There’s nothing like the feeling of launching a new website. It’s the excitement of a happy client and a great addition to your portfolio. You can even admire all the cool things you did with WordPress. But as that chapter ends, another one begins.
We’re talking about website management. It’s all about keeping your client’s site in tip-top shape throughout its lifecycle. But there’s more to the process than hitting the “update” button every so often.
Modern websites are more complex than ever. Thus, there are also ongoing tasks for performance, accessibility, and security. The services and technologies surrounding websites also require regular attention.
Those responsibilities multiply for each site under your watch. So, how do you keep it all from going sideways? Keep reading to discover best practices for managing your client’s WordPress websites.
Every WordPress website has a story to tell. While some may be similar, some features make them unique.
For example, several clients may use the same theme. However, their websites could have key differences. Perhaps one uses WooCommerce and sells products online, while another might include a learning management system (LMS) plugin.
Seemingly similar websites can have many differences, including:
These differences may be fresh in your mind when the site launches. However, it’s easy to forget them as time passes. You’ll be left searching for clues when it’s time to work on the site again.
The solution is to document the unique aspects of each site. Put them into a text or word processing file. It’s a handy reference for those little details and could save you a few headaches. Future maintenance will be that much easier.
WordPress websites require frequent maintenance. Updates to the core software, themes, and plugins are plentiful. Thus, it pays to keep a watchful eye on each site you manage.
Updates play a key role in site security and stability. Missing a new version could mean exposing the website to hackers or a poor user experience. It’s not something to take lightly.
WordPress can perform automatic updates – and it’s a viable option. However, updates don’t always run perfectly. If something does go wrong, you won’t be around to notice. That could mean a buggy site or worse.
The better option is to create a website maintenance calendar. Pick a day each week (or two) and dedicate a portion to installing updates. It also helps to stay flexible – you never know when a critical security update will surface.
We get it – logging into every site you manage is tedious. Thankfully, you can streamline the process using a unified dashboard service like ManageWP or MainWP. You’ll have access to each site and can perform maintenance tasks – all from a single screen.
Regardless of how you do it, keeping a regular schedule will help this part of maintenance become second nature.
Things change rapidly in web development. Software (such as WordPress), programming languages, and server technologies evolve. Like that iPhone you bought last year, things become obsolete before you know it.
These shifts impact your existing sites just as much as new ones. PHP versions are a prime example. Web hosts often stop supporting legacy releases. Thus, your website had better be compatible with a recent one. Wait too long, and you might have a broken site to repair.
Changes in WordPress are also worth paying attention to. New features are added to the core software, and some may benefit your clients. For instance, the Site Editor lets you build custom theme templates without knowing how to code. It may be the push your client needs to approve a redesign.
Meanwhile, themes and plugins come and go. It’s risky to leave abandoned software on your site. The sooner you know about a potential issue, the sooner you can address it.
And we can’t forget about third-party tools and services. Our sites often depend on them for functionality. A change to an API or even a billing policy could be impactful.
Such frequent changes make it more important than ever to stay informed. You don’t have to know everything – just the subjects relevant to the sites you manage. The project documentation we mentioned above can help you decide where to focus.
The burden of website security is a heavy one. It should be a top consideration in everything we do. The same goes for keeping client data safe.
In site management, that means not taking any risks. Ensure that software is updated, use strong passwords, enable two-factor authentication (2FA), track user activity, and use security tools. They help defend against hackers and provide a little peace of mind.
Security at the server level is also critical. For instance, ensure the correct file permissions for your WordPress installation are set. Scan the server for any suspicious files. Your web host may take care of some items – but it doesn’t hurt to verify them.
Any sensitive client data (like passwords and payment info) should be stored securely. Use encrypted services, when possible, to keep prying eyes away.
Security may be the most difficult part of website maintenance. Do your best to keep your websites, clients, and yourself safe.
There are many aspects to managing a WordPress website. But they all have a few things in common.
First, you’ll need a deep understanding of every website you manage. Note the details in what theme and plugins they use, their hosting configuration, and the services they depend on. Gather every bit of information you can for future reference.
Second, pay attention to what’s going on. Stay aware of what’s changing and how it impacts the sites under your care. That will help you catch potential problems before they strike.
WordPress maintenance isn’t rocket science. Some basic organizational skills are a must. From there, it’s about creating a workflow that makes sense for your business. Take advantage of any tools that save time and increase efficiency.
