Emily Journey | WordPress Training

by Emily Journey on January 14, 2021

Writing Topic Ideas for Your Business Blog

Blogging is a great way to connect with your existing customers, strengthen your brand, and bring new customers to your business website. The real challenge is selecting the right topic to write about on your business blog. Topic ideas for your business blog might seem endless. Despite the infinite number of options, some business blog topics will be more effective than others in helping you gain traffic, exposure, and profit from your blog.

Selecting your Business Blog Topics

Steps for choosing the best topic ideas?

Start by creating a list of everything your business offers or can offer to your clients. This includes product descriptions, your various service descriptions, your special announcements and press releases…

Once you’ve gotten this list out of your system, set it aside. Don’t worry—you’ll get back to it. But, this is not where you want your mind to be when generating blog post ideas that will actually interest your customers.

Writing topics that focus on your products or services are very important for attracting prospects who are already interested in what you have to offer, but they are also low-hanging fruit. (If you’re unsure of the best way to write a post about one of your products or services, read how to make your blog post attractive to Google and other search engines. Then, come back and read this article.)

What about those people who don’t even know your product or service exists?

To find a blog post topic that’s engaging and interesting to all of your readers, you should never focus only on your products and services—instead, you should think about delivering value.

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Business Blog Topics that Deliver Value

What exactly does this mean? Valuable to whom?

Valuable to your customer.

This is where it’s easy to veer back into our own STUFF. We start babbling about our products and services and how great they are. Don’t do it. Of course your stuff is valuable. Here’s the problem: Your prospect doesn’t know that yet. And, they don’t want to be convinced. At least . . . not yet.

Instead of talking about the value of your products or services, start with the information your prospect already values. Things like:

inside information on changes in their business field—not yours
information about their competitors—not yours
inspirational/funny stories
proven time savers
their hobbies—not yours

People want to be understood, and they want answers to their business problems—not “solutions.” Everyone has solutions. That’s just code for “products and services.” If you don’t know the real answers to the unspoken business questions your customers have on their minds, then you might not have much credibility with them.

This is where really knowing your ideal customer really pays off. The better you know your ideal customer—down to the type of car they drive—the easier it is to understand their concerns and to write something that will resonate with them.

As my friend Jeffrey Gitomer says, “People don’t want to be sold, but they love to buy!” Make it easier for your prospective clients to buy with blog post topics that add real value to their lives—and not just from your product or service. When you provide consistently high-quality writing on topics your customers already care about, you build trust and sell your business.

One-on-one SEO Training is also available in person and on-site.
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Conducting an Interview for Your Business Blog Post

One of the easiest ways to create value-adding content for your blog is through interviews. Interviewing you? No way!

You’re going to interview two types of people:

Your happy customer
People your prospects are already interested in

Interviews for blog posts are not difficult. There’s no need for recording devices or quick notetaking. Follow these steps to create a successful interview-based blog post:

Create 5 or fewer interview questions: imagine what your prospects might like to know about this person.
Send these questions to the interviewee: Ask for their permission to publish an article about them.
Make it as easy as possible: They should respond to your questions in writing and even have the option of making up their own!
Showcase your interviewee: An interview post should always feature a photo of the person being interviewed.

For a successful post example targeting comic book readers, read my interview with Max Ink at Best of Columbus.

Imagine yourself creating and delivering interesting content tailored specifically to the interests of your prospects. Then, think about the tired and sales-y content that your competition churns out.

When your prospect sees an email in the inbox from both you and your boring competitor, which email do you think is getting opened? Which one is getting deleted? I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to see what your next blog post is going to be!

Now that you have some great topic ideas for your business blog, you may be wondering how to actually write a post. What should you include? How should it be structured? What shouldn’t you do? For some actionable advice on these questions and more, read my tips on how to write an engaging blog post.

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SEO and Business Blog Post Topics

If you are going to invest the time and energy into selecting a topic and writing your business blog, you are going to want to do so in such a way that gives you the biggest bang for your buck. Writing your business blog so that it is optimized to generate more organic search engine traffic to your website is really critical if your intent is to bring new customers to your website. Search Engine Optimization is the process of improving the quality and quantity of website traffic to a website or a web page from search engines.

