Monthly Archiv: February, 2020

Community News: Latest PECL Releases (02.18.2020)

Latest PECL Releases:

  • phalcon 4.0.4
    Full changelog can be found at: https://github.com/phalcon/cphalcon/blob/master/CHANGELOG-4.0.md

    [4.0.4]

    Added

    • Added a way to utilize GitHub actions to run database tests against each RDBMS and reworked the testing suite. [#14779](https://github.com/pha$
    • Added the latest version of Codeception (v4) and utilized the phalcon4 module. #14779

    Changed

    • Changed Column 'notNull' definition to make possible create nullable (NULL) columns #14804

    Fixed

    • Fixed PhalconDbAdapterPdoPostgresql to correctly identify bool fields instead of treating them as tinyint [#14722](https://github.co$
    • Fixed PhalconCliConsole to pass current container to the PhalconMvcModuleDefinitionInterface::registerAutoloaders() [#14787](https://g$
    • Fixed PhalconDbDialectMysql::createTable() to create default value with CURRENT_TIMESTAMP ON UPDATE/DELETE [#14797]
    • Fixed PhalconStorageAdapter* to no longer accept the serializer option as it was clashing with the factory [#14828](https://github.com/$
    • Fixed PhalconHttpRequest to return the correct host on an UnexpectedValueException [#14763](https://github.com/phalcon/cphalcon/issues/1$
    • Fixed PhalconAssetsCollection to initialize position to 0 #14848
  • redis 5.2.0RC1
    phpredis 5.2.0RC1

    This release contains initial support for Redis Sentinel as well as many smaller bug fixes and improvements. It is especially of interest if you use persistent connections, as we've added logic to make sure they are in a good state when retreving them from the pool.

    IMPORTANT: Sentinel support is considered experimental and the API will likely change based on user feedback.

    • Sponsors ~ Till Kruss - https://github.com/tillkruss

    • Initial support for RedisSentinel [90cb69f3, c94e28f1, 46da22b0, 5a609fa4, 383779ed] (Pavlo Yatsukhnenko)

    • Houskeeping (spelling, doc changes, etc) [23f9de30, d07a8df6, 2d39b48d, 0ef488fc, 2c35e435, f52bd8a8, 2ddc5f21, 1ff7dfb7, db446138] (Tyson Andre, Pavlo Yatsukhnenko, Michael Grunder, Tyson Andre)

    • Fix for ASK redirections [ba73fbee] (Michael Grunder)

    • Create specific 'test skipped' exception [c3d83d44] (Michael Grunder)

    • Fixed memory leaks in RedisCluster [a107c9fc] (Michael Grunder)

    • Fixes for session lifetime values that underflow or overflow [7a79ad9c, 3c48a332] (Michael Grunder)

    • Enables slot caching for Redis Cluster [23b1a9d8] (Michael Booth)

    • Support TYPE argument for SCAN [8eb39a26, b1724b84, 53fb36c9, 544e641b] (Pavlo Yatsukhnenko)

    • Added challenge/response mechanism for persistent connections [a5f95925, 25cdaee6, 7b6072e0, 99ebd0cc, 3243f426] (Pavlo Yatsukhnenko, Michael Grunder)

  • protobuf 3.11.4
    GA release.
  • mysqlnd_azure 1.1.0
    - 1. Rename option mysqlnd_azure.enabled to mysqlnd_azure.enableRedirect. - 2. Add a new option choice "preferred". - 3. When enableRedirect is "on", ssl is off, no connection will be made, return error "mysqlnd_azure.enableRedirect is on, but SSL option is not set in connection string. Redirection is only possible with SSL." - 4. When enableRedirect is "on", but on server side redirection is not available, abort the first connection and return error "Connection aborted because redirection is not enabled on the MySQL server or the network package doesn't meet meet redirection protocol." - 5. When enableRedirect is "on" and server supports redirection, but the redirected connection failed for any reason, also abort the first proxy connection. Return the error of the redirected connection. - 6. When enableRedirect is "preferred", it will use redirection if possible. If connection does not use SSL, or server does not support redirection, or redirected connection fails to connect for any non-fatal reason while the proxy connection is still a valid one, it will fallback to the first proxy connection.
  • mongodb 1.7.2
    ** Bug * [PHPC-1553] - Conditionally define ssize_t if it is not available
  • skywalking 3.2.6
    Fix the mistake of field entryOperationName in sw6 header.

