Because the post on music discovery is one of our most popular articles ever, I thought this beautiful infographic from IndigoBoom would be of interest. Selling music beyond first became possible in 1877 with the introduction of the phonograph cylinder. Since then media formats have developed and radically changed the way we listen, and recently even where we can listen to music. They have looked at the last 30 years of music format development and popularity in the IG below:

This post Music media, from vinyl to bitstream was written by Catalin Zorzini and first appearedon Inspired Magazine.

Every so often, I’ll bring up ThemeForest and trawl through the latest additions to the site’s massive database of ‘HTML-by-numbers’ WordPress themes. I’m usually impressed, but today I’m frustrated. I think I’ve finally spotted a trend in the skin-deep design differences between themes, one that’s summed up by recent development tendencies towards natty page designers featuring very rudimentary drag-and-drop functionality. As the world becomes more technically literate, and moves away from supermarket digital goods, I think we’re bound for a boutique, creative and hand-crafted digital revival. What we’re seeing at the moment is a curious blend of Henry Ford and Modernism – but the web will soon, I feel, move beyond that.

What’s a WordPress page builder?

In the loosest possible terms, WordPress page builders allow you to use pre-designed, ‘kind-of-modular’ blocks of HTML and CSS, rearranging them within a page structure as you see fit. As a result, you can put together an attractive site, populate it with media and copy, and host it – all within a few minutes.

That sounds great. What’s the problem?

Head over to ThemeForest and take a peek. There’s a lot of convenience there: flexible layouts, one-click purchase, and integrated hosting.

There’s also a distinct lack of creative innovation.That sort of statement makes theme developers’ hair stand on end. A lack of innovation? Ridiculous. Commercial WordPress themes are beautifully and neatly coded, and designed from the ground up to fit loads of new user scenarios. And a lack of creativity? WordPress designers may well – and rightly so – take umbrage at the notion. The best themes are painstakingly constructed to fit loose and varied client briefs. Making them is an immensely creative exercise.

I’m not quarreling with these points. What I’m saying is that there’s a real lack of ‘creative innovation’ – deviating from established routes, by combining elements from across disciplines, and creating something unique. There can’t be, as WordPress themes aren’t intended to be unique. They’re intended to be useful.

The web’s an information machine. Surely useful is better than unique?

Right now, we live in a browser-based ecosystem. People tend to view the web through a variety of different window sizes, with (essentially) the same kinds of control over what they see. WordPress page builders work well in this world – the pages are designed responsively to flex across smartphones, tablets, laptops and desktops. They present information in an optimal and logical way.

But this is changing. The way we consume the internet’s information is already moving away from the browser. Once you discover RSS (Really Simple Syndication) readers, you’ll see what I mean.

And the move to ‘local information formatting’ isn’t limited to RSS. Services like Pulse, Newsify, IFFFT, Flipboard, Alternion and Meople represent the bold new face of the internet. These so-called ‘information aggregators’ deliver the web’s nebulous and tendrilous stream of information in a much more consumable form-factor. This isn’t a ‘phase’ – more the ‘next phase’.

How can you be so sure about that?

What’s the fastest-growing internet phenomenon right now? Personalised aggregation. Google know this, which is why they’re pedal-to-the-metal improving the personalisation of their products. Google Glass won’t work unless it’s neatly personalised. Google Now won’t, either. These aren’t just services the company feels have promise: they’re believed to be the media of the future.

So what has this got to do with WordPress?

If information can be distributed more efficiently through personalised aggregation, getting folks to your website is going to need something special. What can you do to get people to hang around on your site, while you advertise to them? Brick-and-mortar retailers went through this problem during the latter half of the twentieth century, and the solution was to build increasingly unique and culturally rich retail environments. Distinguishing yourself by creating a phenomenal environment for your customers was the only way to attract customers in through your doors – something that’s a lot more evident in the New Age of e-Commerce.

I believe that the web is about to hit the same kinds of problems. When there are competitors (personalised aggregators) stealing your market share (unique hits), you need to innovate to survive. Innovation can’t simply be improving on the next guy’s product (though that’s an essential part of it). WordPress Themes offer top-flight products in the fairly limited category of out-of-the-box websites, and Page Builders can extend their flexibility bit-by-bit. But they’re not creatively innovative. They’re not doing anything new. They’re not blending disparate disciplines in exciting or groundbreaking ways. These things are only going to become more obvious as innovative hardware encourages us to consume information in increasingly efficient ways.

