There’s more to website ownership than meets the eye. However, our clients may not realize this. They might think that the work ends when the site launches. An experienced web designer knows better. A site launch is just the beginning. Content management systems (CMS) like WordPress are a case in point. A steady stream of […]

Retrieving data from a WordPress site can be a nightmare. Site data could reside in several places. Pulling from these various sources isn’t easy. Websites that feature eCommerce or memberships are prime examples. Each plugin may store data in a different spot. Some create separate database tables. Others use the default WordPress locales. Export plugins

The great thing about being a freelancer is that you’re in charge. That can also work against you, though. You make all the decisions. So, who’s to blame when something goes wrong? Just take a look in the mirror. That’s OK. None of us are perfect. And I’m right there with you. I’ve made plenty

WordPress has been around for over 20 years. Part of its continuing popularity stems from how extensible it is. A skilled developer can make the content management system (CMS) do just about anything. Its plugin architecture powers shopping carts, forms, and photo galleries. That’s just the tip of the iceberg, though. Niche functionality abounds, so

Not everything on a website has to be displayed straightforwardly. Sometimes, it’s prudent to hide an element. We can then reveal it automatically or via user interaction. That’s what makes reveal effects so compelling. They can serve dual purposes. The first is to keep our layouts nice and tidy. The second is to add a

It seems like an odd mix on the surface. On one hand, WordPress is a content management system (CMS) that aims to democratize publishing. It’s right there in the mission statement. That harkens back to its roots as a blogging platform. We install the software and push our content out into the world. On the

Part of being a web designer means learning how to deal with extreme situations. Some days can be insanely-busy, stress-filled work marathons. Clients need your help, things are breaking – you know the drill. These types of days make you wonder how you’ll ever get through all the obstacles in your way. Yet you may

There’s a lot to love about WordPress multisite. It allows for hosting multiple websites on a single installation of the content management system (CMS). And it offers a great way to share themes, plugins, and even content among a related group of sites. For example, multisite is often used by larger organizations like universities, governments,

If you build enough eCommerce websites, you’ll eventually discover that none of them are simple. Each one comes with unique challenges. And it takes a lot of work and effort to get things right. Among the biggest challenges is finding out exactly what a client wants and needs. Small businesses, especially ones that haven’t sold

It’s no secret that graphic design and web design are different animals. And despite how far the web has come in terms of flexibility, there are still limitations. For example, CSS has made it possible to create complex layouts. Yet responsiveness and accessibility must also be taken into account. Creating something that can withstand various