Follow the tips above, and you’ll become a pro in no time!
The post The Best Practices for Managing Your Client’s WordPress Sites appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.
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We have the power to bend WordPress to our will. A little (or a lot) of custom code can make the content management system (CMS) do more. The sky’s the limit when it comes to functionality.
That’s quite a magic wand in our pockets. However, it does bring up a few key questions.
Do we go big when building plugins and themes for WordPress? Do we add all the bells and whistles and account for every potential use case? Or do we aim for the bare minimum – just enough to serve our needs?
I prefer the latter approach – start small and adapt as needed. That minimizes bloat and saves on future maintenance. It’s a hard-learned lesson.
The elephant in the room is that our needs tend to change. The plugin that once did the job may no longer do enough, while the theme that helped us achieve one look may not be flexible enough to adapt to a new one.
This is where a modular approach to development is valuable. It’s all about building to suit your current needs while planning for the future. Change is inevitable – so why not account for it now?
Let’s explore this different way to do WordPress development. We’ll cover the basics of what it is, how it looks, and how it benefits your workflow.
It’s easy to go down a rabbit hole during a development project. The finished plugin or theme might not resemble the idea you started with. We get sidetracked by shiny features and the quest to deliver more than advertised.
Our intent is noble. However, we also complicate our project by straying from the initial plan. Did we build something sustainable? How will we manage the code a year from now?
There’s a danger in going too big, too soon. For one, it can lead to sloppy code and structure. The impacts can be felt in performance and security. You could miss something important while attempting to squeeze more into your project’s timeline.
In addition, half-baked features could be a pain to work with down the road. Poor structure means bolting on additions or (gasp) ripping things apart and starting from scratch.
To avoid this fate, consider your short-term goals. Ask yourself:
The idea is to focus on what you need to achieve in the time you have. Anything beyond that can probably wait.
The websites we build will evolve. Clients change their mind or have something new to offer. WordPress and the underlying technology of our sites also move forward.
That impacts our custom plugins and themes. There will likely be new features to add or changes to existing ones. It’s all part of the development lifecycle.
Using a modular approach helps when it’s time for a change. The first step is to get organized. Having a sound structure allows you to build logically and efficiently.
The WordPress developer documentation gives you a head start by outlining plugin and theme structure. Following these guidelines ensures a sustainable start to your project. That’s better than reorganizing a messy jumble of files and code.
For example, here’s the suggested plugin structure:
/plugin-name
plugin-name.php
uninstall.php
/languages
/includes
/admin
/js
/css
/images
/public
/js
/css
/imagesThe ability to pick up where you left off is priceless. If you haven’t worked on that custom plugin for a few years, you might have difficulty remembering what you did and where things are. A well-organized plugin removes some of the guesswork.
Adding comments to your code also helps with organization. You’ll receive a high-five from your future self for documenting what each snippet does. It’s a small thing that makes a real difference.
The better your organizational skills, the easier it will be to maintain your work.
Sure, it would be cool if our plugin could do x, y, and z right out of the box. Perhaps that’s not realistic, given the budget and timeline. We don’t have to forget about those big ideas, though.
The priority is building something that works as intended. It should do what we outlined in our short-term goals. Once that is established, we can plan for those extra goodies.
Think of these features as items on a checklist where you can only do one at a time. Pick one, make it the best you can, and move on. That ensures your focus will be on the task at hand, rather than scrambling to fit puzzle pieces together.
Besides, trying to do all the things at once rarely works out. This is a difficult challenge for solo developers as there’s only so much time in the day. Not to mention those of us working on multiple projects.
Remember, good things take time. That’s why committing to a single task makes sense. Train your focus on one thing and do it well. The result will be improved quality and some mental clarity.
Every developer has a preferred workflow. We use our favorite tools and techniques to enhance our WordPress projects.
That individuality is both freeing and a bit troublesome. It’s great to write code how you want and when you want. However, a lack of foresight and organization can complicate things. It could lead to a buggy product that is a pain to maintain.
Starting with a modular approach is the cure for future chaos. Everyone benefits when every part of your plugin or theme has a place and purpose. You’ll love that you can find what you need with minimal effort. Clients and users will love that it works (even if they don’t realize it).
Writing code is challenging enough. The right approach can help you focus on getting it right.
The post Why a Modular Approach Is Better for WordPress Development appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.