We are search engine experts and offer comprehensive customized training to help you get the most out of your business blogging. What follows below is is a general syllabus for the SEO training we offer both in person or virtually via Zoom. The actual training experience may be more advanced or different based upon you or your company’s specific needs and each participant’s skill level.

This course is comprehensive and requires just one training session with follow-up sessions to review your work.

1. Demonstration of how SEO really works

We start by clearing out the smoke and mirrors to discover how search engine optimization really works. Real-life examples are provided.

2. Customer Profile Research and Development

You and your team know your business better than any agency. We will research and unearth the search behavior of your ideal prospects.

3. Hands-on, formula based content creation

Has anyone ever said to you, “Just blog and it will all turn out fine!” We say NO to that. Learn and practice the step-by-step strategy that actually works.

4. Using Google Search Console

A great Google tool for communicating directly with Google Search. Valuable for direct requests for indexing of website content and for evaluating the results of your efforts.

5. Getting the most out of your Google My Business location

There’s a little more to this than just getting on the map! Learn how to take advantage of what Google My Business has to offer.

6. The impact of social media and email marketing on SEO

Does social media really work? Do I need to be hounding my customers with frequent emails? Let’s have this discussion so that you can take the correct actions with confidence.

7. Creation of your step-by-step execution plan for SEO

This is what it’s all about. By the end of training, you will be crystal clear on how search engine optimization works. You will be equipped with the skills you need to confidently move forward with your business SEO plan.
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by Emily Journey on January 12, 2021

Zoom WordPress Coaching

kids playing with shopping cart — Learn WordPress at your speed

You know the benefits of WordPress, and you’re ready to power up your website. Only one problem… You’ve got no idea what you’re doing. You need virtual WordPress coaching. The most convenient way to receive virtual WordPress training is via Zoom.

Work with a live WordPress coach virtually via Zoom

If you’re looking for Zoom WordPress coaching, then you’re in the right place. That’s exactly what we do. Get up to speed faster by working with a real person–an online WordPress coach meeting with you via Zoom–for your specific website challenges.

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We’re a team of five WordPress experts ready to help you master this sometimes complicated platform. An interactive, live WordPress course with one of our virtual coaches will equip you with the knowledge and skills you need to manage your WordPress website with confidence. Watch the video above for details or read on to learn more about WordPress coaching for

independent business owners,
IT staff,
administrative professionals, and
marketing teams.

Live 1-on-1 WordPress Coaching | In Person and Virtually Via Zoom

Zoom WordPress Training course — Lead Instructor, Rachel Pfanz

Do you need a customized, one-on-one course experience? Then you’re probably looking for our Zoom WordPress coaching. Meet virtually via Zoom or in-person with WordPress expert Rachel Pfanz to walk through everything you need to know about managing and building your particular WordPress website.

This course is perfect for:

The IT professional
Independent business owners
The staff person who got tasked with managing the website–lucky you!

Get started with online WordPress coaching via Zoom

Step 1: Get in Touch

First things first. We’ll discuss your website goals and challenges. Understanding what you want to accomplish helps us customize your individual training course for your unique needs. Already know WordPress basics? Great! Your learning experience will be more advanced. This first conversation is also a great time to ask any additional questions you have about the process.

Step 2: Set a Date

We’ll get things off the ground by securing a spot on our calendar. Once we have the training date(s) decided, we will provide a payment link via email. You will also get some valuable resources based on your unique goals to tide you over until the big day.

Step 3: Learn by Doing

We are big proponents of kinetic learning – aka, learning by doing! And since you’re seeking some personalized training, it’s pretty safe to assume you’d like that kind of atmosphere too. We’ll meet in-person or via GoToMeeting as you are guided through the steps of managing WordPress.

