Hello and welcome to my resources page. I created this list mostly so I could easily click on my favorite tools, but over time I’ve added articles and websites which might be helpful to you.
(Note: I might receive a commission if affiliate links are clicked on and purchased -at no additional charge to you.)
Strategies for Website Planning:
Create a plan before starting a new business
Smashing Magazine Comprehensive Website Planning Guide
How a Web Design goes to hell
WordPress Basics
How to Log Into Your WordPress Website
How to find the the front of your website from the dashboard
How to upload photos to WordPress from your phone
Is Your Site Mobile-Friendly?
Web Hosting:
How good is your current web host? Run your IP address through this site Reverse IP Domain Check to see how many other websites are hosted on your same web server. Too many sites on one IP address can cause problems with SEO, as well as cause your site to be “overblocked” if even one other site on your shared host contains some form of adult or explicit content.
I use and recommend Siteground.
Recommended WordPress Themes:
I use the Studiopress Genesis Framework as my primary theme, with some of the following child themes (note: I am an affiliate for Studiopress and received a small commission if you purchase through these links).
- Mai Lifestyle Pro Theme
- Breakthrough Pro Theme
- Essence Pro Theme
- Altitude Pro Child Theme
- Foodie Pro Theme
- Daily Dish Pro Theme
- Parallax Pro Theme
- Executive Pro Theme
- StudioPress Pro Plus All-Theme Package
For more info on Genesis Themes check out Why Genesis is the Foundation of Any Smart WordPress Design or download The Genesis Guide for Absolute Beginners (PDF – 1.4 MB).
Gutenberg:
Gutenberg Designers-Developers Handbook
Gutenberg Block Development
Design and Inspiration:
WordPress.org Showcase
Studiopress Showcase
Dribbble
Canva
Squarespace Design Guild Showcase
More examples of sites using Squarespace
See a site you love and wonder what theme they are using?
What WordPress Theme is That?
What Squarespace template is this site using? Check out Findr
Typography:
Image Optimization:
Complete Guide to Image Optimization
Optimizing Images on a Mac with Preview
Pic Monkey
Shopify 10 Must Know Image Optimization Tips
Logo/Branding:
Create your own logo with Canva
Why you don’t need to make your logo bigger
Recommended Reading: Alina Wheeler’s Book: Designing Brand Identity
Search Engine Optimization (SEO):
Things Designers Should Know About SEO
Google Ranking Factors
Woorank
MOZ: Beginner’s Guide to SEO
Yoast SEO for Beginners
Security:
12 Ways to Secure your WordPress Website
Sucuri Sitecheck
Wordfence Plugin
Wordfence Security Learning Center
Backups:
Schedule regular backups thru your webhost, a plugin, or sign up for a care plan and I will handle that for you.
Call-to-Action:
Hubspot: Great Call-to-Action Examples
Passwords:
Learn How to Code:
Use Chrome DevTools or Firefox Developer Tools
Command Line for Beginners
KnowTheCode.io
Javascript for WordPress
Code School
Lynda.com
W3 Schools CSS Tutorials
Editing a WordPress Theme
Studiopress Beginner’s Guide
Customizing with Chrome Inspector
Compare two files side by side with diffnow.com
Getting started with Squarespace
Getting started with Squarespace
Choosing the right Squarespace template
Facebook:
See how your Share will look on Facebook
Tips for Uploading Photos to Facebook