Do you like to style content on your WordPress blog and make it look real pretty? Are you NOT a whiz with css? Then, here are some quick and easy shortcode solutions for you!
Shortcodes are, imho, one of the best things to happen to WordPress. They allow you to do all kinds of cool things on your blog with just a few mouse clicks; like create beautiful buttons, boxes, columns and tabs. Today, I’d like to share 3 of my favorite shortcode plugins to do just that, and then some… check out #3 on the list; it’s awesome!
#1 – J-Shortcodes
J-Shortcodes is one of the simplest plugins available for buttons, tabs and the like.
- Uses pure CSS to achieve effects like hover and active states for buttons
- A real lightweight when it comes to page load times
- Combine and nest the shortcodes to create truly unique WordPress layouts.
Speaking of layouts, have you ever struggled to get your post content “just so” in nicely arranged columns or boxes? Fret no more. The J-Columns and J-Boxes shortcodes enable you to create custom layouts in your posts, pages and widgets. You can use them in divs, tables, lists… just about anywhere.
Have a lot of good content that needs to be squeezed in?
The variations of the J-Tabs shortcodes – 5 themes and 5 sizes – allow for 25 unique looks. And, yup, you can nest other shortcodes in there too!
J-Shortcodes is available for download from the WordPress repository here: http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/j-shortcodes/
Full specs are also available here: http://www.jshortcodes.com/
#2 – TheTheFly Shortcodes for tabs and accordions
TheTheFly (weird name, I know) has some fully customizable shortcodes for WordPress tabs, as well as both vertical and horizontal accordions. The output of these shortcodes also inherits the styles of your current WordPress theme, so no futzing around required.
Customization is accomplished with a whole slew of parameters you can define in the shortcode:
- Title
- Speed
- Style
- Collapsible
- Animated
- Autoheight
- Autoplay
- Pauseonhover
- …and many more
TheTheFly Shortcodes is available for download from the WordPress repository here: http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/thethe-tabs-and-accordions/
Full specs here: http://thethefly.com/wp-plugins/thethe-tabs-and-accordions/
#3 – Shortcodes Ultimate… for just about everything!
The Shortcodes Ultimate plugin deserves its name. Pretty much anything can be accomplished with this WordPress plugin. All shortcodes and custom parameters can be defined in a modal window that pops up when you click the “Add shortcode” icon available above your post editor.
- Buttons
- Tabs
- Spoilers
- Accordions
- Image frames
- Quotes and pullquotes
- Labels
- Boxes
- Members-only content (really!)
- Lists
- Columns
- Tables
- Google maps
- Google docs
- Image sliders, carousels and galleries
- …and more still
The Shortcodes Ultimate plugin also has an easy-to-use admin panel where you can load only the scripts you actually use. Custom CSS can be added too.
Here’s a video demo for using the Shortcodes Ultimate plugin:
Shortcodes Ultimate shortcodes plugin is available for download from the WordPress repository here: http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/shortcodes-ultimate/
Photo credit: Plugs from Flickr.com
I love using Shortcodes Ultimate but I highly recommend you to add this plugin to the list – it’s developed by Orman Clark http://www.themezilla.com/plugins/zillashortcodes/
Thanks for adding that! The more options folks have, the greater the likelihood that one will fit the bill.
Thanks for that Patrick. I do like to use shortcodes when possible, as it just adds that extra pazzing to your pages.
Of course, there is also the danger that users will get the ‘new designer syndrome’ and be so busy creating flashy and cool effects that they forget that it is more about using these tools to give the reader a better experience (not about making the writer look clever).
I fully agree that there is a risk of developing the “syndrome”. So, just to get you in the loop, this is the first of a short series of posts on some shortcode plugins I find quite useful. The coming articles will go into more detail about custom functionality that can built with some of them, and how to do it. Stay tuned to my author page if you want more. :-)
Awesome article, thanks! :)
@Tim
Glad ya liked it, and I hope it can be useful!
Thanks for that, I always like hearing about new plugins. I use Shortcodes Ultimate, it’s too easy and has quite a few options!
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/shortcodes-ultimate/
Looking forward to the next few posts :)
I agree, it is a very easy plugin to use. Next posts are coming soon (been away for the weekend). Stay tuned…