Repair, reboot and release!

Post 258 of 262

After a long, long time without visible updates but with a lot of things happening behind the scenes, it is now time to bring andreasviklund.com back to life. There are lots of stories to tell, lots of templates to release and lots of plans ahead. As you may possibly have heard during the spring, andreasviklund.com has been sold and is now running under new ownership. Instead of handling everything myself, I am now a part of a team of people who share my interest for functional and standards-compliant web design and whom I will work together with to make the site and the templates even more useful to you. I will continue to run the site and release my work here, free for everyone to download as always, but from now on I will do it as an employee for the new owner. In other words, running this website is now my full-time job and I will be able to put a whole lot more time and energy into the site than I have for the last few years.

I will write more about this in a future post, as well as sharing some of the ideas and plans that the team has for the future. Feedback will be very welcome, and so will any ideas and suggestions you may have. The whole idea with the free templates is that they should be as useful as possible for as many people as possible, so all kinds of input from template users is good. The main plan is to make it easier to learn about XHTML/CSS and how to edit and build websites from the templates. Among other things, I will start writing guides and tutorials and share a lot of tips and tricks. I will also write about more advanced topics, such as how to use website templates as starting points for making themes for different content management systems and blog engines, and how to get your information out to the world. I have done a lot of work with WordPress, so WP-themes will probably be a common topic as well. It will also become easier to get help from me if you run into problems with the templates, and to find answers for common questions about my templates. Again, I will write more about plans and ideas in the next couple of posts!

For now, I just wanted to let you know that I am alive and well, and that you can expect new material soon. For real, this time. You will of course also get the full story about the site affair, the new owner and the team which I am now a part of.

Finally, I’d like to send a bunch of big “thank you!”-greetings to those of you who have sticked around despite the long silence, and of course also to all of you who have sent encouraging messages. Now it is time for me to make it worth the wait, and I honestly think that many of you will want to stick around in the future as well!

,

This article was written by Andreas Viklund

Web designer, writer and the creative engine behind this website. Author of most of the free website templates, along with some of the WordPress themes.

45 comments:

RobertJune 11, 2010 at 04:50Reply

Great news! I’ve been a fan of your templates since literally years, and am absolutely looking forward to what’s coming up. It’s always a pleasure to see something turn out well for people with extraordinary talents.

Jiri KutalJune 11, 2010 at 07:36Reply

Hi, I have ordered your template (http://p7d6.arixmedia.com/4367383672546450/preview/AX0532GR) and payed Jun 9th by PayPal and still don´t have link to download! I have sent email to arixmedia.com but no answer. Can you help me please? If you write me your email, I will send you copy of invoice from PayPal. Jiri Kutal from Czech Republic

MatthiasJune 11, 2010 at 08:20Reply

Hi Andraes,

I hope, things will work out well with new owner and wish you best of luck!

As I have seen, you plan to update the free wordpress themes? Definitely a good thing and I am looking forward for this. BTW: Ever thought of creating a Theme / Template for Drupal?

AlbertoJune 11, 2010 at 09:13Reply

I’m very happy to read you again after such a long time!
I hope you will release new wordpress themes and/or update and re-publish some of the old ones which are not more available.

HermannJune 11, 2010 at 09:42Reply

Very good news, I’m planning to write about the development of your site (job) in future. Your templates are still very popular between wordpress users.

AndreJune 11, 2010 at 09:59Reply

Great.Waiting new wordpress themes :)

ChrisJune 11, 2010 at 12:15Reply

It is good to hear that you are back adreas, although now doing the site in team now. I am also exited waiting for some new wp templates and fresh ideas. Do you introduce your/the team?

SeanJune 11, 2010 at 13:30Reply

Hi Andreas! Thank you for the post. Good to know you are alive and well. It does seem strange that you would sell your domain, especially since it’s your name but it’s nice to know you’ll still be apart of the site. Keep up the great work.

