Ian M Rountree

Copywriter, Project Manager, Digital Marketing

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Why Genesis Framework Rocks

May 27, 2011 by Ian Leave a Comment

I’ve used the Genesis Framework from StudioPress as the basis for my blog for a couple of months now, and am about to finish the fourth site I’ve developed on it. I need to say this: The framework rocks. Everything from the format, to the support from StudioPress, to helpful tools people have published have helped me cut down my modification and theme building time significantly.

Genesis is slick. Genesis is smooth. And, above all, it doesn’t always look the same – even when you’re using the same elements for design.

Here are the sites I’ve now got going, built on either Genesis itself, or one of its child themes.

The Dowager Shadow - Built on Genesis Framework
The Dowager Shadow
Ian M Rountree - Built on Genesis Framework
Ian M Rountree
Hard Refresh Blog - Built on Genesis Framework
Hard Refresh
Jazmine Rhomyk Gallery - Built on Genesis Framework
Jazmine Rhomyk

Yes. I like blue. Don’t judge me.

Why did I switch from Standard Theme to Genesis Framework?

  • SEO options – unless you’re using plugins, it’s the bee’s knees. Seriously – beyond just being able to designate title and meta descriptions, Genesis allows for built in redirects, which is great for link blogs.
  • Ease of design – Spending a lot of time building sites isn’t my goal – I want to get decent looking sites up quickly, so I can start filling them in with content.
  • Ease of modification – The above being said, I want to be able to iterate my work quickly. If there’s a feature I want to add, or a design change I want to make, I want to be able to make it on the fly. Genesis allows for that.
  • Updates and notifications – Really. What other theme tells you, on its own, when it’s ready to get upgraded?
  • The Showcase – totally for bragging rights. There are a lot of awesome examples in the SutioPress showcase of well-built Genesis framework powered websites. Two – and soon, I hope, three – of mine are there.

Genesis Framework can help wordpress become a proper CMS very swiftly.

Many of StudioPress’ turn-key themes make developing non-standard blogs a breeze. One of the troubles most people see with using WordPress in general is that so many WP-based websites look… Well, like WordPress websites. Getting away from the usual columned layout, and adding some flair is one of the many places where Genesis is a viking.

Check Genesis Framework out – it’s well worth it if you spend a lot of time working with wordpress.

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: cms development, code, content creation, content marketing, design, development, genesis, information management, presentation, review, seo, software, studiopress, wordpress

My Platform – The Tools I Use

February 9, 2011 by Ian 4 Comments

overdrive - FlickrWhen you’re doing work online, there’s a lot to consider, not just about the work you’re going to do, but about the tools you used to do it.

This goes beyond just picking between Blogger and WordPress or Tumblr and TypePad – the tools for web workers to build their platforms on range from getting the right laptop and Skype-ready headset on the hardware side, to picking seemingly low-priority things like task management software, browser plugins, and Instant Messenger clients.

Very often, the things that seem to be the least of our concerns when setting up turn out to make the biggest difference in the long term.

It’s easy to buy a new keyboard for a desktop computer. But what about laptops? We look for good screens, good speakers… Maybe a good processor or large harddrive if we’re savvy enough – but how many of us buy laptops based on typing tests and the way they fit our hands? It’s virtually impossible to replace the keyboard in a laptop.

Choosing your tools wisely is important. Here are some of the ones I use.

Some of the hardware that gets me through the day:

  • Dell Studio 17′ laptop – I chose the beast based on screen size, keyboard, and capacity for graphical work. When you’re a writer, any old typing machine will do (If you can type on it) but storing loads of data – hundreds of pages of writing, images, photoshop files… Big data is making its way down to the individual, so having a large harddrive is a good idea. My Dell has a terrabyte of storage.
  • Sony MDR-XB300 Headphones – picked based on their range (they work for the music I listen to) and for their comfort. I listen to a LOT of music, in addition to podcasts
  • BlackBerry 8520 – I’ve got the WordPress app, as well as Twitter, Facebook, Google Talk, Live Messenger, and AIM on my phone. Oh, and Evernote as well. I use my phone as a backup publishing platform – mostly for ideation and review of ideas I’ve had. It’s astonishing how much having even a little access can increase productivity, and accessibility.
  • Razer/Microsoft Habu mouse – it’s a gaming mouse, really, but I got it based on ergonomics and high DPI, which is a boon when working in Photoshop.

