TREATI

http://treati.org

Website Design, Website Development, WordPress Customization

Project Summary

An informational site was needed to communicate news, mission, and coming events.

Website Design

• Custom WordPress theme, including header graphics
• Set color scheme and typography rules

WordPress Customization

• Created theme based on theme framework
• Added functionality through plugin system

The question that naturally springs up in my mind is “Who are you trying to sell it to?”

Developers / Designers

I couldn’t think of an all-inclusive label to describe the folks that like to “get under the hood” of WordPress and really have some fun. These folks are just as likely to create a custom solution as they are to spend any money on a theme someone else created. So what could they possibly want in a theme?

• Built on best practices. If I am going to spend the time customizing someone else’s theme, I don’t want to have to worry about hacks or strange custom code that might be hiding somewhere. If I, the original theme developer, want to include javascript effects and AJAX goodness, I’d use jQuery or a similar framework and clearly state what I am using. I’d be clear about what browsers I support (especially IE6 — filters? hacks? javascript? conditional comments?).
• Enough hooks, but not too many. A WordPress theme aimed at CSS gurus would have all sorts of dynamically generated classes, so I can just slice up a PSD, write some CSS and move on. If you are trying to appeal to PHP coders, however, you’d better have a clearly documented/commented functions.php file, so I can turn off all the non-semantic classes I never want to use. Themes like Thesis give hooks that I can use to customize layout, content areas, and more, but if I’m a CSS guy who is terrified of opening my functions.php, maybe those options should be selectable in a admin area control panel.
• Semantic. Don’t you dare use CSS classes and ids that aren’t semantic. div.error = good.  div.bigRedText = bad.
• Nearly Naked. Odds are, a designer will redo the whole look from the ground up. So don’t waste your time cluttering it up with stuff I am just going to tear out anyway. If you want to have a default style, fine, but at least write your CSS so that I can easily take it out (i.e. Don’t nest your @imports 3 levels deep)

Power End Users

But what about those bloggers who are super confident navigating the admin area, but have no desire to fire up Dreamweaver and write some code?

• Solid Design. A power user wants something professional looking, something they can use out of the box. So it has to look good — in most browsers (you can skip IE5).
• Easily Customizable. Power users want to be able to add their logo, dictate their navigation structure, and more. The Admin area should have a panel that allows me to do that: upload a logo, customize a color scheme, add my analytics and advertising code. Put it all where the Power User lives, on a panel in Admin.
• Cool Stuff is automated or extremely well documented. I should be able to get a thumbnail in the featured posts area easily (for example). Either you’ve automated the whole thing, so that I just place an image in the post and it’s done, or you have clearly explained to me how to set that custom field myself.  Even better: you’ve customized the write panel so it’s obvious from the start.

Average Joe

I just want to start a blog. That’s it. Don’t confuse me.

• Fully Automated. All you cool carousels, featured article sections, and thumbnails populate themselves. And if I don’t add an image, the system has some great defaults for handling that situation.
• Choices. Let’s be honest: I’m no designer.  Give me a few color variations on the theme, but skip the admin section where I can add my own Hex code.  Because really, what are that odds that I know that #FF0000 is red? In the same way, give me a few layout options, but don’t tell me to change the @import statement in my CSS file. Package them up separately, or as child themes.
• Rock Solid Design. I don’t have a personal brand — yet.  Give me some awesome design that I can use. Maybe give me an option to upload an image to be used in the header. But remember, there is a small chance I know the difference between PNG, GIF, and JPG. So don’t count on me to get the transparency right.

My Personal Take

Themes are as much about marketing as they are about features. A clean, well-designed blog theme would do well with Power Bloggers, but probbaly flop with Designers. On the flip side, not many new bloggers will download your awesome framework. Personally, I am toying with the idea of spending some money on a “framework” like Thesis or WPRemix because it just might save me some time in development. That being said, I also have a folder full of functions.php snippets, reusable code blocks, and some templates for the WordPress Loop available to me. I’d love to roll my own framework of sorts — it will all come down to time and features available for a price.  For now, give me something like Thematic and let me do what I want.