Top Custom Gutenberg Blocks You Can Add to WordPress

One of the most promising aspects of the Gutenberg block editor is the ability to add your own custom blocks. They can consist of just about any type of formatted content or functionality you can imagine.

And while you can certainly build your own custom blocks, sometimes that’s a bit like reinventing the wheel. This is especially the case when you want to add a common element such as a testimonial, post listing or timeline. Most likely, these blocks already exist and can be easily added to your website.

Since Gutenberg’s inclusion in WordPress core, the developer community has released a number of different block plugins. Most tend to include a collection of blocks that could come in handy while building your site.

Today, we’ll introduce you to some of the top custom block collections available for WordPress. Let’s get started!

Gutenberg Blocks – Ultimate Addons for Gutenberg

Ultimate Addons for Gutenberg includes 20+ custom blocks that cover a wide range of use cases. When it comes to layout, the Advanced Columns block lets you create a highly-customized multicolumn row. There are also blocks for adding Google Maps, icons, CTAs, post carousels and more. That’s just scratching the surface of what this free plugin can do.

Banner for Gutenberg Blocks – Ultimate Addons for Gutenberg

Page Builder Gutenberg Blocks – CoBlocks

Backed by GoDaddy, CoBlocks is a free WordPress plugin that supercharges Gutenberg. While it offers a number of handy custom blocks (accordion, alert, hero, logos, masonry gallery, pricing table, etc.), its big selling point is in page layout. Offering a more page builder-like experience, rows and columns can be dragged to size and customized for responsive layouts. Typography is also highly-tweakable as well.

Banner for Page Builder Gutenberg Blocks – CoBlocks

Gutenberg Page Building Toolkit – EditorsKit

EditorsKit is a bit different than the other plugins in this collection, as it’s more about extending the blocks already included in Gutenberg. The rich text formatting features allow you to further style your content, or wipe out all custom styles with a single click. You can also control the visibility of blocks based on device, login state or even custom field values. In addition, there are a ton of productivity tweaks, like support for markdown, code editor syntax highlighting and the ability to import or export specific blocks. With so many goodies, it may just make Gutenberg feel like a completely different experience.

Banner for Gutenberg Page Building Toolkit – EditorsKit

Kadence Blocks – Gutenberg Page Builder Toolkit

Kadence Blocks offers a dozen custom blocks that cover common needs. Included are row layouts, advanced galleries, tabs, info boxes and testimonials – among others. It also aims to solve one of the more frustrating issues with Gutenberg – the width of the editor on the back end. The plugin contains preset widths that enable content creators to get a better representation of what pages will look like on the front end.

Banner for Kadence Blocks – Gutenberg Page Builder Toolkit

Atomic Blocks – Gutenberg Blocks Collection

Use Atomic Blocks to quickly build highly-customized WordPress posts and pages. Among the highlights are the Section & Layout block, which includes a selection of readymade content layouts. Simply add a layout and customize the content. There’s also a Newsletter block, which allows visitors to sign up for your MailChimp list. The Share Icons block can help your content go viral. But that’s only a taste of the 20+ elements included.

Banner for Atomic Blocks – Gutenberg Blocks Collection

Gutenberg Blocks and Template Library by Otter

With an aim to both speed up content creation and add different content types, Gutenberg Blocks and Template Library is a compelling option. Much like Atomic Blocks above, the included Section block offers a number of pre-designed templates and layouts. There are also a number of customizable elements such as Google Maps, post grids, author info and a block for Font Awesome icons.

Banner for Gutenberg Blocks and Template Library by Otter

Advanced Gutenberg

Sure, Advanced Gutenberg comes packed with a number of custom blocks (post sliders, WooCommerce products, advanced tables, advanced lists, etc.). Those are all nice and handy. But the really interesting feature here is the ability to create “edition” profiles, which allow you to turn blocks on or off for specific users or user roles. For example, if you only want administrators to have access to the Column Manager block, you can easily set it up. This helps to ensure that lower level users don’t wreak havoc on your designs.

Banner for Advanced Gutenberg

Advanced Gutenberg Blocks

Furthering your ability to tweak Gutenberg, Advanced Gutenberg Blocks lets you disable any native blocks you don’t need. You can also customize the editor’s width, create default color palettes and font sizes. And yes, there are a number of new custom blocks available, such as notices, WooCommerce products, banner ads and click-to-tweet.

