A question for wordpress experts

Anoopchawla · 02-28-2012, 05:29 AM

Hey everybody, I am planning for starting a web designing service for local small businesses, basically I will be giving them sharp wordpress sites for really cheap, but I was wondering what tool should I use to edit the wordpress sites.

Can I use dreamweaver to edit and give wordpress sites a new look?

The reason I ask this is because clients can be pretty fussy sometimes regarding the layout of the site and as you know it can take hours to come up with perfect template.

failideas · 02-28-2012, 05:42 AM

yes you can use dreamweaver to edit wordpress themes and give them the look you want

Anoopchawla · 02-28-2012, 05:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by failideas

yes you can use dreamweaver to edit wordpress themes and give them the look you want

Can you please point me in the right direction like any tutorials.

failideas · 02-28-2012, 06:00 AM

at adobe.com you have a good tutorial on how to do that
this part 1
Editing a WordPress theme with Dreamweaver CS5

and this is part 2

Editing a WordPress theme with Dreamweaver CS5

rosetrees · 02-28-2012, 06:15 AM

Or you could just one of the many theme frameworks (I use Atahualpa) which allow you to design custom sites. I make all my client sites in Wordpress these days and some you wouldn't know are Wordpress unless you looked at the code (or scrolled to the bottom, as I rarely remove the Wordpress link)

Janet Andersen · 02-28-2012, 08:07 AM

I have been using Artisteer to create wp themes from scratch, and find it very user friendly. Once created you can edit them any time you wish. I believe it costs about $50.

Cataclysm1987 · 02-28-2012, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janet Andersen

I have been using Artisteer to create wp themes from scratch, and find it very user friendly. Once created you can edit them any time you wish. I believe it costs about $50.

I agree. This is way, way easier than Dreamweaver.

Dreamweaver is more for editing raw html whereas artisteer is designed specifically with Wordpress in mind and allows you to quickly format, resize and reshape literally the entire blog.

DeanSoto · 02-28-2012, 08:51 AM

It depends on how much customization you actually want to do...

These sites are going to be cheap, correct? If that's the case, the time that you spend on the sites is going to heavily determine your profit margin (from a price vs. time aspect).

If you are going to go the Dreamweaver route, you probably shouldn't make them too cheap. Yes, you can use it but it takes a while.

If you are going to go low cost, it would probably be best to use a heavily customizable theme framework like they suggested, or get a Woothemes subscription and make it clear to your buyers what exactly they get to customize. (I've done this in the past and it works)

Most local businesses just need a web presence, so the clearer you are up front about expectations, the easier it is on you.

Anyway, this is a perfect way to anchor your prices. (i.e. $299 for a template with certain customizations, $599 for a re-skinned template, $1999 for custom, etc.)

Gama Seva · 02-28-2012, 09:01 AM

Why not make your initial services for free like installing a basic theme on a reseller account web hosting then UPSELL them for theme customization and hosting if they like to get more space, bandwidth, email addresses etc.

You don't need to do the customization or theme editing yourself, try to leverage other people's skills so you can focus on customer relations.

Gama

joeshmo1946 · 02-28-2012, 09:03 AM

There is also no shortage of free and paid wordpress themes. But for tweaking it like you say I would use artisteer like everyone else mentioned. Pretty substantial learning curve with Dreamweaver.

metaarticles · 02-28-2012, 09:08 AM

Its very difficult to use Dreamweaver to edit wordpress themes. You are better off using theme frameworks.

magiclouie · 02-28-2012, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anoopchawla

Hey everybody, I am planning for starting a web designing service for local small businesses, basically I will be giving them sharp wordpress sites for really cheap, but I was wondering what tool should I use to edit the wordpress sites.

Can I use dreamweaver to edit and give wordpress sites a new look?

The reason I ask this is because clients can be pretty fussy sometimes regarding the layout of the site and as you know it can take hours to come up with perfect template.

We have been doing this for quite sometime and I highly recommend the headway theme. You can easily change the layout, adjust the color scheme, add clickable links on the header, and almost everything you want to do, but of course you need to learn how headway works first.

Headway Drag and Drop WordPress Theme

We are using the wp-twin too in cloning the site.

Hope that helps!

Cheers,
Louie Tugas

oluwadahunsi · 02-28-2012, 09:17 AM

There are many templates out that you can customise to your Best look. Just type "custom" in the Wordpress templates search box. It will show up lot of templates that allow customization. Hope it helps

SteveJohnson · 02-28-2012, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeshmo1946

There is also no shortage of free and paid wordpress themes. But for tweaking it like you say I would use artisteer like everyone else mentioned. Pretty substantial learning curve with Dreamweaver.

'Everyone else' didn't mention it. If you're at all concerned about efficient and proper coding, artisteer is junk. But if you don't much care what you sell to clients, go right ahead.

sts2k · 02-28-2012, 09:56 AM

Dreamweaver is very clunky and it is not a proper tool to edit wordpress themes. Unless you actually know what you are doing, no editor is going to help you. The best is to purchase couple of woothemes theme and then learn to customize them as they are mostly point and click, unless you know some programming.

cjreynolds · 02-28-2012, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveJohnson

'Everyone else' didn't mention it. If you're at all concerned about efficient and proper coding, artisteer is junk. But if you don't much care what you sell to clients, go right ahead.

We have an Artisteer fan!

But seriously, I concur with those disparaging Dreamweaver for editing WP sites - it's a great tool, just not the right tool for this.

Besides, one of the strengths of WP is that it provides "business-friendly" layouts that make sense - If you're really good at design and have been doing sites for IM for awhile, you might be able to come up with a layout superior to the ones in most WP themes. Otherwise, you'll probably end up with a site that looks good to you...

