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Author: Deanna McLean

  • How to Choose Your WordPress Hosting in 2023 (Complete Guide)

    When choosing a WordPress hosting provider, there are many things to consider, including speed, security, support, pricing, and hosting type. Your needs will vary depending on your business type, so it’s important to understand the differences. In this post, we’ll walk you through the steps to take in making your decision, the options available, and our recommendations for hosting partners based on type.

    Let’s dive in.

    What is WordPress Hosting?

    What is WordPress hosting

    WordPress hosting is a type of hosting that specializes in the WordPress content management system (CMS). It typically provides the server setup and resources required to run WordPress efficiently. The best WordPress hosting companies offer features such as automatic updates, excellent security, and optimized performance. WordPress hosts provide either cPanel or a proprietary admin dashboard to make managing websites and their settings user-friendly and intuitive. There are several types, including shared, managed, VPS, cloud, and others, which we’ll explore later in this post.

    Factors to Consider When Choosing WordPress Hosting

    When in the market for a WordPress host, there are a few things you need to consider, including how fast your site will load, the security measure in place, how easy it is to scale, the level of support you can expect, the learning curve, and most importantly, how much it will cost you. Let’s look at what you should think about when purchasing a new WordPress hosting plan.

    Speed and Performance

    In short, a fast website keeps your customers and Google happy. With much of Google’s core web vitals focused on performance, choosing a hosting provider that prioritizes speed is essential. Look for hosts that offer features such as object caching, a free CDN, support for the latest versions of MySQL and PHP, and other speed-boosting features that will help your site rank higher in the search engine ranking pages (SERPs).

    Security Features

    When researching hosting partners, ensure that they offer things like free SSL certificates, web application firewalls (WAF), malware scanning, distributed denial of service (DDoS) protection, and the ability to back up and restore your site. Having good security measures in place keeps your website safe from nefarious actors, such as hackers, that would love nothing more than to gain control of your website.

    Scalability

    When choosing a hosting partner, consider the big picture rather than where you are right now. While your business is new, selecting the cheapest hosting provider you can find might be tempting, but it’s important to plan for future growth by ensuring your WordPress site is scalable. Choose a host that can easily alter your plan as your business grows. That way, you’ll avoid costly downtime or potential issues when transferring your site to another host.

    Ease of Use

    Whether you’re new to WordPress or a seasoned professional, finding a host with an intuitive dashboard is important. Most WordPress hosts offer cPanel or something similar to navigate the server’s settings. For example, SiteGround uses a proprietary Site Tools dashboard that allows you to access the file manager, manage FTP accounts, access MySQL and phpMyAdmin, and more. Regardless of the host you choose, research how you’ll manage your server’s settings to ensure you can navigate server-related tasks easily.

    Customer Support

    Server-related issues are one of the most frustrating aspects of being a site owner. When looking for your next hosting provider, evaluate the type of support they have. Pick hosts that offer round-the-clock assistance because you never know what time of day your site will experience a problem. Also, look for multiple ways to contact the host, whether live chat, phone, email, or a combination of all three. Good customer support can provide peace of mind knowing that help is there when needed.

    Pricing

    When researching hosting companies, weigh the features they provide and compare them with the cost. Ultimately, you want to find a hosting provider that balances features and value for your budget. This way, you can ensure you’re getting the most bang for your buck and making a wise investment for the future of your WordPress website.

    What Types of WordPress Hosting Are There?

    There are several different types of WordPress hosting, each with its features and benefits. The most common types are shared, managed, dedicated, VPS, cloud, and reseller hosting. We’ll explain each type and who they are best suited for.

    Shared WordPress Hosting

    The most affordable option for WordPress hosting is shared. Its name is based on the idea of a shared server that is divided into sections, then distributed amongst multiple clients. In addition to sharing server space, those with shared hosting also divide up server resources, such as ram, bandwidth, and disk space, which can result in less-than-stellar performance. One benefit of shared hosting is the ability to take a more hands-off approach. As a shared hosting customer, you won’t have to worry about maintaining the server’s security or updates. The downside is that shared hosting is slower, making it suited for those who have small informational websites or blogs.

    Managed WordPress Hosting

    For those looking for a more hands-off approach, managed WordPress hosting is an excellent solution. While all hosting types can be managed or unmanaged, a managed hosting provider handles all the heavy lifting, such as server security patches, maintenance, and updates. They also implement specialized server settings to enhance your WordPress website’s speed and performance.

    Managed hosting is great for site owners who want the best for their sites but lack the time or expertise to maintain them personally. However, there is a trade-off with managed hosting: the freedom to choose plugins may be limited, as managed providers often have a list of disallowed plugins. That said, these restrictions are usually in place because the host offers settings to control caching, image compression, and other performance-enhancing features.

    Dedicated WordPress Hosting

    This type of WordPress hosting is designed for larger sites, big web agencies, or freelancers who want a server they plan to maintain themselves. Dedicated hosting allows you to lease an entire server with dedicated resources exclusively for your websites. The main benefit of it is not having to share your server’s resources with other clients. You’ll generally get the highest-performing server with excellent security features. Still, you’ll be responsible for troubleshooting any errors that arise. We should also note that dedicated hosting is much more expensive than other types, such as shared, VPS, or managed.

    VPS WordPress Hosting

    VPS hosting is similar to shared hosting in that you share a server with other customers. That said, there are quite a few differences. With VPS, you share physical hardware with others but have your own resources, such as RAM, storage, and bandwidth. This gives you a server environment that functions more like a dedicated server. Because of this, you benefit from a private server without the added cost of dedicated hosting.

    Cloud WordPress Hosting

    With cloud hosting, multiple servers are utilized to distribute resources, resulting in much faster delivery of your site’s content to visitors. Because of this unique setup, websites hosted in the cloud have access to almost unlimited resources offering faster speeds, a platform that is easily scalable, and superior reliability than other hosting types. Cloud hosting providers often provide excellent uptime thanks to automatic failover protection, which allows your site’s files to be quickly swapped to a different server in case of a hardware failure.

    Reseller WordPress Hosting

    The last type of WordPress hosting is reseller hosting. Similar to dedicated hosting, reseller hosting allows you to lease an entire server (or a portion of one), then rent it out in pieces to your clients. You can usually white-label WordPress so it appears as a customized hosting plan offered by your company, rather than the company you purchase from. Additionally, it’s not uncommon for a managed hosting provider to offer reseller hosting, reducing the time you’ll need to spend maintaining client websites.

    WordPress Hosting Recommendations

    We realize that choosing a WordPress hosting provider can be a huge undertaking. That said, now that your brain is full of WordPress hosting knowledge, we have compiled an excellent option for each type of hosting. Whether you’re content with a shared budget option or a more robust dedicated solution, these hosting providers are at the top of their game.

    Best Managed WordPress Hosting: SiteGround

    best managed WordPress hosting

    SiteGround is widely known as being the best managed WordPress hosting provider you can get. With all of their features, it’s easy to see why. You’ll get a huge speed bump thanks to a cloud-based infrastructure, free website migrations, an SSL certificate, CDN, email, WP-CLI, SSH, and FTP access, excellent caching capabilities through the SG Optimizer plugin, and more.

    Key Features of SiteGround:

    • 10 GB storage
    • Free SSL, CDN, email, backups, and migration
    • 10,000 monthly visits
    • Unmetered traffic

    As previously mentioned, the site tools dashboard is packed full of features for managing your hosting plan. You can easily monitor your site’s traffic statistics, bandwidth, and disk space, access security features such as backups, SSL certificates, and a site scanner, make speed enhancements through caching and Cloudflare CDN, and more.

    Best For:

    SiteGround is an excellent choice for those looking for a stellar managed WordPress host. Customer support is stellar, the site tools dashboard is feature-rich, and the Google Cloud backbone provides lightning-fast speeds.

    If you’d like to learn more about SiteGround, check out our comprehensive review.

    Pricing: $14.95 per month.

    Get SiteGround

    Best Shared WordPress Hosting: Bluehost

    Bluehost best shared wordpress hosting

    If you are most concerned with finding a good budget hosting provider, then check out Bluehost. As one of the three hosting providers recommended by WordPress, Bluehost has plenty of bang for your buck. Even their most basic plan comes standard with freebies like a domain for one year, an SSL, CDN, and at least 10 GB of solid state drive (SSD) storage.

    Key Features of Bluehost:

    • Free domain for 1 year
    • 10GB SSD storage
    • Free CDN and SSL
    • Unmetered bandwidth
    • Free WordPress themes

    One of the best things about Bluehost is the dashboard. All tools are clearly marked, so they are easy to find. Additionally, there are a few attractive features for new business owners, such as free email accounts, marketing tools, and plenty of add-ons to upgrade your plan should the need arise.

    Best For:

    While Bluehost is a good budget host, there are some drawbacks. You must sign up for a one-year plan to take advantage of that low price. If you already have a website, you’ll need to migrate it yourself or employ Bluehost to do it for you. If that isn’t a dealbreaker for you, Bluehost might be a good fit.

    If you’d like to learn more about Bluehost, read our in-depth review.

    Pricing: $35.40 for one year of hosting.

    Get Bluehost

    Best Dedicated WordPress Hosting: DreamHost

    DreamHost dedicated hosting

    When considering dedicated WordPress hosting, you’ll find an excellent solution with DreamHost. You have the freedom to choose each aspect of your server, from the hard drive, down to what type of CPU you want. DreamHost offers a 100% uptime guarantee, excellent technical support, and the ability to configure your server however you’d like.

    Key Features of DreamHost:

    • DDoS protection
    • Reseller hosting available
    • 100% uptime guarantee
    • At least 1 TB of storage

    The best feature of DreamHost is the ability to set up your server by specifying how many CPU cores, storage, and memory you need, giving you the ultimate freedom to build a plan that meets your specific needs. All plans have a free dedicated IP address, full root and shell access (SSH), DDoS protection, and 24/7/365 expert-level support.

    Best For:

    Developers or tech-savvy business owners will love DreamHost for their affordable, dedicated hosting plans. You can white-label WordPress if you want to sell off pieces of your server to start a web hosting business and have a lightning-fast environment that ensures your websites will be fast, reliable, and make money in no time.

    Pricing: $149 per month (billed annually), or $169 per month without contract requirements.

    Get DreamHost

    Best VPS WordPress Hosting: Hostinger

    Hostinger WordPress VPS hosting

    We rated DreamHost as our top pick for VPS hosting, but Hostinger is a strong second because of its unbelievably low pricing and features. Plans start at an incredible $8.99 per month and come standard with at least 2 GB of RAM, 40 GB of SSD storage, and 2 TB of bandwidth, giving you plenty of bang for your buck.

    Key Features of Hostinger:

    • Dedicated IP address
    • Weekly backups
    • AI-powered firewall
    • Choose from CentOS, Ubuntu, or Debian OS

    With every VPS plan, you’ll get excellent features like weekly backups, a strong 100mb/s network, IP4V & IPV6 support, and a dedicated IP address. They also offer an AI-powered firewall that constantly scans network traffic to instantly identify and block any shenanigans. Additionally, a nice snapshot feature can be used to restore your site to a specific point should disaster strike. Besides those maintenance features, you’re on your own, so keep that in mind if you partner with Hostinger.

    Best For:

    Like a dedicated hosting plan, Hostinger VPS plans require at least some server maintenance knowledge because you’ll be responsible for important updates and security patches. Because of this, Hostinger is ideally suited for developers or site owners who know their way around a WordPress server and aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty. If you get in a pinch, their customer support can happily solve any issue.

    Pricing: $8.99 per month.

    Get Hostinger

    Best Cloud WordPress Hosting: Pressable

    best WordPress cloud hosting

    Pressable is an excellent option for cloud WordPress hosting, thanks to a simple interface and features such as automatic WordPress and plugin updates, free migrations, and staging. Pressable’s most notable feature is its blazing-fast cloud infrastructure, perfectly optimized for WordPress. This should be no surprise because Pressable was created by the same folks who made WordPress – Automattic.

    Key Features of Pressable:

    • Expert level support
    • Automatic failover system
    • 20 GB storage
    • 30,000 monthly visitors

    Another notable feature of Pressable is its advanced security features, which include staples such as automatic malware scanning and removal, DDoS attack protection, a proprietary firewall, and an automatic failover system. With features like this, you can rest assured your site is safe and sound.

    Best For:

    Pressable cloud hosting is the perfect solution for balancing speed, support, and features. You’ll get a lightning-fast website with superior security features at an attractive price. Plus, there’s room for growth. Should you need to update your plan, you can easily do so with Pressable’s one-click plan upgrade feature that allocates more resources without downtime.

    Do you want to learn more about Pressable? Check out our hands-on overview.

    Pricing: $25 per month.

    Get Pressable

    Best Reseller WordPress Hosting: LiquidWeb

    best wordpress reseller hosting - liquidweb

    LiquidWeb is one of the best options for reseller hosting providers. However, they offer a unique approach compared to other reseller hosting providers. With LiquidWeb, you must first sign up for a hosting plan, then apply to be a part of their reseller program. Don’t let that deter you, though, as it’s been our experience that process takes little time.

    Key Features of LiquidWeb:

    • Choose between VPS and dedicated hosting plans
    • 250 GB of Acronis backups
    • Automate customer billing
    • Unlimited websites

    Perhaps the most useful feature of LiquidWeb’s reseller program is the WHMCS license that allows you to create custom hosting packages, services, and add-ons that you can brand, then sell to your customers. Additionally, a built-in invoicing system allows you to easily keep up with client invoices, payments, and renewals.