So, next time you’re tempted to use a WordPress template as a start point for a client, call yourself up short. Bear in mind your new, and rising, competition. What can you offer visitors beyond nicely-presented information? How can you lure them to the browser? And how can you ensure that your client winds up with a creatively innovative sales environment?

This post The joy and shortcomings of WordPress page builders was written by Catalin Zorzini and first appearedon Inspired Magazine.

Need a clean, modern font for your latest project? You should definitely check out the Hiruko Font Family then! Inspired by Japanese culture, this font may be minimalistic in approach, but it screams classy fun in execution! And for a limited time only, Hiruko is incredibly marked down in price!

Hiruko Font Family Highlights:

• Full Family of 15 Styles
  Based on the Sans-Serif font, the Hiruko Family includes 15 different styles. There’s Extra Light, Extra Light Alternate, Extra Light Italic, Light, Light Alternate, Light Italic, Regular, Regular Alternate, Regular Italic, Black, Black Alternate, Black Italic, Outline, Outline Alternate, and Outline Italic.
• Fully Compatible
  The Desktop files are delivered in .OTF format and are compatible with both Windows and Mac.
• Multiple Languages
  This cutting-edge modern font family supports over 40 languages, so whatever country you’re working with, you’re sure to find the appropriate way to express yourself.
• Full Character Set
  Each type weight includes a full 255 character set, as well as manual kerning, pairs, and tracking.
• Attention Getting
  Hiruko is a fabulous font that’s just perfect for any trendsetting-type projects. It works beautifully on its own, whether decked out on a T-shirt, poster, menu, sign and more!
• Royalty Free License
  Your license with the Hiruko Font Family allows you to use these modern fonts on any personal or commercial project, without the need for any attribution.

Pricing:

The Hiruko Font Family normally sells for $300, but for a limited time only, you can get this hip, modern collection for just $9 for either the Desktop or Web Font (@font-face) version - Yes, you read that right… $9! OR get both the Desktop and Web fonts together for just $18! - That’s a massive 97% off the regular price!

This post Hiruko: Japanese inspired font family – 97% discount was written by Catalin Zorzini and first appearedon Inspired Magazine.

Almost every business has a web presence these days; from single page ‘business card’ style sites, to million+ product e-commerce hubs, owning a website is as universal as taxes. Of course, there are new startups, but even in those cases entrepreneurs tend to have bought a domain name, or thrown up a template.

It’s no surprise then that the bread and butter for most web designers is not site design, but redesign. On the surface, redesign looks easy; you have a starting point, with some real world data on what is and isn’t working for your client. Once you dive a little deeper you’ll find redesigns are a minefield of competing ideas. It will take all of your skill to exploit the current site’s successes and identify its failings.

Moreover, there is no room for error in a redesign. Clients have often been burned by poor results in the past and are more cautious. They’re more likely to have spent a long time analyzing their site themselves. They’re probably frustrated by the need for a redesign, or what is sometimes worse, they’re so excited by it that they’re spilling over with ideas, many of which aren’t appropriate.

Happily, there’s a lot of great advice available on how to tackle this tricky task and one of the best sources is Smashing Magazine’s current set of eBooks. Worth nearly $40, MightyDeals.com has arranged a 40% discount on this great set:

Smashing Book #3: Redesign The Web is 340 pages of advice on vital subjects like: the business aspects of redesigning a site; platform considerations; upgrading code to HTML5 and CSS3; important considerations of mobile design; and of course, going responsive.

Smashing Book #3 1/3 takes redesigns to the next level: insert ‘story’ into your redesign to engage users; rethink and repurpose navigation to improve UX; make the site’s content work harder; and there’s even a detailed case study of Smashing’s own redesign.

Essentials of Mobile Design, Mobile Design Patterns, Designing For Android and Designing For iPhone cover the essentials of the biggest reason clients cite for redesigning their site: mobile compatibility. Learn the difference between mobile sites and apps, marketing, and the all important responsive techniques you’ll need.

The set of six books comes in DRM-free format, as PDFs, ePUBs and MOBIs, so you can study them however and wherever you like. Head over to MightyDeals now to take advantage of this great offer.

This post Inspired Deal: Smashing Web & Mobile Design eBook Bundle – 6 eBooks for only $24! was written by Catalin Zorzini and first appearedon Inspired Magazine.

