[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]The most remarkable thing about WordPress is its flexibility. There are actually a lot of remarkable things about WordPress, but its ability to adapt, change and scale are certainly in the top 5.
We all know internet trends seem to change daily. In the design world change is constant and if you don’t keep up, your business can suffer from brand fatigue and fail to capture new, more tech savy audiences.
Change the theme
WordPress uses what are called “themes” as starting points for design and functionality. It’s basically a template or skin that is installed over the WordPress framework and offers tremendous customization from the admin area. There are a countless number of themes on the market today. When you sit down with a designer and pick a theme you are choosing a general look and feel based on what the theme’s demo is presenting. The selection process must also align with the goals of the business. It’s important to understand WordPress themes go way beyond what is presented in the demo. It’s merely a suggestion of what could be.
WordPress is designed to use themes interchangeably. If you don’t like the look or features of your current theme, you can install and activate a new theme without losing all your existing content. In most cases, some adjustments are needed for the theme to be properly integrated, but overall, it’s a straight forward process.
Extend functionality with plugins
Plugins are small applications that can add or change how the WordPress website functions or performs out of the box. In other words, if your online business objectives change, you may need to add new features to your website to achieve those goals. WordPress plugins are used to add new features and come in a variety of shapes and sizes.
Let’s say your business decides to try online lead generation. Naturally, you will need opt-in forms and other lead capture elements on your website to start capturing leads. If your theme doesn’t come pre-packaged with a lead capture tools, you can reach into your tool box and install a plugin that does this for you. There are thousands of plugins available to extend the features of your WordPress website.
Change the layout
The layout is how the content is organized on a page. WordPress uses columns and rows as the basis of all layout options. From there, you have limitless configuration options. Depending on your theme options these layouts can be reconfigured as easily as dragging content boxes around in the editor. I’m greatly oversimplifying the process, but with careful planning and know-how, changes can be made rather quickly.
Below is an example of what can be accomplished on a single page. Keep in mind most of the content such as text and images need to be supplied by you or your designer, but you get the idea.
Make global changes to color and style
I’ve worked with several businesses who have undergone brand changes. Since a website is the most visible, always-on component of a business’s brand, updates need to happen quickly when this sort of thing happens.
Most themes, combined with the power of WordPress, allow designers to make instant global style and color changes, including the logo. This feature gives you the flexibility to change the font, color palette, background colors and images and a host of other important brand elements on a website.
Sky’s the limit
WordPress powers over 26% of the websites on the internet today. That’s a lot of websites. Created by Matt Mullenweg in 2003, and to this day, remains an open source website technology. Millions of business take advantage of the WordPress platform and rest easy knowing their website can scale and adapt as the internet changes. WordPress is just about the only thing in your office that’s future proof.
Unlike most other technology, your business invests in, a well planned and well executed WordPress website will continue to return on the investment. With a little maintenance and occasional strategy sessions, you never have to worry about your website becoming obsolete.
I wish the same could be said about that expensive printer in the mail room. As always, thanks for reading and be sure to drop a comment if you have any questions.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” enable_gradient=”true” color_overlay=”rgba(30,115,190,0.11)” color_overlay_2=”rgba(238,238,34,0.11)” gradient_direction=”left_t_to_right_b” overlay_strength=”0.8″ shape_divider_position=”bottom”][vc_column column_padding=”padding-4-percent” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]
[icon color=”Accent-Color” animation_speed=”Slow” size=”small” icon_size=”” animation_delay=”” image=”icon-check”] Stop Worrying About Your WordPress Website
Your website is crucial to your business. It generates leads, customers and revenue (or at least it should). It’s a channel through which customers, prospects, suppliers, potential new staff and partners will find and engage you… and judge you for that matter.[/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”20″][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]