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Wordpress Site for Client Okay?

by MannyMarketing
17 replies
How many of you offliners use Wordpress for client websites you "create"?

What DO you use if not wordpress?

And for those that do use wordpress, can you suggest some nice business themes that are easily customized and easy to edit in order to get the feel of the clients small business on the site, like color, logo, etc.

Trying to learn a bit about web design before I go about cold calling and offering my services, though I might just end up outsourcing if I see something I like. Advice on that would also be appreciated!
#client #site #wordpress
  • Profile picture of the author Abledragon
    I build all new sites, both for myself and for clients, on WordPress.

    However, I use the Thesis theme because that enables me to create any kind of design my client wants - so I'm not restricted to using 'pre-packaged' themes.

    If you're looking to do this seriously it would be well worth your while finding a good framework (like Thesis, Genesis, Headway etc) and learning it thoroughly. That will enable you to design a site to your client's requirements rather than getting them to accept a standard theme.

    Cheers,

    Martin.
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    WealthyDragon - Earning My Living Online
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    • Profile picture of the author MannyMarketing
      Originally Posted by Abledragon View Post

      I build all new sites, both for myself and for clients, on WordPress.

      However, I use the Thesis theme because that enables me to create any kind of design my client wants - so I'm not restricted to using 'pre-packaged' themes.

      If you're looking to do this seriously it would be well worth your while finding a good framework (like Thesis, Genesis, Headway etc) and learning it thoroughly. That will enable you to design a site to your client's requirements rather than getting them to accept a standard theme.

      Cheers,

      Martin.
      Thanks a lot Martin, do you have any customization tips for the Thesis theme or is the User Guide that comes with the theme sufficient?
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      • Profile picture of the author Abledragon
        Originally Posted by MannyMarketing View Post

        Thanks a lot Martin, do you have any customization tips for the Thesis theme or is the User Guide that comes with the theme sufficient?
        Hi Manny,

        The Thesis User Guide is very good and being added to all the time. Additionally I also produce tips and tutorials on Thesis - you can find them here:

        Thesis Theme Tips, Techniques and Tutorials | WealthyDragon

        Cheers,

        Martin.
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        WealthyDragon - Earning My Living Online
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        • Profile picture of the author MannyMarketing
          Originally Posted by Abledragon View Post

          Hi Manny,

          The Thesis User Guide is very good and being added to all the time. Additionally I also produce tips and tutorials on Thesis - you can find them here:

          Thesis Theme Tips, Techniques and Tutorials | WealthyDragon

          Cheers,

          Martin.
          I decided to dive into Thesis and am playing around with it for now.

          I checked your tips and tutorial link but I didn't find what I was looking for. I am trying to figure out how to center a logo on the header. I inserted my logo and it is a nice size, but I want it in the center of the header, not to the left. Do you know what code to insert into the custom.css to center that logo?
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          • Profile picture of the author Abledragon
            Originally Posted by MannyMarketing View Post

            ...I inserted my logo and it is a nice size, but I want it in the center of the header, not to the left. Do you know what code to insert into the custom.css to center that logo?
            It depends on how you inserted your logo. I prefer to use the custom functions file to insert my headers (rather than the Header Image page) because it offers more styling options.

            If you've used the custom functions file you can call the #header div in your function, insert the <img src= > line and add style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" to your <img src= > line.

            Alternatively, if you only have that image in your header div (and no text or anything else that needs to align differently) just add .custom #header { text-align: center; } to your custom CSS file.

            Cheers,

            Martin.
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            WealthyDragon - Earning My Living Online
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            • Profile picture of the author MannyMarketing
              Originally Posted by Abledragon View Post

              It depends on how you inserted your logo. I prefer to use the custom functions file to insert my headers (rather than the Header Image page) because it offers more styling options.

              If you've used the custom functions file you can call the #header div in your function, insert the <img src= > line and add style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" to your <img src= > line.

              Alternatively, if you only have that image in your header div (and no text or anything else that needs to align differently) just add .custom #header { text-align: center; } to your custom CSS file.

              Cheers,

              Martin.
              Thanks Martin! What I ended up doing was just creating a new header since I ended up wanting a custom background for the header anyway and just stuck my logo with a transparent background on that, then uploaded. Worked out perfectly!
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  • Profile picture of the author hotlinkz
    Hi Manny,

    Wordpress, is an excellent platform for client sites. Especially if
    you take Abledragon's advice and get a good Wordpress dev
    theme that allows you to create unique, custom order blogs.

    There are tons of Thesis Theme tutorials available on the web.

    You may also want to consider the near future and start learning
    more about integrating mobile marketing into your marketing offers.
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    • Profile picture of the author MannyMarketing
      Originally Posted by hotlinkz View Post

      Hi Manny,

      Wordpress, is an excellent platform for client sites. Especially if
      you take Abledragon advice and get a good Wordpress dev
      theme that allows you to create unique, custom order blogs.