The curators of our sister siter WebDesignGoodies picked 1o beautiful  graphic elements and resources for you (some of them are free). Check them out, save them for your future projects and feel free to submit some new links for the next week’s roundup. Cheers

1,600+ Awesome Photoshop Presets | $27 | Details

If you’re a regular user of Photoshop (or even a semi-regular user), you might find yourself a little bored. After using the powerful photo-editing program for so long, you sometimes need to give it a little juice. With PsDefaults, you’ll suddenly feel like you just discovered Photoshop for the first time! This full set of modern, handcrafted replacement graphics give your copy of Photoshop a sweet upgrade with all-new brushes, patterns, shapes and more! In short, if you use Photoshop this collection will make your life easier and your projects even cooler looking.

Smashing Web & Mobile Design eBook Bundle | $24 | Details

One of the best things about the Web is that it is always changing. Websites, unlike magazines or books, are not finite, they’re organic. It’s not just content that’s constantly changing, though. Many website owners are updating the look, feel and even functionality of their site. If you’re looking to do a professional redesign, this collection of Smashing Books is for you.  Redesign The Web (340 pages), Smashing Book #3⅓ (160 pages), Essentials of Mobile Design (235 pages), Mobile Design Patterns (124 pages), Designing For Android (228 pages), Designing For iPhone (234 pages)

Flat Design Icons Set | free | Details

Hiruko: Japanese Inspired Font Family | $9 | Details

Need a clean, modern font for your latest project? You should definitely check out the Hiruko Font Family then! Inspired by Japanese culture, this font may be minimalistic in approach, but it screams classy fun in execution! And for a limited time only, Hiruko is incredibly marked down in price!

Vector Mania! 4400 vectors | S49 | Details

Got website? Well, have we got images for you. Thousands of images in fact. And they’re all 100% royalty-free vectors so you and the Internet can have one rocking picture party!
From the graphic gurus at Vectorain, you can now get 4,400 vectors for just $49 in this mightiest of Mighty Deals! Plus, for an extra $8 only, you can also get 100 Stock Images added in.
All graphics are completely royalty-free so you’re free to use them as you wish on any personal or commercial project. All vector files are provided in EPS10.

iPhone 5 Psd Flat Design Mockup | free | Details

This is our take on a flat design iPhone 5 vector mockup template. We have created 3 flat design version with front, horizontal and 3D view to let you drag and drop your design with smart object. This is the ideal companion to any flat design project where you need to present mobile screenshots.

Beautiful Solomon Font Family (12 fonts) | $9 | Details

Fonts can be so much fun to work with. Whether you’re creating a logo, a T-shirt or a funky poster, having the right font can make all the difference. If you’re looking for something new, something clean, and something fun, you’ve come to the right place. This Mighty Deal offers up the Solomon Font Family, from Fontfabric, at a ridiculously reduced price.

Streamified: Full Social Media Management | $11 | Details

Some people merely pick their poison. Whether it’s Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus or FourSquare, lots of users pick one network and stick with it. But just as many mix and match a number of different networks. If you copy and paste the same update across mutiple networks, you know how frustrating and time consuming that can be. What you need is a social media management tool. What you need is Streamified, our most social deal yet.

eStudeo WordPress Theme | free | Details

A responsive creative portfolio theme tailored for professional creative and agency, it has simple and clean design yet contains all necessary features you need with none of the bloat you don’t and what’s best of all is that this theme is free to download.

WordPress Shortcodes Plugin + 3 Premium WP Themes | $19 | Details

Easy to install, this lightweight, cross-browser plugin is jam packed with over 5,000 shortcodesthat are simple to integrate into your site. The shortcodes are even mixed in seamlessly with your WordPress WYSIWYG, so you can spice up your content with just the click of a button. PLUS – This new version is 100% responsive and it also includes several new features such as: filterable portfolios as well as 3D Animated jQuery buttons and accordions.

This post Web design goodies of the week #12 was written by Catalin Zorzini and first appearedon Inspired Magazine.

From time to time, we all need a little pick-me-up. Eight hours straight spent grappling with code is enough to make anyone question the sanity of their existence. So, I’ve written this article to remind web developers why you’re important, why you matter, and why you’re part of a global movement that’s going to shape human history forever. Because, you know, you’re all lovely.

