WordPress sites are meant for editing, show your site owners how to take control of their sites

1. NEVER LAUNCH WITHOUT TRAINING
Site owners deserve it
BeckyDavisDesign.com @beckyddesign

2. WHY DO WE USE WORDPRESS?
 Lots of reasons
 Easy entrance to Front End Development
 Lots of flexibility
 Great community support
Because it’s EDITABLE
BeckyDavisDesign.com @beckyddesign

3. WHAT USUALLY HAPPENS…
 You design/develop a site
 Finally get the content and then add it
 At launch, maybe there’s a nice training session
BeckyDavisDesign.com @beckyddesign

4. 6 WEEKS/MONTHS LATER…
BeckyDavisDesign.com @beckyddesign
Wait, how do I do this??

5. CONFESSION
BeckyDavisDesign.com @beckyddesign
I hate putting in content.

6. BUILD TRAINING INTO THE PROJECT
 Develop theme
 Setup site
 Let Client add most of the content
= Win-Win
 They have the power to use their site
 You don’t have to put in all the content
 Present it as cost saving!
BeckyDavisDesign.com @beckyddesign

7. BUT WORDPRESS SITES ARE SUPPOSED TO BE EASY!
THINGS YOU CAN DO IN DEVELOPMENT
 DO
 Create templates for
different layouts
 Create CPT for special
types of repeatable
content
 Make special styles
available in the editor
 Use custom fields.
Content for that page
should be on that page.
 DON’T
 Assume that they will know
where things are
 Use Widgets for page
content, reserve them for
universal things like
Sidebar, Header and
Footer
BeckyDavisDesign.com @beckyddesign

8. CONTENT ADDITION = TRAINING
 Get the client involved DURING development
 Add enough content to make sure things are
working and then - Let them do the rest
 Added bonus:
this forces the client to actually
think about their content
BeckyDavisDesign.com @beckyddesign

9. I HEAR YOU
 Yes, they will struggle with layouts, images, links –
Teach them how
 Yes, this can slow down dev
 BUT, clients who want to edit and actually have to
DO it, become comfortable with their sites.
BeckyDavisDesign.com @beckyddesign
=

10. OK, HOW?
 Documentation
 1 way to go, but nobody reads
 Hands On – People learn by DOING
Screen share and let them hit the button.
BeckyDavisDesign.com @beckyddesign
 Documentation
 1 way to go, but nobody reads
 Hands On – People learn by DOING
Screen share and let them hit the button.

11. BUT THE TIME, AGGRAVATION, ETC.
 Easier that you think!
 Even my Mom can screen share!
 Factor it into the job.
 Most people do fine with 1-3 hour
long sessions.
 DON’T close the door, always
answer questions.
 This is what makes you awesome
to your clients!
BeckyDavisDesign.com @beckyddesign

12. THANK YOU!
Questions?
See you at the Chicago WordPress meetup!
http://www.meetup.com/Chicago-WordPress-Meetup/
BeckyDavisDesign.com @beckyddesign