebDesign.com. To learn more about this opportunity to get one-on-one coaching with Benjamin Bradley, make sure you attend the free coaching preview webinar on this Friday at 11am (CDT) where both Cory Miller and Benjamin Bradley will be unveiling more information about these two exciting coaching opportunities.

Signup for the free preview webinar here –> https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/237258922

This Week’s Webinars at WebDesign.com, LifeDev, and iThemes.tv

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.