Thesis WordPress Theme Review – Why We Use It

Thesis Theme for WordPress:  Options Galore and a Helpful Support CommunityThesis is THE Theme we use here and in every single blog I start or Joint Venture on and one of only two themes that I recommend serious bloggers and businesses that blog use.

Almost every blog I comment on that belongs to my favorite bloggers uses Thesis. It is the first theme I recommend to small businesses and clients and there is only one other theme I even suggest they consider: the Genesis Framework.

IS THESIS BETTER THAN GENESIS?

Thesis and Genesis are different.  I prefer Thesis for my blogs and believe you might want to consider Genesis for a more product oriented blog.

We Recommend Serious Bloggers and Businesses Use ONLY
Either Thesis Or StudioPress Genesis for their blogs.

If you want to know more about Genesis or to compare the Genesis Framework to Thesis use these links:

Both of these themes are on my AAA Recommended Brands list that is linked from the top of the center column on every page of this blog and they are the only two I would seriously recommend anyone consider.

Why I NEVER Recommend Using Free WordPress Themes:

[Read more...]

GrowMap Anti-Spambot Plugin aka GASP Missing Checkbox After Upgrading WordPress: FIX

There have been reports so far from two bloggers involving three blogs that after upgrading to WordPress 3.3.1 the checkbox for the GrowMap anti-spambot plugin (G.A.S.P.) goes missing.

Blogs affected so far are all using the FREE version –
not CommentLuv Premium.

Ileane @BasicBlogTips Recommendation of GASP

Ileane @BasicBlogTips Recommends GASP Click Image to Read

Bloggers using CommentLuv Premium who have upgraded to WordPress 3.3.1 including Donna Fontenot’s (@DonnaFontenot) ebusiness coaching blog and Ron Cripps’ (@AffiliateXFiles) MakeItYourRing do NOT have the problem.

Kristi Hines (@Kikolani) – a wonderful person who supports other bloggers and wrote the Ultimate Blog Post Promotion Guide, dropped everything and upgraded a blog using the free version to 3.3.1 to test for issues.

The GASP checkbox was still visible, so the good news is there
is not a major problem with upgrading to WordPress 3.3.1.

[Read more...]

CommentLuv Premium Plugin: Reviews, Benefits, Where to Get It and WHY You Want It

Buying CommentLuv Premium is still very affordable.
Click the banner below to see single site, multi-site and developer prices.

The CommentLuv Plugin

Click this banner to find out more and see the latest prices. This IS my affiliate link.

The much awaited day when anyone can buy their own copy of the 8-in-1 WordPress plugin CommentLuv Premium has finally arrived. If you don’t know why there has been so much buzz about it – or why you want to snap it up while it is on sale for the lowest price it will ever be available for again – check out these previous posts: [Read more...]

Spammer Alert: GoodFinance-Blog.com ~ Any Insights Into What They Use? How to Block Them?

Every single day for months now, goodfinance-blog.com spams GrowMap and every day I delete every one of their comments.  That site hasn’t published a new post since February 15, 2010 but they spam this and probably many other blogs almost every day.

Do they have a perpetual spam comment machine?

Click on the image below to see the details full size.  [Read more...]

For Bloggers Who Hate Comment Spam

Do you hate spammers? Many bloggers at least believe they do.  Hate only hurts the person who feels that emotion and does nothing to the object of your hatred.

Holding a Grudge is letting someone live rent-free in your head

Image Credit: RedWritingHood.ca ~ Click image to read My Hate Button is Broken

What I realize that many don’t is that there are different kinds of spammers. While there are some who know they are stealing our time and energy, probably the greater number of people bloggers refer to as spammers do NOT know they are doing this all wrong.

ANYONE that comments regularly IS going to
end up being flagged by Akismet as a spammer.

If we just delete them they won’t ever know WHY or how to get better. It makes more sense to EDUCATE new commenters than to slam the door in their face. If I deleted YOUR comments are YOU going to come back?

When shopping we expect the door to be open to the store, right? If a business keeps their door locked and grills you on WHY you want in or asks for your ID or references would you still want to buy from them – or even get inside?

I would not. Deleting comments willy-nilly is telling your new readers you don’t trust them and you don’t want to even give them a chance to interact with you! Most bloggers are so focused on being anti-spam that they’ve forgotten how to be human!

Put yourself in the commenter’s shoes.
(And you ARE in that place if you EVER comment in other blogs.)
How would you feel if I mistook you for a spammer and deleted
your comment that you spent your valuable time writing?

UNINTENTIONAL SPAMMERS: