How to deliver a WordPress website to your client ...the RIGHT way
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The document discusses best practices for delivering a WordPress website to a client, including providing training, setting maintenance responsibilities, implementing a maintenance plan, ensuring technical SEO standards are met, and cleaning up the site before handover to avoid issues. It emphasizes the importance of supporting clients beyond initial launch to prevent the site from falling into a state of disrepair termed "FrankenWP".
How to deliver a WordPress website to your client ...the RIGHT way
- 1. How to deliver a WordPress website to your client ...the RIGHT way Slides and links here liveby5.com/wcbne @LiveBy5ive #wcbne
- 2. But first... A couple of questions and some chocolate Slides and links here liveby5.com/wcbne @LiveBy5ive #wcbne
- 3. Where’s the website!? Hands up who knows what this is called? liveby5.com/wcbne @LiveBy5ive #wcbne
- 4. Introducing WordPress ER... Where broken websites come to be revived... 22 liveby5.com/wcbne @LiveBy5ive #wcbne
- 5. FrankenWP Definition: The state a WordPress website enters after it has not been maintained and becomes a mess of bits ‘o this, bits o’ that. Mostly occurring after a DIY effort or when a site owner has not been supported beyond handover and have called in less professional support. Image credit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankenstein%27s_monster#/media/File:Frankenstein%27s_monster_(Boris_Karloff).jpg https://mercantile.wordpress.org/product/wordpress-logo-black-tri-blend-zip-hoodie/ liveby5.com/wcbne @LiveBy5ive #wcbne
- 6. • Client doesn’t know how to use, update or maintain the site • Client doesn’t know who to contact when something goes wrong so they call a ‘new’ dev • Website falls apart and becomes FrankenWP • Client feels unsupported and calls developer or designer bad words, shakes fist at cloud etc. • Web developer loses credibility, client loses trust Problems liveby5.com/wcbne @LiveBy5ive #wcbne
- 7. How can we avoid FrankenWP? liveby5.com/wcbne @LiveBy5ive #wcbne
- 8. • What are YOU responsible for? What does the contract say? • Who renews plugins, images, services, subscriptions etc? • Who owns the licences for the above? • Who is responsible for hosting and domains? Let your client know who’s responsible for what after the initial site build liveby5.com/wcbne @LiveBy5ive #wcbne
- 9. Tool tip: WP Help by Mark Jaquith liveby5.com/wcbne @LiveBy5ive #wcbne
- 10. liveby5.com/wcbne @LiveBy5ive #wcbne
- 11. Show client how to: • Edit, update, add and delete content • Optimise new content • Change and upload images • Update areas of their site as per their brief Provide training liveby5.com/wcbne @LiveBy5ive #wcbne
- 12. Training tools videousermanuals.com sidekick.pro easywpguide.com liveby5.com/wcbne @LiveBy5ive #wcbne
- 13. Can your client: • Update the pages and posts easily - including the homepage? • Put a button or a call-to-action on a page? • Update images ? • Update menus? Consider client usability - what were their needs? liveby5.com/wcbne @LiveBy5ive #wcbne
- 14. Tools for customising your clients experience of WordPress Adminimize by Frank Bültge White label CMS by Video User Manuals User Role Editor by Vladimir Garagulya liveby5.com/wcbne @LiveBy5ive #wcbne
- 15. If you are offering website services, you should also be offering some kind of post launch care. A plan to plan is not a plan liveby5.com/wcbne @LiveBy5ive #wcbne
- 16. Security – Assertive management of server, plugins Longevity Stability – The site shouldn’t have an implode date Offsite Backups – Ability to rollback or move site at anytime Performance – Speed y’all Hack Repair – If it does get hacked, what’s the plan? Why maintenance plans? liveby5.com/wcbne @LiveBy5ive #wcbne
- 17. Why? goo.gl/S2AsQG How? goo.gl/ekahEK Maintenance plan tools managewp.com mainwp.com infinitewp.com liveby5.com/wcbne @LiveBy5ive #wcbne
- 18. Maintenance plan services thewpbarber.co www.gowp.com wpcurve.com liveby5.com/wcbne @LiveBy5ive #wcbne
- 19. Don’t ignore technical SEO The foundations of a well-built and google-visible website. liveby5.com/wcbne @LiveBy5ive #wcbne
- 20. Bare minimum technical SEO • Install Yoast or similar – and actually configure it • Ensure Google Analytics code is on the site • Ensure Permalinks are set up correctly • Add site to Google web console • HTTPS that baby! liveby5.com/wcbne @LiveBy5ive #wcbne
- 21. Learn more about technical SEO Checkout Kate’s rad course on it all: goo.gl/VNgG6S Podcast with Kate Toon: goo.gl/WBLzTm Podcast with Yoast: goo.gl/LoVf5C liveby5.com/wcbne @LiveBy5ive #wcbne
- 22. Housekeeping Sorry Matt! liveby5.com/wcbne @LiveBy5ive #wcbne
- 23. Housekeeping • Remove any sample or development content including pages, posts and users • Check forms and signups actually work test social media integrations • Make sure settings are set to customer time zone • Delete unused themes and plugins liveby5.com/wcbne @LiveBy5ive #wcbne
- 24. To wrap up • Be transparent about the build and tools and plugins used • Communicate responsibilities beyond launch • Train your clients to use their site the way it was intended • Have a maintenance plan in place from launch • Set up technical SEO on every site • Keep a tidy house liveby5.com/wcbne @LiveBy5ive #wcbne
- 25. Thank you :-) Slides links: liveby5.com/wcbne liveby5.com/wcbne @LiveBy5ive #wcbne
- 26. Contact details liveby5.com @LiveBy5ive hello@liveby5.com Sydney Online y’all Cath Hughes is a Sydney-based WordPress consultant, trainer and web designer with a passion for helping small business professionals maximise their online impact. liveby5.com/wcbne @LiveBy5ive #wcbne