Banner for Advanced Gutenberg Blocks

Get Some New Building Blocks

The default blocks that come with Gutenberg are useful and are constantly being refined. But to create a true page building experience, you’ll want to add some custom elements.

That’s where the plugins above can help take your website to greater heights. Not only can you add different types of functionality and content, but you can also take greater charge of the editor as a whole.

The bottom line is that, if you’re going to use Gutenberg for complex page layouts, you might as well go all in. These plugins will help you do just that.

The post Top Custom Gutenberg Blocks You Can Add to WordPress appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.

PHP Windows File Attributes

Package:
PHP Windows File Attributes
Summary:
Get the type and other properties of Windows files
Groups:
Files and Folders, PHP 5, Windows
Author:
Hassane Moussa
Description:
This package can be used to get the type and other properties of Windows files...

Read more at https://www.phpclasses.org/package/11538-PHP-Get-the-type-and-other-properties-of-Windows-files.html#2020-02-17-09:17:36

25 Photographer Portfolio Websites for Web Design Inspiration

Whether you specialize in bridal or portrait photography, one thing is clear: you need to have a website that showcases your photography skills and makes it easy for potential clients to book your services.

When it comes to presenting your photography skills, there are several options. You can use the homepage to add a full-width hero image or a slideshow that features your best pieces. You can also add a smaller gallery on the homepage and dedicate an entire page to your portfolio.

No matter which option you choose, make sure you’re including only your best pieces and to share a few words about each project so potential clients can get a feel for what it’s like working with you.

It’s also a good idea to include a way to contact you or book your photography services. If you need a little creative inspiration for the best way to showcase your photography skills, check out these beautiful photography portfolio websites below.


More Web Design Inspiration: Business & Corporate, Clean Web Design, eCommerce, Creative Portfolio, Design Agency, Minimal, Non-Profit & Charity, One-Page, Parallax Scrolling, Restaurant & Food, Symmetry.

Otto van den Toorn

Otto van den Toorn photographer portfolio camera website web design inspiration ui ux

Claxton Projects

Claxton Projects photographer portfolio camera website web design inspiration ui ux

Photographer Landing Page

Landing Page photographer portfolio camera website web design inspiration ui ux

Sobre Minimal Photography Portfolio Template (Web Template)

Sobre Minimal Template photographer portfolio camera website web design inspiration ui ux

Great Portraits Exploration

Great Portraits Exploration photographer portfolio camera website web design inspiration ui ux

Earthrise Multimedia Experience

Earthrise Multimedia Experience photographer portfolio camera website web design inspiration ui ux

Hamish Stephenson

Hamish Stephenson photographer portfolio camera website web design inspiration ui ux

Alex Zane Photography Portfolio (Web Template)

Alex Zane photographer portfolio camera website web design inspiration ui ux

Nicole Maria Winkler

Nicole Maria Winkler photographer portfolio camera website web design inspiration ui ux

Timeless

Timeless photographer portfolio camera website web design inspiration ui ux

Peter Lindbergh Photographer

Peter Lindbergh photographer portfolio camera website web design inspiration ui ux

Photographer’s Portfolio

photographer portfolio camera website web design inspiration ui ux

Brailie Photography Template (Web Template)

Brailie Photography Template portfolio camera website web design inspiration ui ux

Florent Petitfrere

Florent Petitfrere photographer portfolio camera website web design inspiration ui ux

Kaiart

Kaiart photographer portfolio camera website web design inspiration ui ux

Dean Bradshaw

Dean Bradshaw photographer portfolio camera website web design inspiration ui ux

Juno Photography Template (Web Template)

Juno Photography Template photographer portfolio camera website web design inspiration ui ux

Sujeet Mishra

Sujeet Mishra photographer portfolio camera website web design inspiration ui ux

Photographer’s Webfolio

Webfolio photographer portfolio camera website web design inspiration ui ux

Bèla Adler & Salvador Fresneda

Bèla Adler Salvador Fresneda photographer portfolio camera website web design inspiration ui ux

Opta Minimal Portfolio and Photography Template (Web Template)

Opta Minimal Portfolio Photography Template photographer camera website web design inspiration ui ux

Shotview

Shotview photographer portfolio camera website web design inspiration ui ux

Pablo Alfieri

Pablo Alfieri photographer portfolio camera website web design inspiration ui ux

Anthony Florio

Anthony Florio photographer portfolio camera website web design inspiration ui ux

Shu Hellen Photographer Website

Shu Hellen photographer portfolio camera website web design inspiration ui ux

Conclusion

As you can see, there are plenty of ways to showcase your stunning photography and convince clients to hire you. A great portfolio website will also allow you to share your story and you can even use it to educate potential clients on the entire photography process.

