In addition to learning about privacy settings, filling out your profile – how and why you want to do this, how to access advanced options when creating posts and pages, how to insert custom characters and remove formatting, you’ll also learn a cool trick for creating an image gallery in a post or page easily and quickly – including adding captions and descriptions to each image.

Plus Benjamin will show you how to work with one of the best plugins every WordPress site should have – the Easy Theme and Plugin Upgrades Plugin.

WordPress 101 is a free video training series to help you learn – or review – the fundamentals of working with WordPress. Each week we cover a different topic. Check the WebDesign.com Events page to see the latest schedule of WordPress 101 webinars.

Here at iThemes we understand the hurdles that users face when trying to build their first website. It’s not easy to jump in to web design without knowing the ins-and-outs of what actually makes up a functioning website. That’s why we’re announcing our new series of “Basics” webinars.

These free webinars will be done on a regular, rotating schedule (Tuesdays at 11AM CDT) and will give users the basic building blocks they need to take themselves or their business on to the web. These will also be a great way for you to experience the awesome training that we provide at WebDesign.com before you purchase a membership. As I said, these will be on a rotating schedule, making it easy for you to point your clients, friends or family to the right class when they ask that inevitable question “How do I build a website?” Below you’ll find a list of the webinars in this series and a description detailing exactly what’ll be covered during the course.

Getting Started With Builder

Have you ever wondered how to get started using iThemes Builder? Well, this is the class for you. You’ll learn the basics from downloading and installing, all the way to putting together your first layout. Not to mention you’ll get some Q&A time with one of our awesome instructors! Join us for the next Getting Started with Builder class… Coming up soon!

WordPress 101

If you’re new to WordPress or simply thinking about making the switch from another CMS, this class is for you! Join us for our WordPress 101 series of webinars which will walk you step-by-step through the basics of WordPress. You’ll learn everything from installing the software to creating your first post. Sign up today!

Getting Started with BackupBuddy

Have you ever wondered how to get started using the BackupBuddy Plugin? If so, this class is for you! Join us as we show just how easy it is to get up and running with this awesome plugin that allows you to backup, restore, and migrate your WordPress site with ease!

How to Build a Website

This beginners-level webinar will walk you step-by-step through the process of getting your website up and running. You’ll learn everything from purchasing a domain name and hosting to how to quickly set up a site and get the ball rolling for your business online.

Signup for These Free Webinars

We’ll be posting the schedule for these new webinars on all of the iThemes brand sites, but here is our tentative schedule for the first round of webinars beginning in October:

• 11/1/11 — Getting Started with Builder
• 11/8/11 — WordPress 101
• 11/15/11 — Getting Started with BackupBuddy
• 11/22/11 — How to Build a Website

Our goal with these webinars is to provide a place for true beginners to start their journey into the world of web design!

This theme is perfect for creatives of all types and gives you a unique way to showcase your work to the world. Whether you’re a photographer, designer, or simply looking to make your site look amazing, Kepler is definitely worth a look!

Below is a video where I walk you through some of my favorite aspects of Kepler.

Also don’t forget to check out our FREE Kepler Webinar this Friday at 3PM CDT where I’ll be going through a deep-dive of all of the great features of our newest child theme. You can register for this free webinar by clicking here.

Kepler Webinar Registration: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/491706394

Kepler Demo Site: http://demos.ithemes.com/kepler/

Learn more about iThemes Builder.

(As always, before you upgrade, you should backup your entire site. The upgrade to WP 3.2 should go fine, but it’s better to be safe than sorry, right? BackupBuddy can give you that peace of mind. )

In WordPress 3.2, some of the enhancements to look for are:

• Speed Improvements – faster loading and it feels lighter.
• New Theme – Twenty Eleven – with several theme options to allow you to customize, new header images to choose from, 3 default layouts, and a background editor.
• New Requirements: PHP 5.2.4 and MySQL 5. Make sure your hosting company is up to date!
• User Interface Improvement – cleaner dashboard with more collapsability to give you more screen space
• Distraction Free Writing – letting you use a content-writing screen that eliminates all the distractions in the sidebar and menus. This let’s you focus on content, which, of course, is the most important thing anyway, right?
• Browse Happy – WordPress is promoting that people stop using Internet Explorer 6 because it is a very old browser. WP no longer supports IE6, but the Browse Happy interface makes it easy for people to upgrade to a later version of IE, or select a different browser.
• New links in Admin Dashboard – with lots of information about who worked on the upgrade (always nice to know who is contributing so many hours of their time to make this great for the rest of us) and Freedoms – a layman’s description of the WP licensing agreement.
• Enhanced Comment Moderation ability to save you time.
• More menu items on the admin bar, making it easier to make changes without jumping back and forth between tabs or screens.

Please remember to backup your site before you upgrade to WP 3.2. It’s a great “Best Practice” to add to your general business operating procedures.

Here at iThemes we’ve been providing WordPress related products and services since 2008, and we love to give back to the WordPress community that has given us so much over the last few years.

These video tutorials were made to give you a basic understanding of the WordPress platform and learn a little bit more about the ins-and-outs of the parts that make it such a powerful publishing platform.

We are releasing these videos 100% FREE to the community, and they are the first in a series of 101-type videos that we plan to release publicly over the next few months. Whether you’re new to WordPress or a seasoned veteran just wanting to see what’s new in 3.2 these videos should be a very useful tool for you!

Additionally, in the next couple of weeks, we’ll be releasing unbranded versions of these to our WordPress Web Designer’s Toolkit customers for free to use in their businesses to save time and energy in order to help educate their clients.

