WordPress CMS
The WordPress content management system (CMS) allows you to manage the content on your site with an easy-to-use interface. WordPress is the system behind over 25% of the world’s ten million largest websites and over 59% of all websites using a CMS. It’s 100% open source, will never cost a dime and has a robust user community.
Responsive Development
Every website I build is completely responsive, meaning it has been designed and developed to adapt and look good on all screens and devices, large and small. Rest assured your visitors are getting the experience you intend, no matter how or where they choose to do so.
Nerd Alert
So what’s behind the curtain of my custom WordPress websites? A bunch of nerdtastic code and other awesome technology. I use HTML5, CSS3, PHP and JavaScript and utilize a local development setup comprised of Git, SourceTree, Bitbucket, MAMP, Sass, Codekit, and Sublime Text. Gadzooks!
Custom WordPress Theme & Plugin
For each site I develop, I create a custom WordPress theme (the “skin”) and custom plugin (“the bones”) that adhere to WordPress coding standards. I also include Bootstrap, a front-end framework used for rapid development. This means your site is bespoke, made to fit you precisely, without any extra bloat.
Vectors, Icons & Pixels
When it comes to graphics, crisp, speedy and scaleable vectors are often the best choice. To put the power of vector graphics to work for the websites I make, I use SVGs where I can as well as icon-libraries like Font Awesome and Icomoon. The result is a site that looks razor sharp on all retina and high pixel density displays.
Search Engine Optimization
From the get-go I write code that search-engines will like, sprinkled with just the right amount of metadata and keywords. I also install and configure the Yoast SEO plugin, which allows deep customization of your site’s SEO.
Social Media Integration and Sharing
Your custom website is built so that it is easy to share on social media, and looks good once shared. My sharing plugin of choice is AddToAny, which creates highly-customizable sharing buttons for any service you can think of.
User-Friendly Dashboard
One of the reasons WordPress is so popular is its ease-of-use. The Dashboard and other admin areas are simple and clear enough for anyone use. I add to the built-in capabilities with Advanced Custom Fields Pro, Gravity Forms, as well my own custom plugin. The result is content that is completely editable and a snap to change.
Security & Backups
I follow industry best-practices when hardening the security of WordPress sites I develop, and bolster the defenses even further with iThemes Security or Sucuri. In addition, I set up regularly scheduled automatic backups so your content is always safe.
Browser Testing
There are tons of browsers out there, and I test the websites I develop on all the modern ones — Apple (Safari, iOS),Google (Chrome, Android), Microsoft (Edge), Mozilla (Firefox), and Opera. I also make sure users still on Internet Explorer 9+ have as good an experience as possible.
Web Hosting Assistance
Choosing the right web host for your site from the many, many options available to you can be a difficult task. I’ll help you choose the right one by suggesting options best suited to fit the scope of what your website needs.
Regular Maintenance
After we take your new site live, my Get Updated package is available to make sure you stay current and secure. I’ll scan your website for breaches, keep your installation on the latest version, and make sure your backups are running, so you don’t have to spend any time worrying if everything is still running smoothly.