Free WP themes hidden code,,,

1. 69

   Bill Manningposted 13 years ago

   There are a lot of places today you can get free wordpress themes. However I have noticed many include an encrypted code in one of the pages.
   
   Does anyone know why that is there? I want to use a cool theme I found from a popular site. The guy who makes them seems popular and his themes are great.
   
   But in the header page I see a very long encrypted code in it. Frankly it really scares me. Does anyone know why some do that and what it's for?

   replyreport
   1. 81

      thisisoliposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      They are usually in there to protect things like the footer links which contain the theme creators backlink and copyright.

      replyreport
      1. 69

         Bill Manningposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Thanks, I figured that was it. That's another thing about this theme. I know I'm suppose to keep those links in the footer, but one of them goes to a big online pharmacy. I HATE those!
         
         I suppose if I want to use it I have to keep those links in there however. Decisions decisions,,,,

         replyreport
         1. 76

            sunforgedposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            you will also find flash based cookie stuffing scripts, scripts that overwrite afflinks , remnants of code from cracked premium themes that had callback functions, legitimate free themes with callback codes for tracking..etc.
            
            I wouldnt assume the code is anything safe - if you dont know what it does, dont use it.
            
            I only use paid for premium themes nowadays.
            
            even your example sounds like someone  repurposed a theme, replaced the links to their pharma and then republished as a free template

            replyreport
            1. 69

               Bill Manningposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               Thanks sunforged. Yeah I'm not going to use it. I can't even add text in the footer, a great way to add keywords.
               
               I will get one from the wordpress site or get a paid one. Thanks.

               replyreport
2. 69

   Bill Manningposted 13 years ago

   So does anyone know of a good place to BUY sharp looking electronic themes? I'm going nuts looking at all the hundreds out there that always has something wrong with them.

   replyreport
   1. 77

      skyfireposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Paid Themes
      
      1.Thesis Theme - Diythemes.com (Paid Theme)
      2.Genesis theme - studiopress.com (my personal favorite) Paid Theme)
      3. headway themes - headwaytheme.com( Paid Theme)
      
      Free Themes
      
      1. hybrid theme framework
      2. Thematic framework
      3. K2 theme
      4. 2010 theme
      
      Above 7 frameworks don't put any type of encrypted code inside your theme at all.

      replyreport
      1. 69

         Bill Manningposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Thanks much skyfire, I appreciate it. I hope most can be configured to have a leaderboard adsense block in the top header.
         
         It's strange how almost none have that yet it's the best configuration for adsense IMO. Thanks again!

         replyreport
3. 76

   sunforgedposted 13 years ago

   Well every wordpress theme can be configured to have an adsense block in that location by editing the header.php file
   
   but Thesis and genesis make that edit easier w/o having to know php/html.
   
   Havent used headway.
   
   Many find that the header position is an adblind location - mimicking a HP adsense layout is close to the "general" best optimized layout - although the adsense block would be aligned left rather than right.
   
   
   of course, with so many possible variables in how you may have formatted your page - whatever works best for you is the best option.

   replyreport
   1. 69

      Bill Manningposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Oh I put adsense blocks in my content also, as well as adsense text links in the sidebar. I always put one in the middle of a post and the end, colors and background matching the content yet not trying to trick people.
      
      Then I get one or two link type ads in the sidebars, again blending in to fit the theme but clearly showing they are adsense.
      
      However for whatever reason, in a dozen different themes the big header ad always gets the most clicks in my personal experience.

      replyreport
4. 77

   skyfireposted 13 years ago

   Check this blog postif you want to add adsense block to your theme, this tutorial will apply to almost every theme framework out there with some minor changes in shortcodes.

   replyreport
   1. 69

      Bill Manningposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Hmmm, I get a 404. But it's ok, I know pretty much how to do it. Basically you just put the centered code in the header right before it calls for the content.
      
      Depending on where you want it, if it has a top menu and so on. Thanks.

      replyreport
5. 77

   skyfireposted 13 years ago

   I guess that bookmarked post is now moved to another URL. What they explained in the tutorial is -
   
   1. CSS positioning of Adsense using- div tag
   2. Creating adsense-post.php file with publisher code
   3. Linking adsense-post.php from functions.php on every single post
   
   (This tutorial was for single page *in-content ad, so for sidebar and below content ads/footer ads you need to manually update the themes or use hooks plugin of that respective theme framework).
   
   By the way header position ads cause ad blindness so either follow hubpages ad format (with only change of left column ads) or use text link/ad units inside content to make ads more effective.

   replyreport
   1. 69

      Bill Manningposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks again. Your the second person to tell me the header ad spot causes ad blindness. Yet I get the most clicks on my sites from my header one.
      
      I do put the ads also in the content and sidebars. Are you saying that by not showing a header ad I will get more clicks on the other spots I put my ads?

      replyreport
      1. 77

         skyfireposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         If you're using themes like thesis or genesis then header ads like 468x60 or 768x80 are likely to have ad blind effect. Not sure what type of ads and theme you're using but i tried header ads on genesis/thesis theme using amazon/adsense ads and got very few clicks.
         
         My current working ad format is -
         
         1. Below title(content-wrapped-left side) 330x250
         2. Below content 330x250 and 768x80)
         3. Sidebar (120x600 and 300x250)
         4. In-text link units
         
         By the way, i'm not done with link-units(adsense) in header,which appear like stream of text links(without ad description) to users. I have to check how these links perform for over 3-6 month period before commenting.

         replyreport
         1. 69

            Bill Manningposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            I see, thanks for sharing. I use a plug-in called adman that put my ads anywhere I want them to be in my post.
            
            Also a link block in my top right sidebar seems to work well also.

            replyreport
6. 69

   Bill Manningposted 13 years ago

   Hey I have a quick question about buying Genesis. Normally you pick a theme and that's it. But if I buy the basic Genesis package, I don't see what theme I'm getting?
   
   Do you get to pick one once you bought the program? Can you pick any style? I'm a bit lost there. Also is the basic package good for what I want, just one theme?
   
   Thanks and sorry for so many questions!

   replyreport