    Best For:

    LiquidWeb offers affordable solutions for reseller hosting plans, so it appeals to a large demographic. Whether you’re a small business owner, web agency, or freelancer looking to build a lucrative side hustle, LiquidWeb is an excellent choice for any budget.

    Pricing: $99 per month.

    Get LiquidWeb

    Final Thoughts on Choosing the Right WordPress Hosting

    Finding the best WordPress hosting platform for your business doesn’t have to be scary. Sure, there are many options out there, but when armed with the right information, you can make an informed decision about what’s best for your specific situation. In this post, we’ve given you all the tools you need to make a confident decision. If you’re still on the fence, opt for an excellent host such as SiteGround. You’ll likely find what you need with their shared, managed, cloud, and reseller offerings.

    Now that you’re up to speed on how to choose a WordPress host, you can start shopping for one. Check out some of our hosting reviews to research the best provider to use in WordPress:

    Featured Image via ranjith ravindran / Shutterstock.com

    The post How to Choose Your WordPress Hosting in 2023 (Complete Guide) appeared first on Elegant Themes Blog.

  • How to Host Your WordPress Website Locally in 2023 (Tutorial)

    WordPress is one of the world’s most popular content management systems (CMS), powering close to 43% of the internet. As a web developer, there are times when you prefer to host WordPress locally. In this post, we’ll explain local hosting and its benefits and provide a few ways to do it. Let’s dive in.

    What is Local Hosting?

    Local hosting, often referred to as local development, is the process of creating a web server on your computer to build, test, and experiment with websites before hosting them on the internet. Local hosting is a great way to test your website’s design, functionality, and performance without needing a live connection.

    Let’s break down the requirements before we get into the programs you can use to host your WordPress websites locally.

    • A computer running either Windows, Linux, or MacOS
    • A web browser
    • Web server software
    • A text editor for writing code
    • A stable internet connection (for pushing your site live)

    What Are the Benefits of Hosting WordPress Locally?

    There are several reasons why you should host WordPress locally. It allows beginners to learn how WordPress works and how to develop websites without pressure. New users won’t have to worry about breaking a live website or paying for a hosting provider. Additionally, it allows developers to test a website before pushing it live. You can try out different themes and plugins, explore adding custom code and other functionalities, and determine how they affect your website’s performance.

    4 Ways to Install WordPress Locally

    There are multiple ways to install WordPress locally. The method you choose depends on the type of operating system you’re using and, in some cases, which host you plan to push your local sites to when they are ready to be deployed. Let’s walk through the methods you can use to install WordPress locally, so you can decide which way is best for your unique situation.

    Installing WordPress on Windows with WampServer

    host wordpress locally with WampServer

    WampServer is a software for Windows that allows you to set up a local environment for WordPress. It integrates Apache, MySQL, and PHP on a Windows computer, so you can create and test web applications locally before pushing them live. The setup process is quite easy, only taking a few minutes. If you’d like to learn more about WampServer and how to install it, check out our post on how to install WordPress.

    Installing WordPress on MacOS with MAMP

    host wordpress locally with MAMP

    If you’re an Apple user, MAMP is an excellent choice for building WordPress websites locally. You can add as many sites as you like, personalize its settings to suit your needs, and connect MAMP to your remote host to push your sites live easily. We won’t go into depth on how to configure MAMP’s settings here, as we have the ultimate guide to MAMP Pro for WordPress users on our blog.

    Using Local by Flywheel

    host wordpress locally with Local by Flywheel

    Another way to set up a local server for WordPress is by using a program provided by your hosting provider. One such program is Local by Flywheel. It easily allows you to set up a local environment and then effortlessly push your site live to Flywheel or WP Engine.

    If you’re a Flywheel or WP Engine customer, Local is a no-brainer. It allows you to add as many sites as you wish and provides a straightforward route to installing WordPress locally. To learn more about how Local works and how to install it, check out our post Local by Flywheel: An Excellent Tools for Local WordPress Development.

    Installing WordPress Locally with XAMPP

    host wordpress locally with XAMPP

    XAMPP is an open-source software platform that allows users to set up a local server environment. XAMPP, which is short for cross-platform (X), Apache (A), MySQL(M), PHP (P), and Perl (P), is available on Windows, MacOS, and Linux operating systems. It’s an incredible tool for developers to test websites or applications before deploying them to a live server. It’s easy to install and configure, allowing developers to mimic a server environment in a few minutes.

    This guide will walk you through the steps to install XAMPP on your machine and configure its settings. Let’s get started.

    Step 1: Downloading the Software

    To download XAMPP, navigate to the Apache Friends website and select the appropriate version for your operating system. You can choose between Windows, Linux, or MacOS. For this tutorial, we’ll be using the MacOS version. Once downloaded, run the application installer.

    Download XAMPP

    MacOS has a safety feature that prohibits software from unverified developers from being downloaded and installed. If you get this notification, press and hold the option button on your Mac to reveal the options window. From there, click open. This will override Apple’s security settings and allow you to install the software.

    Step 2: Download WordPress and Add it to XAMPP

    The next step is to download WordPress. Click the download WordPress 6.2.2 button to download WP to your computer.

    download WordPress

    Next, we need to add WP to XAMPP. To do this, click the open application folder button on the XAMPP welcome screen.

    open application folder

    When the folder opens, double-click the htdocs folder to open it.

    htdocs

    Then, you’ll right-click within the htdocs folder and click new folder to add a home for your WordPress files. Right-click on your new folder to rename it, then double-click to open it.

    install WordPress locally

    Finally, locate the WordPress zip file you downloaded from the WP repository. Double-click to unzip it, then drag the contents of the WordPress folder into the new folder you created within htdocs.

    drag files into hotdogs

    Step 3: Configuring the Settings

    Now that you have the WordPress files where they need to go, you’ll need to configure the settings for it to work. Navigate to xampp/htdocs/your WordPress folder, then locate the wp-config-sample.php file. Right-click on it, then click open. This will allow you to open and edit the file with your favorite text editor.

    edit wp config

    In the PHP file, locate the line that begins with // ** Database settings. Next, we’ll need to enter a database name on this line:

    define( 'DB_NAME', 'xx' );

    Swap xx with the database name of your choice. Write it down and keep it safe because you’ll need it in the next step. Next, we’ll need to specify a username and password for our database. Specify root for the database username. As for the password, you can leave it blank. Now, your wp-config file should look like this:

    define( 'DB_NAME', 'your-DB-name' );

/** Database username **/
define( 'DB_USER', 'root' );

/** Database password **/
define( 'DB_PASSWORD', '');

    edit wp-config

    Save the file and close it. Next, right-click on the wp-config-sample.php file to rename it wp-config.php.

    rename wp-config

    Step 4: Launching the Control Panel

    The next step is to start the XAMPP server. Start with opening XAMPP. Click the manage servers tab, then click Start to launch your server.

    start XAMPP servers

    Open your browser, type localhost/phpmyadmin into the search, then press enter. This will bring up the pmpMyAdmin panel so that we can create a database for our WordPress site.

    Step 5: Creating the Database

    Using the database name from the wp-config.php file in step 3, click on Databases in phpmyAdmin. Next, under the Create database header, type in your database name from the previous steps and click create. After creating your database, look for it in the database list.

    create database

    Step 6: Configuring WordPress

    The final step to host WordPress locally is to configure the WordPress settings. Type localhost/yourwebsite in your browser. Be sure to change yourwebsite to whatever you named your WordPress folder in htdocs. When the page loads, you’ll see the WordPress configuration screen. Give your site a title, create a username and password, add your email, tick the search engine visibility checkbox, and then click Install WordPress. Note your username and password; you’ll need it to log in to WordPress.

    Configure WordPress

    Finally, you can log in to your site by navigating to localhost/yourwebsite/wp-admin. That’s it! You’ve successfully installed WordPress on your local machine.

    Want to Host Your Website Online? Here Are Our Top Picks

    As previously mentioned, hosting WordPress locally is a great way to build your new site in a private environment. Eventually, you must push your site live to a web host. If you are looking for a new host, read on because we have a few recommendations.

    1. SiteGround

    SiteGround best WordPress hosting

    When we recommend hosting providers, SiteGround is usually at the top of our list. This is primarily due to the extensive security features that they offer, including daily backups, a free SSL certificate, and a web application firewall (WAF). Additionally, SiteGround’s servers are optimized for WordPress, resulting in lightning-fast loading times and improved web performance due to their cloud infrastructure. Because of this speedy setup, SiteGround is the fastest WordPress hosting company you can get.

    Key Features of SiteGround:

    • Free site migration, CDN, email, and SSL
    • Daily backups
    • Optimized for WordPress
    • 30-day money-back guarantee
    • Enhanced security features

    Another thing that makes SiteGround shine is its customer support. It offers a convenient 24-hour, 7-day-a-week live chat feature and a knowledgeable support staff that can easily solve any problem. Plus, SiteGround is one of the most affordable solutions on the market. Their plans start at $14.99 per month but usually are offered at a steep discount for your first month.

    Best For:

    Overall, SiteGround is one of the best WordPress hosting platforms out there. They are suited for beginners, small businesses, and large agencies due to the different plans they offer. If you’re looking for a fast, reliable host to partner with, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better option.

    Pricing: Starting at $14.99 per month.

    Get SiteGround

    2. WP Engine

    wpengine hosting

    Another excellent option is WP Engine. Those hosting their websites locally through Local by Flywheel software can easily push their site live to WP Engine with one click. This is an excellent feature for those looking to build their websites behind closed doors before revealing them to the world. Some stellar features of WP Engine are its speed boost through cloud hosting, EverCache, a proprietary CDN, a staging environment for making large changes to your sites, and free migration.

    Key Features of WP Engine:

    • Free migration, SSL, staging, and CDN
    • Automatic WP and PHP updates
    • 60-day money-back guarantee
    • 10 Free WordPress themes

    WP Engine has features to make hosting your WordPress website a dream. Security is a non-issue thanks to a global CDN with over 200 data centers, 24/7 customer support, auto-renewing SSL, and SSH access, daily malware scans, and advanced direct denial of service (DDoS) attacks. Plus, you’ll get instant access to a wealth of site-building tools, including 10 WordPress themes built on the Genesis framework, a 1-click staging environment, and the ability to easily transfer sites in and out. This feature is useful for freelancers or agencies who build client websites and want to pass them off when finished.

    Best For:

    Combining Local by Flywheel with WP Engine is a perfect solution for those who want to build websites locally and push them live with little effort. Plus, freelancers and web agencies will love the ease with which they can transfer sites to their clients once completed. If you’re looking for a solid cloud hosting provider, then WordPress is worth a try.

    Pricing: Starting at $20 per month.

    Get WP Engine

    3. Flywheel

    Flywheel WordPress hosting

    Our last recommendation, Flywheel, is a WordPress-optimized host built on a speedy Google Cloud environment. With Flywheel, users can easily manage their WordPress sites with features such as automatic nightly backups, easy 1-click staging environments, and site cloning. They offer free SSL certificates, malware removal, and daily site scans, so you can rest assured your site will be safe for visitors. Because of these incredible features, Flywheel is one of the best managed WordPress hosting providers available.

    Key Features of Flywheel:

    Flywheel uses a blazing-fast Google Cloud infrastructure, which is constantly monitored for traffic spikes, then scales up instantly to allow maximum uptime. Combined with their custom caching solution, Flycache, your site will be one of the fastest. Flywheel’s server also employs auto-healing technology to fix itself in case of a hardware failure, giving you added peace of mind. Additionally, there’s no confusing cPanel to fool with, as Flywheel uses a custom interface, which is beginner-friendly, intuitive, and easy to navigate. They also offer the ability to white-label WordPress, which makes them one of the best reseller hosting providers out there.

    Best For:

    Flywheel is an excellent option for freelancers and small web agencies specializing in WordPress. Flywheel has perfected the hosting experience as a WordPress-only host to make green WordPress users feel right at home. With affordable pricing, a cloud infrastructure, and the ability to scale your plan with one click, you’re sites will be in good hands with Flywheel.

    Pricing: Starting at $13 per month (billed annually).

    Get Flywheel

    Final Thoughts on Hosting WordPress Locally

    Hosting your WordPress website locally is a great way to test your website before going live. You can explore different themes and plugins, learn the ins and outs of WordPress, and explore new functionalities without having to worry about breaking your live site. In this post, we’ve provided you with an easy-to-follow setup guide on different ways to host WordPress locally, so you’ll be confident to try it on your own. When you’re ready to push your site live, you can easily do so with XAMPP, WP Engine, or Flywheel.

    Want to read up on more how-to articles? Check out a few of our popular WordPress-related posts here:

    Which method do you use to host WordPress locally? Let us know in the comments section below.

    Featured Image via hasan as’ari / Shutterstock.com

    The post How to Host Your WordPress Website Locally in 2023 (Tutorial) appeared first on Elegant Themes Blog.

  • What is WordPress Hosting? A Breakdown of Different Hosting Solutions

    Website hosting is one of the most important aspects of any online business. Making the wrong choice can result in a slow website with high bounce rates and lost revenue. In this post, we’ll dig deep into the specifics of WordPress hosting, discuss the types of hosting available, and provide you with some things to look for when selecting the perfect host. But first, what is WordPress hosting? Let’s dive in.

    What is Web Hosting?

    Web hosting involves storing your website’s files and data on a server, making it accessible to users on the internet. A server is a large computer that stores and processes data for your website. When someone types your domain name into their browser, the server sends the requested files to their device, allowing them to view your site.

    What is WordPress Hosting?

    What is WordPress hosting

    WordPress hosting is a type of web hosting specifically designed for hosting WordPress websites. A good WordPress hosting plan optimizes your WordPress site to meet all speed, security, and performance requirements, with features such as caching, backups, ample storage, and adequate bandwidth. Generally, WordPress hosting plans offer easy, one-click installation for WordPress, automatic updates, scalability, and good customer support.