      There are tons of Thesis Theme tutorials available on the web.

      You may also want to consider the near future and start learning
      more about integrating mobile marketing into your marketing offers.
      Mobile markets, like mobile websites? I am really considering all options as far as services go but am looking into first making my marketing site to have something to send clients to if they ask for a site. I am also trying to create websites for 1-2 different niches (currently working on the dentist niche) and have them rank on 1st page for Google and hopefully sell some leads from that and just have them to show potential clients what I can do.

      I am going to look into Thesis now, I suspect it would be fine to create my own Miami Marketing website with, will it?
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  • Profile picture of the author hotlinkz
    The only thing about Thesis is the learning curve. If you are well-versed in Wordpress blog development, not so bad. If not, you will have to learn about integrating custom graphics, internal SEO, access security and other advanced features some of your clients will be requesting.

    When you create your own site, put your best foot forward. Clients and prospects will
    generally get their first impression of you when they visit your site.
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  • Profile picture of the author EMaria
    At first I just didn't "get" Wordpress. It just wasn't clicking for me, but I was determined to learn it, and while I still have a great deal to learn, I'm slowly getting hooked.

    I have built two client sites with it so far, as well as re-doing my own consultant site. Actually, it's quite easy to build a client site using Wordpress because I personally believe that a simple 3-5 page website for a local business is more than sufficient. This type of site can be prepared, have some basic seo and a little bit of backlinking done to it, and they are good to go.

    I have cranked these out, even with my limited WP experience, in about an hour (or less) once I received all the necessary info from the client.

    So far as themes go, I have definite heard good things about Thesis but never used it. I am using a theme called Catalyst, and I have to say "I Luvs Me Some Catalyst" theme. It's my theme of choice right now, mostly for the versatility and ability to personalize the h%$l out of it. No limits.
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    • Profile picture of the author MannyMarketing
      Originally Posted by EMaria View Post

      At first I just didn't "get" Wordpress. It just wasn't clicking for me, but I was determined to learn it, and while I still have a great deal to learn, I'm slowly getting hooked.

      I have built two client sites with it so far, as well as re-doing my own consultant site. Actually, it's quite easy to build a client site using Wordpress because I personally believe that a simple 3-5 page website for a local business is more than sufficient. This type of site can be prepared, have some basic seo and a little bit of backlinking done to it, and they are good to go.

      I have cranked these out, even with my limited WP experience, in about an hour (or less) once I received all the necessary info from the client.

      So far as themes go, I have definite heard good things about Thesis but never used it. I am using a theme called Catalyst, and I have to say "I Luvs Me Some Catalyst" theme. It's my theme of choice right now, mostly for the versatility and ability to personalize the h% out of it. No limits.
      I have had the Thesis theme now for no more than 10 minutes and I can tell already that the possibility of creating awesome sites is endless..
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  • Profile picture of the author Steve Solem
    Hey Manny, and welcome to the forum.

    I use wordpress almost exclusively for all of my and my clients websites. While I think you can do a lot with just the default 2010 theme, I have a subscription to elegant themes for about $40 a year (its a bit more for a developers license) and often go to themeforest when I want something really exceptional. Those usually run $30 - $40 but will make you look like you spent thousands on a site.

    You'll also find a few themes in the WSO section here. I haven't purchased this one so I can't vouch for it personally, but I have purchased other things from Jameson and he's produced some other great products so I'd imagine this to be excellent too.

    Hope this helps, but feel free to get in touch if you have any web design or wordpress questions.

    All the best,

    Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author Ross Cohen
    I've used several platforms and my favorite is Wordpress, I say definitely go for it. Saves tons of time and ends up looking better than pretty much anything else, even on another platform such as Dreamweaver that generally takes a lot longer to optimize. I like Elegantthemes.com primarily which has a bunch of Wordpress themes.
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  • Profile picture of the author Fernando Veloso
    2 Options:

    Code your own stuff (highly advised since) or you can buy a great theme (Themeforest comes to mind).

    Lately I code my customers websites from ground up, so they end up with a custom solution PLUS all the seo goodies I can use for them - and it's factual: a custom theme can do wonders when your coder knows WHAT you want to rank for.

    But Themeforest as great looking themes for a small price, and their best coders have also top support if you get into some sort of problem.
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  • Profile picture of the author jrod014
    wordpress all the way!!
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    • Profile picture of the author escribe
      Wordpress is excellent for client sites. Strong SEO and simple to use. If you're handing off a site for the client to upkeep... it's easy for them to use.
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      • Profile picture of the author MannyMarketing
        Originally Posted by escribe View Post

        Wordpress is excellent for client sites. Strong SEO and simple to use. If you're handing off a site for the client to upkeep... it's easy for them to use.
        Yeah, I decided to go the WP route for both my site and future client sites. Seems to have a good balance between user friendly-ness and SEO capabilities.
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