Today I want to talk about how to create a project gallery using the WP Gallery Custom Links plugin, and why you should use galleries.
Many of us have some type of navigation system, typically situated at the top of our blogs in the form of tabs, or pages, etc.
There are also Archives, or Categories, or Search Functions, which are usually found in the sidebar. These are all fantastic tools to help your reader find what they are looking for.
A Project Gallery is simply another way to organize and promote your work, and is used for many of the same reasons as Archives, etc.
So why should you have a Project Gallery?
- Your best posts aren’t lost forever. You put a lot of work into them, why should they have only 15 minutes of fame?
- It gives readers a convenient visual tool, and people respond better to visual prompts.
- It keeps you organized.
- It’s not just for home projects or recipes. I also use it to organize Blogging Tips, Photoshop Tips, Word Art, and Photo Art.
- If done right, it adds a feeling of professionalism to a blog.
My blog is set up using the Genesis Framework and the Lifestyle Child Theme.
In a series of posts, I’m going to share how I created a Project Gallery (with drop-down capabilities) in WordPress using the WP Gallery Custom Links plugin. I am not a technical guru or an expert in WordPress, or the WP Gallery Custom Links plugin. This is based solely on my experience. Please take that under consideration before doing anything drastic to your blog!! Oh, and make sure to back up your blog before installing any new plugins!!
This is an example of what you can do with this plugin. You can put a Project Gallery anywhere (well, almost anywhere).
My Arizona Holiday (click on an image to be taken to that post)
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- Doors of the Barrio Viejo
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- There’s a New App in Town
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- Doors of Tucson
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- Butterfly Wonderland
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- 10 Things I Love about Arizona
So that concludes Day 1 of my series on Creating a Project Gallery.
Please come back on Wednesday, where I’ll go over my thoughts on InLinkz vs. this plugin. At the moment I’m using both systems, but I’m slowly drawing away from InLinkz and I’ll tell you why. BTW, I think InLinkz is a fantastic tool, I’m just ready to move on.
In the meantime, back up your blog!!!! I can’t stress that enough. It’s just good practice.
i back mine up about once a month. :)
What a great idea! Thank you. :)
You read my mind. I have been thinking of this but with Blogger I think InLinkz is my only option. I love a visual guide. Blessings.
I’m not on WordPress but I am curious: How do you backup a blog?
Hi Dotti,
I used to be on blogger but I kind of forget how to do it, but I took a look and I think it’s:
Settings > Other > Export Blog >Download Blog (the other options are Import and Delete, which of course you DON’T want to do!!)
Save the file in a safe place.
That’s a pretty cool idea. It looks (and reminds me that I have to get it back) of the portfolio I used to have online. But when I switched templates… you can imagine the rest. I think at one point I also got a framework, but then life got the better of me meaning – no time and I got this template, which I am fairly happy with (it could be a little faster ;)