Disclaimer: The main motivation for writing this post is a shot at a free premiumthemesclub.com membership. I’ve been thinking about these ideas for a while, but the article got written today because of an invitation at performancing.com.

I managed to go live 3 days ahead of schedule, including a hosting company meltdown, which was a surprise. It will be a little longer before I compleetly backfill the articles and portfolio, but some of my best and most recent stuff is up and I am happy with it. Let me show you around:

A New Identity

My previous logo and theme were what I put together when I finally took the plunge and went freelance. I was under a deadline and a little unsure of myself, so I played it very safe: text only, and too many drop shadows. This new logo better reflects who I am and what I do. There is less visual clutter, and I had fun playing with my intials to come up with the logo. The new tagline – design, develop, communicate – also better reflects my strengths and passions. So armed with a new log, a new color scheme, and a new sense of purpose, it was time for a new web site.

Built on WordPress

The Content Management System I selected was WordPress. I went back and forth about that decision for a while, largely because WordPress seems to be the solution to everyone’s problems these days. I do not believe that for a second, but version 2.7 pushed me over the edge. I pitch WordPress to many of my clients because of the easy back-end – it looks like Word (kinda) and its easy to get around once you get the page/post difference. But for me, easy text updating wasn’t going to do it. Firing up Dreamweaver and FTPing my content is just as easy as logging in to the admin panel.

I went with WordPress because my list of what I was trying to do was already baked in.

• Automatically generated thumbnails? Check
• Database driven? Check
• Easy to style? Check

Instead of putting in the time to code a custom PHP solution, hook into an appropriate JavaScript library, and start debuging, I just clicked install and let my hosting company do the heavy lifting.

Technical Coaching?

This is a new addition to my official “services offered”, but it is, in fact, something I’ve been giving away for a long time. I enjoy researching new technologies, taking them for a test drive, and filing that information away for later use. So when my friends and clients ask me about online email options, I have an informed opinion. When they want to know how I’ve tricked out my gmail account, I can tell them what I did and why. Online task tracking? Audio editing? Free ways to put together a DVD slide show? The difference between POP and IMAP email services? Web hosts with decent “build your own site” systems?

I am your geek for hire.

I’ll be adding a few Technical Coaching items to the portfolio soon, but for now check out: BKTutorials.com

I’m never sure if everyone knows about this: Google will let you hook into GMail, Google Calendar, Google Docs and more for free (if your a small shop like mine). When I first heard the news, I was completely underwhelmed. Why would I need this stuff when my hosting provider adds email to every account? Let me explain…

Email Independent of Hosting

I’m a big fan of GMail, but there is something a whole lot more professional when your mail comes from YourDomain.com instead of YourDomain@gmail.com. So you leave your mail with your host, right? Imagine the following (all real-life experiences of mine):

• The email system your hosting provider uses is awful. There are some hideous webmail/email solutions out there; difficult to configure, horrible web interface, lack of functionality.
• You need to switch hosts. Setting up email to not bounce usually requires a backup MX server when switching domains, then you have to reconstruct every mailbox at the new host. Headache.
• You were using the webmail interface to stay mobile and you have to switch hosts. All of your mail is on the old server. Pull it down. Switch hosts. Figure out how to upload it all back.

How I Use GApps

These are just a few pointers on how I maximize my use of Google Apps.

• Make the switch already! Once you get past the “Where are my folders?” phase of GMail and realize you can search your mail with the power of Google, you’ll never go back. Simple interface. Lots of help for setting up email clients, etc. Just great stuff.
• Set up your MX records per Google Apps instructions. If you can’t, I’m available for Technical Coaching & Support sessions!
• Use IMAP. Odds are you won’t notice the difference if you are using an email client. (Unless it’s Outlook. If so, may God help you.) And the first time you need to access you email away from your computer, you will be delighted to find everything right there waiting for you.
• Back it up. Google is not perfect. They have lost data in the past. They will lose data again. You can use your email client for this – if it’s IMAP, just make sure you download more than headers. Or you can use a standalone app, like Gmail Backup.
• Play in the Labs. There are some GREAT features in Google Labs available to your GApps account, eventually. My current faves: OFFLINE – this is killer: using Gears or the Chrome browser, your online email is now your offline email; Mutiple Inboxes – to get a view of incoming mail, on hold, and TAKE ACTION mail; Superstars – I use 2 icons to distinguish actionable and waiting-on email
• Try Affixa. To really pump it up, try Affixa. This great little app sets up GMail (even the GApps version) as your default mail handler in Windows. Not only that, but it integrates with Drop.io for sending large attachments. Not only that, but you can set up “baskets” of standard attachments (like your TOS, a service brochure, your CV/Resume, etc.) for one click sharing.