Stop struggling with WordPress.
Contact us today to get started!

by Emily Journey on January 12, 2021

WordPress best practices

Two people in suits bowing in respect — Respect

Does your Marketing department complain about website functionality? Lack of conversions and downtime? As a WordPress trainer for IT departments and Marketing departments, I’ve witnessed the front line on both sides of the struggle between Marketing and IT. Implementing a few WordPress best practices can help.

Does this sound familiar?

Ugh! We can’t get anything done!
The website is slow!
IT says no to everything!
Our website is out of date.
If we wait for IT to make a decision then nothing will get done! (Let’s just not tell them.)

It seems like no matter what you do, it’s not enough.

Don’t get me wrong. I LOVE the Marketing department. They think like me. And, I don’t consider myself an IT professional. But, I’ve had the privilege of working with both IT and Marketing–in the same room–for WordPress Training. I’ve seen the frustrations coming from both points of view.

Now, back to you… the IT pro.

You want to keep things stable and secure. Meanwhile, marketing just hired a “Growth Hacker” who spends his entire day TRYING to break everything. For whatever reason, “experimenting” and “creativity” is more important than security and stability.

And, did I mention . . . IT is always the last to know? Why did nobody check with you first? Who’s idea was it to switch to WordPress anyway?

All the feuds between IT and marketers could be summed up in one phrase: no respect.

Training in WordPress best practices can help

I’m Emily Journey and I am a WordPress Instructor for IT departments. Our training team works with business owners, IT staff, marketing teams and administrative staff to help them gain confidence and learn WordPress best practices.

Since 2012, I have trained mixed groups of professionals who work for the same company but have very different goals. The face of marketing and sales has changed dramatically. Remember when the website was the domain of technology and there was a very clear boundary? It used to be that creative types couldn’t even figure out how to check their email!

Things have changed. The website management boundary is unclear.

Marketing has become digital. Everything is “content” and the host of all this creative output is technology based. Marketing teams are struggling to keep up. Those who do keep up win the prizes of a stronger brand and more sales. That’s their bottom line. Experts in Marketing have lofty goals and the company website is a means to achieving those goals. These are different goals than those of IT. But, the truth is, their differing goals are equally valuable.

If you have an IT and Marketing department that work well together and have mutual respect, then read no further! You are among the lucky few. This unicorn does exist. I’ve seen it in the wild and it is sometimes found with smaller teams. (You know who you are.)

In the rest of this article, you’ll learn how to utilize a little training in WordPress as the secret weapon of your IT department. Once the IT staff is equipped with a strong understanding of WordPress, they will be better prepared to head off conflicts with Marketing.

Learn more about Emily >>

Inquire about WordPress Consulting >>

Training FAQs »

WordPress best practices for IT

Whenever I am consulting IT staff in WordPress, I put the IT spin on best practices for WordPress. Participants are ensured a strong foundation in WordPress best practices specific to the IT goals of network security and stability.

1. Limiting access based upon role.

IT administrators can utilize the built-in permission levels of WordPress to limit access. Many problems could be solved with the right role guidelines. You understand the implications of giving a guest blogger an Administrator role, but the overzealous business owner or marketing intern may not.

Create a list of every necessary user. The boss’ cousin who helped with social media that one time may not be necessary.
Evaluate the MOST they need to do. Nothing more, nothing less. If they don’t need to edit code, they don’t need permissions that high.

This process, combined with a lesson on the roles themselves, will get your company on the same page. No more role-based nightmares.

2. Understand WordPress Security

As the IT Department, your priority is security. You need everything to stay safe and secure, including the WordPress website. You and your team need to be up-to-date on the latest WordPress security measures.

Matt Cromwell, Head of Support and Community Outreach at WordImpress.com, says this about WordPress security…

“Security isn’t easy, and it’s getting more challenging and necessary by the day. Paying for security is always a worthy investment. With that in mind, I find the following to be indispensable practices with regard to WordPress security.

Learn what hardening is and why it works. In many ways it just comes down to learning about file permissions. 777 is never good. Some things need and deserve 444.

You should also learn the difference between server-side security, app-level security, and domain- or DNS-level security. Basically, where does the line between your host’s responsibility, your security plugin’s responsibility, and your domain’s responsibility start and end? They are different things and often you can’t just point and click your way into making them all work nicely together.”

