Special note: Leo Babauta (Zen Habits) and Mary Jaksch (GoodLifeZen) are launching their A-List Blogging Bootcamp TODAY.
A couple of months ago, I was contracted by Leo Babauta and Mary Jaksch to implement a design by the incomparable Moses Mehraban of Chama Inc. for their 10-day blogging bootcamp program, designed to help bloggers boost their subscriber count using the same techniques proven by Leo on his Zen Habits blog. I was honored to be entrusted with the project, and all parties agreed it turned out quite well.
The requirements, other than implementing the aesthetics of Moses’ design on the Thesis framework, included:
- Custom page templates – the home page contains a multimedia box and two sidebars, whereas the member-only pages have no multimedia box and just one sidebar. Finally, the pre-launch “squeeze” pages had no sidebars and no navigation.
- Mary and Leo needed to be able to add pages as time went by to each of the custom templates on their own.
- They needed to be able to manage their membership site. I was extremely pleased with how the implementation of WP WishList Member went for Jay Fleischman’s Practice Pro Monthly, so I recommended and implemented that product for this project as well.
- They wanted a member forum. I used the Simple Press plug-in for a seamless and elegant forum built into their website. I have used bbPress in the past, and there is no comparison – use Simple Press and have a life instead.
Mary Jaksch and I worked together closely to get the project off the ground with all of the requirements in place in time for the program launch – and I must say, I am proud of the results!
