1. #WCTO2013 – WordCamp 2013 Toronto DIY or Have it Made?
Meagan Hanes @mhanes
DIY or Have It Made?
Here's How to Decide!
A f un and f riendly view of t he
Websit e Creat ion Process
# WCTO2013 – WordCamp Toront o 2013
Meagan Hanes - @mhanes

2. #WCTO2013 – WordCamp 2013 Toronto DIY or Have it Made?
Meagan Hanes @mhanes
About Me
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Meagan Hanes (.com)
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@mhanes
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Artist, Digital Designer,
Tech Teacher for 10+ yrs
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Love Digimedia - Clients of
all kinds, big and small!
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Fave Color: Rainbow

3. #WCTO2013 – WordCamp 2013 Toronto DIY or Have it Made?
Meagan Hanes @mhanes
DIY or Have It Made?
Here's How To Decide:
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Be aware of the purpose of your website;
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Recognize the number of roles and tasks involved;
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Determine if you're up for the entire challenge, part of
the challenge, or would prefer to have the challenge
solved for you completely!

4. #WCTO2013 – WordCamp 2013 Toronto DIY or Have it Made?
Meagan Hanes @mhanes
What is a Website?
Technically Speaking:
●
A collection of files on a server, connected to the
Internet via a series of tubes
● Underlying technology: HTML, CSS, PHP, MySQL, etc
Emotionally Speaking:
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Your online voice!
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First impression generator

5. #WCTO2013 – WordCamp 2013 Toronto DIY or Have it Made?
Meagan Hanes @mhanes
What Does A Website Do?
Page 1 of Handout
Shares interesting information and ideas
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Page, Blog Posts, Comments
Communicates using clear language
● Web-Optimized Text, No Unnessessary Jargon
Gives a first visual impression by looking great!
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Compliant Code
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Well Designed Website

6. #WCTO2013 – WordCamp 2013 Toronto DIY or Have it Made?
Meagan Hanes @mhanes
The Many Parts of a Website
Page 2 of Handout
Technology
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In our case, WordPress (HTML, CSS, PHP, MySQL)
Looks
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Theme, Colours, Alignments
Functionality
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Plugins, Custom Code
Dialect
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Style and Tone of Web Writing

7. #WCTO2013 – WordCamp 2013 Toronto DIY or Have it Made?
Meagan Hanes @mhanes
The Many Parts of a Website
Direction
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Does it achieve its goal (sales, registrations, etc)
Content
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High value to target audience, created or curated
Awareness
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Marketing and Promotion
Maintenance
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Ongoing technical support and content creation

8. #WCTO2013 – WordCamp 2013 Toronto DIY or Have it Made?
Meagan Hanes @mhanes
A website's Big Picture
Page 3-4 of Handout
"Wow! I had no idea it was this much work!"
-
Most Clients :)
Many roles and responsibilities overlap
Two is better than one. Find a feedback friend!

9. #WCTO2013 – WordCamp 2013 Toronto DIY or Have it Made?
Meagan Hanes @mhanes
Roles and Responsibilities
Designer
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Creates Visual Look and Feel
Developer
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Implements Design in Code
Web Copywriter
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Creates original content (copy) optimized for screens
Blog/Social Writer
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Creates original social content, manages community

10. #WCTO2013 – WordCamp 2013 Toronto DIY or Have it Made?
Meagan Hanes @mhanes
Roles and Responsibilities
Maintainer
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Updates WordPress, Creates Backups, Posts Content
Photographer
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Creates original imagery optimized for audience
Usability Tester
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Tests website on a variety of platforms to debug
Mobile Expert
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Ensures website functions and displays optimally on
the wide range of smartphones, tablets, etc

11. #WCTO2013 – WordCamp 2013 Toronto DIY or Have it Made?
Meagan Hanes @mhanes
DIY or Buy: Check TO Find Out!
Page 5 of Handout
DIY: Check off the ones that you know you can do
BUY: Check off the ones that you either don't
understand, don't want to do, or know someone
who wants to do it!
Not every website needs every item...
...but they're good to consider!

12. #WCTO2013 – WordCamp 2013 Toronto DIY or Have it Made?
Meagan Hanes @mhanes
Do it!
Page 6 of Handout
Do what you can with what you have.
Get Version 1.0 out ASAP!
There's always tomorrow to make a change.
You'll get great feedback, more resources, and a
stronger understanding of the website creation
process's big picture!

13. #WCTO2013 – WordCamp 2013 Toronto DIY or Have it Made?
Meagan Hanes @mhanes
Question Time!
Feel Free t o Tweet or Email Quest ions,
Anyt ime :)
# WCTO2013 – WordCamp Toront o 2013
Meagan Hanes - @mhanes