Some time with a WordPress consultant can teach your IT Department about each of these things — and more.

3. Optimize the website for speed

There are tons of ways to speed up your WordPress site with the right optimization.

Pantheon outlined the following as the top optimization tips:
Modernize PHP
Reduce load with persistent object cache
Improve speed and volume with reverse proxy page cache
Tackle the ultimate bottleneck with SSD Databases & the InnoDB Engine
Streamline search with dedicated search index
Don’t know how to implement those things? Let’s make this part of the discussion.

Inquire about WordPress Consulting >>

Some of the biggest problem areas for WordPress speed are also the easiest to address

From keeping too many files in the database…

The first is to remove any unused WordPress plugins and themes you currently have in your dashboard. These are just taking up space and slowing things down.

— Zac Johnson

Or images that are too large…

Images that are too large definitely cause slow load times (We typically stick to around 600 to 700 pixels width).

— Dave Schneider, Ninja Outreach

Or using too many plugins…

I’m not sure if people realize how many plugins they have installed. Think twice before clicking to add a new plugin. It’s called “code bloat” because there is too much code running. All that Javascript slows things down.

— Andy Crestodina, Orbit Media

Or not investing in a good server…

Too many websites are limited by shared hosting plans. Yes, $5/mo or $100/year might sound great, but the reality is that most consumers have almost no idea what they’re buying when they purchase cheap hosting. Almost nothing is safe, and you’re going to have artificial limits placed on your website loading speeds (sometimes right away, and other times after a small threshold is reached). Therefore, be sure to purchase space on a dedicated server or VPS hosting (virtual private server).

— Andrew Lowen, Next Level Web

Nobody in-house has the time to address these issues? Consider working with us for ongoing website management support. We will help you get your website in shape and take over the backend maintenance tasks.

Your next step

Let’s talk! Contact us to discuss your challenges with WordPress and how we can work towards solutions.

Contact Us >>

by Emily Journey on January 8, 2021

Should You Use a Static Front Page on Your WordPress Website?

When you’re building a WordPress website, you’re going to make the decision on whether or not to use a static front page for your WordPress website. Choosing a static front page certainly has its benefits but so too does keeping the traditional blog layout. A simple way to think of a static WordPress home page is that it’s not your blog. By default, WordPress assigns your homepage as your blog. If you don’t want your homepage to feature content that is regularly updated with every blog post, then you’re going to want a static page for your front page–also known as your homepage.

Learning WordPress will help you more fully understand the importance of the designation of your home page, the pros and cons of doing so, and the types of websites most likely to benefit from having a static front page. (And which sites won’t.)

Watch the video above for details or read on to learn more about our online and in person WordPress training classes.

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Uncertain about choosing a static front page?

Finding WordPress confusing? You’re not alone. WordPress training equips you with the knowledge and skills required to develop and manage your WordPress website and gives you the tools you need to make decisions, like having a static homepage, with confidence. We’re a team of WordPress experts ready to help you get started with your mastery of this sometimes complicated platform.

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When to Use a WordPress Static Front Page on Your Website

Anyone can choose a static homepage for their website. It is important, however, to understand that certain businesses or website types derive a greater benefit from having a static homepage. Generally speaking, if you want to generate business directly from your website, you should choose this option. Here are a few ways different types of businesses can use the static front page option:

Business Websites: Local businesses, eCommerce websites and service-based businesses can better showcase offerings on a static homepage.
Creative Portfolios: Highlight your best work through a static front page portfolio. Include past work, a way to contact you, and testimonials from clients.
Nonprofits: Explain your vision, share your message, and create a call-to-action to encourage visitors to join the cause.

If you fall into one of these categories, going static can provide you more opportunities than a blog-focused design. Because you have several focal points, a static homepage allows you to showcase the different functions and aspects of your business.

There’s no law saying you can’t still use a blog front page, but it’s important to understand what you’ll miss out on if you do.