From creating FAQ sections to sharing blog posts that tell them how to prepare for a photoshoot and what to expect during, your website gives you a unique chance to share your work with the world and get clients to feel relaxed during a photo session. Use the photography portfolio websites above as an inspiration.

The post 25 Photographer Portfolio Websites for Web Design Inspiration appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.

5 Things I Wish I’d Known as a Young Web Designer

Like most things in life, no career is without its share of challenges and revelations. What’s really amazing is how experience can change our perspective and provide both insight and hindsight. It serves as a reminder that, no matter how smart we think we are, we often start out with very different ideas about what it takes to be a web designer.

This has all prompted me to think about the 20+ years I’ve spent in this industry. With it comes a whole host of things I wished I had known when I was just starting out. It may have saved a stressful incident or two, along with pushing me ahead of the curve when it comes to change.

So, fellow designers, I’m here to pass along some of the tidbits of knowledge that I wish someone had told me back in the day. May they help you on your journey! Or, at the very least, give you a hearty laugh.

1. You Don’t Need to Book Every Project

At the start of my career, my philosophy was essentially: “You need a website? Sure, I’ll build you one.” It provided a lot of experience, including a few I’d rather forget. While there is some value in that, it took me years to realize that I didn’t have to settle for every lousy project that I could find. It’s a common struggle.

When just starting out as a freelancer, it’s tempting to take every single project that comes along. But the reality is that you’re not a convenience store. The goal isn’t to sell product to everyone who walks through the door. Web design is a more nuanced game.

There are plenty of reasons why a particular project might not be a good fit. The size, the scope of work or the client’s personality can be major factors. The amount of available time in your schedule is also worth considering.

Plus, taking a project often means being stuck with it for some time. If that client comes back to your for maintenance or web hosting, you’re going to have to deal with them repeatedly.

So, before you say “yes” and sign that contract, think about the consequences and whether or not it’s the right gig for you.

A sign that reads "No".

2. Stay Flexible and Expect Change

Web design is a profession that doesn’t stay the same for very long. Trends come and go, as do tools and technologies.

As a beginner, I was very set in my ways. I just had to write every bit of code by hand (and deal with sore wrists at the end of the day). Layouts and graphics also had to be done a certain way.

But over time, I found myself out of the loop on more modern practices. This meant still using old-school table layouts while the world went to CSS. It was using my own clunky method for organizing content while the CMS was changing how websites were built.

Eventually, I figured out that I’d better adapt if I wanted to survive in this industry. While still a bit stuck in my ways, I try to acknowledge when I need to make changes to my workflow.

My advice: Love your work and your tools. But don’t expect them to last forever. Eventually, you’ll need to adapt to something new.

A book on a desk.

3. Don’t Be Afraid of What You Don’t Know

Part of the adaptation process is in boldly going where you haven’t been before. The problem is that the unknown can be awfully scary.

This was the case for me, as I often hid from the types of projects I didn’t know much about. eCommerce, for example, was terrifying. I’d convinced myself that there was simply too much to learn, and that I couldn’t possibly get up to speed.

Eventually, though, you need to take a chance or risk becoming a relic of a bygone era. And you know what? It’s not nearly as difficult as we may think.

Web designers literally have libraries worth of educational resources at our fingertips. Even better is that much of it is either free or low-cost. All it takes is the willingness to try.

A man reading outdoors.

4. Referrals Can Be the Lifeblood of Business

Signing up new clients can take up a lot of resources. And while it’s a necessary evil, if often means spending time away from design and development (a.k.a. the “fun stuff”).

In my earlier years, I spent way too much time on things that didn’t work. I tried various forms of advertising and made cold calls. The results weren’t justifying the commitment I was making (Side note: it might be because I’m terrible at sales gimmicks).

What did seem to work, however, was satisfying current clients enough that they referred others my way. This ended up being a great way to get new business – while requiring much less time and effort.

It takes a little while to get going, but once referrals start coming in, you might just say goodbye to rounding up new clients the old-fashioned way. It also goes to show that some patience can really pay off over the long haul.

Two people shaking hands.