    Types of WordPress Hosting?

    You have several options when choosing the best hosting type for your WordPress site. Each type has advantages and disadvantages, and the best choice for you will depend on your budget, technical expertise, and website requirements. Let’s explore the different types of WordPress hosting available.

    Shared WordPress Hosting

    As the most popular and affordable solution, shared hosting is favored by new, growing, and budget-conscious businesses. However, the lower price often comes at a cost, as shared hosting involves resources (and customers) sharing the same server. The downside to shared hosting is its low performance. It can be unstable because you’re sharing a portion of a server with other people. Sometimes, peak traffic will absorb the server’s resources, causing downtime or, at the very least, reduced speeds.

    Best Cheap WordPress Hosting

    However, there are a few good, cheap WordPress hosts out there that utilize shared hosting. The important thing to consider here is that the size of your website matters. You’ll likely be fine with shared hosting if you have a 3-5 page informational website with a few hits per month. On the other hand, if you have an ecommerce or high-traffic website, it might be smarter to go with a VPS host for better performance.

    Dedicated WordPress Hosting

    Dedicated hosting works very differently from shared hosting. Instead of dividing server resources amongst multiple customers, dedicated hosting provides a dedicated machine with its own resources for your website. It eliminates the shortcomings of shared hosting, gives you a solid performance boost, and offers a much more stable environment.

    Best Dedicated WordPress Hosting

    However, there are some cons to dedicated hosting. Maintenance can be quite challenging, as with most dedicated hosting providers, you are responsible for the upkeep of your server. You’ll either need to manage things yourself or hire a professional to monitor resources, deploy updates, install security patches, protect against hackers, and more. Another con is the cost. As a general rule, dedicated hosting is much more expensive than any other type of hosting, so it’s best suited for businesses with a healthy budget.

    VPS WordPress Hosting

    Virtual private server (VPS) hosting is a compelling option for users seeking a blend of shared and dedicated hosting. With VPS hosting, users can enjoy their virtual server with dedicated resources where only the hard drive is shared. This hosting option provides administration capabilities and flexibility that resembles owning a dedicated server or at least operates similarly.

    Best WordPress VPS hosting featured image

    One notable advantage of VPS over a dedicated environment is the freedom from hardware maintenance concerns, as the hosting provider typically handles that for you. Additionally, the cost of VPS hosting providers is significantly lower than that of a dedicated plan, making it an ideal choice for businesses operating on a smaller budget, while still enjoying a superior hosting solution compared to shared hosting.

    Cloud WordPress Hosting

    WordPress Cloud hosting is a type of WordPress hosting similar to VPS hosting, except that it uses a series of virtual servers over a vast network hosted in the cloud. The main benefit of cloud hosting is that it usually allows the user to choose their ideal server location, allowing for faster delivery of your website to visitors.

    Best WordPress cloud hosting

    The best cloud hosting providers have considerable power. You can easily scale your plan to accommodate more bandwidth, storage, and RAM if needed. Providers such as Google and AWS offer their own cloud platforms, but they aren’t as beginner-friendly as other providers like Cloudways.

    Managed WordPress Hosting

    If you want fast speeds and server-side caching, you should opt for managed hosting. It offers improved hardware specifications and excellent security features, freeing your site from bugs, malware, and maintenance. Managed WordPress hosting is the improved version of shared hosting, as it offers everything shared offers, then tops it with added benefits.

    best managed wordpress hosting

    Going for a managed hosting provider can save time and effort on site and server maintenance issues and focus on other aspects of your business. It offers excellent performance and is optimized specifically for WordPress. It’s designed for small to medium-sized businesses, high-traffic blogs, and companies that want top-tier support at shared hosting prices. That said, managed hosting can still be a bit on the pricier side, so you’ll need to decide if the added cost is worth it. Plus, some managed hosting providers prohibit using some plugins, so you should research when choosing a provider to ensure it aligns with the plugins you are adamant about using.

    Things to Look For in a Hosting Provider

    When choosing a WordPress hosting plan, it’s essential to consider the features that are most important to your website’s needs. What’s most important to one business owner may be less important to another, so researching different providers and what they offer is key. Let’s look at some of the most important features you should consider when looking for a new home for your website.

    Performance

    One of the most important factors in WordPress hosting is performance. The fastest hosting providers offer to provide at least a 99.9% uptime guarantee, speed enhancements, and a content delivery network (CDN). Another factor to consider when speed is concerned is what type of server hardware is being used. For example, look for hosts that provide servers with a speed boost through LiteSpeed web server software or something similar.

    Security

    A secure hosting environment is the most important feature to consider. With hackers and other nefarious actors constantly looking for ways to infiltrate websites, scam customers, and cause problems, good security measures are essential. Look for features such as malware detection and removal, a web application firewall (WAF), bot protection, a free SSL certificate, and application isolation so you can have peace of mind knowing that your website is protected at all times.

    Scalability

    Server scalability is another factor that shouldn’t be ignored. After all, everyone wants their website’s content to go viral. Still, if you don’t have a good hosting provider that can handle the traffic, then it doesn’t matter. A solid hosting provider offers the ability to scale your server as your business grows. Providers such as Cloudways make it easy to scale your server as your business gets more popular, so you won’t have to worry about missing out on new customers.

    Uptime

    There are multiple ways hosting uptime can affect your website. The last thing you want is for your site to go offline or slow down when your site is receiving a lot of visitors. It can impact sales, delegitimize your business, and send potential customers running for the hills. Thankfully, a reputable host will provide at least a 99.9% uptime guarantee to ensure you don’t miss out on revenue.

    Caching

    When choosing a WordPress hosting provider, it is important to consider their caching infrastructure and capabilities. Look for hosting companies that offer excellent caching solutions, such as server-side caching, WordPress object caching, or WordPress-specific caching plugins, such as SiteGround’s SG Optimizer plugin. These features can greatly enhance your WordPress website’s speed, scalability, and overall performance.

    Backups

    If you are familiar with WordPress, you know the importance of having backup and restore points for your website. They protect against unforeseen circumstances like failed updates, hacks, and human error. A good WordPress hosting company provides this service to give you peace of mind. For example, if you decide to update WordPress, your theme, or plugins, errors during the update process can occur, causing site issues such as the white screen of death. When a host provides backups, you can easily restore your site from a previous version to avoid downtime.

    Free Migrations

    Site migration is the process of moving your site from one host to another. The process can be tricky if you try to tackle it alone, so it’s best to choose a host that offers free migrations. By doing so, you can avoid the need for migration plugins, save yourself time and potential for errors, and it is a fast and simple way to move your site.

    Staging

    Staging sites allow you to make changes to your website in a testing environment rather than a live one. This is important because changes to a live website can cause issues like accidentally overwriting pages, plugin conflicts, and failed updates. Thankfully, a staging environment can eliminate these issues, allowing you to safely make changes to your site without affecting the live version. Reputable hosting companies usually offer this service, so you can avoid figuring out how to create a staging site or push your staging site live on your own.

    Customer Support

    One of the most important features of a hosting company is having good customer support. After all, any time you work with WordPress websites, there’s a risk of problems arising. With good customer support, you can avoid many headaches and losing hours of your time by allowing a professional to diagnose your problem. Look for a company that offers several contact support methods, including live chat, phone, and email. Also, ensure you choose a company that provides support around the clock because you never know when disaster might strike.

    Budget

    Last but certainly not least, choosing a hosting company that aligns with your budget is important. Opt for a good shared hosting provider to host your site if you’re trying to keep costs down. However, remember that there are better options than shared hosting out there. Consider a managed hosting provider if you are more concerned with features rather than price. As previously mentioned, managed hosting generally handles all maintenance, security, and server-side configurations, so you can worry more about running your business, not maintaining a website.

    Recommended WordPress Hosting Providers

    Now that you have learned about the types of hosting available, you might be wondering which companies have the most to offer at a reasonable price. Well, you’re in luck. We’ve hand-picked three excellent choices for you.

    1. SiteGround

    SiteGround

    SiteGround is an excellent choice for WordPress hosting because of the immense amount of features you get for the price. With SiteGround, every plan comes with at least 10GB of storage, free migration, automatic updates for WordPress, a free SSL, daily backups, and a free CDN, to name a few. As one of three hosts recommended by WordPress itself, you can be sure that you’re making a solid choice.

    Key Features of SiteGround:

    • Free SSL, CDN, backups, and migration
    • Managed WordPress hosting
    • Excellent security features
    • WordPress pre-installed

    Additionally, SiteGround offers some of the best security features of any WordPress host. You’ll benefit from daily malware scans, a robust web application firewall, an AI-powered anti-bot that stops hackers in their tracks, and a proprietary security plugin.

    Best For:

    SiteGround offers three WordPress plans: StartUp, GrowBig, and GoGeek, that cater to freelancers, businesses, and everyone else. If you’re looking for a host packed with features, excellent support, and an affordable price point, you can’t do any better than SiteGround.

    Pricing: Starting at $14.99 per month.

    Get SiteGround

    2. Cloudways

    Cloudways

    Cloudways is another excellent option for WordPress. Built on cloud infrastructure, Cloudways offers a more modular approach to hosting. Rather than choosing a traditional hosting plan, users build the plan that best suits their needs. There are three cloud hosting providers: DigitalOcean, AWS, and Google Cloud. You can choose the provider and location of your server and specify the amount of storage and bandwidth you need. Plus, as your business grows, you can easily change your plan, making Cloudways easily scalable.

    Key Features of Cloudways:

    • Scalable hosting plans
    • Cloudflare CDN
    • Free SSL, migration, staging, and backups
    • 24/7 security monitoring

    What’s most impressive about Cloudways is the abundance of features it offers. Even the cheapest plan (coming in at $11 per month) gives you a free SSL, free migration, team collaboration tools, amazing security features, automated backups, staging and cloning, and 24/7 real-time monitoring.

    Best For:

    Cloudways is a great option for those who prefer a more hands-on approach to hosting. Don’t get us wrong, Cloudways hosting is managed, but it isn’t your typical managed hosting provider. You see, it provides the best of both worlds. You can leave the maintenance and configuration settings to Cloudways or handle everything yourself.

    Pricing: Starting at $11 per month.

    Get Cloudways

    3. Pressable

    Pressable

    Our last recommended host is Pressable. Thanks to a robust cloud infrastructure, it’s one of the few managed WordPress hosts that guarantee 100% uptime, so you never have to worry about your site going down. Plus, their customer support is stellar. With a two-minute average response time and 98% satisfaction rate, you can be sure your problem will be handled quickly and efficiently.

    Key Features of Pressable:

    • 100% uptime guarantee
    • Jetpack integration
    • Free migration, CDN, backups, and staging
    • Web application firewall, malware scanning, and threat monitoring

    Pressable’s hosting plans are optimized for WordPress, so site speed, uptime, and security are explicitly catered towards WordPress. Excellent features include one-click backups, Jetpack security suite integration, and a fully managed experience that takes care of updates, security, monitoring, and maintenance.

    Best For:

    Pressable is more expensive than our other two recommended hosts, so it’s geared more toward professionals with multiple websites. That said, they offer a one-site personal plan that provides enough storage and bandwidth to create any site you’d like. Furthermore, Pressable is a great choice for those with ecommerce websites because of the lighting-fast speeds, impressive security, and ability to scale as your business grows.

    Pricing: Starting at $25 per month.

    Get Pressable

    What is WordPress Hosting: Final Thoughts

    Understanding what WordPress hosting is and the different types is essential for anyone looking for a new hosting provider. As we’ve learned, there are five types: shared, VPS, dedicated, cloud, and managed. Depending on your needs and budget, one of these hosting types may be more suitable than the others. Take time to research different hosting providers, such as SiteGround, and the features they provide. After all, choosing the right WordPress hosting partner can significantly impact your website’s performance and success.

    Looking for reliable, objective reviews about hosting providers? Check out some of our WordPress hosting reviews for popular providers:

    Featured Image via Shmai / Shutterstock.com

    The post What is WordPress Hosting? A Breakdown of Different Hosting Solutions appeared first on Elegant Themes Blog.

  • Get a Free Jewelry Artist Layout Pack for Divi

    Hey Divi Nation! Thanks for joining us for the next installment of our weekly Divi Design Initiative; where each week, we give away a brand new Layout Pack for Divi.

    This time around, the design team has created a beautiful Jewelry Artist Layout Pack that’ll help you get your next Jewelry Artist website up and running in no time!

    This layout pack includes:

    – 6 Premade page layouts strategically designed for any Jewelry Artist website (including a footer design)
    – Original, royalty-free photos and graphics + customizable source file (see below)
    – Plus, a large collection of pre-designed website elements that are customizable and reusable anywhere.

    This layout pack is available right inside Divi for all Divi customers for FREE as the latest addition to our growing Divi library of hundreds of premade layout packs, thousands of page designs, and countless web design elements and resources.

    divi layout

    Check Out The Divi Jewelry Artist
    Layout Pack Below

    Get it for free today!

    Jewelry Artist layout pack

    Landing Page Design

    Jewelry Artist layout pack

    View The Live Layout Demo

    Home Page Design

    Jewelry Artist Layout Pack for Divi

    View The Live Layout Demo

    Shop Page Design

    Jewelry Artist Layout Pack for Divi

    View The Live Layout Demo

    About Page Design

    Jewelry Artist Layout Pack for Divi

    View The Live Layout Demo

    Blog Page Design

    Jewelry Artist Layout Pack for Divi

    View The Live Layout Demo

    Contact Page Design

    Jewelry Artist Layout Pack for Divi

    View The Live Layout Demo

    Key Features

    We have just the layout for you if you’re in the market for a new look for your jewelry business. The Jewelry Artist Layout Pack for Divi provides a timeless look to showcase your jewelry products. From the elegant serif font to large photos to feature your artistry, this layout will have potential buyers eagerly awaiting their opportunity to purchase.

