Redesign Web & WordPress Resources – new
WordPress
WordPress is continually growing in popularity for small business owners, because of its easy CMS (Content Management System). Ask about private “WordPress: How To” Training.
About WordPress | WordPress examples
Website Maintenance
It’s crucial that your site be kept current with up–to–date information, for your clients and visitors. Keep a dedicated professional on your team with a maintenance package—see more info:
Website Maintenance.
Website Redesign
Many small businesses have a website that worked for them in the early days, but now the web has grown up and they see that it’s time to refresh and recharge their sites.
See before–and–after examples.
Affordable Web Design
With a unique focus on designing user–friendly websites, Affordable Designs are extremely popular with small businesses on a budget.
Get more information.
See Affordable Web Design examples.
Print Design
Brochures, business cards, fliers, and postcards. Keep an eye out for free print designs that come with a web design purchase.
Find out more.
See print design examples.
Custom Websites
Custom websites are a more polished representation of your business. Your site will integrate user–friendliness and your choice of extras.
Find out more.
See live examples.
Web Designer
Thank you for taking the time to visit Websites by d’Zign, serving Santa Cruz, Port Townsend, Seattle, Port Angeles, Poulsbo, Silverdale, Bainbridge Island, and all areas in the U.S.
I realize that you don’t know anything about me, and it’s hard to trust a stranger through cyber space. There are plenty of great web designers out there, and you need to find one you feel you can trust and work well with. So I’ve included a little bio for starters. You never know how well you will enjoy working with someone until you start the work, but I’ll try to take some of the mystery out of it before you choose. Get a little more info > >.
“WordPress: How To” Training
Holding WordPress Workshops in Port Townsend with my buddy, Nate, has inspired me to start WordPress training for beginners. These are private tutoring sessions that can be done in person or online. This can include your choice of:
- How to create and edit a page/post
- Placing images
- What to look for in a plugin
- Specific plugin suggestions
- Purchasing a domain name
- Hosting recommendations
- The list is almost endless, really. Just let me know what you need to learn or practice
The cost is $50/hour, which can be shared by up to two students ($25/hour/student). I will add more info when I have time, but for now feel free to contact me if you are interested.
Recent Web Design and Website Redesign Projects
With the announcement of Beverly Donofrio’s new book, Astonished: A Story of Evil, Blessings, Grace, and Solace, I refreshed her author website.
Google fonts and redesigned buttons to buy her books gave her website simple and elegant touches, for an air of newness, without doing a complete website redesign.
“Lynn gave me a beautiful, informative website, easy on the eyes and graceful to behold!”
I have resurrected my WordPress blog, which includes web design tips and tricks, suggestions, and recommendations, plus travel and other assorted paraphernalia. I had originally used a more colorful WordPress theme, but decided to go with what I like best: clean and simple, letting the content stand out. I hope you can find some web design ideas and helpful articles on Web Travels.
Santa Cruz Pilates studio, Body in Motion, moved to the WordPress platform to be able to update their pages directly. At the same time they wanted a fresh look, including a slideshow. Body in Motion Santa Cruz Pilates studio offers Basi Pilates Teacher Training, Xtend Barre, and more.
Redwood Coast Landscaping is a landscape construction company that has been serving the Santa Cruz area for 20 years. They upgraded their site from a corporate template to something more professional, with more attentive customer support. They got all that, and free hosting, too.
I balance out my virtual–world work with real–world work as a Pet Sitter in Port Townsend (near Seattle) with my friend, “Aunt Jane.” We bring home, office, and pet sitter services to Port Townsend, Sequim, Poulsbo, Silverdale, Bainbridge Island, and other Olympic and Kitsap Peninsula areas.
This Web Design is for my Pet Sitter in Santa Cruz website, for when I visit California. At this time I am offering free house sitting, and dirt–cheap pet sitter services while staying in Santa Cruz. If you think you might need these services, please check out my Pet Sitter website for more information.
What You Get:
- You own your website
- You are the official Registrant of your domain name
- Free xml sitemap
- Inserting your content, upload to your web host, and test functionality
- Personalize one banner/main image of the design
- Read the full list and descriptions.
Santa Cruz & Port Townsend Web Developers
If you’re passionate about code and web design/development, whether for business or a hobby, you’re invited to meet with our Web Developers group.
