Creating such category specific presentation on demand requires both PHP script manipulation within the WordPress Loop and some changes to the CSS stylesheet. In continuing with the series on dissecting magazine style themes, we will attempt three hacks that will allow you to do the following:

1. Create a featured post that is displayed at the very top of the page, followed by regular posts; all of which happens taking into consideration the pagination aspects of the site so as to not repeat the featured post on every paginated page.
2. Create a simple featured and non-featured posts distinction using minimal PHP hack, keeping it simple enough so as to not worry about pagination.
3. Create asides to highlight useful bits of information without hogging potentially critical presentation real-estate, or in other words, creating non-intrusive side posts without using a plugin.

Let’s face it, WordPress is not just a Blogging ware like some might want you to believe, when used correctly, the full potential of the worlds best CMS can power sites big and small alike. The recent trend among high content-high traffic sites are the switch to magazine styled (mostly paid premium) themes to aid in maximizing content exposure. Most all new magazine styled themes worth your time is premium or paid, yet it requires customization and effort from the user to ensure the layout and content stays homogeneous. Is you already run a well established site with custom theme design and need to add functionalities similar to magazine styled premium themes without switching or paying for a new theme, you are at the right place.

How are magazine themes different from regular themes?

Although structurally most themes have either 2 or 3 columns, the similarity ends there. Magazine styled themes are content centric and less bloggy, they offer a platform to easily manipulate data, simplify data access and presentation, and make navigation easy.

What are we attempting to do?

We will not attempt to (re)create a magazine styled theme out of your existing theme, however, we will dissect some magazine themes and learn all the aspects that you can easily add to improve your site’s features and enhance user experience. We will focus on the following three components of the theme.

• Content Presentation – Featured, non-featured, category and asides posts
• Sidebar – DOMtab and tabber JavaScript module
• Navigation – CSS and JavaScript menu

Some of this work will involve JavaScript usage/applications, not to fear, they are all relatively simple, free to download and use and easy to adopt into any theme.

When will the guide be available?

Over the next few days, we will present the “How To” guide in 3 (or more) parts, each focusing on one of the aforementioned components. So stay tuned.