Archive for the ‘cms’ Category

In anticipation of the production release of a stable version of WordPress v3.0 soon I registered a new domain and launched a WordPress live demo website earlier today. The initial design uses the pre-production WordPress v3.0 RC1 version (release candidate 1) introduced one week ago on May 28, 2010.

The following bonus extras included with a custom WordPress theme design from us in our standard package have been installed, tested, and passed functionality on the new demo website:

All in One SEO to optimize posts for search engines, Sociable to insert social site icons and links automatically on every post, WP dB Backup to automatically backup your WordPress installation plus email it to you, and finally SI CAPTCHA to place an anti-spam code and input box at the bottom of every post to help fight comment spam.

Follow this link to the new WordPress Road Test website that will eventually allow privileges for new customers to practice making WordPress posts and let them study advanced blog and cms tutorials. The site is not for v2.x or older WordPress installations. The May 2010 RC1 replaces the BETA version and is the next step towards release of a stable production version v3.0 of WordPress later in 2010.

Other than adding the plugins named above and a footer link to the WordPress design services on this site, the look and layout of the WordPress Road Test site use the default out of the box theme from WordPress v3.0 RC1. All that may change as the www.wpRoadTest.com site evolves.

For clients interested in a custom cms web design with a matching custom WordPress blog, you may want to review the Custom WordPress Theme Portfolio.

This flash gallery presentation features 10 unique and one-of-a-kind custom WordPress blog themes with graphics linked to actual blogs. The flash gallery is inserted here for reference, also.

Each example custom WordPress theme is an integrated custom blog with graphics and navigation to match the main cms content management system web design. Use your back button to return to this review of the WordPress theme portfolio. View the examples then email us from any page with questions.

This entire website underwent a makeover recently with a cms redesign and blog conversion. I decided to stay with a similar beige color scheme to keep things familiar. The main site for custom cms web design, the custom cms websites advice blog, and the website design mailbag podcast were all redesigned. The advice blog and podcast were both converted from Blogger to WordPress, as well.

While a fresh look for this site is considered every 2-3 years, the blog format for the advice blog and podcast needed more immediate attention. Blogger announced a few months ago that they would no longer support ftp publishing of new blog posts effective May 1, 2010 which left some site owners wondering what to do.

I created custom WordPress blogs for several clients in the past, and one advantage of WordPress over Blogger is the open source software package that runs the blog is on the owner’s server. The real concern was for future changes in Blogger that would force some blog owners to redesign (again), so my advice to clients was moving from Blogger to WordPress to retain complete control over publishing.

In addition, I expanded the custom search engine (CSE) from Google to all pages in the top right sidebar of the main site, blog, and podcast. This advanced function allows visitors to search over 500 pages of content with advice for custom cms web design and related services.

Does your business involve visiting your clients to perform a service, install a product, or perform repair work? Consider your digital camera for WordPress blog ideas. A camera may be the perfect tool for collecting content for your website. From personal experience, many of my clients for custom cms web design with matching blogs need to invest more time in making blog posts. That camera may help.

My advice for creating new WordPress blog content is taking photographs. Before and after shots of the benefits of your product or service will make a great sales tool on your blog. Show prospects what you’ve done for customers. If you have techs or a repair staff, arm them with digital cameras to collect content, too.

Perhaps your business is all service providing intangibles like consultations, so you wonder if using photos makes sense. Consider a photo to illustrate the benefits showing you and the client in a meeting, and perhaps use the graphic for a testimonial. You might consider having them take a photo of you giving a presentation.

Maybe none of this seems appropriate for your business. Instead of photos, carry a notepad or voice recorder and take notes with as little as a simple phrase to remind you of a benefit or success that helped a customer. Use the real situation and write about it to show potential clients what you’ve done for others.

Ask your clients. You may find your happy customer would love to have their story told on your site, and maybe volunteer to have their photo accompany the blog post or testimonial. Make it easier for them. Take your camera for a ride.

Finally, online success does depend on adding original quality content often, so a cms web design or matching WordPress blog allows you to do just that, and easily. Add photos or graphics to keep your site more interesting.

The latest custom cms web design project just completed was a recruiting custom CMS and blog that went online earlier today for SynergyHire LLC of Atlanta, Georgia. The main site and matching blog allow the owner to add, edit, or delete content 24/7 without paying each time.

Here is a reduced size graphic screenshot of just one page:

Compare the main site to the matching Atlanta Recruiter custom WordPress theme used on their blog. As with all my designs, the custom integrated blog is a unique one-of-a-kind design for a consistent look moving between the main site and blog.

