The Amazing World Of WordPress Plugins – by Samantha Milner

There are so many things amazing about the WordPress blogging platform. Its user-friendly interface, its interlinking features, its SEO potentials, its interconnectivity with other WordPress blogs, its ability to publish content so easily and so efficiently well, and so much more! But the best thing about the WordPress blogging platform has got to be its highly customizable nature. In fact, there is a big community on the web dedicated to create WordPress themes, WordPress modifications and WordPress plugins.

WordPress plugins are, without a doubt, the most enjoyable features of WordPress blogs. WordPress plugins add to the functions that WordPress can accomplish.

There are WordPress plugins that are as trivial as providing weather reports, providing a ticker for the latest news in the field of sports or the stock market or the world, reporting post counts, providing a rating system for each blog post, and the likes. There are also WordPress plugins that are as essential as putting a stop to spam comments – which are prevalent these days – and automating the publishing of posts.

Among the most important of these WordPress plugins are those that automatically display AdSense blocks on a particular area of the page. Without these WordPress plugins, bloggers will be pressed to manually tinker with the source code of the blog to incorporate their AdSense ads. There are also WordPress plugins for other Pay Per Click (PPC) programs like AdBrite.

Before magazine-style WordPress themes became popular, WordPress plugins that automatically embed YouTube videos were very popular. They’re still widely used these days – especially those that cater to other video streaming websites like DailyMotion and MegaVideo – but the sheer convenience of having it as one of the features of an appropriate WordPress theme has lessened the plugin’s popularity.

Yet another integral WordPress plugin is one that adds icons that, when clicked, will submit a particular blog entry to the corresponding social news network. WordPress plugins like this are responsible for driving fantastic traffic to the blog overnight. Just imagine if a reader likes what you posted and he’ll have the option to immediately submit your blog entry to a social news website like Digg.com, and once submitted, Digg users will also enjoy your blog entry and they will vote for it. You’d have hundreds and thousands of visitors to your blog in a matter of hours! Other social news networks and social bookmarking websites are also included, like StumbleUpon, Technorati, Del.icio.us, Slashdot and Reddit.
WordPress plugins add a limitless potential to the blogging platform. Every day, a new plugin is created and published in the WordPress community. The WordPress platform is an ever-evolving program because of the commitment of its devoted flock.

And online marketing will only become better because of it!

About the Author
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Opportunity Knocks artist networking event Friday November 7th

Opportunity Knocks – An Artist’s Networking Event 

Friday, November 7th 9:00am to 4:00pm @ Musica 

I am opening up my “little black book”  to introduce you to the people that have helped me become a successful Entrepreneur/Artist  with an international audience.  

You can meet them in person, pick their brains, and come to know PERSONALLY  the  people who are making arts in our region THEIR priority!

If you are ready to MAKE YOUR ART CAREER actually work, if you are ready to take your art business to the next level, you need to come to this event!  YOU will have a day full of information, and networking that can take your art business to the places you have never imagined it could go.   Whether you are involved in an arts organization, a not for profit, or you are an individual artist looking for a better understanding, or if it is simply time to “jump-start” your life, this event is guaranteed to help you. Be sure to bring your business cards to this event!

You will get to talk to and share ideas with:

Tony Troppe - Local business owner, gallery owner, and developer

Suzie Graham - Director of Arts and Children’s activities for the City of Akron

Alex Nicholis - Curator of the Massillon Museum

Gary Lockwood - Co-Creator of Standing Rock Cultural Center, and consultant for the Ohio Arts Counsel

todd v - Artist and Director for City Art Project, Inc.

and… Maybe even a couple more surprise guests!!

Reserve your seats now! Tickets to this event are only $45.00 in advance and you can purchase them online now at http://www.cityartproject.org - Seating is limited! We want to keep this as a smaller intimate group for better discussion!

Each of our guest speakers will present information on their area of expertise – information that will equip you for a quantum leap in your art endeavors.  Here is what you will learn about:

• The opportunities for artists to work with local business owners and developers. Find out who might be looking to offer commission work, or installations in Akron and the surrounding areas.

• Find out about all the cool opportunities to work with the City of Akron, and how to create proposals that the  city will actually consider!

• Find out how to approach galleries, and museums for shows and representation!

• Find out how to write a grant that someone will actually read, and that gets money! Get a template that you can use to write your own grants!

• Find out how to use the internet to grow your art career. Create press kit that will get attention!

• Finally,  we will discuss true collaboration – the key to our collective success!

After each presentation we will open the floor to discussion, giving you a unique opportunity for give and take with an expert answering your specific needs,  an open dialog to expand or explain how to get the most out of your efforts. 

To wrap the meeting up  we will come together for an open discussion on collaboration brainstorming how we can all work together to further develop Akron as an arts and cultural destination. This will include an open cash bar to allow for further networking and group discussions.  It’s the arts networking event that becomes a party!

Coffee and water will be provided. Additionally we will have a prepared lunch from Crave!

NO MORE EXCUSES.  NO MORE COMPLAINTS.  JUST MAKE THE COMMITMENT TO YOURSELF –  AND YOUR CREATIVE FUTURE.  ATTEND THE  Opportunity Knocks  EVENT!  I am CERTAIN that you will be better prepared to make the most of your art career.   

