Open Waves Design

When I tell my clients they will be able to update their site on their own, the most common response is disbelief. It’s easy to forget that people who don’t develop websites themselves aren’t aware of the latest tools and features available to them.

Also, many people have still not even heard of WordPress. I have had several initial meetings and when I brought up WordPress they had no idea what I was talking about. In those cases, it can be difficult to teach someone how to update their own site.

Basic Training

But this process is made easier with several tools. One of those tools is WP101.

From their site, you can, “Learn WordPress basics in less than an hour with our free WordPress tutorials! Then, continue learning with more advanced courses. Plus, get expert answers in our Q&A forum!”

I also install their plugin on all my clients’ sites, giving them access to all the videos from their dashboard. It even includes the ability upload and include your own videos, so I can add them for any custom features on their site.

Advanced Training

For those needing more customized training, I offer one-on-one WordPress coaching/tutoring services to answer specific questions and problems. This is great if you are building your own site and need someone to help with of the more technical aspects that you don’t have time to learn.

If you’re interested in working with me or have any questions about it, send me a message.

A quick review of some of my favorite WordPress books!

I already mentioned most of these in my recent post about learning WordPress, but here’s what I learned and other information about why they were helpful.

I typically enjoy reading books that are in a reference style, so it’s not only easier to skip around the first time, but I can come back later and find what I need easily.

Digging Into WordPress

Author: Chris Coyier & Jeff Starr

This was my first book purchase specifically written about WordPress. It features over 400 pages of practical information about WordPress, from securing and maintaining your site, to customizing your theme, and more.

One of the coolest parts about this book is its binding, which allows you to lay it completely flat so it will stay open without holding it (which helps while coding).

Professional WordPress: Design and Development

Authors: Brad Williams, Hal Stern, David Damstra

I consider this book my “WordPress bible” because it is a complete explanation, guide, and reference for web design and development using WordPress. Just a few reasons to read it are (via wiley.com):

• Offers an overview of the WordPress system and describes what happens when a WordPress-generated web page is displayed
• Demonstrates extending WordPress through plugins and customizing it via themes
• Combines a developer view of user experience and optimization with the deployment requirements for performance, security, and measurement
• Includes code downloads and code samples from the book’s website

A Book Apart (Series)

This series of “brief books for people who make websites” is an excellent resource to start learning about current web design trends and technologies. So far I’ve read Responsive Web Design (Ethan Marcotte), Design Is A Job (Mike Monteiro), and Design For Real Life (Eric Meyer & Sara Wachter-Boettcher).

They are continually adding new books to the series, and they also make great gifts! 😉

Others Worth Mentioning

• Designing with Web Standards (Jeffrey Zeldman)
• Don’t Make Me Think (Steve Krug)
• CSS Mastery: Advanced Web Standards Solutions (Simon Collison)

Got any other suggestions to add to my list?