Danny Brown

podcaster - author - creator

12for12k challenge

Why the Headway Premium WordPress Theme Kicks Ass

When it comes to the Headway premium WordPress theme, there’s no question I’m incredibly biased about what it can do for bloggers.

I’ve written about it more than once on here, and I use it on the three sites I’ve created so far, with more to be shared soon. In fact, it’s the only product that I’ve fallen in love with so much that I’ve signed up as an affiliate. So yes, when it comes to premium WordPress themes, Headway stands head and shoulders above everything else (at least I think so).

Yet as much as I recommend the theme, it’s still only words (and obviously the design of this blog, the 12for12k site and Just Kickin’ It) that tell you some of the cool stuff Headway can do. Sure, I can say it’s easy to use and it really does make your life a hell of a lot easier when it comes to designing your blog/website. But words only tell half the story.

Which is why this video from David Wang is perfect. In less than ten minutes, he takes the standard Headway theme layout and transforms it into a great-looking business site. Sure, it’s just the home page and you still need to add all your other pages and posts. But as an example of just how quickly you can begin to build your blog/site, under ten minutes is pretty damn impressive! Have a look for yourself.

Now that you’ve seen how simple it is to make the Headway theme sing on WordPress, what else does it have in store for you? Currently version 1.6 is in beta, and I’ve been messing around with it behind closed doors. Some of the cool features include:

  • Live CSS editor. While the theme allows you to make a great website with absolutely no coding needed, it also allows you to get as down and dirty as you like with coding. The new live CSS box means you can drop CSS code in and see the changes take place right in front of your eyes – no saving and checking to see how it looks.
  • Skins and Templates. When Headway first hit the premium WordPress theme market, one of the things it promised was the option for skins. This is where you can upload a specially developed skin that changes the look of your blog completely (if you don’t want to design your look yourself). This is now live with Headway 1.6 and you can access them from within the dashboard or from dedicated theme stores.
  • Default Leaf set. Headway uses a system called Leafs, which is basically your content body and sidebars (albeit in a far cooler, interactive way). While you can use any mix of set-up for your blog, with a different sidebar on every page, Headway 1.6 allows the option of a standard leaf throughout your site. Perfect if you don’t want any extra work when designing your blog.
  • Automatic SEO slug clean-up. This is a great new feature that cleans up your search engine visibility by removing words like “the” and “and”, etc, that Google doesn’t really bother with. You can switch this on and off in the SEO area of Headway.

These are just some of the features that the guys behind the Headway theme will be bringing to you soon. The beta is almost ready to go live, and will be available as a free upgrade for existing users and available for purchase to new users imminently.

Watching the new features that developer Clay Griffiths puts out in each new update is almost like a game in betting on just what he won’t add in each new version – it’s that crazy how much he gives WordPress bloggers. And the support is second-to-none as well.

If you’re looking for a new premium WordPress theme, Headway delivers in spades. And as a special promotion, any purchases of the theme via this blog in March will see all affiliate earnings go to .

So, the best premium WordPress theme around and all Headway sales going to charity – what better time to upgrade your blog? Just click on the image to the right to get your copy.

  • Update: The Headway Developer License now allows you unlimited use of the theme with no need for additional license costs – a huge advantage over other premium themes.

Note: This blog no longer runs on the Headway framework. Instead, it’s a custom WordPress design by Lisa Kalandjian of SceneStealer Graphics.

Help 12for12k Support Hope for Haiti

This is a cross-post from 12for12k, following the humanitarian disaster currently happening in Haiti.

I don’t think I need to explain the human disaster that’s unfolding in Haiti. An earthquake of devastating proportions has ripped the heart out of the country, leaving a trail of death and destruction in its wake.

There are fears that there could be more than 100,000 fatalities and countless more injured and missing. This is the immediate impact. Long-term there is the threat of disease, illness, malnutrition, and much, much more. 12for12k is asking for your support to help the people of Haiti.

We are partnering with Hope for Haiti to raise much-needed donations to send to this humanitarian emergency. The immediate funds will go to helping the survivors with aid, shelter, food, medication and other essentials. Then there is the long-term need from there.

I know this is just after the holiday season. I know this is coming off the back of a year when people suffered financial strain. Yet we showed last year how much the 12for12k community cares, and the change we can make in whatever way we can. Please help us help Hope for Haiti and show our continued caring. You can use the donation widget below, which uses Paypal and goes directly to Hope for Haiti itself. $0.95 of every dollar goes to the humanitarian program needs.