5. Success Requires a Commitment

If you want to be successful (however you define it), don’t expect it to happen overnight. Maybe this sounds like common sense, but it’s not always so obvious. Especially when you’re first starting out, trying to establish yourself as a respected designer.

For the first few years of my career, I was convinced that I knew more than most of the people around me. It’s ultimately what led me to venture out as a freelancer. But, once I got out into the world, reality hit me like a ton of bricks.

I learned that I could only get so far on half-baked skills and little commitment to building a solid foundation. Eventually, I realized that my business couldn’t grow unless I grew as a person.

A little bit of humility, along with a strong work ethic, can help you get to where you want to go. It just takes a commitment to the process.

A laptop computer on a desk.

Advice Is One Thing, Experience Is Another

Looking back, maybe knowing all of these different things from the start wouldn’t have made such a huge difference. Why? Because the real knowledge comes from actually experiencing them.

In that way, none of the lessons above are a game-changer in themselves. But they can serve as good reminders about what it takes to be a web designer. And, more importantly, they provide those “a-ha” moments as we navigate our careers. Over time, it all adds up to a better understanding of who you are and what you do.

The post 5 Things I Wish I’d Known as a Young Web Designer appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.

Drupal Icon Module API

Package:
Drupal Icon Module API
Summary:
Icons for Drupal blocks, menus, filters and fields
Groups:
Content management, PHP 5
Author:
Malik Naik
Description:
This package is a Drupal module that provides the integration of icons in blocks, menus, filters and fields...

Read more at https://www.phpclasses.org/package/11535-PHP-Icons-for-Drupal-blocks-menus-filters-and-fields.html#2020-02-16-21:02:10

PHP Eyowo Payment API

Package:
PHP Eyowo Payment API
Summary:
Process payments using the Eyowo API
Groups:
E-Commerce, PHP 5, Web services, Wireless and Mobile
Author:
Zacchaeus Bolaji
Description:
This class can used to process payments using the Eyowo API...

Read more at https://www.phpclasses.org/package/11534-PHP-Process-payments-using-the-Eyowo-API.html#2020-02-15-15:35:06

Top 6 Company Website Design Templates

Are you looking to build a new site for your business? If so, company website templates can help you create the website you want. With so many templates available, how do you determine which one is best for your business?

On this page, we’ll provide you with the top six business website design templates, plus an alternative to using templates. Keep reading to learn more and subscribe to Revenue Weekly for the latest tips and tricks for web design!

6 professional business website templates for your company

Are you looking for company website templates that will help you design a beautiful website?

Check out these top six templates:

1. Divi (WordPress)

If you’re looking for a professional company website design template, Divi is excellent. Divi is one of the most popular WordPress themes templates your business can use. This visually-based template allows you to build your website as you envisioned it.

People love using Divi because it allows you to build your website visually.

Divi provides features such as:

  • Effects
  • Shape dividers
  • Bulk editing
  • Layout library
  • Find and replace
  • Image transformation
  • And more

You’ll have access to all these features, which will help you build the website you need.

Divi offers a lot of benefits too, including:

  • Drag and drop building: You don’t need to know how to code to build your website with Divi. With Divi, you’ll have the ability to drag and drop elements on your page. It allows you to place items where you want them without having to code.
  • Responsive design: You want your website to look good on every device. With Divi, you get responsive editing, which allows you to determine how your website will appear on mobile devices. If you’re looking for responsive website templates, Divi is one of them.
  • Full control: Divi allows you to add dozens of elements to your site, like shape dividers, hovering elements, and sliders. You’ll have tons of options when customizing your site. From your website’s set up to its appearance, you make the decisions.
  • Ease of use: Whether you’re new to web design or a seasoned pro, Divi is easy for everyone to use. It’s a great professional website template that allows you to design your site the way you want.

As you can see, Divi is a great first option for professional business website templates.

You’ll have complete freedom to build a website that fits your business and helps you grow online.

2. Uza

If you’re looking for clean and professional business website templates, Uza is one of them. This website theme is versatile for a variety of industries, from dental practices to ecommerce companies, making it a great choice for whatever your company needs.

With Uza, you’ll get features like:

  • Custom brand integration
  • Minimalist design
  • Cross-browser compatibility
  • And more

Uza is a great option if you’re looking for a website builder with no frills. The clean and minimalist design allows you to build a simple website that’s uniquely yours.

