WordPress isn't perfect as a Website development platform, especially when working with clients. That’s why we'd like to adopt a particular approach if we would like to make them happy.
There are various elements and processes that make WordPress build way better, simpler, and simpler than the others.
But the funny thing is that, because it seems, producing an excellent WordPress site isn’t actually that difficult once you recognize and understand the working processes.
So what I would like to point out you today is strictly one among those processes – the approach you'll fancy build an excellent WordPress site from top to bottom, and during a way that your clients will love.
The 5-step process of #designing a #WordPress site (& during a way that your client will love)
Let’s get started! And sorry, but there is no other thanks to saying this:
Step #1: Steal!
Yep, steal. As intake stuff.
Whereby stuff I mean ideas.
Note. Don’t ever steal the results of anyone’s work; including code, graphics, brand identity, names, stuff like that.
Again, this is often about stealing ideas only. And albeit you would possibly be quite “I don’t know” about this, let me just say that stealing ideas is that the commonest design practice off all of them.
Here’s a quote by Jim Jarmusch:
“Nothing is original. Steal from anywhere that resonates inspirationally or fuels your imagination. Select only things to steal from that talk on to your soul. If you are doing this, your work (and theft) are going to be authentic. Authenticity is invaluable; originality is non-existent.”
The fact is that a thought in itself has no value. It’s the execution that matters. You'll easily have 10 people start with an equivalent idea, and that they will inevitably find yourself with 10 different results.
Don’t be afraid to steal ideas. If you see something that resonates with you, steal it and be through with it.
Step #2: Lay the groundwork first
This is something I learned a variety of years ago when running an internet design agency: Clients don’t care about how beautiful their site is, they only care about what results it brings.
So step #2 is usually ensuring that you simply understand what the client wants to realize with their site.
(Or what you would like to realize with the location if you’re building it for yourself. the recommendation applies even as much if you’re your own client.)
Once you recognize what you would like to realize (which should be only one main thing and not 5-10 various things, by the way) then you'll still build the entire site around it.
Some of the more popular goals for websites include stuff like generating leads, selling a product, improving brand awareness, etc.
Step #3: Get the proper set of tools
I guess you’re not here for the apparent, so let’s leave the essential tools out of this talk (like Dropbox, Google Drive, Photoshop, and etc.).
Instead, I would like to point out a special set – tools that aren't that documented yet, but they still deliver success and make every WordPress designer’s life easier.
Over the last few years, we’ve been scouring the WordPress landscape wide and deep. This has resulted during a collection of posts that reveal a number of the foremost useful tools a WordPress person can use.
Step #4: to style or to switch – that's the question
There are basically two main ways of building a WordPress site: you'll either take a ready-made theme and modify it here and there (you also can modify the PSD files – most themes accompany those), otherwise you can build the particular structure from the bottom up.
To cut the discussion short, we’re fans of the previous. If you're taking an existing theme or a topic framework then you get tons of functionality out of the box. And that’s functionality that’s been tested by people and proven to figure properly.
Apart from that, you regularly get support, and albeit there’s no support then at least you get a community forum of some kind. In other words, just in case of any difficulties, there’s always someone you'll invite help. Not things when building your design from scratch.
The main theme store we trust – that’s because we’re those running it – is ThemeIsle. If you wish to possess more options, cool, no hard feelings … here’s a resource watching the WordPress theme market, analyzing 110+ theme stores.
Step #5: Get some non-obvious plugins thereon
The main goal we’re going for during this guide is to urge a site built quickly and during a way that clients are absolutely crazy with it.
So the plugins we'd like need to be pushing us towards this goal.
Again, I’m getting to prevent all the apparent plugins you already know of, like WordPress SEO, Contact Form 7 or Akismet (get a full list here). Instead, let’s specialize in the less obvious ones, yet still crucial for your clients.
Advanced Custom Fields – the plugin allows you to customize the interface even further and provides your clients some extra sorts of content and other elements that they will use in their posts (not a one-click wonder plugin though; it requires work).
Revive Old Posts – lately, nobody has the time to share their posts on social media manually a day. This plugin does this for you, or for your clients, in order that they can scratch another thing off their daily to-dos.
Better Click To Tweet – a really nice-looking tweetable block. We use those tons on this blog – you’ve surely seen them.
Optimal – this is often our newest project – a picture optimization plugin that works on autopilot. Just install it, activate, and your images are getting to take up to 80% less space on your server (while still looking even as good).
Your address act!
Out of all the steps described above, I’d say that the last one has the foremost impact on your client’s level of happiness at the end of the day.
Although, you ruin the location, but stay in-tuned and do everything you'll do to repair it, provide tips, advice, and so on, then the client remains likely to return back. That’s because they now have a bond with you that is underlined with tons of trust and understanding.
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