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How to sell WordPress, guide and support your clients, and be the boss
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Freelancing with WordPress
How to sell WordPress, guide and support the client, and be the
boss
Who Am I?
I am a successful, self-taught, freelance designer who has leveraged trial, error, and observation to become a WordPress expert.
While I specialize in WordPress themes and CMS development, I also do all levels of Web Design and XHTML/CSS coding.
I am married with three children, I live in Birmingham, Alabama, and I am shamelessly addicted to Twitter.
TammyHartDesigns.com
@tammyhart
HOW TO SELL WORDPRESSThis isn’t as hard as you think
How to Sell WordPress
What does the client need?
Low cost
Content Management
Good support
Room for Growth
Customizability
Do it yourself maintenance
Media Tools
Keep in touch with the audience
What Would WordPress Do?
It’s free!
Easy to use admin interface
Unmatched community
Add content now & later
Thousands of themes & plugins
Easy as writing an email
Built in tools and plugins
Multiple subscription options
WHAT HAS WORDPRESS DONE?
There’s nothing like an impressive résumé
H-Mag.comBlogs gone wild!
Magazine.WSJ.comStylin’ & Profilin’
KurdishRights.orgSimple application
VancouverConventionCentre.comNow that’s what I call beyond the blog!
PasadenaSymphony-Pops.orgComplete CMS and Blog
DESIGN & FUNCTIONALITYTake it slow, make this part count
Ask Questions Summary
What are their primary goals? Prioritize their call(s) to action
Budget How much site can they afford? How custom can they afford?
Timeline How fast do they want it How fast do they need it?
Details Let them ramble on and on about things they want it to do
Start with a List Essentials are essential
Static content Blog/News Widget enabled sidebars/footers Contact Forms Social Media Integration Subscription Tools Search
Have them thoroughly explain custom features
Don’t be afraid to suggest a better way
Get Examples Competitor sites
What elements are working? What elements are overdone? What do they offer that is better?
Design styles Color schemes Effects Layouts
Current design resources Logo Printed material (business cards, brochures)
GETTING THE CONTENTThe holy grail of website development
“
Krug’s Third Law of UsabilityDon’t Make me Think – Steve KrugNew Riders 2006
Get rid of half the words on each page, then get rid of half of what’s left.
Get Started off Right Develop the site map first
Krug’s third law applies here too
Set and enforce deadlines When you’re designing, they should be writing Your deadline is x amount of days or weeks
past the time they deliver
Use the Right Tools Set up their WordPress site before
designing
Jumpchart (www.jumpchart.com) Third tier and up has “export to WordPress”
Use plugins to manage pages pageMash > Page Management My Page Order WordPress 3.0 “Menus”
BE THE BOSSIt’s your thing, do what you wanna do
“
2 Corinthians 6:14KJV Bible
Be ye not unequally yoked together…
Basic Rules to Remember Never give verbal estimates
Custom designs are better when started from scratch
Code from a starting point that you are comfortable with
Be Strict
Say “No”
Guide them, don’t follow their lead
Don’t be afraid to ask for help
SUPPORT & RESOURCESYou are the customer’s support
WordPress is Easy! De-clutter the dashboard
Set up multiple user accounts for them
Install the essential plugins for them
Do a live walkthrough
Advise them of upgrades
Offer a list of resources
De-clutter the dashboardFrom “WordPress is Easy!”
Resources WordPress.org
codex.wordpress.org/Getting_Started_with_WordPress
WordPress.tv How to Videos wordpress.tv/category/how-to
Fresh Workshops Live Training freshworkshops.com
wpMethod free eBook: “WordPress for Clients” wpmethod.com
As their developer, you are your client’s best resource!
wpMethod.com
A blog that meshes the two topics of freelancing and WordPress.
Resources
Tutorials
Plugin and Theme Reviews
Case Studies
Business Tools and Advice
eBooks
Live Q&AGrand Opening!Thursday, June 3rd 7:00pm CST