The Santa Cruz group began the summer of 2008 and meet once a month to connect with other like–minded folks. Presenters speak on a variety of subjects such as HTML, CSS, typography, etc. Go to our Santa Cruz Web Developer MeetUp site to find out when and where we’re meeting. Our Port Townesend group is new and still in the stage of defining itself. Find out more on our Port Townsend Web Developer site. We invite web designers and developers from Sequim, Port Angeles, and the surrounding areas, if you are willing to travel.
Web & WordPress Resource List
This list of resources was put together for the wonderful people who show up for the WordPress Workshop that I help Nate Malmgren with in Port Townsend. I thought you, my visitors, may find it helpful also. It comes from years of research and experimentation. I will try to create more formal resource pages in the future, maybe with full reviews, but for now I hope this helps you.
Honesty Statement
Disclosure: I am an affiliate for some of the items below, which means I will earn a little money if you click on these links and make a purchase. It compensates for time researching and experimenting with these companies (and the companies that didn’t make the list :) ). You do not pay more to use these links (and sometimes get a better deal!). Please do not feel obligated to click these links, but know that using them will be much appreciated. And remember to only sign up with companies you truly are interested in. Thank you. — Lynn
WEBSITE HOSTING
HostGator
They’re a good hosting company with faster servers than others (ignore their silly logo). I use them and get compliments about how fast my site loads.
HostGator website
iPage
They have the best introductory deals! And they have an easy–to–use interface. They make your website slower than others, so you may want to try their Akamai upgrade. Be sure to read the fine print.
iPage website
BlueHost/HostMonster
I have had good customer support with them.
BlueHost website
EMAIL MARKETING
Vertical Response
I’ve had wonderful support here.
Vertical Response website
Constant Contact
I’ve had wonderful customer support here, too.
Constant Contact website
Benchmark
I have heard good things.
Benchmark website
Aweber
I have heard good things here, too.
Aweber website
DOMAIN REGISTRAR
NameCheap
You need a domain name in order to have a website. I find that NameCheap is the least expensive, especially for Privacy Protection (Privacy protects your address, phone number and email from scrapers and spammers)—usually under three bucks. You do not need to purchase your domain and hosting from the same company, in fact I recommend the previously listed web hosting companies for hosting your website.
NameCheap website
STOCK PHOTOS, GRAPHICS, VIDEO, AND AUDIO
iStock Photo
WORDPRESS THEMES
Weaver II Pro
This is what I usually use to build WordPress websites and blogs.
Weaver II Pro website
StudioPress
This is another option for a WordPress theme. It costs more than Weaver II Pro, but they have prebuilt themes that are professional and slick, if you don’t want to take the time to design your own. I’m looking forward to using them one day. Suggestion: with this, as with most themes, if you choose a theme from here, be sure you like it the way it is. It may take more work and/or money to customize the basic structure.
StudioPress website
PLUGINS FOR WORDPRESS
Most plugins can be imported into Wordpress through the menu system on the left—this is the easiest way:
> Plugins
> Add New
Search using the titles below, and use the names below (when available) as reference to know that you’re getting the right plugin.
Easy Theme and Plugin Upgrades
Chris Jean or chrisbliss18
This is required to update Weaver II Pro.
Easy Theme and Plugin Upgrades website
Google XML Sitemaps
Arne Brachold
This is needed for google to find your website and pages more easily and quickly.
Google XML Sitemaps website
Fast Secure Contact Form
Mike Challis
Good product and a good guy. I use FSCF almost exclusively on both HTML and WordPress websites.
Fast Secure Contact Form website
Meteor Slides
Recommended by Weaver II Pro.
Meteor Slides website
NextGEN Gallery
Portfolio Slideshow
Recommended by Weaver II Pro.
Portfolio Slideshow website
Login Security Solution
Daniel Convissor
Developer’s description: Requires very strong passwords, repels brute force login attacks, prevents login information disclosures, expires idle sessions, notifies admins of attacks and breaches, permits administrators to disable logins for maintenance or emergency reasons and reset all passwords.
Login Security Solution website
Spam Free WordPress
Free version to replace Akismet.
Spam Free WordPress website
Please keep in mind that plugins and other programs and products change. I have done my best to find quality, low–cost items. Please see my Privacy and terms page for more information.
Affordable Web Design, Website Redesign, and Website Maintenance for Santa Cruz, Monterey Bay, Port Townsend, Sequim, Poulsbo, Silverdale, Bainbridge Island, Seattle. Profiles: Thumbtack, WDD.
