Story: JNews WP theme
I wrote a blog a few weeks ago.
How to Make a News/Magazine Website as Freelance Web/Graphic Designer
I decided to use the JNews WP theme for the project. Then, I chose the 2 demos which I want to use. I don’t know if I can install or use 2 demos for 1 project though. I have to search and test what I can do and cannot.
I installed the JNews WP theme. Now what? I don’t know what I need to do first. I know I can find a solution and I can develop the website in the end. The process is not so smooth. Especially when I use the WP theme for the first time.
My impression of JNews is not bad. I found 20+ templates for a news media website. If I want to improve the user interface, I can choose magazine templates which are also 20+ templates. JNews has a template that looks like a local news website. It is not visually stylish, but appropriate and functional.
Templates:
– News (default)
– Local News
There are so many plugs and I did not notice that JNews WP theme has some required plugins. I found information in the documentation.
– WPBakery Visual Composer
– Vafpress Post Formats UI
I checked System Status(under the JNews tab) and I found some alerts. I contacted to hosting server and they fixed them. You may face the same issue.
– WP Memory Limit: 128 MB
– PHP Time Limit: 3000
– PHP Max Input Vars: 2000
*After fixed
Whether we do big customization for the WordPress theme or not, I basically use the child theme.
A child theme allows you to change small aspects of your site’s appearance yet still preserve your theme’s look and functionality. To understand how child themes work it is first important to understand the relationship between parent and child themes. – Developer Resources by WordPress
I could not find the child theme on the downloaded JNews file. Where is it?
@WordPress Tutorials – WPLearningLab: Do You Need A WordPress Child Theme In 2020?
Video Documentation on JNews WP dashboard
There are some videos on the WP dashboard. If this is the first time to use the JNews WP theme, please take a look at all the videos. I could generally know where I can customize.
JNews Support
When you purchase the JNews WP theme, you get support for 6 months. It looks general forum page, but please create a thread when you need support.
JNews WP Theme on YouTube
©SERT Media – WordPress Tutorials: jNews Theme Review 2020 – jNews by Jegtheme – jNews WordPress Magazine & News Theme
©Jegtheme: How to Manage JNews Widget
©Jegtheme: How to Setup JNews Gallery
Opinion of JNews WP Theme as a freelance web/graphic designer
First of all, I made a coming soon page. I did not know whether I can hide the header, footer, and title as a setting. I could not find it. Therefore, I applied display: none to them. The top of the page, the gear icon, has a coding box. It applies only to the page, not globally. So, I could use CSS.
I used the local news demo as fundamental. Then, I tried to customize that looks like a default demo, for a header and single page. I could change the header. I had to test and test on the editing page, but whatever the demos you choose, you can customize it looks like other demos. You just need to logically organize the categories.
Overall, I spent 3 days how JNews works. If you are a web/graphic designer, you will be able to figure out how to use JNews WP Theme.
*Update: January 30, 2023
I received a request from a client. She asked me to split the long 1-page article. It sounds familiar. I looked for the function, page split, on the JNews WP theme. It has an element on a single post page, but I am not sure I can install it on the post template page.
*Update: January 30, 2023
I looked for how to apply a custom post template on the single post page. As I mention above, The lengths of articles are different and a client would like to apply page split on a specific article. My situation would be common for other projects. I found it.
Reference: Custom Post Template
*Update: February 12, 2023
I keep developing news media websites. I faced some issues below.
– Display the article based on published data, not the post-created data.
– Display/hide feature image
– Redirect
– Caption under feature image…
These issues are able to solve this theme. Just this theme has so many functions. I have to learn it.
Extra: common plugins
*Update: April 25, 2023
I got a client request to create a job board. It sounds quite common. I searched for the plugin on YouTube. There are a few options and I chose WP Job Manager. It little requires coding to hide the field. I don’t have much knowledge about PHP, but I could do it with tutorial.
*Update: April 25, 2023
I also installed a forum plugin even though the client did not request it. My contract is for 6 months and it is almost over. So, I proactively did it. I don’t have any design preference for the forum page. I simply install bbpress(an alternative is buddypress). Please find information on YouTube.
Google AdSense
I don’t know if all the news media are using AdSense, but I think this is common. I don’t say CPC ads are easy.
How to monetize news website
– Display traditional banner ads
– Participate in pay-per-click
– Publish paid articles and sponsored links
– Paid subscription or paywall
– Expert opinion and reputation
These are traditional monetization. I also think sponsored, job board, classified, buy sell(home, car, etc), community, etc. Fundamentally, a website needs a lot of traffic. An article has to provide value, not only daily incidents. So that, the media needs a contributor/writer. Creating a sustainable business for everyone is key.
Conclusion: Monetization
I was thinking about monetization and a website. Basically, all websites should be monetized. In this case, I consider that a portfolio is also included. Someone contacts you through a portfolio website for creating something. It is not efficient as a monetized website, but it is okay.
I don’t know how much news media ads help someone’s life (and the advertiser in the results). I don’t know the ROI actually. In 20 decades, the website has transformed rapidly, web 1.0, web 2.0, and web 3.0. A website needs to update each era and it is good for a web designer.
The ad business model has to be updated to the next level. Banner, CCP, paywall, subscription, content, event, sponsor, social media, community, job board, classified, shop, etc. Anything else?
