WordCamp Toronto 2013 Magazine Website Development

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This presentation will discuss the development of a magazine site with over 4,000 posts actively updated daily by a large team of writers and editors. We will discuss migrating a multisite install of a very old version of WordPress into a modern day single install. Discuss providing a solution where the client can redesign page layouts in-house with no coding knowledge through the use of a premium theme and a multitude of plugins.

Citation preview

Magazine Website DevelopmentCase Study

Formally the ridiculously titled Dr. WordPress or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Template

Presented by:Sean Nilsson

Site development by S. Nilsson & S. Rasmussen

se@ncreative.ca | ncreative.ca

Agenda•Introduction•Project Overview•Custom vs. Template Solution•Plugins & Service Providers•Migration & Design Issues•Launch & Results

Introduction

•WordPress fan•Website “maker” since Netscape•Member of N Creative•Musician

Sean with WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg

Project OverviewWebsite redesign of Running Magazine. Original site a WordPress Multisite. Years since last core update.

Client looking for:-Affordable Solution-Flexible for updates-Quick customer service

Custom vs. Template SolutionChoice was made early to develop site from a premium theme to keep costs down and keep flexible for non-developers to manage.-Actual Hybrid Solution-Good base with GoodLayers theme-Foundations framework-Odd issues/adaptations needed-Flattened UI-Document Revisions

Client Enabled Page Builder

Template SolutionProsFaster development (cost)Page building toolsPrepackaged solution

ConsRelying on other developer’s code (scary!)Generic feel

Customization of TemplateCustom size 728 x 90 + responsive

Custom placement

Custom slider

Custom Author Widget

Widgetized

Widgetized

CSS revisions

300px sidebar

Early Wireframe Comparison

Early Wireframe Comparison

Plugins & Service Providers

Decisions on plugins and service providers have long lasting consequences. Care was taken to work with good code.

GoodlayersDisqusAdpressAddthisImage Widget

Fancy Author BoxWP EngineYoast

Migration Issues

•Giant databases in multisite•Very old WordPress install•No working export function•Highly customized original theme•URL structure update•No Featured Image support•Actively updated site

Old installation of Multisite. Databases inflated to 200mb+ sql files.

Transfer relevant tables from Multisite

Launch & Results

Site launched without much issue. N Creative continuing to support in training and fixing bugs.

Thanks for listening.Enjoy the rest of WordCamp 2013.

Sean Nilssonse@ncreative.ca | ncreative.ca