When I design websites and blogs, I always use the Genesis Framework for WordPress. You can read more about what Genesis is and why I love it in this post, but basically it’s a very solid framework (Parent Theme) for WordPress. One of the things I love most about Genesis is that it’s fun for coders and non-coders alike. You can code your heart out and follow detailed tutorials to create your dream site with Genesis, or you can simply install a few plugins and still create a very beautiful site. You know I love a good coding challenge, but not everyone has time to learn to code. Maybe you’re busy focusing on your content and vision for your blog/biz. You shouldn’t have to spend late nights tweaking your site if you don’t have time. If that’s the case, feast your eyes upon the following Genesis plugins!
1. Genesis Simple Edits – This plugin allows you to customize the entry meta (header and footer) of your blog posts, as well as add text and HTML to your site footer. You can choose from several different shortcodes to tell Genesis how you want your blog posts and footer set up.
2. Genesis Simple Hooks – Going one step further, Genesis Simple Hooks lets you insert code straight into any area of your layout by “hooking” it into a specific area. I love this option because going into the actual backend of your site can get really risky. With Genesis Simple Hooks, you can customize basically everything without worrying that you might mess up the structure of the theme.
3. Genesis Responsive Slider – Need a simple slider for your blog? This is an excellent option because it’s simple to set up, it’s free, and it’s automatically mobile responsive.
4. Genesis Title Toggle – I use this little plugin on every single website I create! It allows you to show or hide titles for specific pages. The title toggle option appears right on your page editor, so no coding is necessary.
5. Genesis Sandbox Featured Content – Okay, I love this plugin so much. I’ve used it on so many different websites and I’m always amazed by the possibilities. It lets you place your feed in areas of your website other than just the “blog” page. Sometimes I use it to display popular posts in sidebars and other times I use it for more complex designs like this blog grid with hover effects. Sridhar Katakam, who I mentioned in this post, has a lot of fancy tutorials for this plugin.
6. Genesis Grid – Ever wonder how to put your blog posts into a neat grid of images? This plugin is your best friend. You can create a grid with plugin #5 as well, but this one makes it pretty code-free.
7. Simple Social Icons – I use Font Awesome icons on most websites I design, but I think Simple Social Icons is another handy option, especially if you don’t have time to do any coding. You can very easily change the colors, hover effects, and shapes with this plugin.
8. Simple Share Icons – Along the same lines, Genesis offers an easy way to customize your share icons too. I always go with the Jetpack sharing buttons (which you can learn how to customize here) but again, if you don’t want to code, Simple Share Icons is the way to go.
9. Genesis Simple Sidebars – This plugin lets you customize your sidebar based on the page, post, or category! I haven’t used it much, but what a great way to create a unique user experience.
10. Genesis Design Palette Pro – If you want way more control over your website design and don’t want to code much or hire a developer, this plugin is for you! It isn’t free but it’s so dang cool. Genesis Design Palette Pro let’s you quickly customize the nitty gritty details of your site without losing your mind. Learn more about it here.
Well, there you have it! These are just some of the wonders of the Genesis Framework. If you’ve tried out any other plugins for Genesis that aren’t listed above, definitely share them in the comments.
And as always, if you ever need Genesis customizations or a blog/website revamp, visit my design studio Earl Grey Creative and send on over an email! I’d love to help. :)