Two requirements for any website are domain name registration and web hosting. Most web host providers offer both services. You can keep them together at the same company or separate them. There are benefits and disadvantages to both approaches and you'll find all kinds of arguments favoring one over the other. This post addresses how to connect the domain to the website when the domain name is registered at a different provider than the web hosting. There's a mix of what my clients do. So, … [Read more...] about Connecting Domains to Separate Web Hosting
Web Design
How to Use the Modula Custom Grid Gallery
Modula is a fantastic WordPress plugin for creating galleries. It has loads of options in the Settings section, which makes it very flexible. I especially like the Custom Grid gallery type because of its modular nature: the images can be all the same sizes or a mix of sizes. This guide will show you how to (1) create a new gallery, (2) configure it for a custom grid, (3) add images to it and (4) display the gallery on a page or post. (1) Getting Started: Create a New Gallery (2) … [Read more...] about How to Use the Modula Custom Grid Gallery
Cropping Thumbnails in WordPress
WordPress Image Defaults When you upload an image to WordPress, it goes into your Media Library. Then, WordPress generates 3 copies of it at default sizes: thumbnail (150x150 pixels square), medium (300x300 pixels maximum), and large (1024x1024 pixels maximum). Your theme settings may vary or include other sizes in addition to these defaults. The thumbnails, used in in the blog archive list and image galleries (among other things), automatically cut off parts of the original image. Sometimes … [Read more...] about Cropping Thumbnails in WordPress
Beginner’s Guide to Gutenberg Blocks
WordPress replaced the classic editor a few years ago with the Gutenberg block editor. I encourage you to start using it! The original classic editor behaved similarly to a word-processing program: the words and images got placed inside one, long, continuous edit field. With Gutenberg, each type of content has its own block: heads, paragraphs, images, quotes, lists, etc. It's a more modular system, very flexible and easy to style. In this tutorial, I'll introduce you to the basic Gutenberg … [Read more...] about Beginner’s Guide to Gutenberg Blocks
Can I Display Videos in WordPress?
You can display videos and images in WordPress, and there are many good reasons to do so. First of all, they make your website more interesting and engaging. They also enhance SEO by attracting and retaining visitors. In this post, I share my recommended methods for displaying videos in WordPress. Self-Hosted Videos Self-hosted videos are those that you upload to your site. By default, WordPress allows many video formats to be uploaded to the media library. This approach is not always … [Read more...] about Can I Display Videos in WordPress?
Installing WordPress Plugins
WordPress offers a lot right out of the box. But, plugins enhance and extend its functionality with features like SPAM control, security safeguards, contact forms, and slideshows. In this post, we'll show you three ways to install plugins. While two are done inside the WordPress administrative area, one is through FTP. I recommend using bloat-free themes that are accessible, responsive, and well-coded. Add the capabilities you need with plugins. Stay away from multipurpose themes that come … [Read more...] about Installing WordPress Plugins
Front-End vs Back-End of a Website
Web development is the technical aspect of website construction. It consists of a front-end and back-end, which are quite different from each other. But, you need both sides to work together in order to have a properly functioning website. Front-end developers create the user interface and visual styling of a website while back-end developers build its foundation. Front-end Development A website's front-end is everything that is visible to visitors. It includes all of the content … [Read more...] about Front-End vs Back-End of a Website
3 Best Ways to Install WordPress
Each of my clients have a unique combination of webhost, circumstances and needs. As a result, I have been compelled to learn different ways to install WordPress. In this tutorial, I explain my 3 "go-to" methods. All of them are remarkably simple and, in most cases, should take less than 5 minutes! Before Installing WordPress Before diving into the installation processes, let’s review a few preliminary steps. Step 1 – Choose a Domain Name Choosing a good domain name is very … [Read more...] about 3 Best Ways to Install WordPress