That’s How I Email

This setup keeps me pretty much bullet-proof. Neither crashed computer, nor abysmal hosting can keep me from getting my email. Now that I have Offline access from Google Labs, I have set up a Chrome application so my GMail launches like it were Outlook or Thunderbird. It’s a beutiful thing.

And we haven’t even talked calendar or documents yet.

Traumatic Stress Institute (Pat Wilcox) – New Britain, CT

http://traumaticstressinstitute.org

Website Design, Website Development, WordPress Customization

Project Summary

In my ongoing relationship with Klingberg Family Centers, another opportunity for a “daughter” site arose. The Traumatic Stress Institute is a division of Klingberg Family Centers. Offering training events and resources for organizations around teh country, they needed a site to feature resources, training events, and news.

A WordPress installation was the best option, as many of the staff working on this site also edit content for the Klingberg Auto Show. Sticking with Wordpress would not only minimize the learning curve, but would also be the perfect platform for the various streams of news.

Website Design

• Customized WordPress theme, including header graphics
• Set color scheme and typography rules

Website Development

• Customized WordPress plugins
• Customized code for news lists

WordPress Customization

• Created theme based on theme framework
• Added functionality through plugin system

In the end, I opted to write this piece because I want my customers to know what I consider good business practices to be. I wanted my potential customers to know what I am paying attention to. And just in case someone google and finds me, I want to give my perspective.

I dumped my hosting company

As a web designer & developer, I offer to manage the hosting for some of my clients. (I’ll tell you why in another article.) I do my best to get a solid host that allows reselling, and then charge a competitive fee to my end users. I don’t host with bargain basement companies. I don’t skimp so I can save a buck, but lose functionality and services. I go with a company that has good reviews and if that means paying a little extra for solid service, then so be it.

A few years ago, I signed on with UltimaHosts to be my Windows hosting. At the time, they were getting good reviews. The price was solid. The support was good. And for years everything went great.

Then there were a few wobbles. Sites going down occasionally, email bounces. One day, my shared server apparently died. Four sites, including my own, went down. I submitted a support ticket, but received no confirmation. I could not reach anyone at any phone number. I feared they had closed up shop for good.

But wait: I could log in to my control panel. But only half of the options worked, the others threw errors. I managed to get a final database backup done, but FTP access was not working. For three days, I tried to reach someone to find out what was going on. I tried to find out what had happened.

Three days.

Like nothing had happened

On the fourth day, my sites came back online. No email. No response to my support ticket.  Just restored service.

It was almost creepy.

And then I got an email, saying that a disgruntled partner had potentially sabotaged the system. And another, saying that their payment system was compromised. And another, saying the payment system was fine. And another, contradicting the first three.

So I switched.

Why it matters

There are a few things that matter to me:

1. Communication: No one should receive silence as an answer in a crisis. I have not batted 100% in this area, but when I miss the mark, the first question I ask is: “What can I do to make this right?”
2. Service: If a customer of mine feels like the fair thing is a refund, they get a refund. If they want additional support beyond their contract, I will give it when I am in the wrong. Without my customers, I don’t have a business.
3. Integrity: I do not know what happened with the leadership at UltimaHosts. However, I will never hold data hostage. If you want the admin password, you can have it. If you want to switch your domain and site to another host with another web guy, let me know where to send files and information and what I can do to help.