Thank you, and let’s make whatever difference we can. And please, tweet this on Twitter, share on Facebook/display as your status, email folks to come here – we can really help together. You can also copy the embed code and display the widget on your own blog/site to spread awareness.

You can read Hope for Haiti’s press release about their aid program here. Additionally, you can follow their progress in Haiti via the Hope For Haiti Twitter account.

Headway WordPress Theme and 12for12k Partnership

Regular readers of this blog know I’m a huge fan of the Headway premium WordPress theme. I use it here on this blog and on 12for12k, and think it’s the best WordPress theme around and perfect for coders and non-coders alike.

The father and son combination of?Grant and?Clay Griffiths, along with Michael Martine, have put an awesome piece of kit together for WordPress users. With its visual editor as well as custom coding, Headway is ideal for blogs, websites, membership sites and a whole lot more.

Now the best WordPress theme just got even better.

Thanks to the kind guys over at Headway, all 12for12k supporters can save 25% when buying the Headway theme. All you have to do to receive the discount is one of the following:

Then, when you’re about to buy the Headway theme, contact me using the Headway option on my contact box for the special 12for12k discount code. Simple. And with 50% of all sales going to the current 12for12k charity on whatever month you buy, the 25% saving you make and free updates for life, what better time to get your hands on the awesome Headway WordPress theme?

My sincere thanks to the guys over at Headway for this amazingly kind partnership.

  • Disclaimer. I?ve been impressed with the Headway premium WordPress theme from the start and it?s the only theme I?ve ever set an affiliate account up with. If you?re thinking of buying it and do so via any of my links, 50% of the affiliation revenue will be donated to the current 12for12k charity on your behalf.

Note: This blog no longer runs on the Headway framework. Instead, it’s a custom WordPress design by Lisa Kalandjian of SceneStealer Graphics.

12 Days, 12 Ways to Help the Homeless

This is a cross-post from 12for12k.

Today sees the launch of the 12 Days of Christmas Homeless Push. As we’ve mentioned in the run-up, this isn’t about cash donations this month (although if you wish to donate money to your local homeless shelter or organization, please do).

Instead, 12for12k wants you to think of ways that you can physically help. To this end, and with the help of Mark Horvath and various homeless organizations, we’ve come up with these 12 suggestions for you. Themed around the 12 Days of Christmas, this is the 12for12k version – the 12 Days of Christmas Homeless Push.

It’s up to you which ones you choose, although obviously choosing all 12 will make the biggest impact. And whatever you decide to do, record it. Photographs, videos, blogs, social networks – your choice. Sharing can only make more people aware, and encourage more help – and that’s always a good thing. And 12for12k will share your stories on our community, so please consider joining if you haven’t already.

So… on with the 12 suggestions.

  1. Day 1. Contact your local homeless shelter(s) and ask what they need. Make a list and work from there.
  2. Day 2. Gather 10 friends each (family, friends, colleagues) in preparation for Helping Day.
  3. Day 3. Challenge these friends to a bake-off. Bake a bunch of homemade goodness – soup, stews, cookies, etc – ready for Helping Day.
  4. Day 4. Clean out your closet (especially your husband’s, 12for12k wives!), and pack up all the old clothes that you find. Coats, socks, underwear, shoes, jeans – anything and everything.
  5. Day 5. Go through your linen closet and think of what blankets, sleeping bags, duvets, etc, that you no longer need.
  6. Day 6. Check your pantry – do you really need all these tins of soup or canned stew? Collect and store.
  7. Day 7. Invite a homeless person for coffee. Go to a Starbucks or McDonald’s, buy a combo, sit and talk. Get to know the person behind the story.
  8. Day 8. Go grocery shopping. Find 2-for-1 deals and buy what you can afford. Save the second item for Helping Day.
  9. Day 9. Kids are homeless too. Collect all your childrens’ unwanted toys and box up. This includes books as well.
  10. Day 10. Go to your local fast food/coffee house and buy a bunch of gift cards ready for handing out.
  11. Day 11. This one’s an easy one – share with your networks what’s happening and get them involved.
  12. Day 12. This is Helping Day. Go to a shelter, take everything you and your friends/family have collected, and help. One hour; six hours; all day – it doesn’t matter. Help – serve food; give out packages; talk to people; befriend someone. Simply put – be human to another human being.

This isn’t an exhaustive list; it’s simply suggestions. Please, feel free to leave other suggestions in the comments, or join our community and let us know what you’re doing. And make sure you follow 12for12k on Twitter for all the latest updates on what everyone is doing.

Christmas is a time for giving; let’s give to those that need it the most. Thank you.