Author: Eric Karkovack


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All posts by Eric Karkovack

Eric is a freelance web designer and writer with over 20 years of experience. He works with a wide variety of clients and specializes in WordPress. Connect with him on Twitter.

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Development

Reasons to Opt for a Custom WordPress Theme

Avatar on February 12, 2019

Choosing a theme is one of the most important decisions you’ll make when building a WordPress website. It can also be one of the most difficult. After all, themes are what ultimately display your message to the world.

The WordPress marketplace is filled with plenty of ready-to-use themes. Sometimes, you’ll find one that’s the perfect fit. But there are also a number of reasons why you’re better served by creating your own custom theme.

So, how do you know when it’s time to go with something custom? We’ll review some scenarios when a custom theme is your best bet, along with the effect it can have on your business. But first, let’s take a look at the potential downsides of using readymade themes. Read More

BusinessFeatured

What Every WordPress Website Owner Should Know

Avatar on January 15, 2019

Handing a newly-built website over to a client provides a feeling of great satisfaction. It means that you can cross another item off of your to-do list. And it’s nice to see that all of your hard work has paid off, too.

But if that shiny new website was built with WordPress, there’s more to the process. It’s not just a matter of providing your client with a login and a wave goodbye. It even goes beyond teaching them to edit content. There are some things clients need to know in order to keep their site running smoothly.

As web professionals, it’s our duty to educate clients on all of the responsibilities involved. Otherwise, you may receive a panicked phone call about a “broken” website.

So, before you hand over those keys, here are the things new website owners need to know. Read More

DevelopmentFeatured

Train Your Clients to Use WordPress

Avatar on November 13, 2018

Helping someone learn to help themselves is an incredibly satisfying experience. And it is often part of a web designer’s job description. We build something for our clients and then teach them to how to use it.

A platform such as WordPress makes this possible. However, it’s not always easy. Clients can run the gamut in terms of technical knowledge. Therefore, we must be able to effectively communicate with people of all skill levels.

Plus, there really isn’t such a thing as a “standard” WordPress website. There are plenty of shared traits. But the endless combinations of themes, plugins and customization make every site unique.

How, then, do we go about training our clients to use WordPress? Let’s explore some best practices for passing on our knowledge. Read More

DevelopmentFeatured

Should Gutenberg Replace Your WordPress Page Builder?

Avatar on October 2, 2018

A brand-new way to create content is coming to WordPress. The much-ballyhooed Gutenberg editor is set to appear in version 5.0. However, it’s already available in plugin form and boasts 300,000+ users.

There has been no shortage of debate and controversy regarding this new editor. Therefore, it’s important to know what Gutenberg is and is not. This will help you make the best decisions with respect to how it fits in with your existing website.

One of biggest issues for designers is how Gutenberg will affect page builders. On the surface, there does appear to be some shared functionality between them. Does that mean the page builder tools we’re using today will become obsolete? Should we toss them aside for Gutenberg?

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FeaturedPlugins

Find the Right WordPress Membership Plugin for Your Site

Avatar on September 3, 2018

Adding membership functionality to your WordPress site can be very beneficial. Members can view special content, maintain a directory profile and more. Plus, site owners can leverage this type of platform to make some money, as well.

The available plugins run the gamut in terms of features. Everything from restricting access to content all the way to charging members for recurring subscriptions are built right in. It’s just a matter of finding the right fit for your needs. Read More