8 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
8 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Need a solution to my WordPress nightmare...

by RockNRolla
7 replies
  • WEB DESIGN
    • |
Hi guys,

I'm here hoping to get a bit of help or guidance from some of the people here in the know when it comes to custom WordPress themes.

I know close to nothing about coding and web design. I hired some designers to design my blog (Jamie Anderson - How to Make Money Online - Without the Nonsense) and am generally happy with the look and fuctionality of it.

However... What I wasn't aware of was that every time I have to update the WordPress version or a plugin, that things will start breaking on my site due to custom coding. This was my mistake, and hiring designers from India was my second msitake, trying to communicate with them is a nightmare and this design project has been going on for months and still not 100% complete!

What I'd love to know from people in the know is the following things:

1. Is it possible to take a WordPress theme (this one for example: WordPress - Convergence - Community WordPress Theme | ThemeForest) and edit it to resemble something similar to the current design I have and not have it break every time I update a plugin or the WordPress version.

2. Would it be hard for a designer who knows what they are doing to be able to create this theme and integrate the current plugins I have installed on my blog and also the bb press forum?

3. Can anyone recommend what sort of price it would be for someone to do this?

4. What sort of length of time would it take a competent UK/US/CA/AU coder/designer to complete this task?

5. Can anyone recommend any coders/designers who would be able to take this job on for me some time in the near future?

I know there is a lot of questions in there but I'd be very grateful for any help you guys can offer.

Thanks in advance

Jamie
#coding #design #nightmare #solution #wordpress
  • Profile picture of the author RobinInTexas
    You probably should revise what you are asking for, and then post your request where it belongs,
    here
    Wanted - Members Looking To Hire You

    or you can go here to find someone
    Warrior Forum Classified Ads

    It shouldn't take more than a few days allowing for communicating delays.
    Signature

    Robin



    ...Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just set there.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8351902].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Istvan Horvath
    OK, here is the short(?) lesson of it:

    If your smart-ass "designer" (who, actually, is just a bad coder) modifies ever WP core files under the disguise of customizing your stuff - kick them out as fast as you can and don't pay a dime!

    (Although I should love them... since I used to make thousands of dollars by setting up a 'normal' WP and customizing only the CSS for organizations that got screwed by Third World WP "experts" )

    Anyway, the two themes you linked to... are almost identical - because changing the grey color in those "stripes" to green is not a designer task. Any average webmaster should be able to do it.

    Also, themes are NOT customized by plugins and vice-versa. Plugins and themes should and need to work separately... they are not integrated (whatever that means for some people). If they are - call Houston because you have a problem

    Furthermore, a correctly coded WP theme doesn't really need "updated" every second - only when the WP developers introduce new features that can be used in a theme or when some earlier code snippets (called template tags = PHP shortcodes inserted between the normal HTML code of the design, which call the WP functions) become deprecated. And any theme designer/author should be on the developers/testers mailing list where all these changes are announced way ahead to give them time to figure out what to do with their themes (or plugins).

    Finally, I am not suggesting ever that everybody should learn how to design and/or code. However, it is highly recommended - as in any business or profession - that every business owner should understand the underlying principles of the processes involved in their business. Plain English: W(hy)TF don't people learn the basics of their business to avoid getting screwed by self-appointed "experts"???

    Sorry if it sounds harsh... but your OP betrayed you: unfortunately, you were not able to clearly convey what your issue is and what are you expecting from somebody taking up your job. That is the level of "knowledge" I am reffering to - at least to be able to clearly and precisely formulate your requirements.

    Again, nothing personal - it's just the frustration for reading daily similar vague rants about miscommunication between ignorant business owners and uneducated webmasters.
    Signature

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8352132].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author RockNRolla
      Originally Posted by Istvan Horvath View Post

      OK, here is the short(?) lesson of it:

      If your smart-ass "designer" (who, actually, is just a bad coder) modifies ever WP core files under the disguise of customizing your stuff - kick them out as fast as you can and don't pay a dime!