Other features to consider are the custom logo, clean layout, and special page with 12 audio players to demo their innovative automated candidate phone screen service. Upon review of the initial custom cms web design launch the owner commented “I give you two thumbs up… you did a GREAT job on this Jim!”.

Some things never change. In December 2008 I created a pdf report extracted from a podcast episode transcript entitled “2009 Web Design Predictions”, and upon review a year later the web design trend predictions I made were spot on.

Looking ahead the advice from the 2009 web design trends report looks good for 2010, also. I estimate that 9 out of 10 websites will need a makeover in 2010 to keep up with what their site visitors really want, so it is time to take a critical look and consider an annual budget for keeping your website fresh.

The basics of providing a quality experience for your visitors begins with the web design layout, and I still recommend a standard web page width of 960 pixels wide. Besides an attractive web design, navigation for site usability continues to be key for keeping visitors on your site. It’s time to consider using video, flash, and audio for an enhanced visitor experience, also.

The seo or search engine optimization advice in that report is still valid, plus I’ll be reviewing new seo trends to consider for 2010 in the near future. A cms or content management system of web design is still the best way to add original quality content often, so again, some things never change.

You may view online or download the 6 page 2009 Web Design Predictions Report from this link (252kb pdf). As usual, you do not have to register or reveal an email address to get your copy.

The custom cms website for Corky my puppy was upgraded by adding a custom WordPress blog theme to match the main site. Recent work on the site includes the redesign as well as a series of custom video productions for the Life with Corky website and his story of a shelter dog in text, photos, and video.

Here’s the YouTube version of the latest episode entitled Corky Goes to Doggy Jail, and you may watch all the Corky puppy videos on YouTube, too.

The background music used as the Corky theme song was purchased with royalty free rights from the Music Bakery. All photos and graphics were created by me as part of the custom cms website design. Stories are told in the first person as dicated by Corky, narrated by me, and suitable for all ages. Don’t call the crazy house just yet.

The purpose of having a dog website is to promote adoption of shelter pets worldwide. You can follow Corky the shelter dog tweets on Twitter, also.

Several unique related sites for Commercial Door and Access have relaunched with custom matching graphics and a custom WordPress themed blog on their headquarters website. The corporate headquarters site is at www.cda-solutions.info with a matching blog at www.cda-solutions.info/blog.

All three sites are custom cms web designs that allow the owner to add, edit, or delete content using simple plain text without a high level of technical skills in advanced xhtml or css. Some of the work was in collaboration with my son, Roger Degerstrom, of www.CodeRepair.com for design and seo assistance, yet I will handle ongoing support for this family of sites.

CDA Solutions, Inc. is in the business of commercial construction, maintenance, and security products and services for the Treasure Coast of Florida including the counties of Brevard, Indian River, St Lucie, and Martin. CDA Alliance Inc. has advice for local or national service and maintenance companies and Commercial Door and Access Inc. provides door, lock, security, and related work including construction, so customers have a dependable source with the expertise and credentials to assure quality work.

The CDA family of sites with the matching WordPress blog launched with the new color scheme to provide a consistent look and familiar corporate brand across their range of service, product, and advice websites.

A new cms website recently launched as an auto repair custom cms web design for DitY Auto Repair near Orlando, Florida. The initial website launch is 99.9% done as text content is being reviewed by the site owner for some final tweaking, and a few customer testimonials may be added, also. The site is illustrated with around 50 full color photographs of different aspects of auto repair.

DitY Auto Repair is a unique and innovative concept in do-it-yourself auto repair. Customers can rent bays, lifts, and professional tools, plus have the advantage of an on-staff ASE Certified Mechanic for advice. Vehicle owners can avoid the dangers of diy at home or shade tree mechanical work by working indoors in a real auto repair shop, yet save the price of a mechanic with do-it-yourself.

The site features a standard top header and footer on every page, custom sidebars, and an admin backend that allows the owner to add unlimited pages to their custom cms web design. Advanced features are available for business owners interested in a similar project with a matching blog, custom product video, audio tracks, or custom flash or photo galleries. We’d love to hear from you to quote or answer questions about custom cms web design.

After teaming up and forming Custom CMS Design LLC with my son, Roger Degerstrom of www.CodeRepair.com we launched 4 websites related to custom cms web design as the Custom CMS Design LLC collaboration.

Update 2011: The Custom CMS Design LLC company name and family of websites were discontinued earlier this year and all related websites were taken offline in September 2011.

Roger and I decided to continue to operate our existing commercial websites for solo custom cms web design work as sole proprietors from Virginia and Florida, and actual projects for low cost standard package web design are now offered in a newly formed collaboration at www.5in545.com.