Grav is an open source flat-file CMS platform, built by the RocketTheme Team. While there are plenty of great CMS platforms available, they are all mostly database-driven, which can be overkill for smaller websites. Instead of a database, Grav uses folders and a basic file structure, it is focused on speed, simplicity, and flexibility. After reading all of the documentation and spending some time trying Grav out, I’m definitely sold and will be using the platform. I hope you will too. What We’ll...
There’s so much talk about the “user experience” these days that it’s easy to shrug off the concept of the UX. After all, if you’re in the business of building websites using modern standards and best practices, then isn’t the ultimate goal already to create a quality user experience? The answer to that is, “Yes, but…” Here’s the caveat: this idea that websites should be designed around the user experience is a given. If the on-site experience isn’t a satisfying or even a pleasurable...
When you originally set out to create a web design portfolio site for your business, it was most likely with the intent to use those work samples to impress prospective clients and generate more revenue. But a WordPress website is a powerful, revenue-generating tool in and of itself. You’ve invested a lot of time in creating it, so don’t let it go to waste. Your main source of revenue right now likely comes from the development projects you work on. As a web design professional, that may present some...
Search engine optimization is a pretty big concern for website owners these days. As you add more browsers, more devices, and more user tech-savviness into the mix, it’s becoming harder to stay on top of optimization trends. And whenever you do feel as though you’ve got a decent handle on everything, the search algorithms change, or something else sends everything out of whack. The current SEO disruptor? Voice search. The Key to optimizing your site for voice search ... Chances are good you already...
Launching a new website is infinitely more complicated than you might think when the project first starts. If you’re not working with a completed website launch checklist, problems will occur down the line that may hinder business goals. Whether you’re the client, or the web developer, it’s important to cross the t’s and dot the i’s before officially declaring a web project “complete.” To make the task a little more easy and organized, here’s the ultimate website launch checklist:...
If you are planning to launch a new product, an online project, or simply an ordinary blog site, posting a “Coming Soon” page with a countdown informs your potential visitors about the release date as well notifying them that the site is still in progress. You can even have a subscription form for your potential visitors to sign up with and receive an email notification once the site is ready to launch. There are plenty of coming soon page and under construction templates available online for a couple...
Working on a website with a like-minded client can be a thing of beauty. There’s a mutual trust in each other’s ability to make decisions that will benefit both the client and their customers. The client asks for your opinion on what’s best based upon your experience and expertise. The site comes together nicely and everyone’s happy. While that type of scenario is possible, we know that life doesn’t always work out that way. Sometimes there are simply going to be conflicts. Whether they are...
Every website owner, before ordering a website, faces a dilemma: whether to use a professional developer’s services or try one of the ready-made solutions that content management systems offer. It’s a fight between web developers and ready-made website builders: who offers a more comfortable option for creating a fully-functional website that is easy to manage, customize and that looks great on any device? Professionals blame CMSs for providing low-quality code and site vulnerabilities....