When to Avoid Using a Static Front Page on your WordPress website

Despite many opportunities to utilize a static front page, there are times when it makes more sense to go the traditional route. Generally speaking, keeping a blog-style front page is smart when you’re creating feed-like updates.

The best website styles that benefit by keeping a blog feed format include:

News Websites: Newspapers, television outlets, and online journalism websites.
Blogs: If the blog is the center of your brand, you fall into this category (as opposed to if a blog is just another marketing tool).
Showcases: Any business focused on regularly showcasing work (e.g. photographers, real estate professionals, travel agents).

Now, this isn’t to say that you have to stay in these categories. I’ve seen plenty of blogs that use a static page and several businesses using blog-style front pages.
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The Effect of Having a Static Front Page on Your WordPress Website

For those that are still scratching your heads, WPBeginner does a good job of explaining things:

A WordPress website can have a dynamic blog-like front page, or a static front page which is used to show customized content which is updated with less frequency. WordPress will default to the first option by showing all of your most recent posts on the front page. Some users prefer the second option which is also known as a “splash page” or a “custom home page”.
This feature is particularly useful for websites that want to keep a blog separate from other sections of their website or for users who want to showcase content other than blog posts on the front page of their website. It can also make the site feel less like a blog and more like a full feature website. Often this feature is used on business sites.

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The Pros and Cons of Using a Static WordPress Front Page

As with any decision regarding your website, you will need to evaluate the pros and cons of that decision. As I’ve referenced above, if a blog is the center of your brand, you will likely want to avoid a static front page. Otherwise, I’ve provided a list of the pros and cons of doing so for you to consider.

The Advantages of a Static Homepage in WordPress

You’ll be able to feature a more diverse selection of content.
Your website will look more like a business than a blog.
Your homepage can serve as an alternative method of navigating the contents of your website.

The Downsides of a Static WordPress Homepage

Your returning visitors will see the same content on your homepage each time they visit. If they visit daily, then your website can begin to appear boring and out of date.

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Making the Decision on a Static WordPress Homepage

You now have some clearer direction in your choice. These guidelines work well for most. But, as with everything in life, what works for most may not work for all.

Don’t be afraid to think outside the box and go beyond conventional.

“The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.” – George Bernard Shaw

If you have any other questions, about static front pages or WordPress in general, to contact our friendly office.

by Emily Journey on January 8, 2021

How to Become a WordPress Developer

WordPress is the most popular free and open-source content management system online. Because it’s an open source content management system, people with intermediate internet skills can learn how to become creators and builders of WordPress websites. In doing so, they have taken their first steps toward becoming WordPress developers.

WordPress developers are creatives and entrepreneurs. They work with their clients to achieve outcomes and solve problems. They are determined and resourceful. A WordPress developer embodies everything I wanted out of my next career. If you share my vision and entrepreneurial spirit, a career as a WordPress developer may be for you.

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What Does a WordPress Developer Do?

A WordPress developer is typically responsible for the back-end or front-end (or both) development of WordPress sites. That often includes working within various WordPress themes and plugins. WordPress developers may be hired to rebuild a website, migrate a website from its existing platform to the WordPress platform, or redesign a website. They also have an understanding of aesthetics (understanding element arrangements on the screen, the color and font choices, and so on). WordPress developers are also often hired to optimize a website’s SEO.

Becoming a WordPress Developer: Getting Started

WordPress is incredibly popular. Recent statistics show that roughly 35% of the internet is powered by WordPress. Given its popularity, the opportunities for WordPress developers are nearly infinite. Whether you want to create useful plugins, weave gorgeous themes, or improve the core mechanics of WordPress, you can break into the field with a little time and effort. Of course, simply Googling “how to become a WordPress developer” will present a dizzying array of paths from which to choose. To simplify your journey towards becoming a WordPress developer, you’ll want to approach it methodically and utilize available resources for WordPress developers. This involves narrowing your focus, identifying your skills, finding a niche, and learning as much as you can about the platform beforehand. Fortunately, there’s a large community out there willing and ready to support you on your quest.