If you use Uza, you’ll reap benefits like:

  • Business-ready design: Uza is ready for your company to implement your unique style. It’s a professional website layout that allows you to have a beautiful website that works for your business.
  • SEO-readiness: When you’re building your website, you must have a site optimized for search engine optimization (SEO) so you can appear in search results. With Uza, you’ll have a website that’s ready to rank in search results.
  • Mobile-ready: With so many people on mobile devices, your site must adapt to devices like smartphones and tablets. With Uza, you’ll get a mobile-ready website that adjusts to all devices.
  • Fast-loading site: Your site’s load time is crucial for positive user experience. With Uza, the template loads your site quickly, so you won’t need to worry about it bogging down your website.

Uza is a great option for your business if you’re looking for a professional and SEO-friendly, plus responsive website template.

3. Jevelin (WordPress)

Jevelin is a multi-purpose WordPress theme that enables you to build your dream website fast. When you use this business web design template, you’ll get a bunch of demo pages, which are pre-built pages, that you can integrate into your site and customize to fit your business’s needs.

With Jevelin, you’ll get features like:

  • Mobile-ready website
  • SEO readiness
  • Widgets
  • Smooth scrolling
  • Mega menus
  • And more

Jevelin offers numerous features to help you build the right website for your company.

If you use Jevelin, you’ll experience the following benefits:

  • Drag and drop building: Jevelin, like Divi, allows you to drag and drop your website design. This feature makes it easy for you to place items where you want them on your page.
  • Custom widgets: If you need widgets on your site, Jevelin’s got you covered. They offer numerous custom widgets, including widgets for your portfolio, social media icons, recent posts, and more.
  • Unique layouts: Jevelin offers unique page templates that allow you to choose the design that works best for your business. You can customize these layouts to fit your company’s unique style. Change the font, color scheme, and more to make your site meet your needs.
  • Quick set up: If you use Jevelin as your company website design template, you’ll get quick and easy installation. Choose the version you want to install and replace the sample content with your information. It’s easy and fast to build your website.

4. Webify (WordPress)

If you’re looking for options with your WordPress site, Webify is a great option. This professional business website template provides companies with a modern and simple template for building your site.

When you use Webify, you’ll get:

  • Testimonial sections
  • Header and footer designs
  • Customizable blocks and modules
  • Responsive design
  • And more

Webify comes with numerous benefits, including:

  • Fits with all niches: Whether you’re in the technology or food industry, Webify works for your business. This professional website template is versatile and works for all types of markets.
  • Offers multiple demo templates: With this company website design template, you get various demos for your pages. You can choose from demos like the gardening demo, cleaning demo, minimal demo, and more. Webify uploads new demos every month, so you’ll always have fresh choices as you add pages to your site.
  • Contains flexible layouts: When you’re designing your site, you want to have the ability to build your pages how you want. With Webify, you get flexible layouts that you can customize to your liking.
  • Supports WooCommerce: Webify integrates with WooCommerce. If you’re trying to sell your products online, Webify is an excellent option for uploading your products and making eye-catching product pages for your audience.

If you’re looking for an easy professional business website template, Webify is a great option.

5. Lateral

Lateral is a company website template that caters to a specific niche but adapts to other industries. Lateral targets Software as a Service (SaaS) companies but offers numerous templates that make it easy for you to use Lateral for your site.

With Lateral, you’ll have numerous features like:

  • Pre-built demos
  • Flexible HTML
  • Unique designs
  • And more

It’s important to note that Lateral requires HTML coding, unlike many of the previous professional website templates. You will need some coding experience to use this template.

Lateral offers a few different benefits, including:

  • Adaptability: Whether you’re a software company or a construction company, Lateral is easily adaptable for your industry if you have development experience. You can modify it to fit your business’s needs in a website.
  • Security: Lateral protects your website. Whenever someone browses your page, they won’t need to worry about their information getting compromised. Lateral has security built right into their designs.
  • Responsive design: Responsive design is a critical component of any website. With Lateral, your website will adapt to mobile devices and look flawless.

If you’re looking for a professional website template, Lateral is a great option.

6. Softdash

If you’re looking for a flexible template, Softdash is one of the best business website templates. Softdash allows you to have a fully adaptable web design that you can tailor to your business’s needs.

Some features of Softdash include:

  • Responsive design
  • Flexible template
  • Index page variations
  • And more

Like Lateral, Softdash uses HTML coding, so you’ll need some coding experience to use it.

