The document discusses best practices for delivering a WordPress website to a client, including providing training, setting maintenance responsibilities, implementing a maintenance plan, ensuring technical SEO standards are met, and cleaning up the site before handover to avoid issues. It emphasizes the importance of supporting clients beyond initial launch to prevent the site from falling into a state of disrepair termed "FrankenWP".

1. How to deliver a
WordPress website
to your client
...the RIGHT way
Slides and links here
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2. But first...
A couple of questions
and some chocolate
Slides and links here
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3. Where’s the
website!?
Hands up who knows
what this is called?
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4. Introducing
WordPress ER...
Where broken websites
come to be revived...
22
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5. FrankenWP
Definition:
The state a WordPress website enters after it has
not been maintained and becomes a mess of bits
‘o this, bits o’ that.
Mostly occurring after a DIY effort or when a site
owner has not been supported beyond handover
and have called in less professional support.
Image credit:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankenstein%27s_monster#/media/File:Frankenstein%27s_monster_(Boris_Karloff).jpg
https://mercantile.wordpress.org/product/wordpress-logo-black-tri-blend-zip-hoodie/
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6. • Client doesn’t know how to use, update or maintain the site
• Client doesn’t know who to contact when something goes
wrong so they call a ‘new’ dev
• Website falls apart and becomes FrankenWP
• Client feels unsupported and calls developer or designer
bad words, shakes fist at cloud etc.
• Web developer loses credibility, client loses trust
Problems
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7. How can we avoid
FrankenWP?
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8. • What are YOU responsible for? What does the contract say?
• Who renews plugins, images, services, subscriptions etc?
• Who owns the licences for the above?
• Who is responsible for hosting and domains?
Let your client know who’s
responsible for what after
the initial site build
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9. Tool tip:
WP Help
by Mark Jaquith
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10. liveby5.com/wcbne @LiveBy5ive #wcbne

11. Show client how to:
• Edit, update, add and delete content
• Optimise new content
• Change and upload images
• Update areas of their site as per their brief
Provide training
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12. Training tools
videousermanuals.com sidekick.pro easywpguide.com
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13. Can your client:
• Update the pages and posts easily - including the homepage?
• Put a button or a call-to-action on a page?
• Update images ?
• Update menus?
Consider client usability -
what were their needs?
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14. Tools for customising
your clients experience
of WordPress
Adminimize by Frank Bültge
White label CMS by Video User Manuals
User Role Editor by Vladimir Garagulya
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15. If you are offering website services,
you should also be offering some
kind of post launch care.
A plan to plan
is not a plan
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16. Security – Assertive management of server, plugins
Longevity Stability – The site shouldn’t have an implode date
Offsite Backups – Ability to rollback or move site at anytime
Performance – Speed y’all
Hack Repair – If it does get hacked, what’s the plan?
Why maintenance plans?
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17. Why? goo.gl/S2AsQG How? goo.gl/ekahEK
Maintenance plan tools
managewp.com mainwp.com infinitewp.com
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18. Maintenance plan services
thewpbarber.co www.gowp.com wpcurve.com
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19. Don’t ignore
technical SEO
The foundations of a well-built
and google-visible website.
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20. Bare minimum
technical SEO
• Install Yoast or similar – and actually configure it
• Ensure Google Analytics code is on the site
• Ensure Permalinks are set up correctly
• Add site to Google web console
• HTTPS that baby!
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21. Learn more about
technical SEO
Checkout Kate’s rad course on it all: goo.gl/VNgG6S
Podcast with
Kate Toon:
goo.gl/WBLzTm
Podcast with
Yoast:
goo.gl/LoVf5C
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22. Housekeeping
Sorry Matt!
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23. Housekeeping
• Remove any sample or development content including pages,
posts and users
• Check forms and signups actually work test social media
integrations
• Make sure settings are set to customer time zone
• Delete unused themes and plugins
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24. To wrap up
• Be transparent about the build and tools and plugins used
• Communicate responsibilities beyond launch
• Train your clients to use their site the way it was intended
• Have a maintenance plan in place from launch
• Set up technical SEO on every site
• Keep a tidy house
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25. Thank you :-)
Slides links:
liveby5.com/wcbne
liveby5.com/wcbne @LiveBy5ive #wcbne

26. Contact details
liveby5.com
@LiveBy5ive
hello@liveby5.com
Sydney Online y’all
Cath Hughes is a Sydney-based WordPress consultant,
trainer and web designer with a passion for helping small
business professionals maximise their online impact.
liveby5.com/wcbne @LiveBy5ive #wcbne