Become a Member of the WordPress Developer Community

While learning how to become a WordPress developer, it’s easy to fall into the habit of working on your projects in isolation. In order to advance in your chosen area of development, however, it’s critical to connect with the wider WordPress community. This gives you a forum to both hone and supplement your skills, provides access to additional development support, and gives you the opportunity to anticipate WordPress trends. Most importantly, perhaps, you will increase your chances of making lucrative connections by becoming a member of a larger WordPress community.

Whether you are setting off on your own or collaborating on an existing project, it’s wise to get into the habit of visiting WordPress forums regularly. I have made it a priority of mine and dedicate time weekly to stay engaged with the WordPress community. By posting my ideas, as well as responding to inquiries, I have been able to further establish my credibility as a competent WordPress developer.

Finally, you can also consider starting a fledgling WordPress development blog. A blog presents a perfect way to connect with the WordPress community at large, and share your journey with others. By creating SEO-rich articles, and linking out to other prominent WordPress blogs, you can also generate credibility and get your name out there.

Becoming a WordPress Developer: We Can Help

Does the thought of becoming a WordPress Developer seem unattainable? If so, we can help. WordPress training equips you with the knowledge and skills required to develop and manage your WordPress website with confidence. With training, you will be talking your first steps toward becoming a WordPress developer. We’re a team of WordPress experts ready to help you get started with your mastery of this sometimes complicated platform.

Watch the video above for details or read on to learn more about our online and in person WordPress training classes.

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The Benefits of Becoming a WordPress Developer

In addition to the fact that WordPress developers are in increasingly high demand, there are a number of reasons this career path is particularly appealing to entrepreneurs.

It can be quite lucrative if you become an adept developer and decide upon the right niche.
You can be a WordPress developer as a freelancer. This means it’s possible to be your own boss, work from home or anywhere in the world, and set your own schedule.
WordPress has a broad community of users who are eager to help, meaning it’s easy to gain access to the support you need.
The skills you acquire (especially in regards to the main languages of WordPress) will be readily applicable to a huge variety of industries and niches.
If you have a creative streak and a willingness to immerse yourself in the mechanics of the world’s most popular Content Management System (CMS), learning how to become a WordPress developer will be worth your while. It’s also worth considering if you’re looking for a job that’s ‘future-proof’.

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Best Practices for WordPress Developers

I became a WordPress developer in 2012. Since then, I have been helping people and companies with their WordPress websites. Along the way, I have made a few mistakes and learned some valuable lessons. Here is my list of best practices for becoming a WordPress developer.

1. Tell the truth

If you don’t know how to do something, then say so. It’s really okay to not know everything. Honesty pays off in many ways. Customer loyalty is one of them.

2. Be transparent

If you are outsourcing some or all of your project, then talk about it in your proposal.

3. Outsource some of your work

You are just not that good at everything. The truth is that no one person, or even two people, possesses all the skills that an average client needs to make their project a success. Your client will get a better finished product when you outsource the things you’re not good at. I outsource graphic design, branding, and advertising. I even outsource some things I am good at like copywriting because I can’t deliver copywriting quickly when I’m the one doing the writing.

4. Encourage your clients to own their digital assets

Domain name. Hosting account. Social profiles. Do not assign yourself ownership of these important properties. Don’t ever be in the position of declining your client access to their own website files because you put them on your own server.

5. Complete projects

Be prepared to provide a full refund if you can’t complete a project. Or, pay out of your own pocket to make sure somebody gets the work done. I’ve done both.

6. Part ways with dignity

Make it easy to break up with you. Why would you want to hold a client and their digital property hostage? My parting words are always, “Thank you for trusting us with your business” and “We will be here if you need us in the future.”

7. Get paid faster

Who said 50% deposit and 50% upon completion was a good idea? Not me. Instead, get a 1/3rd deposit, 1/3rd at 30 days, and the remaining 1/3rd upon project completion. This approach ensures you are paid for 2/3rds of your work fairly quickly and prevents client foot-dragging near the end of the project.

