I’m short on time today as I have some designing that needs to be done, however, there are a few links I just have to share with you before I get back to work!

• Perfectionism hurts! Freelance Folder asks - Building a Perfect Website? Are You Too Perfectionist?
• WordPress isn’t just for blogging anymore! Here are 48 Unique Ways to Use WordPress.
• BloggerTalks has a fabulous interview with WordPress maven, Lorelle (who I am eternally grateful to anyhow)
• Just Make Money Online is talking about Monetizing Domain Names - interesting.
• Working from home? Then you need to make sure you are not making these Eight Deadly Mistakes that will Completely Ruin your Dream of Business Success!

And, rumor has it that Liz and team have some pretty cool sponsors falling into place for the blogging conference event of the year, SOBCon - May 2-4, 2008 in Chicago. Go check it out and by doing so, you can help me win the contest and go to SOBCon for free.

The power of the WordPress platform absolutely amazes me! I recently finished a project for a design company called TwistnShout which completely stretched everything I knew WordPress could do and then some.

TwistnShout main page with area to highlight recent projects.

The portfolio pages have a different sidebar file for each category which allows for the groups of thumbnails to change and be used for navigation.

The basic look of the site was given to me by the owner of the company, who is an amazing print designer. Amy knew the look she wanted, but she wanted a site that she could maintain on her own in the future. Based on her desire to make future modifications on her own, I knew WordPress would be the platform of choice. We hired Brian Gardner to create the site’s basic structure in the form of a custom theme that used multiple template pages and did not contain the comment features, and other typical blog elements.

Once Brian coded the basic structure, I was able to add the content, tweak the design and challenge myself even more.

Each primary section of content - the copy that Amy will most likely change from time to time - was created using a WordPress page or subpage. The side bar (right and left) content was hard coded in using individual theme files.

Amy wanted the testimonial quotes in the who we are section to change depending on which team member’s bio you were reviewing. She also wanted different navigation for each project type in her portfolio. This took some creative thinking, but I was able to achieve this level of customization through the use of detailed theme files. Each main navigation item already had a unique template that called the correct left navigation, center content and right sidebar. I just took it a step further by creating sublevel template and theme pages.

The development of the TwistnShout site was truly a team effort. Amy knew what she wanted and was willing to let Brian and I challenge the WordPress platform to create a scalable, professional looking portfolio site for her company.

I have lost count of the number of people who have asked, “Is that really WordPress?” To which I have been able to reply, yes it is!

Ever get stumped for blog post ideas? Randa Clay and I were recently discussing ideas for a group writing project. Liz Strauss’ Blogging Metaphor Project and Brian Clark’s recent Cosmo Headlines idea on Copyblogger project for coming up with blog topics were great inspirations. We decided that the great advertising slogans would also be great inspiration for blog posts! So, we would like to introduce the Ad Lib Group Writing Project!

Here’s the deal: you write a blog post inspired by a great ad slogan and then send the permalink either to Randa or me (cpolanosky [at] gmail [dot] com). The deadline for submissions is Wednesday, March 12th. To sweeten the deal, Randa and I will each choose an entry that strikes us as the most creative or best application of the slogan and reward the author with their choice of either a $20 Amazon or iTunes gift certificate. (yes, that means there will be two winners)

Here are a few great ad slogans to get you started:

1. A diamond is forever (De Beers, 1950)
2. Just do it (Nike, 1988)
3. The pause that refreshes (Coca-Cola, 1929)
4. Tastes great, less filling (Miller Lite)
5. We try harder (Avis, 1962)
6. Good to the last drop (Maxwell House, 1915)
7. Breakfast of champions (Wheaties)
8. Does she … or doesn’t she? (Clairol, 1964)
9. When it rains it pours (Morton Salt, 1911)
10. Where’s the beef? (Wendy’s, 1984)

If none of those strike you, feel free to use one of your own favorites or pick one from a larger list at Wikiquote.

We will reveal the winners, compile the full list of entries, and post them on our sites for everyone to enjoy after March 12!