BobJune 11, 2010 at 14:07Reply

Hi Andraes, does not work “old-posts” , and “about” . http://andreasviklund.com/about/ http://andreasviklund.com/old-posts/daleri-structur-as-a-wordpress-theme/

Andreas ViklundJune 11, 2010 at 14:10Reply

Thanks for your comments!

Matthias: I have no specific plans regarding Drupal today. It is one of the content management systems that I would really like to learn more about, but I have found myself returning to using WordPress for most sites I build so I have never really given myself the chance to experiment with Drupal. It on the “to do”-list, definitely, but not a priority right now. But there are several ports of my free templates on Drupal.org that may be worth taking a look at.

Alberto: There will be both updates and new themes for WordPress, that’s for sure. It will take some time though, first priority is to refresh the existing XHTML/CSS templates, release new free templates and expand this site with helpful features and articles.

Chris: Yes, of course I will. :)

Sean: It may seem strange for anyone who is not familiar with my life and my situation during the last couple of years. But for me it was the best thing I could do. Or really the only thing I could do. Selling the site removed a lot of energy-consuming worries, and provided access to talented programmers which is great since I lack programming skills myself. I was also lucky to find a buyer who also wanted to have me on board in the future as well, so I am now able to turn many of the ideas I have had for the site into reality.

Jason ColeJune 11, 2010 at 16:33Reply

Drupal themes (with 7.x compatibility, which indicates that they are more actively maintained):
http://drupal.org/project/Andreas1024px
http://drupal.org/project/daleri-structure

There will indeed be new wordpress themes, such as the one on my site (click my name). It is a wide (and slightly updated for newer versions of WP) version of the andreas01 wordpress theme, with extras, like more header backgrounds. It has not been thoroughly tested, but I will fix any bugs sent to me.

Jiri KutalJune 11, 2010 at 17:24Reply

How can I get my payed template? :-( Is it some fake?! I dont have email in junk, nowhere and it is allready 2 days since I payed :-(

EfloJune 11, 2010 at 19:30Reply

Thanks for the updates. I love your post already. Looking forward to the tutorials! Can’t wait! Thanks and enjoy your week!

FacundoJune 11, 2010 at 19:44Reply

I feel sad, because header was changed from “Website template dessingner, musican, writer” to “website template designer”. As you know, there are still many people who love your music, but that is another matter. I wish you luck in all your projects. That all you meet in life!
Special thanks for recommending the “Antares Autotune :-)”

Andreas ViklundJune 11, 2010 at 21:21Reply

Jiri: No, the commercial templates have worked well for years. I removed them from the site today in order to focus on my own work, but it should not be any problem with orders that have been placed two days ago. Whenever a template buyer has had problems with an order, the one place to turn to is the 4templates.com customer support. They are usually quick to reply if you post a support ticket, and all problems I have got reports of during the last couple of years have been resolved that way. If this doesn’t help, send me the order ID and I’ll post a support ticket through my affiliate login. So far, it has never been needed, but you should of course get the template you have ordered so I will be happy to help if your own support ticket goes unanswered!

Facundo: The music will still be out there on purevolume.com and other sites. I will probably launch a new artist site some time in the future, but that is also not a priority right now. Good luck with the autotuner! :)

Arthur TaucherJune 12, 2010 at 06:15Reply

Andreas, I share your sentiment regarding Drupal. It looks immensly useful from a distance, but I shy away from starting to explore it any deeper as long as my current tools satisfy my needs.

From a gut feeling, though, Drupal is getting more interesting every new release, and with Drupal 7 I will probably bite the bullet and invest some serious time in it.

On topic: Best wishes for your new endeavours!

wordpress themesJune 12, 2010 at 08:31Reply

To celebrate your return! Let’s expect more and better you work.

KrisziJune 12, 2010 at 14:42Reply

Good pointer to your page at purevolume.com! I didn’t know about this.

MatthJune 12, 2010 at 14:57Reply

Hi Andreas,
Chris told me about your fine WP templates. I think we have a similar style in designing. Take a look under http://blog.formideen.de/. Simple and function orientated.
Good luck in your job and future works.
Greetz Matth

KamranJune 12, 2010 at 14:58Reply

Finally an update from you, I am really happy to read it. Keep making new templates.
Keep up the good work man.