Web developers occupy a strange halfway-house between the world of consumer-focused innovation and the land of computer science. Living there seems to incur the derision of two parties: ‘real-world’ programmers laugh at the notion that the world of the browser could ever approach the complexity of the kind of stuff they do (despite the fact that Facebook is now as code-rich as Windows 7, and Chromium offers a bona fide native experience via a browser), and the real world’s never really broken free of the image of web development geeks as code-monkey (although it can be one of the most creative, intellectual professions in the world).

Let them have their say. Because, right now, being a web developer is about more than pushing out code. It’s about more than making good websites. I’m not unusual, for a web dev – in my spare time, I’ll contribute to open-source projects that are going to wind up powering mind-blowing technology in years to come; I’ll vote in polls to define and declare what technologies the graphical interfaces of the future should and should not use. But we’re not even scratching the surface.

The web is, hands-down, the most efficient way to disseminate information to a huge audience. It’s a great acid test of what matters to people, with discovery and personalisation services competing to bring less prominent material to attention. It’s a (relatively) flat playing field, too: if you’ve got good content, you’ll get an audience (assuming that you’re reasonably operationally competent).

This has propelled the Internet to become a – maybe the – globally dominant force in little over two decades. It is at once the ultimate communication technology, sharing portal, and discovery device. And it was built by web developers – people who, together, built and maintain the technologies that power the whole thing. It’s a rare career that you get to contribute, daily, to the most powerful product in the world.

Thanks to the fact that we’re all in essence refining the world’s most effective communication tool, it’s not surprising that web developers have a wider collaborative circle than any other profession I can think of. Take a look at Stack Overflow, GitHub, CodePen: these are custom-built tools that allow highly-skilled people to collaborate on projects without ever needing to meet face-to-face. They’re the places where the technologies that will power the internet of tomorrow are made. And, in the most part, the only qualification you need is your ability.

Global connection, a real and practical purpose, and a direct impact on outcomes that will affect untold billions around the world for years to come: there are few jobs that can offer this kind of satisfaction. All this, before we even consider that individual web designers, developers and managers get to use – as a matter of necessity – the best laptops money can buy.

In years to come, web developers will be able to look back at current events and not only say ‘I was there’, but ‘I made that happen’. Is there anything more self-affirming than that?

image courtesy of: wired

This post Why being in web development is the best job in the world right now was written by Catalin Zorzini and first appearedon Inspired Magazine.

In the past few years, there’s been an explosion of online website builders offering a fast and affordable solution to anyone making their first steps in the www. Suddenly, the entire process of searching for a webdesigner and a webdeveloper, getting a brief together, negotiating a price and a deadline and waiting for the results has reduced to a few clicks and some plain old drag and drop.

More and more people choose these specialized builders when they decide to put their company or their projects on the online map, saving both time and a lot of money. On the other hand, webdesigners and programmers worry this trend will stick and slowly rob them of their jobs. But are these website builders really endangering the future of good old classic webdesign? Let’s take a look at each side of the story and see what lies beneath the ”noise”.

Target

First of all, webdesigners and webdevelopers are usually targeting a different public. Since they’re more expensive and capable of building complicated customized websites, they target companies that are willing to pay a higher price for better quality.

Website builders mostly target freelancers, artists and small companies that can neither afford to pay a webdesigners, nor need a complex, corporate website that only an expert can develop. All they need is a ”face”, a presentation website where they can show their work and communicate three things to their target market: 1. That they exist 2. How they can be contacted and 3. Where and how they sell their products/work.

Truth be told, these people would probably never hire a webdesigner to build them a website, it would be over their budget and they’d probably put up a blog or go with an in-house offline advertising strategy. So as long as webdesigners and webdevelopers understand that (normally) they’re not going for the same public as website builders, there’s room for everyone. Of course, there will always be a common slice of public they’re both trying to feed off, but this is an exception and should be treated as such.

Pros and cons of website builders

For a webdesigner, the good side of this website builder boom is the chance to sell templates for royalties or a fixed fee. And since these sites usually update their catalogue every month, you can make some good money out of this.

But let’s see why clients choose to use website builders and whether they get what they need or not. Obviously, there are both pros and cons:

Pros

• Easy to use
• No programming skills required
• Fast implementation
• Full service (hosting, software, maintenance)
• Low cost
• Feature-rich
• Support
• Security updates

Cons

• Relying on one provider only
• Limited flexibility
• Control over data
• Installing server-side code
• Only suitable for simple websites

All in all, if you don’t need a complex website, if you’re ok with the limited flexibility and you’re willing to take the risk of having others using your data without your knowledge (although this is a risk you forcibly take when you go online, anyway. I’ve seen hundreds of copy-cats shamelessly stealing from hard working artists), then using a website builder can be an affordable and time-saving solution to your problem.