    Live Demos

    Click the links below to see a live demo for each of the layouts included in the pack.

    1. Jewelry Artist Landing Page (live demo)
    2. Jewelry Artist Home Page (live demo)
    3. Jewelry Artist Shop Page (live demo)
    4. Jewelry Artist About Page (live demo)
    5. Jewelry Artist Blog Page (live demo)
    6. Jewelry Artist Contact Page (live demo)

    Access This Layout Right Now
    Directly from Your Divi Builder

    Since Version 3.0.99 of Divi, you can find and import any of the layouts included in this pack (along with ALL of Divi’s Premade Layout packs) directly from the Divi Builder. They are already waiting for you.

    To access your new layout, simply activate the Visual Builder when editing a page and look for the “Load From Library” icon in the page settings bar (it looks like a plus symbol). Click this icon to launch the Load From Library popup. Under the Premade Layouts tab, you can easily find the new layout by scrolling through the list of layout packs. Once you find the Jewelry Artist Layout Pack, click on it. You will see all the individual layouts included in the pack. Select the layout you want to use and then click the “Use This Layout” button.

    Jewelry Artist Layout Pack for Divi

    For more, check out this video to learn how you can get this layout pack up and running today.

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    Authentication Required

    Before you can download Premade Layouts from the Divi Library you must authenticate your Elegant Themes Subscription. You can do this by navigating to Divi > Theme Options > Updates. There you can enter your username and API key and save changes.

    Jewelry Artist Layout Pack for Divi

    You can find your API Key under your members area on the Elegant Themes site. After you enter the Username and API Key, you will gain immediate access to our library of hundreds of free layouts (including this one). If you haven’t done this, when you click to import a layout to your page, you will be prompted to enter your Elegant Themes Membership Username and API Key.

    Use Layout Images for FREE with No Licensing Restrictions

    Jewelry Artist Layout Pack for Divi

    The image assets included with these layouts (icons, illustrations, photos, etc.) have no licensing restrictions. This means you can use them in all of your commercial projects without having to worry about paying licensing fees or attributing the photographer. Use them in your commercial websites, sell them within your Divi child themes, include them in your own Divi layout packs or just use them on your blog. We know how challenging it can be to find good photos and how confusing and scary the licensing that governs those photos can be. We want to fix that problem for our users.

    Download the Full Res Image Assets

    New Layout Pack Every Week!

    We hope you enjoy this layout pack. We look forward to hearing your opinions in the comment section below. Make sure you check out next week’s layout pack as well!

    The post Get a Free Jewelry Artist Layout Pack for Divi appeared first on Elegant Themes Blog.

  • What is Copy.ai and How to Use It (10 Pro Tips)

    As a content creator, there may be times when you need help with coming up with a good headline, blog post outline, or social media ad. Thanks to the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution, numerous AI writing tools are available to help you streamline how you create content. In this post, we’ll introduce you to Copy AI, explain how to use it, and provide some excellent tips for effective use. Let’s dive in.

    What is Copy AI?

    What is Copy AI

    Copy AI is an artificial intelligence writing tool that uses machine learning to generate various types of content, including blog headlines, emails, social media content, web copy, and more. Built on top of OpenAI’s GPT-3 large language model (LLM), Copy AI is designed to help users with the copywriting process. It provides various tools and writing frameworks to help get you started, is available in more than 25 languages, and is a great tool for beginners to get familiar with generative AI.

    How to Use Copy AI


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    Copy AI is one of the easiest generative AI programs to use. You can easily generate content for anything you like with a simple interface and excellent tools. Let’s walk you through how to set up your free account, browse the available tools, and walk you through generating your first piece of content.

    Setting Up an Account

    Signing up for Copy AI is easy. Click the Get Started button to begin signup.

    get started

    There are a few ways to sign up, including your Google or Facebook account or simply using your email.

    sign up

    Next, Copy AI will ask you questions to determine what you’d like to use the program for.

    Copy AI configuration wizard

    Copy AI is free for individual users. If you’d like to create an account for your team, you can add up to five users for $36 per month. Upgrading to a paid version provides more features than the free account, including priority email support, support for more than 29 languages, and a blog wizard tool.

    pricing

    For this tutorial, we’re using the free version of Copy AI. Let’s start by explaining the features available with the free version.

    Navigating the Copy AI Interface

    Copy AI interface

    Copy AI is one of the easiest AI writing tools to use. It has a simple interface, tons of templates to help get you started, and a project-based categorization tool that lets you easily track your content. Let’s look at the interface so you can familiarize yourself with the tools and how to use them.

    1. Chat: Brings up the chat prompt
    2. My Projects: Easily view all of your projects within Copy AI
    3. Infobase: Store information about your company, so you can avoid manually entering it over and over
    4. Templates: A collection of content types to assist in content creation
    5. Tools: Generative AI tools for different categories, such as social media, blogs, emails, and more
    6. Chat Bar: Where you’ll enter your text prompt
    7. Browse prompt types: example prompts to assist you in creating content
    8. Improve generated content: Regenerate a response
    9. Enter input: begins Copy AI’s content generation
    10. Create a new project: Create and categorize new projects

    Exploring the Features of Copy AI

    Copy AI has a lot of tools to help you create effective copy for your website, blog, or social media account. Let’s look at everything you can expect when using Copy AI.

    90+ Copywriting Templates

    Copy AI templates

    The best feature of Copy AI is the number of templates you can choose from. You can create blog posts, headlines, or a single paragraph. Need a little help with those product descriptions? Not to worry. Copy AI can do that, too. Additional templates include digital ad copy, social media content, Facebook headlines, and various transitional email templates.

    Multilingual Support

    Do you need to generate copy in a language other than English? You’ll be happy to learn that Copy AI is available in over 25 languages, including Chinese, French, Spanish, and others. This tool is great for marketers and site owners with international businesses who need to reach a larger audience.

    Built-In Plagiarism Checker

    Copy AI includes a plagiarism checker, similar to Grammarly, that allows you to double-check written content. This is a great tool for those who employ blog authors and content creators and want to be able to check their work for originality. You’ll need to sign up for a premium license to take advantage of this feature.

    Infobase

    Infobase

    If you need to save important information, such as company details, a mission statement, or other important text, save it into the infobase for reuse. The great thing about Infobase is that it pulls from your content rather than just public sources. Users can add elements to their infobase, assign a tag, then call on that tag when they’d like to reference it in generated content. This is a great way to reuse important information in your content without manually typing it in whenever you wish to use it.

    Creating Content with Copy AI

    Now that you understand the features and tools associated with Copy AI, let’s use that knowledge to create our first piece of content. For this post, we will walk you through the necessary steps to create a blog post. We’ll start by prompting the AI to give us ten headline ideas for a post about AI copywriters.

    First, enter this prompt: Provide 10 blog post ideas related to AI copywriter tools.

    blog post topics

    As you can see, Copy AI uses our text prompt to provide ten good blog post topics. Next, choose the headline that resonates most with you, then prompt the software to generate an outline based on that headline. We’ll use number 9, The Future of Content Creation with AI Copywriter Tools.

    Next, enter the following prompt: Provide a blog post outline based on this headline: The Future of Content Creation with AI Copywriter Tools.

    blog post outline

    Using the same chat window, use this prompt: create an introductory paragraph based on the outline above.

    introductory paragraph

    Copy AI does a good job of forming headlines, outlines, and full paragraphs based on our original prompt. While you should never copy and paste content directly from an AI chatbot, you can use generated content as a good starting point for your content.

    Key Advantages of Copy AI

    Copy AI is a great tool for marketers, freelancers, and business owners. Using it provides several key advantages for creating great content, including shortening the time needed to create posts or other content, ease of use, and the number of templates available.

    Streamline the Writing Process

    First of all, AI copywriters can be a huge time-saver. Anyone familiar with writing content can tell you that the process takes time. You have to research a subject, formulate an outline, write your content, revise it, and check it for grammatical errors, plagiarism, and effectiveness, amongst other steps. An AI writing tool can save time and effort by streamlining the writing process.

    Copy AI is Beginner-Friendly

    Using Copy AI is a breeze. It’s built with a simple interface, so even the greenest AI user can understand the available tools and options. Plus, it has a good text editor that allows users to edit and customize generated content as needed.

    Endless Options for Content Creation

    Copy AI contains over 90 content templates and tools, which rivals most other AI writing tools. It generates sales copy, digital ads, ecommerce product descriptions, and more. You can also use it as a freestyle copywriting tool to create long-form content, blog posts, and more. It stands out from other AI writing tools because you can add extra details to help it understand what you want. Using the freestyle tool, you can define the type of content you want, add main points, and choose a writing tone. Another great use for it is creating a competitor analysis, which is beneficial for determining how you can change your approach based on what your direct competitors are doing.

    10 Pro Tips for Using Copy AI

    AI content creator

    Image created with Midjourney

    Now that you better understand Copy AI and its capabilities, let’s explore some effective tips for writing content. Whether you’re a novice in AI writing or have experience with various AI writing tools, these tips will simplify creating high-quality content for your blog or website.

    1. Know Your Keywords

    Before generating content for your business, it’s important to conduct keyword research. Doing so helps you identify keywords that best describe your business and what you want it to be searchable for. This is especially true when it comes to long-tail keywords, which are the most utilized keywords people use when searching for a business or product.

    2. Know Your Target Audience

    Knowing who to direct your content to is a crucial step to building an effective marketing strategy. This is also true when using AI copywriting tools to generate content. Knowing your target audience can help you cater written text to the right group of people.

    3. Use Clear and Concise Language

    AI copywriting tools such as Copy AI are designed to create content quickly. Still, it is important to ensure the language is clear and concise. Avoid using jargon or complicated language that may confuse your readers.

    4. Focus on Creating Effective Prompts

    Anyone can type words into an AI chatbot and get a response. The trick to getting good output is to craft an effective prompt. It’s essential to keep a few factors in mind. First and foremost, be specific. For example, instead of saying give me a list of blog post topics related to X, try something like give me 10 blog topic ideas related to X. Also, pay close attention to descriptions. Using descriptive elements in your prompts could help clarify things for the AI. For example, if you want to create a product description for athletic shoes, rather than just stating, write a product description for athletic shoes, say something like, write a product description for brightly colored athletic shoes to appeal to Generation Z customers. The more information you give the chatbot, the better the output.

    5. Fact Check All Output

    AI writing tools can save you a ton of time when creating new content. That said, it’s critical to double-check what it gives you. All AI systems work by predicting strings of words that it thinks best match your question, and they cannot reason or consider any factual inconsistencies when giving you an answer. This is called a hallucination, which happens far more often than you realize. Because of this, be sure always to fact-check everything. A notable advantage of Copy AI is its inclusion of source citations, which allow you to identify the origins of the provided answers.

    6. Use Copy AI to Revise Existing Content

    Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned professional writer, using AI to help you revise original content is one of the best ways to utilize it. You can use it to rephrase sentences to make them easier to read or make sentences and paragraphs more concise. Copy AI can also identify alternate ways to write a sentence, provide synonyms that make a sentence flow better, and even condense your writing to make your writing more effective.

    7. Gain New Perspective

    One of the biggest issues with copywriting is sounding too one-dimensional. With AI writing software, you can gain a different perspective on your writing. You can use AI to ask questions or even have it take on a tone, giving you a fresh set of eyes (so to speak) to approach writing your content. With Copy AI, there is a really cool feature called freestyle, which allows you to try out different writing tones. Experiment with different tone settings to give you a different perspective on your content.

    8. Find the Right Balance

    While AI tools can expedite content creation, remember to keep the content original. Embrace your expertise, experiences, creativity, and unique insights to enhance AI-generated content, not copy it verbatim. Using AI as an idea-generating assistant is a much more effective way to create original content.

    9. Use Copy AI to Improve Your Skills

    An assistive AI writing tool, such as Copy AI, is an excellent way to improve your writing skills. We learn similarly to the way AI learns – by repetition. The more you use an AI tool, the better your content-writing skills will be. Take the time to recognize patterns and note how Copy AI associates words and phrases. Then use that knowledge to take your writing skills to the next level.

    10. Understand Ethical Considerations

    This should go without saying, but it is important to reiterate: AI is meant to be an assistive tool. With so many programs becoming available seemingly daily, it’s important to understand the ethical implications of using AI. Always use AI responsibly, avoiding copyright infringement, discriminatory language, or inappropriate content. Be aware of these issues and ensure your content doesn’t violate these guidelines.

    Final Thoughts on Copy AI

    If you’re looking to create high-performing, SEO-friendly content for your website, blog, or social media, then Copy AI can be an excellent tool to use. As mentioned, it’s not meant to replace writing copy yourself, but rather a tool to generate ideas. Copy AI allows you to brainstorm ideas, develop blog post paragraphs and headlines, and more. Using it correctly can create new content in a fraction of the time it takes to do it on your own. The best part is that Copy AI offers a free tier that allows you to generate up to 2000 words per month, create unlimited projects, and offers over 90 templates to help you get started. So, if you want to save time and effort, Copy AI is a great way to take your copywriting game to the next level.

    Want more AI tutorials? Check out a few of our posts on how to use some of the best AI tools available today:

    Featured Image via Golden Sikorka / Shutterstock.com

    The post What is Copy.ai and How to Use It (10 Pro Tips) appeared first on Elegant Themes Blog.

