There are some fun and pretty functions, add-ons, extras that I do like the look of, but when I’ve come to add these to this WordPress website and blog, I’ve stopped to consider just what you might want. And suggest you should do the same when you do your website and/or blog.
One particular toy is a Flash tag cloud, which takes tags that have been applied to each blog post – for this post, for instance, I’ve used the tags “WordPress”, “Design” and “non-essentials” – and puts them into a “cloud” that moves about and can be played with – with the tags that have been used more often having a stronger font/size. Adding Flash to this enables a pretty, gently moving cloud of the tabs, so:
[wp-cumulus]
Which is very lovely and fun, but… it’s going to take your attention away from what I’d like you to be reading, learning, knowing – which is, of course, what you want you are here to read, learn, know! Getting side-tracked by cool tools is not what you’re here for (well, not too much) and is wasting your valuable time. So I’ll stick with the simple tag listing (still called a cloud) that comes as a standard widget option – boring but it isn’t distracting you while still being useful!
Edit: another thing is that some of your readers/visitors may not be able to see your pretty things anyway. For instance, I cannot see this tag cloud, despite upgrading Flash and checking on other browsers than my favourite Firefox. So another good reason to keep it simple.
I should add that this plugin is WP-Cumulus and you can follow the developer Roy Tanck on Twitter.
I should add that this plugin is WP-Cumulus and you can follow the developer Roy Tanck on Twitter.
One thing I have learned, since using a Mac, is that sometimes things look wonderful on a PC but hideous on a Mac (or they can’t even be seen). It’s really important to check cross-platform compatibility, especially for something that is intended to be pretty!
One thing I have learned, since using a Mac, is that sometimes things look wonderful on a PC but hideous on a Mac (or they can’t even be seen). It’s really important to check cross-platform compatibility, especially for something that is intended to be pretty!
Absolutely, Morag. I’m researching some of the latest online cross-browser and platform test websites for the next blog…
Absolutely, Morag. I’m researching some of the latest online cross-browser and platform test websites for the next blog…
Oh, I like that! Yes, it might be a distraction but memorable too.
You’ll be wanting me to add the snow plugin next…