I was actually curious to try out a recently launched website builder called Imcreator and see if I can build a decent website using this tool. To be honest, I actually liked it. I liked the way they describe the process on their own website and how simple it is for someone who has no clue about programming or web design to make a website for free in a few easy steps.

The whole process takes no more than 3 steps:

• Choose a design (there are thousands of templates to choose from. Takes a bit of patience, but you can find some really nifty designs)
• Customize your website (you insert your content – texts, photos, videos – with just a couple clicks)
• Publish (aka press the Publish button)

If you ask me, these website builders could very well be good news for both clients and webdesigners. Clients can get a ”face” in the virtual world in no time, without shelling out a lot of money, while designers can sell their work to these websites and get some money. Sure, it’s not like working directly with the client, but if you think about the target separation, you can see this as a good opportunity to make some extra-cash.

header image courtesy of the UMF

This post Website creation for dummies was written by Catalin Zorzini and first appearedon Inspired Magazine.

Part of any effective content marketing strategy is keeping up with the latest web design trends. As content has evolved significantly within the past 12-18 months, so has the web design used to present content. The emergence of breakout trends like Instagram, Pinterest and the visual Facebook timeline, not to mention the growth in the use of mobile apps and the mobile web, has led most content marketers to begin focusing on visual content. Even with the many new trends, content still is an essential part of any business’ marketing strategy. However, while content remains “king,” design must be an integral part of every content marketing strategy if it is to succeed. Instead of cramming a website with content, content must incorporate the latest in web design to grab attention, appeal to emotions and convert prospects into clients. Here are a few of the latest web design trends that businesses should explore for successful content marketing in 2013.

Trend #1 – Responsive Website Design

One of the top trends in web design right now is responsive website design, which is an essential part of web development due to the growth of tablet and mobile browsing. It is important to have websites that adapt to fit any device being used to view the site. With responsible website design, businesses can ensure that their content is viewed the way they intent, no matter what device is being use to access it. Why is this important to content marketing? With a huge section of individuals accessing the web via tablets and smartphone    s, businesses must ensure that their content is viewed successfully on these devices. Failure to use responsive design increases the chance that website visitors will ignore your content and move on to another website that they can easily view and use on their device of choice.

Trend #2 – The Use of Special Effects

The use of special effects is another of the latest web design trends that must be considered as a part of any business’ content marketing strategy. Since individuals continue to spend more time using smartphone    s and tablets, older navigation paradigms for desktop computers are being left behind. This has led to new designs that feature visual effects and complex interactions with the use of new technologies, such as CSS3 and HTML5. The focus on special effects resulted in an increase in fading and sliding visual elements, interactive buttons, parallax scrolling and more.

Trend #3 – Minimalist, User Friendly Designs

Minimalist, user-friendly designs have also become trendy recently and businesses will do well to consider this trend as they focus on their content marketing strategy. The idea that less is more is a popular approach that has caught on across the web, since websites, such as Tumblr, have profited from offering users such easy to use, minimalist designs. This includes leaving more white space on a page, which makes a website seem more knowledgeable and more professional. Presenting content in a way that seems professional is important and every business wants to appear knowledgeable. With minimalist designs, businesses can focus on offering exactly what users need, providing content in this design that works to convey the most important information.

Trend #4 – Embedded Video on Websites

Video has become more and more important in the past few years, and now, embedding video on websites is one of the biggest web design trends of 2013. Since video offers such a powerful way to keep an audience engaged, it’s easy to see why website designers are deciding to embed videos in websites. Video is an essential part of any content marketing strategy and with this website design trend, video can be used to its fullest potential by embedding it in key places of a website.

Trend #5 – Increased Social Media Integration

Increased social media integration is yet another trend in website design that content marketers must carefully consider. Although the use of sharing buttons is not a new concept, integration of websites with social media networks will continue to go deeper in the future. While responsive website design helps businesses with the delivery of their content, sharing through increased social media integration will help keep content crowned as “king.” The hub for content continues to be websites, but increased integration with social media will facilitate sharing across a variety of different platforms. Social media integration must be a priority for everyone who desires success in content marketing.