GillesJune 12, 2010 at 15:15Reply

Good to know you’re back.

DominikJune 13, 2010 at 07:04Reply

hey, welcome back. As Sean already said, selling your name domain sounds kind of weird at first. Otherwise you’re still here, you’re happy with it and your have a lot of plans – so who cares. Best wishes and I’m curious about your upcoming work!

FrancoJune 13, 2010 at 09:23Reply

It is very nice to see you’re going to write again. I used to stay up-to-date with your blog, from which I stole many design ideas, during past years. PS: do you have any plans to make blogger/blogspot themes?

Andy BeardJune 13, 2010 at 13:57Reply

Glad to see a happy outcome. I followed the story both on domain flipper blogs and also read a few stories in Swedish.

Jon Edward SantillanJune 14, 2010 at 07:34Reply

welcome back and looking forward for your next post and for more templates….
-jon

NeumJune 14, 2010 at 08:43Reply

Its great to have you back. Can’t wait to see the new stuff.

JamesJune 14, 2010 at 17:13Reply

Hello, pleased that you are back.
I was completely surprised when I read the post now.
And I am glad to read it you feel great!
I have read many things that you have before and will now look again more often in here.
The site was far more information empire for me.

CJJune 14, 2010 at 18:27Reply

Nice to see you back, Andreas. Looking forward to what you come up with.

Shame you deleted all your old posts though.

KunaJune 16, 2010 at 16:44Reply

welcome back :)
i`ll subscribe your site .

ChrisJune 16, 2010 at 22:06Reply

May be hire some ghost writers to post on your behalf. As they say, a forum may become a blog if not active. Wonder, what a blog will turn into if not active. “A static website may be”?

ChrisJune 18, 2010 at 11:07Reply

Great to see you back Andreas! Congratulations on the SALE!

I hope you are in best of health now and this money will give you much needed liquidity to fight with problems!

EdwardJune 18, 2010 at 22:52Reply

welcome back friend. i am subscribing to your site. i think everything will be fine now.

Dave BJune 19, 2010 at 01:46Reply

Andreas, great to see you “back in the game”. As noted above I also find it “weird” that you sold your own domain name but it does have lots of value and its sounds like you’ll now be able to work towards some bigger goals. Best wishes for the future.

Simon ByholmJune 20, 2010 at 18:17Reply

Personally I don’t think I could sell my own name on the Internet but as you got yourself a job that you like I can understand the decision.

Does this mean we will see more public domain themes for WP soon?

John EvansJune 20, 2010 at 20:04Reply

Hello Andreas, It’s good to know you’re back, welcome!

JohnJune 22, 2010 at 11:21Reply

Hi Andreas, i am glade you are back, and hope to see some new templates from you.

AinslieJune 23, 2010 at 10:06Reply

Glad to see you back!

midjJune 23, 2010 at 11:12Reply

congrats for your release andreas, waiting for your great job result of excellence theme.

EdJune 24, 2010 at 20:24Reply

Good to see your back Andreas. We hope to see more of you and your work through your blog posts!

Cucho IglesiasSeptember 17, 2010 at 15:00Reply

Great!

This proves true the sentence “Do Your Best And Leave The Rest”.

Regards,

A.

guide44September 30, 2010 at 14:59Reply

welcome back i`ll subscribe your site .

Eat_jimbun83December 2, 2010 at 13:56Reply

thank you hope you always do your best and always keep the spirit sucses

Homes for sale in Southgate MIAugust 15, 2011 at 23:02Reply

Glad to hear you decided to keep the site around, I really like it as someone who needs to design a site soon, but has never done it before.

Jaket KulitAugust 28, 2012 at 10:49Reply

Wow your tutorials here are amazing, I want to subscribe andreasviklund.com!

Peter ReimerJuly 8, 2013 at 17:24Reply

I like the information on this blog. in Germany there are not many of them. many greetings from Germany

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