  • 10 Fastest WordPress Themes in 2023 (Compared & Reviewed)

    When you’re in the market for a new WordPress theme for your website, one of the most important things to consider is speed. The faster a website loads, the better the user experience. Plus, you’ll have a better chance of getting more eyes on your site, especially since Google’s algorithm favors fast-loading websites. Therefore, it’s essential to choose a WordPress theme that is optimized for speed. In this post, we’ll discuss what to look for in a WordPress theme, the benefits of using a fast WordPress theme, and list our picks for the ten fastest WordPress themes in 2023.

    Let’s dive in.

    What to Look For in the Fastest WordPress Theme

    When considering the fastest WordPress themes for your website, it’s important to look for one that prioritizes speed and performance without sacrificing features, functionality, and design. A fast theme can improve your visitor’s experience, reduce bounce rates, and boost your search engine ranking page (SERP) position. Start by looking for a lightweight theme that uses minimal resources, focuses on low HTTP requests, has clean, optimized code, and avoids bloated or unnecessary scripts.

    Your chosen theme should also be responsive, which means it’s optimized for all screen sizes. Mobile design is especially important, considering Google uses a mobile-first algorithm to prioritize its results. Also, remember to evaluate the level of support the theme’s developer provides. After all, support is crucial when encountering any issues when building your website. Choosing the right theme allows you to create a website that loads quickly and provides an excellent experience for your site’s visitors.

    10 Fastest WordPress Themes in 2023

    When building our list of the fastest WordPress themes, we considered a few factors. First, and most importantly, is page speed. Secondly, we relied heavily on web core vitals, such as first contentful paint, page size, and the required HTTP requests. Finally, we considered reviews. After all, there’s a lot to be said about community feedback. So, without further delay, let’s get on to our list.

    1. Divi

    Divi fastest WordPress theme

    Divi is the most robust WordPress theme on the market. It comes packed with design features, including over 200 modules, a no-code front-end Visual Builder, and the ability to create custom templates with Divi’s amazing Theme Builder. Additional notable features include an impressive layout library, which contains more than 2300 professional designs, WooCommerce integration, and stellar support. However, the most impressive thing about Divi is that despite all this amazing tech, it’s lightning-fast.

    Key Features of Divi:

    • Performance options panel
    • Modularized PHP framework
    • Defer CSS and Javascript</li.
    • CSS stylesheet size 54kb
    • GTMetrix score: 100%
    • Google Page Speed Score: 100%
    • Google font caching
    • Lazy Loading
    • Asynchronous Javascript

    Divi is a super lightweight, highly customizable full-site editing theme. It uses a modularized PHP framework, which means Divi’s design elements are loaded on demand based on the modules and features you use. For example, if you only use eight design modules on a page, Divi will only load the required code to allow those modules to function while eliminating the ones you aren’t using. It also has built-in technology to automatically identify critical CSS while deferring non-critical styles, so your site will load fast. It won’t bog down due to duplicate styling. Plus, Divi’s total theme-wide CSS size is a mere 54kb. Additionally, Divi puts the performance in its user’s hands by providing a comprehensive performance dashboard with options to control the level of caching, render-blocking requests, and unneeded resources.

    Best For:

    Divi is an excellent choice for beginners and seasoned web developers alike. With a lightweight footprint, impressive design features, and the ability to create unlimited looks for your websites, Divi is perfect for just about anyone.

    Pricing: Licenses start at $89 per year.

    Get Divi

    2. Hello Elementor

    Hello Elementor fastest WordPress theme

    At the top spot on our list, Hello Elementor is one of the fastest WordPress themes available. You can build a light, fast-loading website without coding with a lightweight frame and unlimited customization options. Made for use with one of the best page builder plugins, Elementor, you can choose from over 100 design widgets, over 300 pre-made designs, and onboard WooCommerce support.

    Key Features of Hello Elementor:

    • 6kb page size
    • .25 second GTMetrix page load time
    • Minimal HTTP requests
    • No-bloat optimized code

    The best thing about Hello Elementor is how fast it is. With a minuscule page size of only 6kb, your website’s pages will load nearly instantly. GTMetrix results boast a .25 second page load time, minimal HTTP requests, and no-bloat WordPress optimized code to provide a fast, stable, responsive website as the basis of a great framework.

    Best For:

    Hello Elementor is perfect for creators of all skill levels thanks to its no-code drag-and-drop page builder. With unlimited customization options, hundreds of premade designs, and compatibility with WooCommerce, you can build a fast, mobile-friendly website in minutes.

    Pricing: Free, with a pro license starting at $59 per year.

    Get Hello Elementor

    3. GeneratePress

    GeneratePress fastest WordPress themes

    Up next is GeneratePress, one of the best block themes out there, with a lightweight framework optimized for speed. In addition to using blocks, you can install one of your favorite page builders, such as Divi, Elementor, or Beaver Builder, or add the Generate Blocks plugin to extend customization options. Don’t have time to design your site? No worries. With GeneratePress Premium, you can build your site on one of a hundred professionally designed starter templates, all with the same speedy features that make GeneratePress a worthy contender.

    Key Features of GeneratePress:

    • Google 100% page speed score
    • 7.5kb page size
    • 2 HTTP requests
    • Zero dependencies

    GeneratePress is a theme that truly stands out when it comes to performance. It proudly flaunts impressive scores on Google and GTMetrix, showcasing its commitment to delivering exceptional results. Even with a basic ecommerce site, you can anticipate an almost perfect 100% page speed score, thanks to its remarkably small 7.5kb page size.

    But that’s not all — GeneratePress takes performance to another level by minimizing HTTP requests to just two, ensuring your website operates smoothly and efficiently. What sets it apart as one of the fastest themes on the market is its independence from external dependencies like jQuery. Its code is specifically optimized for WordPress, making it a powerhouse that launches your website to lightning-fast speeds.

    Best For:

    GeneratePress is the ultimate choice for Block Theme enthusiasts. Its compact size, optimized code, and page builder compatibility make it the perfect solution for creating a site from scratch or using one of the provided starter templates.

    Pricing: Free, with premium prices starting at $59 per year.

    Get GeneratePress

    4. Neve

    Neve fastest WordPress themes

    Our next theme, Neve, is one of several offerings from ThemeIsle. It provides a mobile-first approach, can be used alongside any of your favorite page builders, and offers compatibility with accelerated mobile pages (AMP). By including these features, Neve secures itself as one of the faster themes on our list, making it easy to encompass what you need to make Google’s SEO algorithm happy.

    Key Features of Neve:

    • 28kb page size
    • GTMetrix load time .6s
    • Google 100% page speed score

    Neve is confident in its ability to be a speedy option for the masses by providing concrete speed scores on its website. With a 28kb page size, 100% Google page speed scores, and a GTMetrix page loading time of .6 seconds, it’s easy to see why. In addition to speed and performance optimizations, Neve offers more than 100 premade templates, global color palettes, multiple blog, header, and footer templates, and stellar support.

    Best For:

    If you need a speedy website for your ecommerce store, try Neve’s premium license. It has tons of WooCommerce enhancements, such as a quick view, cart notices, off-canvas product filtering, a wishlist feature, and more.

    Pricing: Free, with a $99 per year premium version.

    Get Neve

    5. Astra

    Astra fastest WordPress themes

    Astra is one of the most popular, easiest WordPress themes to work with. Out of the box, Astra comes with over 240 premade design templates for all major business categories that you can import with one click. From there, it’s as simple as adding text and images, setting your global colors and typography, and you’re off to the races. However, thanks to major page builder support, you can build any site you’d like.

    Key Features of Astra:

    • Google page load time of .4 seconds
    • 50kb page size
    • No jQuery, uses only vanilla javascript
    • Self-hosted Google fonts
    • Optimized WordPress code

    Astra’s main focus is performance. It’s based on a vanilla javascript framework with no jQuery. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about render-blocking code slowing your site down. Plus, it only requires about 50kb worth of resources to run the entire theme, which gives it a massive speed boost. Additional performing enhancing features include a half-second page load time, optimized code, and self-hosted Google fonts, so your site won’t have a bunch of time-sapping HTTP requests when visitors land on your site.

    Best For:

    If you need a simple, lightning-fast website with hundreds of pre-made themes, give Astra a spin. You can use the free version to decide if it’s right for you. Upgrading to a premium license adds massive amounts of features, such as WooCommerce upgrades, a mega menu, the ability to white-label WordPress, and more.

    Pricing: Free, with a $59 per year pro version.

    Get Astra

    6. Sydney

    Sydney WordPress theme

    The next entry on our fastest WordPress themes list is Sydney. Available in free and premium versions, Sydney offers many features that make it worthy of consideration. With multiple layout options for blog posts, sidebars, headers, and footers, you can easily create a layout that suits your business. If you need a little creative inspiration, dozens of pre-built sections, elements, and designs are available. That, combined with speed-enhancing features, makes Syndey an excellent choice.

    Key Features of Sydney:

    • 99% Google page speed score
    • .655s load time
    • Page size: 63kb

    Syndey is blazing fast, sporting a 63kb page size, a little over a half-second loading time, and a 99% Google page speed score. Syndey packs a punch with options, too, so you won’t have to sacrifice features for speed. With elements such as parallax backgrounds, global typography and colors, integration with plugins such as WP Forms, WooCommerce, Toolset, and stellar multi-lingual support, you can build the website of your dreams on a lightweight framework.

    Best For:

    Its free version includes seamless integration with Elementor and WooCommerce, multiple blog layouts, and diverse header and footer designs, giving you ample room for customization. And if you yearn for additional possibilities, the premium license offers even more features. The best part? You can explore Sydney at your own pace, thanks to the 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing you to familiarize yourself with it without any risk.

    Pricing: Free, with a $69 per year premium version.

    Get Sydney

    7. Schema

    Schema

    Schema is quite possibly the most SEO-friendly theme on our list. It incorporates rich snippets site-wide, so you’ll get an enormous headstart on SEO. There are also many customization options, including one-click demo import and an extensive Theme customizer with options for colors, typography, layout, and more. In addition to that, you can turn your website into a money-making powerhouse with onboard ad management, a built-in review system, and integrated social media sharing.

    Key Features of Schema:

    • Page size 96kb
    • .55s page load time
    • 99% performance score on GTMetrix
    • Async JavaScript
    • Optimized WooCommerce scripts

    In addition to Schema’s customization features, you’ll benefit from a super-fast, lightweight framework with impressive speed stats. With a page size of less than 100kb, a half-second loading time, and a 99% performance score on GTMetrix, your website will be screaming up the SERPs in no time. Another excellent feature of Schema is the stellar options panel, which gives you several performance-enhancing features. You can easily enable async Javascript, cache prefetching, lazy loading of images, and optimization of WooCommerce scripts. Plus, you can remove ver parameters from CSS and javascript files, which can help older browsers serve your website faster.

    Best For:

    If you want to enhance your site’s performance and improve your SEO, consider trying Schema. It offers free and paid versions, allowing you to test it before committing. Creative types benefit from importable demos, installed with a single click, or compatibility with popular page builders to unleash creativity.

    Pricing: Free, with a $39 per year pro license.

    Get Schema

    8. OceanWP

    OceanWP Fatest WordPress themes

    Next, we have OceanWP, a popular and highly-rated freemium theme known for its exceptional performance and customization options. With over 700,000 active installs, the proof is in the pudding. One of its major strengths is its fast load times, which is a result of highly-optimized coding. Additionally, OceanWP offers customization features such as one-click importable demos, compatibility with page builder plugins, and extensive styling options in the WordPress customizer.

    Key Features of OceanWP:

    • Optimized code
    • Minimal HTTP requests
    • Disable unnecessary scripts
    • Page and post-level meta boxes

    Although not the fastest option on our list, OceanWP still showcases impressive speed scores. It boasts a commendable 99% Google page speed, optimized WordPress code, and an average page loading time of less than one second, showcasing its substantial power under the hood. In addition to its speed and performance enhancements, OceanWP offers a range of other appealing features. These include individual post controls with detailed meta boxes, a scripts and styles panel for enabling or disabling unnecessary scripts, and custom hooks that further expand OceanWP’s impressive functionality.

    Best For:

    OceanWP is both beginner and developer friendly, with unlimited customization options and impressive speed-enhancing capabilities. Users with any budget can benefit from its features thanks to the free or premium license.

    Pricing: Free, with a $54 per year premium version.

    Get OceanWP

    9. Zakra

    Zakra theme

    Our next theme, Zakra, takes the hassle out of creating a WordPress website and turns it into a breeze. It offers many customization options and ready-to-use layouts, allowing you to effortlessly bring any website concept to life. Whether you’re looking to design a blog, set up sidebars, enhance headers, or refine footers, Zakra’s multiple layouts have you covered. Additionally, Zakra includes over 800 Google fonts, all conveniently hosted locally. This means you can freely mix and match various typesets without the concern of slowing down your site due to font load times.

    Key Features of Zakra:

    • No jQuery (runs on vanilla javascript)
    • AMP ready for mobile browsing
    • Under 1 second load time in GTMetrix
    • WordPress optimized code

    Zakra includes several performance features that make it a speed demon. Rather than using page-draining jQuery scripts, Zakra is built entirely using vanilla javascript, which helps increase page speed. Other features include optimization for AMP, page loading times on Pingdom and GTMetrix under one second, and WordPress-optimized code to cut down the bloat.

    Best For:

    If you need a convenient solution for creating a fast, feature-rich website, check out Zakra. As a freemium theme, you can decide whether it suits your needs. The free version is fairly robust, but we suggest upgrading to the premium license to get the most out of it. By doing so, you’ll unlock unlimited customization options, such as eye-catching header features like transparent or sticky headers, access to local Google fonts, enhanced WooCommerce functionality, and various page templates.