Many of the latest web design trends show content marketers that the beautification of content is essential, since websites like Instagram and Pinterest have shown that design has the potential to make a company stand out from its competitors, leading to a priceless form of user loyalty. Web users, whether they use the web on their computer, smartphone or tablet, want to see beautiful content that engages their emotions. Implementing these new design trends helps take content marketing to the next level.

Author bio: Mark Gavalda is the CEO of MandLoys Web Design Agency. He did ana amazing job with the Content Marketing Essentials project and I would definitely recommend following Mark on Twitter as well.

This post Content Marketing Strategy and the Latest Web Design Trends was written by Catalin Zorzini and first appearedon Inspired Magazine.

Having a pre-built library of UI graphics ready to go can be an incredible lifesaver both for your wallet and your calendar. And with this Menso UI Set Bundle, from Vandelay Premier, you’ll never need worry about it again. It normally sells for $76, but for a limited time you can get all 4 styles of this fantastic collection of graphics for a ginormous savings of 75% off the regular price!

Menso UI Set Bundle Highlights:

• Multiple Styles
  With this bundle, you don’t just get one set of UI elements to choose from. Nope, you get 4 different styles including: light, dark, colorful and metal. Each style is loaded with high-quality design elements for you to grab and use throughout your interface, whether it’s for an app or a website.
• Easily Customizable
  Your bundle includes 4 Photoshop PSD files for each style (a total of 16 PSD files and hundreds of ready-to-use design elements) , so you can quickly and easily find the exact elements you’re looking for. Organized and layered, these PSD files let you customize any element you’d like, whether you want to alter the size, text, color or whatever.
• Hundreds of Elements
  Each style includes dozens of different graphical elements to use on your interface. You’ll find a wide variety of slick, professional UI elements including: navigation menus, buttons, ribbons, sliders, social network sharing, media player elements, comments, profiles, maps, charts, messaging and so much more.
• Unlimited Uses
  Your purchase of this Mighty Deal lets you use any and all of these elements on an unlimited number of personal projects, as well as those for business. That even includes any templates or WordPress themes you might put together and sell to your clients.

Take a look at the 4 different styles included:

Light

Dark 

Colorful

Metal

Pricing:

The Menso UI Set Bundle normally sells for $76, but for a limited time you can get all 4 styles of this fantastic collection of graphics for just $19! That’s a ginormous savings of 75% off the regular price!

This post Inspired Deal of the Week: 4 Fantastic Premium UI Sets – 75% off! was written by Catalin Zorzini and first appearedon Inspired Magazine.

A couple of days ago I was approached to write a product review. However, the offer I got was kind of unusual. Particularly, the co-funder of ThemeFuse reached out to me and asked me to check out their new service, purchase it with my own money(!), write a review and then send it back to him. Since I’m not what you’d call “money-smart,” I’ve decided that it’s the perfect offer for me! Now, the service in question is offered together by ThemeFuse and WebHostingBuzz (disclosure: we use WHB for more than two years and we’re very happy with their services). It doesn’t have a particular name, but it’s all about providing a truly easy way of launching a WordPress site from the ground up, even if you’re a complete beginner and have 0 (zero) experience in this area.

What is it exactly?

Just to give you a quick summary of the whole service, here’s a short elevator pitch: It allows you to pick a theme from ThemeFuse’s gallery and have it installed by their team, on an optimized hosting platform, and under a new domain (of your choosing). From a client’s point of view, this is great because the only thing you have to do is choose a theme and your work is done. Then after a while, you end up with a fully functional WordPress site. Cool, isn’t it?

Who is this for?

The official press release says that it’s for beginners in the WordPress world who don’t want to deal with all the hassle that’s usually involved when building a site. That is true. However, I’d say that it’s also for anyone who simply can’t be bothered to set everything up on their own and would rather have it done by someone else. Hence it’s also a good deal for pro developers and designers.

Does it work?

Here’s the thing, creating a product for beginners is actually really really really hard due to something called the curse of knowledge. The curse of knowledge is, for example, what prevents you from explaining a basic concept of an area that you are an expert in to a complete beginner. In other words, it’s when the scope of your knowledge makes it impossible for you to switch to a beginner state of mind and be able to deliver value in an easy to grasp way. This is ultimately the reason why no one understands university professors when they try to explain things… And sometimes, it’s also a problem with many “beginner” products in various niches. So today, I want to check if this new service has similar issues or not. This is how I’m going to do this – my original testing method:

• The service gets a credit of 10 points to start with.
• I’m going to go through the entire setup process and try acting like I’m completely new.
• If something isn’t clear, that’s -1 point.
• At the end of the test, we’ll have the final score.

