My web design and development toolset includes desktop as well as cloud-based applications. I use the tools for brainstorming, thumbnail sketching, design comprehensives, and implementation of code. I'm always open to trying new things. Sometimes, I'll explore a new program, love it, and make the switch. PINTEREST Visual discovery platform I use Pinterest to find, store and categorize images and ideas. It serves as a great reference archive for my designs and artwork. It's part of my … [Read more...] about My Web Design and Development Toolset
Web Design
Migration and Cloning Tools for WordPress Sites
Migration is the process of cloning a website and moving it to another location. Some of the more common reasons for migrating a site are a change of web host, a change in domain name, or creating a development site to test things. There are many migration and cloning tools for WordPress. Plugins are the easiest tools to use for this purpose. In this tutorial, I'll review 3 of my favorite plugins that replicate all of the files and the database from one site to another: Duplicator, Backup Buddy, … [Read more...] about Migration and Cloning Tools for WordPress Sites
SEO for WordPress Content Creators
In January, I facilitated a discussion about SEO at the WordPress Southwest Florida MeetUp. This blog post is a detailed outline of my presentation. SEO Defined SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. It is an ongoing process of preparing your website content for discovery by search engines. Better preparation equals better optimization. Search engines find and sort information relevant to the user, based on key words and tags. There are many search engines, but Google, Yahoo, … [Read more...] about SEO for WordPress Content Creators
Site Migration from WordPress.com to WordPress.org
Free hosting on WordPress.com is a great choice when you don't want the hassle of maintaining the site yourself. However, there are limitations. If you want the freedom to customize, add plugins, and monetize the site, you could upgrade to a premium account or migrate the site to WordPress.org. Migration You copy the content (text and images) and database from one site to another using a process called “migration”. There are a few basic steps to take when migrating a site from … [Read more...] about Site Migration from WordPress.com to WordPress.org
Why and How You Create WordPress Child Themes
Why You Create Child Themes Child themes are customized versions of an original (“parent”) theme. If you make changes to the parent theme directly, you risk losing those changes whenever the theme is updated. The key benefit of a child theme is that you retain all of your customizations when the parent theme is updated. I usually create the child theme myself, but there are plugins that will do it for you. Furthermore, if you're using a framework like Genesis, you use child themes in addition … [Read more...] about Why and How You Create WordPress Child Themes
Manually Clone a WordPress Site in 5 Steps
It's easy to clone a WordPress site, once you understand a few basics. If you are a newbie to WordPress, using a plugin is the simplest way to do it. That’s how I started out. The first time I cloned a site, I tried to do it manually. Copying the files was simple and straightforward. But, the database mystified me. I had little knowledge of what it was and no idea how to replicate it, so I ended up using a plugin for the entire site migration (files and database). Gradually, as I researched, … [Read more...] about Manually Clone a WordPress Site in 5 Steps
A Guide to Incorporating Social Media with Your Website – part 2
Social Media Platforms - The Usual Suspects Incorporating social media on your website requires using many tools. We continue this series with the "usual suspects" of social media platforms, additional options, and recommended tools for creating content. Facebook Personal accountAll Facebook users must begin by creating a personal account. You can then establish pages for businesses and groups. The essence of Facebook is personal interaction, based initially on your friends, relatives, … [Read more...] about A Guide to Incorporating Social Media with Your Website – part 2
A Guide to Incorporating Social Media with Your Website – part 1
PART 1 - Social Media Overview Integrating social media into your website is an important way to widen your reach, deepen engagement with your audience, and build brand recognition. It’s a form of digital marketing that can be fun and fulfilling. When used with intelligent strategies, social media contributes to increased support, sales and donations. Tell Me a Story The essence of social media for me is telling stories and building community. My dad was a great storyteller. He … [Read more...] about A Guide to Incorporating Social Media with Your Website – part 1