    Pricing: Free, with a $69 per year premium license.

    Get Zakra

    10. Blocksy

    Blocksy

    Last but not least, Blocksy is one of the most popular block themes in the WordPress repository, with over 100,000 active installations. It features a lightweight framework, is translation ready out of the box, and works with popular plugins and page builders such as Beaver Builder, Visual Composer, and Brizy. Other benefits of Blocksy are built-in WooCommerce integration, 28 demo sites, white-labeling, and local Google fonts, to name a few.

    Key Features of Blocksy:

    • local Google fonts
    • Utilizes code splitting
    • 100% GTMetrix page speed load score

    Blocksy uses a unique coding structure, called code splitting, to load only the javascript needed when a user hits your website. Because of this, Blocksy consistently obtains the coveted 100% GTMetrix page speed load score. Other performance boosts include local Google Fonts and limiting HTTP requests to keep your site speedy. Another feature that makes Blocksy an attractive option is its simplicity. The theme is clean and light and gives you unlimited creative freedom to build the site of your dreams.

    Best For:

    If you’re a developer who wants to build your kingdom from scratch, you’ll love Blocksy. It provides the speed you need to rank well in search engines and is a blank canvas. However, if you ever find yourself in need of some assistance, fear not! You can easily enhance your building experience by installing a page builder like Elementor or using the user-friendly Gutenberg editor to craft your masterpiece.

    Pricing: Free, with a $49 per year premium license.

    Get Blocksy

    Final Thoughts on the Fastest WordPress Themes

    Speed and performance are the top things to consider when deciding on a new WordPress theme. Using a fast theme helps your site load faster, increases user satisfaction, and can help your rank higher in search results. Thankfully,  all of the themes on our list focus on Google’s core web vitals, so your site will be speedy no matter which theme you choose. Read on to find out which of these fastest WordPress themes we recommend the most.

    What is the Fastest WordPress Theme?

    Of all the entries on our list, we recommend Divi and Hello Elementor. Both themes are built with minimal bloat, only including the clean code and most essential features. Because of this, both themes boast incredible fast page speed scores. This makes both themes excellent options for ecommerce sites and high-traffic blogs. Whether you want to use Divi’s page builder, or WordPress’s onboard block editor, either of these themes will put you miles ahead of your competition, resulting in higher rankings, more satisfied customers, and less worry for you.

    Plugin Price Free Option
    🥇 Divi $89/year ❌ Visit
    🥈 Hello Elementor $59/year ✔️ Visit
    🥉 GeneratePress $59/year ✔️ Visit
    4 Neve $99/year ✔️ Visit
    5 Astra $59/year ✔️ Visit
    6 Sydney $69/year ✔️ Visit
    7 Schema $39/year ✔️ Visit
    8 OceanWP $54/year ✔️ Visit
    9 Zakra $69/year ✔️ Visit
    10 Blocksy $49/year ✔️ Visit

    Need more themes? Check out these articles for the best themes to use with WordPress.

    Featured Image via Fonstra / Shutterstock.com

    The post 10 Fastest WordPress Themes in 2023 (Compared & Reviewed) appeared first on Elegant Themes Blog.

  • How to Create AI Art with Adobe Firefly in 2023

    If you haven’t been keeping up with the latest developments from Adobe’s Creative Cloud suite of apps, you’ve been missing out. Adobe has been diligently working on a suite of tools with the groundbreaking artificial intelligence (AI) world, resulting in impressive progress. The buzz surrounding Adobe Firefly has been palpable, with eager creatives anxiously awaiting the chance to try it out. After a few months of anticipation, Adobe has released its newest beta version of Firefly, complete with generative AI technology. In this post, we’ll introduce you to the captivating world of Adobe Firefly, demonstrate how to use it, and showcase some examples you can create with it.

    Let’s get started.

    What is AI Art?

    AI art is a form of art that is created with the help of AI algorithms (set of rules). They analyze large amounts of data, learn patterns and styles from original sources, and then generate new pieces that can have a variety of styles, subjects, textures, and lighting, amongst other features. Sometimes, the algorithm can produce unexpected yet imaginative results, often combining source data uniquely. One of the most amazing things about generative art is the time it takes to complete. While humans can create digital assets that compare to generative AI’s results, it takes a fraction of the time it would require a human to do.

    What is Adobe Firefly?

    Adobe Firefly website

    Firefly is a generative AI system created by Adobe, designed to integrate with Adobe’s Creative Cloud applications. At least, that’s the end game. Adobe Firefly is in beta right now, so it’s only available to Creative Cloud subscribers who sign up for access. In our experience, it takes a couple of weeks to be accepted, so keep that in mind should you decide to try it.

    Currently, there are two ways to use Firefly: in a browser on the Firefly website or within Photoshop’s latest beta version. Options include generative fill, text-to-image generation, text effects, and generative recolor. However, Adobe has many more tools in the works, including 3D to image, sketch to image, text to pattern, and text to vector, which we personally can’t wait to try.

    According to Adobe’s website, its AI art generator is trained on Adobe stock photos, openly licensed content, and public domain content. This approach is unique to any other generative AI that we’re aware of and should quell some of the copyright issues that are currently being raised with other text-to-image software, such as Midjourney and Stability AI.

    Getting Started With Adobe Firefly


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    For this tutorial, we will use Firefly solely in the website setting rather than within Photoshop itself. We’ll save that for a later post. Before we get to that, though, let’s look at the features of the web version of Firefly, so you’ll know what to expect when using it.

    Currently, there are four tools available on the Firefly website:

    • Text to image: Generate images from a text prompt
    • Generative Fill: Remove objects (including backgrounds) or paint in (inpainting) new ones using text
    • Text effects: Apply styles and textures to text using a prompt
    • Generative Recolor: Create color variations of your vector art from a text prompt

    Text to image

    generative fill

    Image created with Adobe Firefly

    The first tool, text-to-image, allows you to generate images using a text prompt. The interface is simple, with only two options: entering a text prompt and clicking the generate button to create art. One of the cool things about the interface is that you can scroll through other artists’ creations to gain inspiration, view their associated text prompts, or even try one out by hovering over an image and clicking the Try Prompt button.

    Firefly interface

    Place a descriptive prompt in the text bar to create an image, then click the generate button. Firefly will do its best to interpret your prompt, then provide four images. After your image is generated, you’ll have a wealth of options at your disposal.

    Text to Image Settings

    These settings are where Adobe Firefly shines. With other AI art generators, such as Midjourney, you get better results when you use descriptors in your prompts, such as cinematic lighting, macro photography, or highly detailed. In Firefly, that’s optional, thanks to the many filters and settings it provides.

    text-to-image settings

    1. Clear Style: By default, Firefly will add the Art content type to your image; you can click this button to remove it, then replace it with another.
    2. Refresh: If you want to re-run your prompt, you can click the refresh button to ask Firefly to give it another go.
    3. Aspect Ratio: By default, images are generated in a 1:1 ratio (square). However, you can choose from additional ones, including landscape, portrait, widescreen, or vertical.
    4. Content Type: Four styles including none, photo, graphic, and art.
    5. Styles: You can filter through different style types to give your images different looks. Overall, there are 63 options in 7 categories.
    6. Color and Tone: If you want a certain color or tone, you can choose from 7 presets, including black and white, muted color, warm tone, cool tone, vibrant color, or pastel color.
    7. Lighting: options include backlighting, dramatic lighting, golden hour, studio lighting, and low lighting.
    8. Composition: Want to create a close-up shot or wide angle? No problem. Adobe Firefly comes with 7 options to add lighting effects to your images.

    To put these settings to the test, we used the text prompt sports car on pavement, wet streets without any additional descriptors. It produced very realistic results on our first try:

    Firefly no descriptors

    Next, we added the following settings:

    • Aspect ratio: Widescreen
    • Content type: Art
    • Style: Science Fiction
    • Color and tone: Warm
    • Lighting: Dramatic
    • Composition: Shot from below

    The Output

    After applying these settings, we ended up with a dramatically different, more interesting, and more detailed set of images.

    Firefly with descriptors

    While the results are impressive, there’s room for improvement. Unlike other AI systems, Adobe doesn’t give you a way to add a negative prompt, which would be a great addition. Negative prompts help AI to learn what you don’t want in your images. However, we’re optimistic that will change soon as Adobe works out the kinks and adds more features.

    Generative Fill

    generative fill

    Image created with Adobe Firefly

    The next AI tool, generative fill, allows you to erase backgrounds or add inpainting to your images. You start by uploading an image, then adding or subtracting an area within the image you wish to change. Let’s take a look at the settings for the generative fill tool.

    generative fill settings

    1. Insert: Mode to add elements to images
    2. Remove: Mode to remove elements from images
    3. Pan: move the image around the canvas
    4. Add: Allows you to erase parts of your image, then add something in its place
    5. Subtract: Allows you to remove aspects of your image
    6. Settings: Controls the size, hardness, and opacity of the brush tool
    7. Background: AI determines the image’s subject, then removes the surrounding background
    8. Invert: Inverts the selection
    9. Clear: Removes all styles

    We uploaded an image of a lake house to test Adobe’s generative fill tool to add elements. We started with the add tool to erase areas on the deck. Next, we asked Firefly to place a dog in the area we erased from the photo. Before generating the new area of our image, we tweaked some additional settings within the generative fill tool.

    Generative Fill Image Settings

    Adobe Firefly generative fill

    First, we selected the add tool to erase a section of the photo. Next, we entered our keyword, dog, then clicked the settings button. From there, we assigned freeform as the matching shape. This lets Firefly know that you want the inpainting to fill the area we erased but not conform to it. Next, we set the preserve content slider to new. This tells Firefly not to use the original image to generate the new one; rather, follow our text prompt. Then we set the guidance strength to prompt rather than the original image. Setting this to the original image would tell Firefly to fill the area with surrounding elements of the original image rather than be guided by our prompt. Finally, we clicked the generate button to add our dog.

    Adobe Firefly inpainting

    Firefly did a pretty good job adding a dog to the deck of our image. One cool thing about this is that it generates four different looks, just like in the text-to-image tool. This allows you to choose the one you like the most. If you aren’t satisfied with any of the options, click the + more button to generate four additional images.

    additional image generations

    Text Effects

    The text effects in Firefly work much like text-to-image. Add a text prompt describing the image you wish to create, then apply settings as you see fit. The text effect tool has a few settings, including text effect fit, which allows you to control how close you’d like the text to conform to the letters. You can also choose one of twelve fonts and apply any number of colors to either the text itself or the background.

    Generative Recolor

    generative recolor

    Adobe Firefly’s generative recolor tool enables artists to generate unique colors and color palettes for vector art. It works by uploading an SVG file, then adding a text prompt to describe the color palette you’d like your art to incorporate. There are a few settings you can use to improve the output, including a collection of sample prompts with various colors, a harmony selector, where you can choose from complementary, analogous, and more, along with a color picker to select additional colors.

    Tips for Creating Stunning AI Art with Adobe Firefly

    Creating AI art can be an exciting and rewarding experience, but it can also be challenging. To help you get started, here are five tips to make your AI art more effective and engaging. From selecting the right styling keyword to experimenting with modifiers and combinations, these tips will help you take your AI art to the next level.

    1. Start With an Idea

    When experimenting with Firefly, start with a general idea of what you want to create and include a subject. The subject can be anything from a building to an animal or car. The sky is the limit with AI. However, remember that AI still has its limitations when handling text (although this will likely change in the future). Therefore, it’s best to avoid prompts involving word depiction.

    Firefly text

    For example, it’s a great idea to use AI art generators for logo concepts, but remember that prompting Firefly to include words will likely provide undesirable results. If you want to use AI to create logos with text, you might be better off going with a tool such as Canva or Designs.ai.

    2. Use Style Modifiers

    Remember to include style modifiers when crafting your prompts to enhance your images. Firefly offers a wide range of presets, making it easy to follow this tip. However, suppose you use a style modifier in your text prompt that matches a preset. In that case, Firefly will omit the word from the prompt and incorporate it as a style. For instance, if you add modifiers like “hyper-realistic” or “dramatic lighting,” they will be automatically removed, and the associated style will be selected for you.

    For example, when creating this image, we used the hyper-realistic style preset, along with dynamic lighting, beautiful, and bioluminescent.

    use style modifiers

    Image created with Adobe Firefly

    3. Add a Boost Word or Two

    Boosters are adjectives that increase the quality of your output when used. You can use words such as beautiful, highly detailed, dark, etc. Generally, you’ll get better results using these types of words rather than simply stating a subject. In addition to adjectives, use words that depict an act taking place. For example, if you want to create an interesting photo of a lion in the jungle, include the word running to give Firefly a better idea of what you’re looking for.

    4. Be Clear, Yet Descriptive

    It is essential to be specific and detailed to achieve the best results. By providing clear instructions and details when creating prompts, you enhance the quality of your art. This specificity gives the AI more information, increasing the likelihood of satisfying results. However, striking a balance and avoiding overly long prompts is important. While descriptors and modifiers can be helpful, too many words may confuse and hinder the AI’s understanding.

    5. Add Repetitions

    While this concept may seem counterproductive, it actually can work well in some settings. This is basically because of the way AI algorithms work. Since most of the current artificial intelligence systems use a form of machine learning called supervised learning, an AI trained on specific data can associate what you are looking for more clearly if you repeat certain modifiers. For example, using the prompt glowing river in a cave, blue and green glow, blue water will likely produce better results than a river in a cave would.

    glowing river in a cave

    Image created with Adobe Firefly

    Showcase of AI Art Created with Adobe Firefly

    Now for the fun part. Rather than just explaining what Adobe Firefly can do, we’ve included a few more examples with the prompts we used to create each piece. Enjoy!