Softdash offers numerous benefits for your business, including:

  • Page templates: If you need options, Softdash has them. You’ll have access to over 30 templates you can use to build your site. Plus, you can find blog templates, website templates, and more.
  • UX design: Softdash only offers user-friendly templates. With this company website template, you’ll create a site that people can easily browse to learn about your company.
  • Customization: Softdash is easy to customize. It allows you to move boxes around and create numerous combinations for your page. You can easily add and remove components too.
  • Touch-friendly: When you use Softdash as your company website design template, you’ll get a design that works well on touch devices. These designs have bigger buttons, responsive design, and appropriate typography to ensure users can easily click on different parts of your website.

If you’re looking for a professional website template that’s easy to use and customizable, try Softdash.

An alternative to company website design templates: Hiring a web design company

Templates are an excellent way for you to build a website for your business, but is it the best option? While templates are a convenient option, you do have an alternative option for building your website: A web design agency.

Web design companies are a great option if you need a custom site for your business.

Let’s look at how company website design templates and web design companies differ.

1. Customization level

The first, and perhaps most important aspect, we’ll look at is customization level.

With professional business website templates, you have the option to customize your website, but there are limits. You can only customize within the parameters of the template, which can reduce your level of customization.

So, you may have the option to place logos, add text, or change the format of elements on certain parts of your page. While you can drag and drop across a page, it doesn’t mean you have full customization of its design.

With a web design company, you’re free to design your site how you want. If you need unique or complicated elements on your website, your web design agency can implement them for you. You’ll get a site unique to your business.

2. Who works on your site

One of the most significant differences between using a company website template and hiring a web design company is who works on your website.

When you use a template, you’re left to build your website on your own. You must integrate the template, make your site to your liking, and put in a lot of work to create your dream website. If you’re busy running your business, you’ll have to put in additional hours of work into your website.

This task becomes daunting if you don’t have experience with web design. It will take more time to build your website, choose the right colors, and place everything on your site.

If you hire a web design company, you don’t have to worry about working on your site. You’ll have a team of experts creating your custom site and building it how you need it. It saves you time and allows you to focus on your business.

3. Monitoring

Web design isn’t a once and done process. It requires monitoring and constant upkeep to ensure your site functions. If you choose a template, you’ll be forced to monitor your website on your own and fix it when necessary.

If you’re busy running your business, monitoring your website becomes a hassle. You may not have the time to make changes to your pages or even the experience to know how to fix a problem.

With a web design company, you have someone constantly monitoring your site to ensure it works. If any issues arise, they can fix it for you while you’re busy helping customers and doing what you do best.

Partner with a web design company today

When you look at company website design templates and web design companies, you may find that a web design agency offers a better option. If you partner with a web design company, you’ll get full customization of your site and have professionals monitoring your page.

Are you ready to find out how a web design company can help you build the best website for your business? Contact us online or call us today at 888-601-5359 to speak with a strategist and learn more about our web design and web maintenance services.

The post Top 6 Company Website Design Templates appeared first on WebFX Blog.

People of WordPress: Kori Ashton

You’ve probably heard that WordPress is open-source software, and may know that it’s created and run by volunteers. WordPress enthusiasts share many examples of how WordPress changed people’s lives for the better. This monthly series shares some of those lesser-known, amazing stories.

The beginning

Kori Ashton

In 1998, Kori created her very first HTML website. Her dad was creating websites for a living at the time. She needed a website for her band because she wanted to be a rockstar. Under his training, and with a little bit of self-teaching, she learned how to build a website.

She had been aware of WordPress since 2005, and, in 2008 a client specifically hired her as a freelancer to develop a WordPress website. Kori went straight to Google and taught herself how to build a WordPress website over a single weekend. She really enjoyed the experience of working with WordPress.

My mind was absolutely blown when I saw the drag and drop options inside of menus to create dropdowns and a form builder. 

Kori Ashton

She suggested to her dad that WordPress could be a solution for their customers who wanted to be able to access their own websites. Previously, they had found this was not as easy for clients unless they had specific software and knew how to code. So, Kori and her dad worked to learn WordPress over the next few years. 

Then in 2012, Kori and her parents launched their new business, WebTegrity, in San Antonio, Texas, US. It started out small: just Kori and her parents. Soon, they started subcontracting design work and quickly continued to grow their team.

Going big time

Even though the business was in a saturated industry in San Antonio — over 700 freelancers and agencies were providing similar services — Kori and her parents were able to sell their company five years later, with a multi-million dollar valuation. There were a few choices they made early on that led to that success.