      (Although I should love them... since I used to make thousands of dollars by setting up a 'normal' WP and customizing only the CSS for organizations that got screwed by Third World WP "experts" )

      Anyway, the two themes you linked to... are almost identical - because changing the grey color in those "stripes" to green is not a designer task. Any average webmaster should be able to do it.

      Also, themes are NOT customized by plugins and vice-versa. Plugins and themes should and need to work separately... they are not integrated (whatever that means for some people). If they are - call Houston because you have a problem

      Furthermore, a correctly coded WP theme doesn't really need "updated" every second - only when the WP developers introduce new features that can be used in a theme or when some earlier code snippets (called template tags = PHP shortcodes inserted between the normal HTML code of the design, which call the WP functions) become deprecated. And any theme designer/author should be on the developers/testers mailing list where all these changes are announced way ahead to give them time to figure out what to do with their themes (or plugins).

      Finally, I am not suggesting ever that everybody should learn how to design and/or code. However, it is highly recommended - as in any business or profession - that every business owner should understand the underlying principles of the processes involved in their business. Plain English: W(hy)TF don't people learn the basics of their business to avoid getting screwed by self-appointed "experts"???

      Sorry if it sounds harsh... but your OP betrayed you: unfortunately, you were not able to clearly convey what your issue is and what are you expecting from somebody taking up your job. That is the level of "knowledge" I am reffering to - at least to be able to clearly and precisely formulate your requirements.

      Again, nothing personal - it's just the frustration for reading daily similar vague rants about miscommunication between ignorant business owners and uneducated webmasters.
      Hi Istvan, thanks for the reply.

      No need to be sorry about it sounding harsh, I am now fully aware that I've made a mistake here. Unfortunately these problems didn't become apparent until I started updating plugins and when I started buying the custom plugins required half of them didn't work.

      Now it seems that I'm in the exact situation you have described, ah well, I'll just have to move on and get this situation fixed.

      Also, I hear what you're saying about learning to code/design but with managing SEO clients, my own sites, creating content and testing new marketing methods/PPC campaigns etc, I just don't have the time. It makes much more sense financially to outsource it but in future I'll be sure to do more due diligence.
      Signature
      ---> CLICK HERE! How To Start An SEO Business - THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE! <---
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8352181].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Istvan Horvath
    You, actually, misunderstood what I said about coding and designing: do NOT try to learn everything to the level where you can do it (that would make us, the ones who know, to starve, LOL).

    I said and that's what I always teach to my clients: get a grasp of the basic mechanics of the tool you are using. E.g. in any well done CMS there are 3 very separate components:
    - the engine (or the WP core files, as they call it)
    - the content: stored in the MySQL database, hence = data
    - the layout (design > themes, made up of template files) aka the presentation of the data

    Plugins just add special features and functions that are NOT present in the core features performed by the engine.

    The theme = an initial nice big "index file" cut up into pieces and then assambled again on the server side with PHP. All the design should and normally must be done via CSS - no inline style BS... (which every marketer LOVES to do in their posts, using a lof of shitty fonts, clours etc. :rolleyes

    There is nothing complicated in knowing what to expect from the hired work force.

    If you hire somebody, they can perform only 2 tasks for a WP site:
    - add/write/modify a plugin to add or change behaviour of the script (WP)
    - create/modify/customize a theme to alter the look; i.e. the presentation of the data

    Reminder: those two tasks are not and shouldn't be related or interdependent.

    Hope this clarifies it.
    Signature

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8352225].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author RobinInTexas
      Don't let a "designer" modify a theme by changing any of the theme files. It's just as easy for them to create a "child" theme which will not be broken if the original theme is updated.

      Read about Child Themes here: Child Themes « WordPress Codex
      Signature

      Robin



      ...Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just set there.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8354679].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author SteveSRS
    Custom plugins and child themes like Robin already mentioned.

    Child themes are a pretty easy concept and every easier to implement. Of course your theme does need to support this but if it doesn't it's just not a very good theme.

    I had the same problem as you before then I did some googling and found the child-themes concept and pretty much solved all my problems
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8355489].message }}

Trending Topics