    Prompt: A lion running through the African jungle, professional color grading, soft shadows, no contrast, clean sharp focus, blurred background, film photography.

    Result:

    generative fill

    Image created with Adobe Firefly

    Prompt: A fish swimming in a coral reef, ultra-realism in 4K, Canon EOS-1D X Mark III, Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR, f/1.4, Light Painting.

    Result:

    Firefly fish swimming in a coral reef

    Image created with Adobe Firefly

    Prompt: Steampunk style with splashes of water.

    Result:

    Firefly water letters

    Image created with Adobe Firefly

    Prompt: 1800’s Native American warrior, full headdress, sharp focus, bioluminescent lighting, blue and green lighting, soft shadows, professional color grading, no contrast. Style: hyper-realistic.

    Result:

    Native American warrior

    Image created with Adobe Firefly

    Prompt: A beautiful mountain scene, a modern log cabin with large windows, smoke coming out of the chimney, and snow-capped peaks. Style: photo, hyper-realistic, dramatic lighting.

    Result:

    mountain scene

    Image created with Adobe Firefly

    Final Thoughts on Adobe Firefly

    Firefly is a relative newcomer to the AI scene, joining the likes of AI powerhouses, like Jasper, Midjourney, and Photosonic. With Adobe’s expertise in all things digital, it’s likely to be leading the pack before long. Even though it’s still in beta, creators can use it to get a good idea of what AI can do. Plus, they have a few features that other AI systems don’t, including text effect images that you can download with a transparent background. Additionally, the output resolution is much higher than with other AI art generators, which is a major plus.

    Another thing we should mention is that Adobe is taking the ethical use of AI seriously. So seriously, in fact, that they watermark and embed metadata in each image generated in Firefly. In our opinion, this is an excellent way to ensure that AI-generated images are easily identifiable and used responsibly.

    Looking for more tips on creating AI Art? Check out these posts:

    Have you tried Adobe Firefly? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

    The post How to Create AI Art with Adobe Firefly in 2023 appeared first on Elegant Themes Blog.

  • Get a Free Email Marketing Layout Pack for Divi

    Hey Divi Nation! Thanks for joining us for the next installment of our weekly Divi Design Initiative; where each week, we give away a brand new Layout Pack for Divi.

    This time around, the design team has created a beautiful Email Marketing Layout Pack that’ll help you get your next Email Marketing website up and running in no time!

    This layout pack includes:

    – 7 Premade page layouts strategically designed for any Email Marketing website (including a footer design)
    – Original, royalty-free photos and graphics + customizable source file (see below)
    – Plus, a large collection of pre-designed website elements that are customizable and reusable anywhere.

    This layout pack is available right inside Divi for all Divi customers for FREE as the latest addition to our growing Divi library of hundreds of premade layout packs, thousands of page designs, and countless web design elements and resources.

    divi layout

    Check Out The Divi Email Marketing
    Layout Pack Below

    Get it for free today!

    Email Marketing layout pack

    Landing Page Design

    Email Marketing layout pack

    View The Live Layout Demo

    Home Page Design

    Email Marketing Layout Pack for Divi

    View The Live Layout Demo

    Services Page Design

    Email Marketing Layout Pack for Divi

    View The Live Layout Demo

    Service Page Design

    Email Marketing Layout Pack for Divi

    View The Live Layout Demo

    About Page Design

    Email Marketing Layout Pack for Divi

    View The Live Layout Demo

    Blog Page Design

    Email Marketing Layout Pack for Divi

    View The Live Layout Demo

    Contact Page Design

    Email Marketing Layout Pack for Divi

    View The Live Layout Demo

    Key Features

    Do you need an email marketing website for yourself or a client? Look no further than the Email Marketing Layout Pack for Divi, designed to skyrocket your traffic and drive sales. This incredible pack combines eye-catching movement and vibrant pops of color, blending seamlessly with compelling text, resulting in a design that will effectively showcase your email marketing business.

    Live Demos

    Click the links below to see a live demo for each of the layouts included in the pack.

    1. Email Marketing Landing Page (live demo)
    2. Email Marketing Home Page (live demo)
    3. Email Marketing Services Page (live demo)
    4. Email Marketing Service Page (live demo)
    5. Email Marketing About Page (live demo)
    6. Email Marketing Blog Page (live demo)
    7. Email Marketing Contact Page (live demo)

    Access This Layout Right Now
    Directly from Your Divi Builder

    Since Version 3.0.99 of Divi, you can find and import any of the layouts included in this pack (along with ALL of Divi’s Premade Layout packs) directly from the Divi Builder. They are already waiting for you.

    To access your new layout, simply activate the Visual Builder when editing a page and look for the “Load From Library” icon in the page settings bar (it looks like a plus symbol). Click this icon to launch the Load From Library popup. Under the Premade Layouts tab, you can easily find the new layout by scrolling through the list of layout packs. Once you find the Email Marketing Layout Pack, click on it. You will see all the individual layouts included in the pack. Select the layout you want to use and then click the “Use This Layout” button.

    Email Marketing Layout Pack for Divi

    For more, check out this video to learn how you can get this layout pack up and running today.

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    Authentication Required

    Before you can download Premade Layouts from the Divi Library you must authenticate your Elegant Themes Subscription. You can do this by navigating to Divi > Theme Options > Updates. There you can enter your username and API key and save changes.

    Email Marketing Layout Pack for Divi

    You can find your API Key under your members area on the Elegant Themes site. After you enter the Username and API Key, you will gain immediate access to our library of hundreds of free layouts (including this one). If you haven’t done this, when you click to import a layout to your page, you will be prompted to enter your Elegant Themes Membership Username and API Key.

    Use Layout Images for FREE with No Licensing Restrictions

    Email Marketing Layout Pack for Divi

    The image assets included with these layouts (icons, illustrations, photos, etc.) have no licensing restrictions. This means you can use them in all of your commercial projects without having to worry about paying licensing fees or attributing the photographer. Use them in your commercial websites, sell them within your Divi child themes, include them in your own Divi layout packs or just use them on your blog. We know how challenging it can be to find good photos and how confusing and scary the licensing that governs those photos can be. We want to fix that problem for our users.

    Download the Full Res Image Assets

    New Layout Pack Every Week!

    We hope you enjoy this layout pack. We look forward to hearing your opinions in the comment section below. Make sure you check out next week’s layout pack as well!

    The post Get a Free Email Marketing Layout Pack for Divi appeared first on Elegant Themes Blog.

  • How to Generate Beautiful AI Images with Stable Diffusion (2023)

    There is much to learn about new tools, such as Stable Diffusion, OpenAI, Midjourney, and other AI art generators. As creative professionals, we owe it to ourselves to embrace this new technology, learn what we can, and use it as a tool to make our lives easier. In this post, we’ll look closer at Stable Diffusion and how to use it to create gorgeous AI images.

    Let’s get started.

    What is Generative AI?

    Generative AI is the process of generating new content based on existing data through machine learning. With Generative AI, users can create various content, including text, images, videos, and other synthetic data. Unlike supervised learning, where a machine uses labeled data to train models, machine learning uses unlabeled data to find patterns and structures without supervision or feedback. It provides a high quality of work in a fraction of the time it would take a human to create so it can be an incredibly useful tool for creators.

    What is Stable Diffusion?

    Stable Diffusion is a powerful AI image generator that can create images from a text prompt. You can produce output using various descriptive text inputs like style, frame, or presets. In addition to creating images, SD can add or replace parts of images thanks to inpainting and extending the size of an image, called outpainting. You can edit a generative or uploaded image, whether the image was created with AI or not. Like OpenAI, SD is completely open source, so it’s free for anyone to use.

    Stable Diffusion

    Using Stable Diffusion for Image Generation


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    There are primarily two ways that you can use Stable Diffusion to create AI images, either through an API on your local machine or through an online software program like DreamStudio, WriteSonic, or others.

    DreamStudio

    If you plan to install Stable Diffusion locally, you need a computer with beefy specs to generate images quickly. However, with recent advancements, you can get by with the following:

    • Windows, MacOS, or Linux operating system
    • Graphics card with at least 4GB of VRAM
    • 12GB or more installation space, preferably through a solid state drive (SSD)

    That said, most users will run SD in an online software setting to avoid the hassle of setting everything up locally. For this tutorial, we’ll use SD’s flagship software, DreamStudio.ai. It comes with a simple and intuitive interface with various settings and editing tools to get the most out of Stable Diffusion.

    DreamStudio interface

    Understanding Prompts for AI Image Generation

    Before creating images with DreamStudio, we’d be remiss if we didn’t explain how to make the best prompts for Stable Diffusion image creation. After all, prompts are a crucial component of the image generation process. First, it’s important to know that a prompt consists of three main parts: frame, subject, and style. The frame defines the size and composition of the image. In contrast, the subject describes the object or objects of the picture. Finally, the style specifies the visual characteristics of the image. Examples of style could be famous artists such as Pablo Picasso or Ansel Adams, an art style or medium like acrylic or oil painting, line art, etc., or descriptive text such as the angle and composition.

    For example, we asked DreamStudio to generate an image of a Goldendoodle and Nova Scotia duck tolling retriever in a photorealistic, over-the-shoulder view. Here are the results:

    Stable Diffusion example

    Tips For Creating Effective Prompts

    To create effective prompts in Stable Diffusion, it’s important to be specific about what you want. Be sure to provide clear instructions for each prompt component (frame, subject, and style), and above all else, be descriptive.

    Use Keywords

    As a good rule of thumb, try to incorporate as many of these keywords as possible:

    • Subject: What you want to see in an image (example: mountain, cat, car, etc.)
    • Medium: the material used, such as digital painting, illustration, photography, etc.
    • Style: This refers to the artistic style desired, such as impressionist, realism, hyperrealistic, etc.
    • Artist: Name a specific famous artist, such as Rembrandt, Picasso, etc.
    • Resolution: infers how sharp and detailed an image is. Use words such as highly detailed, ultrarealistic, etc.
    • Additional details: Add in additional descriptors (modifiers) to enhance an image
    • Color: Add colors to guide SD to create images of a certain color or tone, such as light blue, deep red, etc.
    • Lighting: Add lighting effects through keywords like cinematic lighting, dark, etc.

    Add Negative Prompts

    In addition to keywords, you can use negative prompts to steer SD in the right direction. Negative prompts are aspects you don’t want to see in your generative output. This is a great way to omit unwanted elements in your images. For example, we used this prompt in DreamStudio, along with this negative prompt to leave out things we didn’t want to see:

    Prompt:
    an image of a Goldendoodle in a photorealistic, over-the-shoulder view. Add detailed grass, a lake, and mountains in the foreground. Add cinematic lighting, high detail, and sharp focus.

    Negative Prompt:
    extra limbs, disfigured, deformed, body out of frame, bad anatomy, watermark, signature, cut off, low contrast, underexposed, overexposed, bad art, beginner, amateur, distorted face, blurry, draft, grainy.

    Result:

    negative prompt

    Don’t Forget the Style

    Remember to use the style selector when familiarizing yourself with DreamStudio (or any other generative AI that uses Stable Diffusion). This helps SD identify the style you’re looking for and will apply the appropriate styling model chosen. Right now, there are 16 style presets available, which will give you different looks. We suggest familiarizing yourself with the style presets to create different types of art.

    DreamStudio’s 16 style presets:

    • Enhance
    • Anime
    • Photographic
    • Digital Art
    • Comic Book
    • Fantasy Art
    • Analog Film
    • Neon Punk
    • Isometric
    • Low Poly
    • Origami
    • Line Art
    • Craft Clay
    • Cinematic
    • 3D Model
    • Pixel Art

    Using DreamStudio to Generate Images

    Now that we’ve gotten you up to speed on Stable Diffusion and tips for creating beautiful AI images, let’s focus on DreamStudio. When you sign up, you’ll receive 25 credits, which is generally enough to create 125 images. If you need more, you can purchase 1000 credits for roughly 5000 images for $10.

    DreamStudio account

    Navigating the DreamStudio Interface

    Upon your initial login, you’ll be directed to the DreamStudio interface. Let’s explore the different tools and settings, so you can familiarize yourself with the platform to generate AI images.

    DreamStudio tools

    1. Generate tab: Where you’ll generate AI images.
    2. Edit tab: for altering your images.
    3. Style: Select one of 16 image styles.
    4. Prompt: Where you’ll describe the image you want to create.
    5. Negative prompt: Image characteristics you want to avoid.
    6. Upload image: Generate AI based on an uploaded image.
    7. Image aspect ratio: 10 available size presets including 7:4 (896×512), 3:2 (768×512), 4:3 (683×512), 5:4 (640×512), 1:1 (512×512), 4:5 (512×640), 3:4 (512×683), 2:3 (512×768), and 4:7 (512×896).
    8. Image count: Choose between 1-4 images to output. The more images you create, the more credits are required.
    9. Prompt strength: Controls how strongly SD weighs your prompt. By default, Stable Diffusion uses a value of 15, which can be adjusted from 1-30.
    10. Generation steps: Be default, this parameter is set to 50. You can choose between 1-100, with higher values generally producing higher-quality results.
    11. Seed: Controls the random seed as the base of the image. Values range from 1 and roughly 4.3 million. Using the same seed with the same settings will provide similar results.
    12. Model: There are three models, each providing varying results: Stable Diffusion v2.1, Stable Diffusion v2.1-768m, and SDXL Beta (default).
    13. Dream: Generates the image based on your prompt. DreamStudio advises how many credits your image will require, allowing you to adjust your settings for a less or more costly image generation.
    14. Output: This is where your generated images will appear.