Anoopchawla · 02-29-2012, 05:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveJohnson

'Everyone else' didn't mention it. If you're at all concerned about efficient and proper coding, artisteer is junk. But if you don't much care what you sell to clients, go right ahead.

Who said I don't care about the efficiency of my sites and my customers, I want to build long term relationship since I would like to upsell them in future.

LA Grouch · 02-29-2012, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rosetrees

Or you could just one of the many theme frameworks (I use Atahualpa) which allow you to design custom sites. I make all my client sites in Wordpress these days and some you wouldn't know are Wordpress unless you looked at the code (or scrolled to the bottom, as I rarely remove the Wordpress link)

Totally agree. I have been using Atahualpa 3.5.3 for the majority of my client sites. It is extremely customizable and free.

gel code · 02-29-2012, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anoopchawla

Who said I don't care about the efficiency of my sites and my customers, I want to build long term relationship since I would like to upsell them in future.

You have a good head on your shoulders if all business people thought like this !

02-28-2012, 05:29 AM	#1
Anoopchawla Mind Freak War Room Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 756 Thanks: 76 Thanked 32 Times in 29 Posts	A question for wordpress experts Hey everybody, I am planning for starting a web designing service for local small businesses, basically I will be giving them sharp wordpress sites for really cheap, but I was wondering what tool should I use to edit the wordpress sites. Can I use dreamweaver to edit and give wordpress sites a new look? The reason I ask this is because clients can be pretty fussy sometimes regarding the layout of the site and as you know it can take hours to come up with perfect template.
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02-28-2012, 05:42 AM	#2
failideas HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 128 Thanks: 19 Thanked 38 Times in 32 Posts	Re: A question for wordpress experts yes you can use dreamweaver to edit wordpress themes and give them the look you want
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02-28-2012, 06:00 AM	#4
failideas HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 128 Thanks: 19 Thanked 38 Times in 32 Posts	Re: A question for wordpress experts at adobe.com you have a good tutorial on how to do that this part 1 Editing a WordPress theme with Dreamweaver CS5 and this is part 2 Editing a WordPress theme with Dreamweaver CS5
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02-28-2012, 06:15 AM	#5
rosetrees Carol War Room Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: UK Posts: 3,543 Blog Entries: 15 Thanks: 513 Thanked 1,213 Times in 800 Posts Social Networking	Re: A question for wordpress experts Or you could just one of the many theme frameworks (I use Atahualpa) which allow you to design custom sites. I make all my client sites in Wordpress these days and some you wouldn't know are Wordpress unless you looked at the code (or scrolled to the bottom, as I rarely remove the Wordpress link)
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02-28-2012, 08:07 AM	#6
Janet Andersen Warrior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 17 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: A question for wordpress experts I have been using Artisteer to create wp themes from scratch, and find it very user friendly. Once created you can edit them any time you wish. I believe it costs about $50.

02-28-2012, 08:51 AM	#8
DeanSoto HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Southern California Posts: 138 Thanks: 24 Thanked 112 Times in 51 Posts	Re: A question for wordpress experts It depends on how much customization you actually want to do... These sites are going to be cheap, correct? If that's the case, the time that you spend on the sites is going to heavily determine your profit margin (from a price vs. time aspect). If you are going to go the Dreamweaver route, you probably shouldn't make them too cheap. Yes, you can use it but it takes a while. If you are going to go low cost, it would probably be best to use a heavily customizable theme framework like they suggested, or get a Woothemes subscription and make it clear to your buyers what exactly they get to customize. (I've done this in the past and it works) Most local businesses just need a web presence, so the clearer you are up front about expectations, the easier it is on you. Anyway, this is a perfect way to anchor your prices. (i.e. $299 for a template with certain customizations, $599 for a re-skinned template, $1999 for custom, etc.)
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02-28-2012, 09:01 AM	#9
Gama Seva Advanced Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Toronto, ON. Canada Posts: 717 Blog Entries: 4 Thanks: 81 Thanked 135 Times in 117 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: A question for wordpress experts Why not make your initial services for free like installing a basic theme on a reseller account web hosting then UPSELL them for theme customization and hosting if they like to get more space, bandwidth, email addresses etc. You don't need to do the customization or theme editing yourself, try to leverage other people's skills so you can focus on customer relations. Gama
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02-28-2012, 09:03 AM	#10
joeshmo1946 Active Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 31 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: A question for wordpress experts There is also no shortage of free and paid wordpress themes. But for tweaking it like you say I would use artisteer like everyone else mentioned. Pretty substantial learning curve with Dreamweaver.

02-28-2012, 09:08 AM	#11
metaarticles Article Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 161 Thanks: 40 Thanked 25 Times in 22 Posts	Re: A question for wordpress experts Its very difficult to use Dreamweaver to edit wordpress themes. You are better off using theme frameworks.

02-28-2012, 09:17 AM	#13
oluwadahunsi Omoluwabi Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: A question for wordpress experts There are many templates out that you can customise to your Best look. Just type "custom" in the Wordpress templates search box. It will show up lot of templates that allow customization. Hope it helps

02-28-2012, 09:56 AM	#15
sts2k HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 113 Thanks: 8 Thanked 12 Times in 12 Posts	Re: A question for wordpress experts Dreamweaver is very clunky and it is not a proper tool to edit wordpress themes. Unless you actually know what you are doing, no editor is going to help you. The best is to purchase couple of woothemes theme and then learn to customize them as they are mostly point and click, unless you know some programming.
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