In the end, UltimaHosts violated my trust one too many times. I didn’t feel my financial information was safe. I couldn’t get to my data. I couldn’t get any answers.

My hope is my customers never have to write this article about me.

Klingberg Family Centers (Mark Johnson) – New Britain, CT
http://klingberg.org
Website Management, Website Development

Project Summary

Sometimes, a business just needs service that they can rely on. Mark at Klingberg Family Centers had been growing frustrated. He was growing tired of long turn arounds, awkward billing and time keeping, and lack of communication from his previous web development team.

I was hired to come in and “take over the site”.

Since Mark was satisfied with the current design and functionality of the site, the design has remained untouched. In addition, most of the underlying code was not updated. However, Mark can now count on quick content changes (48 hours or less), simpler billing and time keeping, and regular communication.

Website Management

• Established an annual service contract to simplify billing
• Consult on content changes
• Support users of Content Management Systems
• Make updates as requested on a quick turnaround

Web Development

• Customized and installed a Content Management System for front page news to replace old proprietary system
• Updated include statements to PHP standards

Klingberg Family Centers (Mark Johnson) – New Britain, CT

http://klingbergautoshow.org

Website Design, Website Development, Website Management, WordPress Customization

Project Summary

The Klingberg Auto Show is a major annual event for Klingberg Family Centers. In previous years, all the relevant event information was forced into the mold of the organization’s website. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a good fit, nor was it easy to update. Mark came to me for a solution that would capture the unique character of the event, allow for fast and frequent updates as the event drew closer, and maintained a linked presence with Klingberg Family Centers. The event was coming quickly, what could we get done soon?

Because we were on a tight deadline, I installed WordPress (a content management system) and customized a pre-existing theme, rather than develop a custom theme from scratch. From there, I extended and modified the system as we went along, adding relevant widgets (ex. the weather has a huge impact on this event) and adding ways to communicate with site visitors. I installed a simple analytics system, so that Mark could track site visits and see, in real, how effective different advertising channels had been.

Website Design

• Customized background images, header graphics, and other site graphics
• Set color scheme and typography rules

Website Development

• Customized WordPress plugins
• Customized code for weather, directions, etc.

Website Management

• Researched alternatives to communicate with subscribers
• Assisted with complex backend tasks as needed (importing contact lists, embedding video)

WordPress Customization

• Modified pre-existing theme
• Added functionality through plugin system

St. Luke Lutheran Church (Pastor Steve Schmidt) – Gales Ferry, CT
http://stluke.info
Website Design, Website Development, Website Management, WordPress Customization, Technical Coaching

Project Summary

The old St. Luke website had evolved over time and was designed on the fly. It was functional, but the information was not organized well nor presented consistently. I was asked to develop a website with a consistent look that reflected the congregation and  its mission and purpose, while also allowing a team of volunteers to add and change content easily. Additionally, some structure needed to be in place to limit certain authors to certain areas of the site.

I installed WordPress and began customizing.  We started with a custom theme, for a consistent look, and then began to add functionality. Access controls are in place so that different users can be given access to specific site areas to edit. A plugin system to upload sermon audio was added. Finally, custimizations were made to allow static content to stay at the top of category listings.

Website Design

• Unique theme for WordPress
• Prepared header graphics, color scheme, typography rules

Website Development

• Built custom WordPress theme from framework
• Wrote PHP code for specific functions (page includes, etc.)

Website Management

• Established an annual service contract to simplify billing
• Support users of Content Management Systems
• Make updates as requested on a quick turnaroud

WordPress Customization

• Modified pre-existing theme
• Added functionality through plugin system

Technical Coaching

• On-site training day for admin level users
• Phone support
• Tutorial videos to aid in training new users

Wellspring (Pastor Wesley Zinn) – Kensington, CT

http://wellspring.net

Print Design

Project Summary

Churches host a huge number of events in a year, and each one needs to be promoted well. This is a sampling of designs I did while I worked at Wellspring for a variety of events.  Black & White designs are created to be easily reproduced in-house, on a copier. Full color designs are either digital or professionally printed.

Full Disclosure: I was employed by Wellspring when I created these designs.