    After generating an image, click on it to make changes such as generating variations, editing, using the image as a basis for similar generated images, reusing the same prompt, or downloading it.

    Stable Diffusion image tools

    Fine-Tuning Generated Images

    After generating AI art, you can use the edit tab to fine-tune your images. You can erase aspects of your image, such as the background, faces, and more. From there, you can add an additional prompt to combine your original photo with another one. This technique, called inpainting, is perfect for combining styles or themes in your images. For example, we generated an image of an astronaut, then erased the original background of the photo.

    Stable Diffusion eraser

    Next, we created an additional prompt to ask SD to add an image of the moon’s surface with cinematic, volumetric lighting in ultra-high definition and realism. The results worked quite well.

    adding a new background

    Over time, we expect DreamStudio to expand upon these editing tools to make it easier to create cool mashups, stunning effects, and more.

    Saving Generated Images

    When you’re ready to share your creation with the world, DreamStudio makes it easy. Click the download button in the main image preview window by hovering over the image.

    download image

    Alternatively, you can click on the image to bring up a larger preview, then click the download button from within the image preview.

    Stable Diffusion image preview

    Finally, upon clicking the download button, you can download your image at the original size or pay a small fee (credit) to upscale it.

    image upscaling with Stable Diffusion

    Final Thoughts on Stable Diffusion

    Stable Diffusion is an innovative technology that is revolutionizing the way artists create. Using effective, descriptive text prompts, you can create high-quality images and edit them to suit your needs. The use of Stable Diffusion, along with other generative AI, such as Midjourney, Photosonic, and others, has become an increasingly popular way to create digital art. As generative AI evolves, using it responsibly and ethically is important. After all, AI is designed as an assistive tool, not a job replacement.

    If you’d like to learn more about generative AI and the tools used to create it, check out some of our other posts related to all things AI:

    The post How to Generate Beautiful AI Images with Stable Diffusion (2023) appeared first on Elegant Themes Blog.

  • What is AI? A Beginner’s Guide to Artificial Intelligence (2023)

    Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a hot-button topic in recent months because of its potential to revolutionize how we live and work. Because of this, there is much to learn about it. In this post, we’ll explore the basics of artificial intelligence, including the different types of AI, how it works, and the applications you can use if you’re a creative type. We will also discuss the future of AI and how to use it responsibly.

    Let’s dive in.

    What is AI?

    What is AI

    Image created with Midjourney

    Artificial intelligence encompasses a range of technologies that empower computers to perform advanced tasks, such as visual perception, language comprehension and translation, data analysis, question answering, artistic creation, video generation, and much more. Serving as the backbone of modern computing, AI showcases astonishing capabilities. For instance, it can effortlessly transform a text prompt into a high-quality image (like the images in this post), simplify the removal of backgrounds from photos, facilitate autonomous driving in vehicles, and even engage customers through AI-powered chatbots.

    The origins of AI trace back to 1955 when John McCarthy, an assistant professor of mathematics at Dartmouth, introduced this groundbreaking field of study. McCarthy envisioned AI as a means to “utilize language, develop abstractions and concepts, tackle problems typically reserved for humans, and enhance its own performance.” Despite the broad scope of AI, its fundamental objective remains consistent: constructing computer programs capable of problem-solving and goal achievement on par with human capabilities.


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    Types of AI

    To truly understand what AI is, you need to understand the types of AI available. There are three main types: narrow or weak AI, general or strong AI, and super AI. Let’s explore each one so you can wrap your brain around each type.

    Narrow or Weak Artificial Intelligence

    narrow or weak AI

    Image created with Midjourney

    With this type of AI, the computer doesn’t possess full cognitive abilities; its intelligence is based on training for that specific task. Examples of narrow AI include image recognition systems, speech recognition systems, and AI chatbots. For instance, digital voice assistants like Siri and Alexa, search engines like Google or Bing, and autonomous vehicles like Telsa all use narrow or weak AI to function. In fact, all modern AI tools, AI art generators and AI chatbots, are all examples of weak AI.

    General or Strong Artificial Intelligence

    general AI

    Image created with Midjourney

    The next type of AI, general or strong AI, is also known as artificial general intelligence (AGI). These systems are not limited to a specific area of expertise and can perform various tasks beyond those of weak AI programs. While we have yet to achieve this level of technology, researchers aim to create intelligence equal to humans. The goal of strong AI is to one day have a machine that has self-aware consciousness, can discern needs and emotions, and can solve any number of problems, learn, and plan for the future. So far, the only examples of general AI are present in movies, with characters such as R2-D2 or Hal in 2001: A Space Odyssey.

    Super Artificial Intelligence

    super AI

    Image created with Midjourney

    Artificial superintelligence (ASI) is a type of AI that allows machines to exceed human capabilities. These systems would be able to do things such as predict the future, create new scientific methods, and more. With ASI, scientists could solve some of our largest problems, such as curing cancer, ending world hunger, or balancing the federal budget. While these seem out of the realm of possibility, scientists hope to use AI to improve our world. That said, this type of artificial intelligence is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, we could use this technology to enhance our way of life. On the other hand, it could end life as we know it.

    How Does Artificial Intelligence Work?

    How AI works

    Image created with Midjourney

    AI works by processing large amounts of data and using algorithms, a set of rules, to recognize keywords to identify the type of help you’re looking for. It is programmed to think, act, and respond like a human. It encompasses three types of machine learning: supervised, unsupervised, and reinforcement, to develop these algorithms to offer solutions, answer questions, make predictions, or offer suggestions.

    Every time an artificial intelligence system processes data, it tests and measures its performance, then learns from it. Unlike humans, machines don’t need breaks, so they can run millions of tasks quickly, learning as they go. It is important to understand that AI is not merely a solitary computer program or application but a field of study.

    What is Machine Learning?

    ChatGPT

    Machine learning is a type of AI that focuses on developing algorithms to learn from data. It enables computers to learn or train themselves from large amounts of existing data. For example, OpenAI’s ChatGPT uses several data sets containing over 570GB of text data from the internet, including books, articles, websites, and even social media. This enables ChatGPT to be one of the leading generative AI programs available, with many uses.

    There are three main types of machine learning: supervised learning, unsupervised learning, and reinforcement learning.

    Supervised Learning

    Supervised learning allows computers to learn from labeled examples, meaning the input data already has known outputs. For example, a computer can be trained to recognize cats in pictures by showing many images of labeled cats. The computer can then use this training to accurately identify cats in new photos. You may already be familiar with this concept if you have an iPhone or Android device.

    Let’s say you’ve taken photos of a family pet with your iPhone. When you click on the picture, iPhone recognizes the image of your pet and provides a link to the type of pet it thinks is shown in the photo.

    supervised learning

    Unsupervised Learning

    unsupervised learning

    Image created with Midjourney

    Unlike supervised learning, unsupervised learning is self-organized and doesn’t require labeled data. Examples of unsupervised learning are clustering, which group data points together based on similarity, and dimensionality reduction, which finds the most important features of that data and reduces its size. Additionally, there’s anomaly detection, which is used to find data points that are unusual or out of the ordinary. Some examples of unsupervised learning in artificial intelligence are fraud detection in banking, cybersecurity, speech recognition, and marketing techniques such as customer segmentation.

    Reinforcement Learning

    This type of machine learning is the closest to human learning as machines can get. Machines can learn to follow instructions, conduct testing, operate equipment, and more through training. Reinforcement learning revolves around a digital program put into a specific learning environment. Like human learning, the digital agent faces a game-like situation and makes a series of decisions to try and achieve the right outcome. It learns by repeatedly failing, remembering to avoid repeating the same pattern. Correct answers are rewarded, while incorrect ones disperse punishment, teaching the software to avoid doing the wrong thing again. Some examples of reinforcement learning are robots that aid in the car manufacturing process, predictive text (think text messaging), healthcare diagnoses, and energy consumption.

    Google DeepMind

    For example, Google implemented reinforcement learning to control the energy expended through its data centers. With the help of DeepMind, Google has managed to reduce its data centers cooling bills by 40%.

    What are Large Language Models?

    A large language model (LLM) is a machine learning model that leverages deep learning techniques to process and comprehend language. It can process large amounts of data, learn intricate language patterns, and perform tasks such as answering questions, engaging in conversations, and tackling problem-solving scenarios. The most recognizable example of an LLM is ChatGPT, which, as previously mentioned, was trained on over 570GB of data.

    Multiple layers of neural networks (similar to the human brain) comprise LLMs, which work together to analyze text and make predictions. They utilize left-to-right patterns to predict the likely association of words with one another. LLMs mirror a human’s ability to anticipate what might follow a word in a sentence.

    How to Creatively Use AI

    There are countless ways to use AI, including creatively. There are plenty of excellent AI tools to improve your productivity in several ways. These include AI writing tools, AI Art generators, and AI video generators. Let’s look at a few tools you can incorporate into your daily work schedule up your AI game.

    AI Writing Tools: Jasper

    Jasper AI writing tool

    Jasper is one of the best AI writing tools out there. It’s primarily used for generating SEO-quality copy. It has many features, including a natural language processor (NLP) that you can use to analyze and rewrite your content to make it more engaging. It’s also a great tool for correcting punctuation, improving your writing style, or generating new copy.

    Pricing: Plans start at $29/mo, but Plagiarism Checker plans start at $59/mo for Boss Mode.

    Get Jasper

    AI Art Generators: Midjourney

    MidJourney AI Art Generator

    There is a lot of text-to-image software available right now, but few are better than Midjourney. Built on a Discord server, users can describe the image they wish to create using only a text prompt. You can use any number of descriptors to create pictures based on style, subject, and parameters to make the most realistic images imaginable. The interface takes time to learn, but even the greenest AI user can create gorgeous, lifelike pictures with Midjourney.

    Pricing: Free, Paid plans start at $10 monthly.

    Get MidJourney

    AI Video Generators: Pictory

    Picture AI Video creator

    One of the best AI video generators out right now is Pictory. You can create short, branded, long-form, and everything in between with text-to-video generative AI. You can easily turn scripts, blog posts, or simple text descriptions into videos in just a few minutes. Plus, there are over three million images, stickers, and other design elements that you can use in the final product.

    Pricing: Free, with premium monthly plans starting at $23.

    Try Pictory

    How to Use Artificial Intelligence Responsibly

    Even though AI has existed for several decades, the general public has remained largely unaware of it until recently. Whether you love or hate it, AI tools can dramatically boost productivity in our daily lives. That said, if we use it, we must use it ethically.

    Here are a few tips to follow:

    1. Use it as an assistive tool: The most important thing to remember is to use it to help you, not do your job for you. It’s fine to use it to help with blog topics, generate outline ideas, create image assets, or for similar tasks. Never use it as a job replacement.
    2. Fact check everything: If you use generative AI, such as ChatGPT, Jasper, or Writesonic, be sure to always check the output for accuracy. People using it for a while can tell you that AI will sometimes lie to you. Take what it says with a grain of salt.
    3. Choose a reputable tool: With the emergence of so many artificial intelligence programs, it’s critically important to use a tool that is widely recognized. Be sure to thoroughly research any tool you use by reading reviews and examining their privacy and security practices.

    The Future of AI

    the future of AI

    Image created with Midjourney

    Whether we like it or not, the artificial intelligence revolution has arrived, and it’s up to each one of us to embrace it, learn from it, and utilize it responsibly. As this groundbreaking technology continues to evolve, we should anticipate some challenges along the way. While some fear it may result in job losses, others remain hopeful that new opportunities will arise to replace lost ones. Regardless, we owe it to ourselves to learn how to use it to increase productivity, make us more marketable as employees, and help responsibly usher in this new and exciting era.

    Final Thoughts on Artificial Intelligence

    If you’re still on the fence about AI, try testing a few applications to see what all the fuss is about. For writing, check out Jasper. They offer a 7-day free trial, so you can get a good feel for what it can do. Looking to create videos or images? Give Pictory and Midjourney a try. Pictory offers a free trial, but Midjourney doesn’t. However, once you see the results you can achieve with it, you will be fine paying $10 a month.

    Do you want to learn more about AI? Check out a few of our how-to posts to help you get the most out of artificial intelligence.

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    What is AI in simple terms?

    In simple terms, Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to the ability of machines (or computers) to think, learn, and act like humans. AI uses advanced technology to make human tasks much more efficient. It can learn from data, solve problems, make decisions, and communicate with humans with surprising accuracy.

    What are some recent examples of AI?

    There are countless ways AI is being used today. Some common examples of AI include:

    • Writing assistance (like Jasper AI writing tool)
    • Art/Image generation (like Midjourney)
    • Virtual assistance (like Siri or Alexa)
    • Video generators (like Pictory)
    • Chatbots (like ChatGPT or Chatsonic)
    • Self-driving cars (like Tesla)
    • Fraud detection (for financial transactions)
    • Medical diagnosis (by analyzing images and data)

    What are the 3 main types of AI?

    Generally, there are three main types of AI:

    • Narrow AI – This weaker level of AI is most common today, found in modern AI tools like Jasper or Midjourney.
    • General AI – This stronger level of AI, also known as artificial general intelligence (AGI) would attain the same level of intellectual capabilities as a human (hypothetically).
    • Super AI – also known as artificial superintelligence, is a hypothetical type of AI that would supersede the capabilities of a human.

    Featured Image via Deezgrafix (me) / midjourney.com

    The post What is AI? A Beginner’s Guide to Artificial Intelligence (2023) appeared first on Elegant Themes Blog.