8. Be responsive to your client’s needs

Don’t force your big (expensive) ideas down your client’s throat. Your client may end up committing with reservations. They will be on high alert for all the reasons why this was a bad idea and you will be thrown under the bus.

9. Assist your clients in making informed decisions

Sometimes clients have bad ideas. Help them understand why it’s a bad idea to put a slider with 18 animated slides at the top of their homepage. They will make an informed decision; they might do it anyway, but their choice won’t be a reflection of your work.

10. Pick up after yourself

Delete the slew of unused/unneeded plugins and themes on the website.

11. Sweat the small stuff

Take the extra time to do the work correctly. Resize large images before uploading them to the website. Avoid uploading images of 1MB or larger. Details matter.

12. Have someone else test your work before delivering your finished product

You’ve been staring at the website for so many hours that you can’t see it anymore! Have someone you trust go through it while you watch. Have them click on every link.

13. Speak in ways you can be understood

Take a minute to remember what it was like to learn website development. You didn’t know all of the terminology. Slow down and simplify your language for the sake of your client. It will pay off in overall better understanding on both sides.

14. Pick up the phone

Email is not always appropriate. Especially if your client is upset or confused. Even when a client tries to have an important conversation with me via email, I will direct them to schedule a phone call with me.

15. Use instant video to explain and teach

Instant video tools such as loom are powerful time-savers and effective in helping clients understand you. I use instant videos throughout my workday to efficiently respond to questions from my staff and clients. Answers which used to require lengthy written descriptions and annotated screenshot attachments are now a snap with instant video.

16. Be responsible for your mistakes

If you messed up something, fix it on your own time. Don’t charge your clients for your mistakes.

17. Research and troubleshooting is a service

Research and troubleshooting of problems is a normal part of our work. It’s not free. Help your client understand this aspect of our work as a service.

18. Build in a time-limited support period after the project launch

Prevent the project from never ending. Make it clear how much time is available and what the cost of additional support will be.

19. Have a single point of contact at your client’s business

Invited to the team meeting to brainstorm about the website? I will show up for this meeting just once. While I’m there, I explain why it’s important for them to have these meetings without me. A single point of contact with decision making authority is more efficient and less expensive.

20. Leave your company name off of the website footer.

Your client’s website is not your billboard–even if they do love you.

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Complementary Skills for a WordPress Developer

Having a versatile skillset only makes you more marketable. As such, there are certain skills outside of the typical WordPress development skills that will come in handy to you as a developer. Here are a few of the more relevant skills that complement a WordPress developer.

SEO expertise
Proficient at web and graphic design
Digital marketing: email marketing, social media marketing, content marketing
Copywriter (requires a deep understanding of both SEO and content marketing)

Learning SEO as a profession is ideal for those who are good at both writing and problem-solving. Mastering SEO is less labor-intensive than becoming an expert WordPress developer. That said, those skills combined are impressive, enhance one’s marketability, and are highly desired.

Having design competency gives you an inherent advantage in creating the home page of a website or a post on a social media platform. You don’t have to be a professional graphic designer to be skilled enough to market your own or your client’s brand.

Being a gifted writer does make a world of difference for both marketing and SEO. Content creation is a critical component often dictating the success of one’e marketing endeavors. That said, don’t be afraid to outsource this or any of these functions. You need not be a master of every skill as long as you are able to identify your own strengths and weaknesses.

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The Intangibles that Set You Apart from Your WordPress Developer Competition

Many consumers have had nothing but bad experiences with WordPress developers. Personally, I only had negative experiences working with WordPress developers and have heard horror stories from my clients about their experiences with their WordPress developers. When I started my business, I wanted to be certain not to follow in the footsteps of those WordPress developers who earned such terrible reputations.

I asked myself the same questions you should be asking yourself. As a WordPress developer in training, how will you set yourself apart from your competition? Are you especially friendly? Particularly responsive? Are you a partner in your clients’ strategy (as opposed to someone who just builds what people say they want)? Do you have especially clear and transparent pricing? Unusually quick and reliable turnarounds?