IN THIS VIDEO: iThemes storyteller Ryan shows you widget basics using PluginBuddy’s Video Showcase plugin and WordPress 3.0′s Custom Menu widget.

Widgets are an integral part of your WordPress site.

With widgets, you can quickly and easily change the content and layout of your site without knowing code.

As the end of the year approaches, I wanted to remind you that the end of the Builder Birthday Blowout Sale is also approaching. Just until midnight central time on December 31, 2010, you can save almost 40% when you add the unlimited site license for Builder – which includes all the child themes as well – to your iThemes membership.

Not a member? Not a problem. As soon as you purchase Builder, your membership account will be set up and you will receive access to all the downloads, including any and all updates and support needs for the next year.

If you are an entrepreneur, this is the PERFECT TIME to get some last minute expenses covered in the 2010 tax year.

Not sure how Builder works or how it can make setting up your site easier, faster, and more flexible?

Sign up for the Free LIVE Builder Basics Workshop offered by WebDesign.com with Benjamin Bradley, the Prof.
The class is Wed., December 29th at 11am Central Time.

Reserve your seat today here ==> https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/454684083

In the meantime, here’s a past recording of the iThemes Builder Basics course.

Ready to take advantage of all the features Builder has to offer?
The Builder Birthday Blowout Sale continues only until midnight central time on December 31, 2010.
Get your unlimited license for only $79!

What’s New at iThemes:

• WebDesign.Com Events: Another full month of training ended with a premium course on Gravity Forms “Cracking the Gravity Code”. Members can access all of recordings in the university area. August will have another full calender of events. Check it out and sign up here: http://webdesign.com/events/

• Video Spoof Commercial: A take on the Old Spice commercial, iThemes presents “Builder: The Theme Your Theme Could Be Like”

• Builder Blocks: The newest innovation for Builder. Builder Blocks is “a solution that…offers a set of content options that a niche side would need or want” – Chris Jean. First one releasing is Restaurant Block - a Builder Block for restaurants to easily manage menus items, courses, allergies, etc. This block comes with a Builder Child Theme called “Entree”. Watch the video for a live demonstration of this new feature.

• All-Access Pass: Members of All-Access Pass will receive the new Builder Blocks and Child Themes automatically

• EmailBuddy: Dustin is still working very hard and the release is VERY SOON!

Join us every Tuesday at http://ithemes.tv at 11am CST for live news, chat, and an entertainment break from your work day

iThemes Updates:

• WordCamp Boulder – The crew returned from their first iThemes roadtrip to WordCamp Boulder. They have several stories to share about their experience!

• The RV Trip – For WordCamp Boulder, some of the gang hit the road in an RV, including friend and author Lisa Sabin-Wilson. Visit their official roadtrips site to see all the videos and pics.

• Interview with Lisa Sabin-Wilson - She stuck around one more day before heading home to join them on iThemes.tv! She was also a sport to do a “live interview” on the show about her books, the publishing process, and keeping up with WordPress development.

Short show today and everyone was pretty tired…but next week will be back in full swing with some big announcements!

Join us every Tuesday at 11am CST on http://ithemes.tv

What’s New at iThemes?

• Farewell James: Bittersweet news as our VP and friend, James Dalman, will be leaving the company. His official last day in the office was the day of the show! So you, ladies and gentlemen, get to see him live one last time.   “This parting is very amicable and you should expect him to be involved in the community as much as he can in his new endeavors.” – Cory Miller.   We wish James the best and will definitely miss him around the office! Good luck, James!

• WD News: In light of James’ departure, we will be welcoming Benjamin Bradley, “The Professor”, full-time to the WD brand. Also, all of his James’ previously scheduled webinars WILL be completed as they are listed on the calendar.

• Theme Updates: As you have likely heard….WP 3.0 has been released and it has some pretty cool new features. Builder and Flexx are the first to have the new Menus integration and we are adding support on our other 80+ themes asap. Also, you Essence fans will be seeing some love on this classic theme. Chris is excited to get working on some updates to Essence as it is not only our oldest theme, but remains a customer favorite.

• Flexx-Shopp Integration: If you’ve tuned in lately, you know we’ve been working with the boys at Shopplugin.net on some theme-plugin goodness.   “All you have to do to use Shopp with Flexx is activate both the plugin and the theme. All of the Shopp template files are now built in to Flexx.” -Matt.   These are NOT included with one another. You will still need to purchase a license of Flexx and a license of Shopp. Not using Shopp? You will see no difference in your theme. Flexx will still be the same ole Flexx. You can also read Shopp’s post on the integration here

• Mobile Plugin 3.0: Our Mobile Plugin now supports 3.0 menus. Download the latest version in your Member Panel.

• Site of the Week: BabyProductsNewZealand.com – Using Builder Child Theme-”Dark”.  Awesome example of how much customization you can do with the Builder Style Manager! Take a look at all the Builder Child Themes. Great site!

• Road Trip: The iThemes geeks are taking an RV trip up to WordCamp Boulder, July 9th-12th. Expect live blogging, twit pics, and *hopefully* some live video from the road. If you live en route to Boulder, let us know! Willing to stop for coffee. Keep up with the trip from the official Road Trip website.

• New Plugin: COMING SOON! “Email Buddy” – not a whole lot of details yet because Dustin was unavailable for the show…but basically it’s going to be awesome. Read some of Cory’s past posts on the power of Email: “Using Email Newsletters…” and “Enduring Value of a Good Email List“

Join us every Tuesday at 11:00am CST on http://ithemes.tv for the live show and chat