Additionally, each attendee will get a coupon to order a FREE DVD from one of the presentations at the event! (all the others will also be available at a discount for attendees!) .  These will be available soon after the event.  

Reserve your seats now! Seating is limited! 

For more information or directions to the event please call 330.671.3792 – Please forward this information on to the artists you know

Visit http://www.cityartproject.org for more information!

Watercolor Ohio 2008, 31st Annual Exhibition

“Watercolor Ohio 2008 , the 31st Annual Juried Exhibition sponsored by The Ohio Watercolor Society, is being shown at the Ohio Arts Council’s Riffe Gallery from November 6 to January 11, 2009. The Riffe Gallery is located at 77 S. High Street in Columbus. Works from 65 of Ohio’s watercolorists have been included. This year’s exhibition was juried by Alvaro Castagnet from Montevideo, Uruguay, an internationally renowned watercolorist and author of Watercolor Painting with Passion. In collaboration with the exhibit, several exciting programs are being offered all which are free and open to the public.

Kaleidoscope 2008

The Alliance for Visual Arts in Akron, a group comprised of over 500 working artists from Akron Society of Artists, Artists of Rubber City, Cuyahoga Valley Art Center and Women’s Art League, presents “Kaleidoscope 2008 a juried exhibition of work by its members, from November 21 to January 3, 2009, at Summit ArtSpace Gallery located at 140 E. Market Street in Akron. Gallery hours are Thursday-Saturday from 12-5 pm. Call 330.376.8480 or visit www.summitartspace.org for further information. This year’s show was juried by Craig Lucas. The gallery is handicap accessible and a wheelchair is available.

The brightest, boldest, and best party of the year happens at SPACES

It’s time to get out your brightest britches, slickest dancing slippers, and any of those skeletons hiding in your closet! This year SPACES’ Annual Benefit and Auction, ¡Mambo Muerto!, gets a jolt of Latin flavor, thanks to a little inspiration from Day of the Dead. On Saturday, November 1, 2008 from 9pm–1am, Cleveland’s creatives come out of the woodwork donned in their wildest garb to enjoy fabulous food and music that will keep the gallery thumping. But best of all, SPACES will be packed wall-to-wall with art by all of our favorite regional and national artists for the silent auction. To pay tribute to one of Mexico’s most beloved holidays, El Dia de los Muertos, we ask that guests bring something to honor their family and friends who have passed on to place on our altar. Tickets: $40

The Artists Reality 38 todd and j discuss the new show

Inside-Out, Drawing and Painting with Shannon Casey at PAA

Inside-Out, Drawing and Painting with Shannon Casey – Explore drawing and painting from life in this five-week series for youth, ages 10 and older. Class meets Saturdays, Sept. 27, 2008 – Oct. 25, from 2-4 pm. Emphasis will be on simplifying shapes and using value, volume and proportion to create a basic framework for a drawing or painting. Students will work from still life arrangements (with favorite objects provided by students) and from live models. A variety of materials will be used including pencil, charcoal, pastel and paints. Fee for the five-week session is $80, $70 for PAA members ($70 for additional kids in the same family.) Price includes all supplies. Maximum: 10.

please register one week before the class.

for more info please call 330-657-2248 or www.peninsulaartacademy.com

You too can paint – Session 2, with Diane Keske Talmadge at PAA

You too can paint – Session 2, with Diane Keske Talmadge, oil painting series for Advanced Beginners who have taken one of our previous classes or had oil painting experience. No walk-ins. Minimum 4, -maximum 6, will be strictly adhered to. Wednesdays from 5 till 7:30 starting on October 1, thru Nov 12.2008 (No class on Oct 22), for 5 weeks with one make up date if needed. $75 or $70 for PAA members. We will be painting from still life arrangements set up by the instructor, and will be using either regular oils or water mixable oil paints. Learn to “see” differently to paint the affects of light on the subject to make your painting come to life.

please register one week before the class.

for more info please call 330-657-2248 or www.peninsulaartacademy.com

Digital Camera Basics with Kurt Shaffer at PAA

Digital Camera Basics with Kurt Shaffer, www kurtshaffer.com Saturday, September 27, 2008 – 10 am – 12 noon. Learn the basics of taking great pictures with that digital camera you have just lying around (but not sure how to use effectively). This class will help you better understand the full capabilities of your camera and how to take great photos with it. We will move along at a pace that suits the class. Bring your camera, its instruction manual, note taking supplies and your imagination! register here One-day $55 or $45 for PAA Members.

please register one week before the class.

for more info please call 330-657-2248 or www.peninsulaartacademy.com

Hand-sewn Journals with Heather Quiñones at PAA

Hand-sewn Journals with Heather Quiñones, Saturday and Sunday, September 27, and 28, 2008. Learn to sew a handmade journal with different stitches. All materials supplied, however, if you would like to bring some unusual paper to add into your journal or album cover designs please feel free to do so. This 2-day workshop is $60 or $50 for PAA members – 12 noon until 5 pm each day. Contact the instructor to sign up or to select from additional dates. email Walk-ins welcome to join call 330-657-2248.

please register one week before the class.

for more info please call 330-657-2248 or www.peninsulaartacademy.com