Adding Posts (Images And Videos)

If you are brand new to Wordpress then you might want to check out The have a ton of great How To video tutorials including the basics like adding posts, pages, etc.

However, I do want to add a couple of thing that are related specifically to this theme.

1. Adding thumbnail images to front page excerpts and featured gallery

2. Adding videos to posts.

Adding Images:

Your theme has a featured content carousel on the front page, and there’s a specific way that you add posts/images to that slider.

You also have the ability to add thumbnail images to the latest post excerpts on the front page.
Adding these images is pretty simple.

This is what you do:

First, you’re going to see how to add a thumbnail image to any post – this step is the same whether it’s for the featured carousel or not.

Add thumbnail to post

In the post editor window (Posts/Add New or Edit), you’re going to want to upload an image that you want to use for the post as a thumbnail.

Now, typically, if you just want to add a post to insert into your actual post/article along with the text, you’re going to use the upload image button in the post editor toolbar that looks like this:

BUT…since we’re adding an image to use specifically for a thumbnail or the featured carousel, we’re going to do it a different way.
On the same page (post editor), scroll down to the bottom until you see Gazette Custom Settings

Here’s where you add the image.  You can either type in the location if you already uploaded it to your server, or hit the browse button and upload one from your computer.

Important: Notice how the URL path does not include the domain name in my screenshot?
That’s because there are security features on some hosts that may cause problems with the type of thumb resizer script that is used for the thumbnail features.

It’s nothing for you to concern yourself with unless you’re manually adding the URL of the image in the image field instead of uploading it via the Browse button. If so, just be sure to start the URL like it is in that screenshot above – starting at the first forward slash after the domain name. That will avoid any issues.

Note On Size: If you’re going to use it as one of the featured images, make sure it’s 595 x 270 pixels in size or bigger.  
If you just want it as a thumb in an excerpt on the front page, then it only has to be at least 260 x 100 pixels in size.

It’s wise to just always use photos 595x270. It makes things easier

Now that your image is uploaded, your image will appear in on the front page as a thumbnail in the post excerpt like this:

Note: The thumbnail script built into the theme resizes that image automatically to fit. So, that’s why I say it’s just easier to always use a big 595x270 image. If you change your mind and want to make this a featured article, you don’t need a new image, because this one is big enough to fit into the carousel.

So, let’s make that happen.

Let’s take this post and add it as a featured article, which will automatically show that image in the featured carousel.

The first thing you need is one of your categories to be the Featured Category for the carousel. I’ve already done this, but I’m going to show you how anyway in case you want to change it.

Also, I just want you to know how things work in here. J

From the Themes Options page, click on the Home Page Carousel tab to expand the options.
As you can see, there is a simple checkmark that allows you to remove the carousel if you want, and you can also set the height of it (width will remain 595) and you can choose how many featured posts will rotate from the Featured Entries drop down.

The Featured Category drop down menu allows you to choose a specific category from which you will pull the posts for the Carousel.

I always have a separate category named Featured, or Featured Articles, etc.
(I’ll show you why next)

Next, you’re going to go back to your post that you want to be featured in the carousel  (Posts/Edit)

On the right hand side, I’m going to choose to put this post in the Featured Category by checking the same one that I assigned in the Home Page Carousel Theme Options (which in this case is Featured Articles)
Note: your posts can be in more than one category

Now click Update Post at the top right of the page, and your post/image will now appear in the home page carousel!

Not too bad right?

Adding Videos:

There are two things I want to show you about adding videos. On the home page, there is a video player that shows a few of the latest videos that you’ve posted.

Similar to the Featured Carousel, this has a specific category assigned to it.

Let’s take a look. Go back to the Theme Options page and click the Home Page Video Area tab to expand the options:

The options are very simple. You choose if you want the video player to appear on the home page, and choose which category is the video category.  It also gives you the option to exclude video posts from the home page latest post excerpts.

Note: Keep in mind that this does not affect you having the ability to put a video in a post in any other category. This just specifies which category shows videos on the home page player.

 

So, let’s go to a post and add a video. Remember when we scrolled down to Gazette Custom Settings in order to add a thumbnail image? Well, scroll back down there again, because that’s where we add a video too!

Underneath the Image upload field is the Embed Code field for video.

Any embed code can be used, but I use popular video sites like YouTube, Viddler, Vimeo, etc.
When you're viewing a video on one of those sharing sites, just copy the embed code provided, paste into the section you see in the screenshot

above.

Now, if you check / assign this post to the same category as you assigned in the Video Player Theme Options earlier, the video will appear on the home page like this:

The video will also appear within the post and look this:

That's it! You don't have to set any sizes or anything, it's all done automatically to fit in both the player and the post.

Tools And Resources

I've mentioned a few tools and resources throughout the guide, and I thought I'd list them all here in one organized list.

This way, any time you want to refer back to the book you can just pop down to this section and get what you were looking for.  These are tools and resources I actually use to manage my business (except I haven't tried GIMP yet).

Hosting:
Hostgator  - Seriously, the best host for the price and stellar customer service

Domains:

NameCheap - I use several domain registrars, but this is my first choice. Cheap domains, and super simple account management.

Autoresponder:
Aweber – The number one autoresponder service. You HAVE to build a list in your niche. If you don't, you're leaving money on the table. Period.

Graphic Editing
Gimp  - If you don't have Photoshop, check out GIMP. It's free and I believe it allow allows you to edit Photoshop PSD files.

 

Ebook Cover Actions
BlackBeltCovers – An inexpensive way to get a set of killer Photoshop actions to create ecovers with ease. 

 

Affiliate Networks
Ebay  - You need an EPN accounf to make money from an eBay store

Amazon - Great conversions, but low commissions, so sell high ticket items!

Clickbank  - Find tons of digital products to promote in almost any niche.
Commission Junction - HUGE network, deals with a lot of the big brands.

LinkShare  - Big brands here too, like Disney, Dell, etc.
ShareASale - Site design sucks, but it's a good network.  

 

Unique Articles / Content
Warrior Forum and Digital Point- If you're looking for good writing services at cheap prices, check out theese forums for writers who are looking for work. There's tons of 'em!
oDesk and Freelancer.com - are great not only for outsourcing writers, but almost any other marketing related task!

No Doubt Marketing - Professional SEO article writing service

Keyword Research
Micro Niche Finder  - This tool really speeds up your keyword research plus has tons of really cool features that help you find easy-to-dominate micro-niches FAST!

Membership Site Plugin
Wishlist Member  - Want a super simple way to turn your blog into a membership site? Use the Wishlist Member plugin. Check out a ton of videos they have available on their site to see why I love this plugin so much!

Digital Download Protection
DLGuard – I vouche for this product 110%. I was so fantastically happy when I bought it and found how powerful it is, yet so easy to install. If you're serious about selling digital downloads, you MUST get this. Trust me, you'll be happy you did.

Thank you!