1. They picked a niche: WordPress specialists 

At the time, there were no WordPress-specific agencies in San Antonio. They emphasized the fact that WordPress was the only CMS their company would use. Prospective clients looking for a different type of CMS solution were not the right fit for their business. They also offered on-site, WordPress training and weekend workshops that were open to anyone (including other agencies) as one of their revenue streams. They soon were established as a city-wide WordPress authority.

2. They cultivated a culture

Kori wanted a great culture and environment in her company and to make that happen, she needed to hire the right people. She believes you must be careful about who you bring into the culture of your business, but particularly when hiring leaders into that community. You can’t teach passion so you’ve got to find people that are excited about what you do. You also need to look for integrity, creativity, a love for solving problems, and an eagerness to keep getting better. 

You can teach code all day long, but be sure to find people with the right hearts to join your community and then train them up the right way. This way you will grow your culture in a healthy way.

Kori Ashton
Kori and her two sons

3. They learned how to build sustainable revenue streams

Like many other web development agencies, WebTegrity started out with the “one-time fee and you’re done” business model. This business model is known for unpredictable revenue streams. Hearing about recurring revenue business models at WordCamp Austin was a lightbulb moment for Kori. She started drafting a more sustainable business model on the way back home. 

Support packages were key to their new business plan. Clients needed ongoing support. They decided to include at least 12 months of post-launch support into their web development projects. This doubled their revenue in one year and allowed them to even out their revenue streams.

4. They knew the importance of reputation

Kori believes that every client, whether they have a $5,000 or a $50,000 budget, should get the same type of boutique-style, white glove, concierge relationship.

Every single project results in the absolute best solution for a client’s needs. In addition to that, offering training helped boost their reputation. Explaining the lingo of the web development and SEO fields and showing the processes used, added transparency. It helped set and meet expectations and it built trust. 

5. They proactively gave back to the community

Tori heard Matt Mullenweg speak about Five For The Future at WordCamp US. He encouraged people in the audience who make a living using WordPress, to find ways to give back 5% of their time to building the WordPress software and community. Matt talked about how firms and individuals could give back to the community. He suggested, for instance to:

  • start a WordPress Meetup group
  • present at a Meetup event 
  • facilitate a Meetup group where maybe you’re just the organizer and you never have to speak because you’re not a fan of speaking
  • help organize a WordCamp
  • volunteer at a WordCamp
  • write a tutorial and tell people how to do WordPress related things 
  • run a workshop
  • make a video
If you’re making an income using WordPress, consider giving 5% of your time back to building the software and/or the community.

This gave Kori another light bulb moment. She could make videos to give back. So her way to give back to the WordPress community is her YouTube channel.

Every Wednesday, she published a video on how to improve your online marketing. This made a huge impact, both inside the WordPress community, but also in her own business.

Understanding

So, in summary, how did Kori and her family turn their business into a multi-million dollar buyout in just five years? 

Ultimately, it was about understanding that you have to build value. About keeping an exit strategy in mind while building your business. For instance when naming your company. Will it stand alone? Could it turn into a brand that you could sell as an independent entity?

  • Think about revenue streams and watch sales margins.
  • Be sure to include healthy margins. 
  • Don’t hire until you have no further option.
  • Make sure to structure your offerings in such a way that you’re actually recouping your value. 
  • Understand entrepreneurship, watch Shark Tank, read more tutorials, watch more videos.
  • Get involved in the WordPress community. Get to know its core leaders, the speakers that travel around to all the WordCamps. Start following them on Twitter and try to understand what they’re sharing. 

In the end, the fact that Kori was so active in the San Antonio community helped enable the sale.

We just kept hammering on the fact that we were the go-to place here in San Antonio for WordPress. We kept training, we kept doing free opportunities, going out and speaking at different events, and people kept seeing us. We kept showing up, kept giving back and kept establishing ourselves as the authority.

Kori Ashton

Contributors

Alison Rothwell (@wpfiddlybits), Yvette Sonneveld (@yvettesonneveld), Abha Thakor (@webcommsat),  Josepha Haden (@chanthaboune), Topher DeRosia (@topher1kenobe).

This post is based on an article originally published on HeroPress.com, a community initiative created by Topher DeRosia. HeroPress highlights people in the WordPress community who have overcome barriers and whose stories would otherwise go unheard.Meet more WordPress community members over at HeroPress.com!

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