Ideally, you’d like to be able to answer all these questions affirmatively. Whether or not that is realistic, the point is to spend some time understanding exactly why a client should be happy they hired you, as opposed to hiring someone else at the exact same price for the exact same thing. What are the intangibles about the way you do business as a WordPress freelancer that make working with you the right choice for your potential clients? I have had a simple formula that has allowed me to separate myself from my competition. First and foremost, I am honest with my clients. If a client asks a question that I can’t answer, I let them know I will need time to research the issue and get back to them. Second, if my clients want to become WordPress experts, I want to provide the training and other tools that will allow them to develop the skills so that they no longer require my services (assuming that is their ultimate goal).

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by Emily Journey on January 4, 2021

How to make your blog posts more readable (instead of boring!)

You’re writing great blog posts. They’re filled with useful, actionable information and delivered in a fun, friendly tone… so why aren’t they being read?

The reason your blog posts aren’t being read could have nothing to do with the quality of your writing or the information they contain. It may all come down to how readable your posts are.

The way we read online is different from the way we read offline, primarily because reading from a computer screen can be more challenging on the eyes. By following these simple tips, you can ensure that your blog posts are more reader-friendly.

Use a larger font

Two things: Not everyone has great vision. And, a lot of people are reading from their phones.
Don’t make it difficult.

Write great headlines

In order for readers to come anywhere near reading your blog post, they first have to click on your headline. That puts a lot of pressure on your headline.

The best headlines for blog posts focus on solving a problem for the reader. The key is to be as specific about the benefit as possible. Use active, sensory language to make your headline come alive.

Start with the problem

The tendency is to begin a blog post with a dry — usually obvious — statement of fact that reinforces your point. This effectively kills your momentum from the start.

Take a look at one of your blog posts…
Do you have a tendency to show off the amazing features of your product or service without first talking about the problem or frustration?

Instead, establish empathy with your reader right away by addressing their problem directly… and in detail. Or, tell the story of your own experience with a struggle and how your found a solution.

A word on stock photos

They’re perfect.

Perfection is boring and stilted. Whip out your phone and take some photos–even if you’re not sure how you’ll use them. Develop your collection of interesting photos and then you’ll have a great stockpile to choose from when you’re blogging.

Interesting photos — Not a stock photo. That’s my real hand! Totally. Real.

Don’t be afraid to include yourself in your photos. You are always going to be more interesting than your things.

More interesting photos for blog — Be your imperfect self.

Write helpful subheadings

There’s nothing like a solid block of single spaced text on a computer screen to make me want to run away. Including subheadings is a good way to help keep readers on track throughout your blog post. It’s also an effective way to break up the monotony of big blocks of text. You can use subheadings to hint at benefits, arouse curiosity, or amuse.

Keep paragraphs short

Online, big blocks of text are intimidating to the eye. They are difficult to get through and tend to tire the eye. The remedy for that is to keep your paragraphs short. Two to three sentences is fine. Then hit the return key.

Like this.

Occasionally, throw in an ultra-short paragraph like the one above. It helps keep the eye moving down the page because it feels effortless.

Vary sentence length

Sentences have rhythm. But when every sentence you write is the same length, it can become monotonous. The danger is that readers may tune out.

If you can free yourself from the need to write complete, grammatical sentences every single time, you can give yourself permission to create something interesting that people will love to read. Honestly.

Use bullets to break up text and add white space

If you’re giving readers tips or making lists, try setting them off as bullet points, rather than in paragraph format.

It’s more visually interesting.
It increases the amount of white space — which lets the reader ‘breathe’.
It’s easier to remember instructions.
Lists make more sense this way.

Choose words that are precise

Imprecise words are bland and uninteresting. Precise words are more active and immediately intriguing. In order to clarify this one, let’s look at an example of a sentence using imprecise words vs one that uses precise words.

Bland:

She walked her dog around the block before going to bed.

Precise:

She let Fido drag her through the neighbor’s azaleas so he could assault their pink flamingo lawn ornament one last time.

The more specific and precise you are, the more interesting it is for the reader. Interesting = readable.