The test begins

To take advantage of this new offer, all you have to do is go to the ThemeFuse website:

Quite a long page, but it explains the main idea behind the service pretty clearly, so it’s surely worth a read. There’s a signup button at the bottom.

After clicking it, you’ll end up straight in the theme gallery, where you can choose whatever theme you like (every theme is included in this new service). After browsing around for a while I’ve decided to go with Conexus. 

The sales page for every theme itself is very clear with a visible buy button. But the next step – after clicking this buy button – can cause some problems. It’s an order customization page, and unfortunately, I’m going to have to call “-1″ on that (yeah, let’s keep this review honest). Here’s the problem, this is what this order customization page looks like:

Since I’m interested in the “theme-domain-hosting” package, I clicked the big blue box at the bottom of the screen, which led straight back to the page where I started this whole journey. Not a serious issue, but still a little misleading. Anyway, the thing you should click here is either the BUY STANDARD version button or the BUY DEVELOPER version button (in most cases it’s the former). Okay, let’s do that and see what happens.

Everything is back on track in this step. There’s a very clear confirmation page where you can click the orange button and get started with the new service. The next screen:

This is where you have the possibility to get a new domain along with your package (the domain is optional; you can skip it if you already have one). By the way, if you decide to get a domain, it’s free for the first year. You get to choose from domains under .com, .net, .org, .biz, and .info. After clicking the Review Order button you’ll see the final confirmation page.

This is where you can check if everything is alright, pick a payment method, input a discount code if you have one, and finally proceed to checkout. One more step you have to take care of before the checkout itself is the signup page for a client account at ThemeFuse.

What follows next is a standard PayPal payment procedure (if you’ve selected PayPal as your payment method). I don’t think any screenshots are necessary here… It’s a pretty standard PayPal transaction. Lastly, after successfully completing the transaction you can go back to ThemeFuse (through the link provided inside PayPal). Well, apparently, that’s it for the whole purchase process. All that follows now is an email from ThemeFuse informing you that the site is up and running. Now here’s the best part. Literally 15 minutes after completing my purchase, my new domain was live, and I could access the site’s Dashboard via the client panel at ThemeFuse.com. Again, that’s 15 minutes. (Note. This is a fully functional WordPress site. So you get unlimited access to the Dashboard, where you can publish posts, pages, create new user accounts, install plugins and so on.)

The good

To be honest, I love everything about this service. It’s clear, the signup form is impressively simple, and the whole idea itself is superb. The main element where this service stands out is its ease of use. You really don’t need any experience in order to handle the signup process. Everyone can do it.

The bad

If you’ve read this closely then you’ve noticed there’s only one “-1″ moment. And to be honest, it wasn’t even that serious. Just a single, little misleading message for people landing on the order page. The signup process itself is so simple that it’s really hard for me to find anything else wrong with it. And believe me, I tried. I even waited for the session to invalidate and did other similarly strange things, but nothing bad happened. More than that, I made my test on Saturday, and even despite this the site was live within 15 minutes.

Plans and pricing

ThemeFuse sells their themes for a variety of price points. The standard range is $49 to $99 for a standard license (there’s also one free theme). The hosting package is $69 a year. In the end, to get started, you need $128 in total, and that’s exactly what I paid during the test.

The bottom line

Let’s compare this service to the traditional way of launching a WordPress site. Usually, you have to do the following things:

1. Get a domain.
2. Choose and buy a hosting account.
3. Connect the two together (not always that simple).
4. Install WordPress (either by hand or through an auto-installer).
5. Get a theme and upload it to your hosting account.
6. Install the theme itself.

With this new service, on the other hand, there’s just one step:

1. Pick a theme at ThemeFuse and tell them to handle the setup process for you.

I mean, you can’t beat that. I believe that this service truly is the perfect solution for every beginner to get a site as quickly and effortlessly as possible. What do you think? If you decide to take advantage of this service, don’t forget to leave a comment and let me know how it went.

This post How to get a new WordPress site launched within minutes – review was written by Catalin Zorzini and first appearedon Inspired Magazine.