Do I need a Programmer or Template Designer?

by Jill Carpenter

Posted: 14 years ago 7 replies

INTERNET MARKETING

I am in need of finding someone who can fix a bit of a mess.

I have a site that has a wordpress blog added onto it.

The main site runs on a completely different CMS - but the blog does pull from files on the main site.

Anyway, I am fine typically with wordpress, but something very kooky was done by the company who created the template to match the main site.

For instance, if I try to put widgets into the sidebar, the whole thing shifts.

If I try to remove widgets from the sidebar (the three that are standard) it will not let me remove them. They are not movable.

My big issue is I am now trying to add an aweber sign up and

a. cannot put it in the sidebar
b. cannot put it in a post - the fields where someone would normally fill in their name and email are missing when I publish.

I can not deal with the original company who did the design, nor do I want to.

Anyway, I am looking for a quick fix, and to find someone and get some estimates on who can fix this code or template or what ever so I don't have to deal with this in the future again.

So, if you have a quick fix, would love to hear it - but more importantly do I need a designer or a programmer? I don't know what i'm looking for.

#designer #programmer #template

billross 14 years ago

Jill,

You really need something in the middle! A quality wordpress template designer will probably be able to do the job but they will need to be able to understand what was done before.

But the real reason I am writing is to tell you I have switched over the optin on my blogs to Ultimate Footer Ad and its 10x better than putting an optin in the sidebar.

I don't remember the price but it was cheap. Here is the link Ultimate Footer Ad™ - UltimateFooterAd.com

That is not an affiliate link. It is directly for the site. I highly recommend it. And since it is a separate script it will work around your current widget problem.

Hope that helps,
Bill
- [ 1 ] Thanks
- 1 reply
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1636969].message }}
- Jill Carpenter 14 years ago
  
  Thanks Bill,
  
  I had thought about going that route, but it is a highly commercial site and was not sure if a pop up or footer opt-in would be appropriate.
  
  I may have to bite the bullet for now and just do something like that.
  
  I am so flipping annoyed right now I want to throw something.
  
  If you knew what was paid for the original work to be done you would understand.
  
  The site was built before I was in the picture and a lot of things were done screwey. Like the designers putting their links to their site in the main template that was so burried it took me nearly 3 hours today to find it and fix it.
  
  I tried fixing within the wordpress template to add the optin but it screws up the whole thing. I'm not a php or html expert but I have never had so many problems with this kind of thing in my life.
  
  Grrrrrrrr.
  
  Thanks
  
  Signature
  
  "May I have ten thousand marbles, please?"
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1636999].message }}
n7 Studios 14 years ago

If you just need your Wordpress theme fixing so widgets will appear / disappear from the sidebar as they should (i.e. display correctly on the front end, and functional so you can add / remove them in the Wordpress admin), you're looking for a Wordpress theme developer (programmer). They will need a skillset including HTML, CSS and PHP as a minimum. I'd also expect the developer to need to look at your current site and access the Wordpress backend, so they can replicate the issues and see the code problems to then identify what needs to be done, and the cost to fix it.

From the client, a developer would need to know things such as your Wordpress version, the widget(s) you're having problems with, how they should look, and any other functionality you require. The more precise you are, the more you'll get out of the project.

You could also benefit of having a designer too, but most developers can follow an existing site's look and feel to ensure consistency on the work that they add - so for what you're looking for, a web developer should be fine.

Check out the Warriors for Hire section; there are quite a few developers there.

Tim.
- Thanks
Signature
THE Web Development Guru - Bespoke WordPress Theme, Plugin + iPhone Apps [HTML5, CSS3, PHP, MySQL].
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1637009].message }}
DogScout 14 years ago

sounds like a studiopress designer, I thought you were using Headway?

I like the footer ad pop-up, the one draw back is it is at the bottom of a page.
- Thanks
- 1 reply
Signature

Otis's Blog (Own The Internet, Silly)Paint Shop Tubes - Free images - Free Graphics - Free Photos - 3D - Poser Tubes - Scrap Kits
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1637022].message }}
- Jill Carpenter 14 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by DogScout
  
  sounds like a studiopress designer, I thought you were using Headway?
  
  This is the HtruO site's blog. They used blue fountain media who I would although that site is pretty, I would never hire them in the future.
  
  Not the headway stuff. I wish that was used, lol, at least I would have a shot.
  
  I'm wondering if I can put an AR in an iframe? Anyone know about that?
  
  Thanks
  
  Signature
  
  "May I have ten thousand marbles, please?"
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1637036].message }}
Istvan Horvath 14 years ago

I assume your WP theme is not properly coded...

PM me if you want me to take a look at it.
- [ 1 ] Thanks
- 1 reply
Signature
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1637030].message }}
- Jill Carpenter 14 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by Istvan Horvath
  
  I assume your WP theme is not properly coded...
  
  PM me if you want me to take a look at it.
  
  Only because you are cute.
  
  It is upgraded to the latest version.
  
  Thanks
  
  Signature
  
  "May I have ten thousand marbles, please?"
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1637047].message }}