That’s an incomplete list, but you get the idea I hope – if any of these pieces of my kit fail, it changes the way I do my work. All of it was chosen based on knowledge of my workflow,

Some desktop software I use for productivity:

  • iTunes for music – because… Well, it’s iTunes. And I have an iPod.
  • Google Chrome – because it’s fast, even though it has some issues with WordPress’ post editor. Also, add-ons like;
    • SEO Site Tools
    • Bit.ly
    • ScribeFire
  • Instant Messaging software, like;
    • Live Messenger
    • AIM – AOL Instant Messenger
    • Skype
    • Google Talk
  • Evernote – as mentioned above, because it lets me keep information on the move.
  • Dropbox because it keeps my things safe and lets me collaborate easily.
  • TweetDeck for Twitter management.
  • Adobe CreativeSuite software – it’s a standard, really, though mine’s outdated.
  • YNAB – You Need A Budget to keep things in order.

There’s also web software:

  • (mt)MediaTemple for web hosting – for reasons I’ve covered in a review previously. My domains register through them as well.
  • WordPress.org as a blogging software, because it’s infinitely extensible and powerful – I’ll get into more detail about WP.org later.
  • Standard Theme 2 which I developed my current site theme on top of, for reasons also covered in a review
  • Google Apps for my domain email and other tools – everything, at this point, routes through my Google Apps account

This is, of course, an incomplete list – in both cases. However, the trend is clear; I’ve chosen a set of tools that works the way I need them to. It’s not all flash and sizzle, but it does the trick, exactly as I expect, every time.

Picking hardware and software that works well in concert with your best creative workflow is of paramount importance. What tools do you use to get stuff done online?

Image by extranoise.

Filed Under: Marketing Strategy Tagged With: 2011 themes, audio, creativity, dell, hardware, new platforms, software, theme 2, tools, wordpress

A Little Rant About Vista

June 29, 2009 by Ian Leave a Comment

Seriously, people, it’s not that bad!

Ok. I’ve heard it. You’ve heard it. Justin Long, Mr “Hello, I’m A Mac” has all but said it a few dozen ways. But really, is it that big of a deal? I was one of the early adopters who got a Vista-based computer right out of the gate in 2006, and the day I bought it, I would have agreed, it sucked. It blew worse than going back to Windows 3.1 and being stuck with a 13inch big-box CRT monitor.

But you know what happened? The updates started rolling out about April, and because I’d had the POS four months, I didn’t see a difference, but it made one. By May many of the issues that plagued the release-date Windows Vista were gone. But the damaging ads were not. Now, two plus years later, Windows 7 is coming out (October 22nd has been set as the release date, but you can get it early, sort of.) and people still refuse to believe Vista isn’t as bad as people think it is!

Grow up a bit, if you can. It’s fine. Trust me.

Yes. Vista has its problems. When has any piece of technology ever not? And yes, Windows 7 is an improvement on Vista. If it weren’t, why would Microsoft have bothered with a public beta, much less an extended review term, much less still releasing it? They even fixed the problem of people buying new PCs with Vista by wrangling the manufacturers into offering “Free Upgrade” coupons between now and January of 2010! Which means there’s no point saying you’re waiting for Windows 7, because the computer you buy NOW is Windows 7! Just, it will be in October.

So it’s time to give up the ghost. Vista is (mostly) fixed. The new version is coming, with many concessions like free upgrades and pro-rated early ordering to boot!

Cut it out, dudes and dudettes.

Filed Under: Technology Tagged With: software

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