This is a beginner's level presentation on Website Design best Practices and How to Implement Them in WordPress. It covers using Google Analytics to gain insight into your audience, using a Call to Action, de-cluttering your homepage, mobile responsive design, NOT using picture sliders on your homepage, email lists and more!

1. Website Design Best Practices &
How to Implement them in WordPress
The Austin WordPress Meetup Group
Presented By: Rich Plakas

2. A Little Bit About Me
★ IT Background going back to the days of DOS & Novell
★ Began “messing” with WordPress in 2007.
★ Switched my focus from IT to WordPress in 2011
★ I was tired of doing Windoze Updates & changing
Printer Toners :-)
★ Joined the Austin WordPress Meetup Group In 2012.
★ I love BBQ & Craft Beer.
★ I run a beer blog: www.CraftBeerAustin.com

3. Website Design Best Practices &
How to Implement them in WordPress
Topics We’ll Cover:
● Who is your target audience?
● How to use Analytics to gain insight to visitors.
● What is the primary goal of your website?
● Is your website mobile responsive?
● Do you have a Call to Action?
● Avoid website clutter and distractions!
● How do you plan to drive traffic to your website?
● Are Email Lists still useful?
● Let’s review some websites!

4. Demographics:
o Male or Female
o Age Groups
o Interests
o Location(GEO)
o Device (Desktop vs Mobile)
Who Is Your Target Audience?

5. If you have an existing site with Google Analytics, you can
get most of this information:
Who Is Your Target Audience?

6. Who Is Your Target Audience?

7. Who Is Your Target Audience?

8. Google Analytics by Yoast

9. Google Analytics by Yoast

10. Google Analytics by Yoast

11. What is the Primary Goal of Your Website
Possible Goals:
● Selling Items (ecommerce).
● Collecting Leads/Mailing List Signups.
● Getting people to call/email your business.
(for example a local pool company or a photographer)
● Showcase your work portfolio.

12. What is the Primary Goal of Your Website

13. What is the Primary Goal of Your Website

14. What is the Primary Goal of Your Website

15. What is the Primary Goal of Your Website

16. Mobile Responsive

17. What is Mobile Responsive Web Design?
From WikiPedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Responsive_web_design
Responsive web design (RWD) is an approach to web design aimed at crafting sites to provide
an optimal viewing experience—easy reading and navigation with a minimum of resizing,
panning, and scrolling—across a wide range of devices (from desktop computer monitors to
mobile phones).

18. What is Mobile Responsive Web Design?
iPad Portrait 768 x 1024 iPad Landscape 1024 x 768

19. Clear Call to Action On Home Page

20. Do Not Hide or Bury Contact Info!

21. Do Not Hide or Bury Contact Info!
Contact Me!

22. Avoid Home Page Clutter

23. Live Demo
http://www.lingscars.com/

24. Avoid Home Page Clutter
● Remove elements that distract from your Call to Action.
● Picture sliders(or image carousels) are bad for you health.
● Too many choices can cause “Deer in the Headlights Syndrome”.
● Move Social Media “Follow Us” icons to bottom of page or to contact page.

25. Live Demo
http://codypools.com/

26. website?
Best Methods depend on your particular audience.
SEO - Search Engine Optimization
Social Media
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Instagram
Pinterest
YouTube
Reddit
Mailing Lists / Email Newsletters
Guest Posts on Other Related Websites
Pay per Click Campaigns
Facebook Ads
Google Ads

27. Mailing Lists / Email Newsletters

28. Mailing Lists / Email Newsletters
Are Email Lists still relevant? YES!!!!

29. Mailing Lists / Email Newsletters
Some Reasons Why Email Lists Are VERY Relevant:
● When you receive an email your smartphone, do you
read it?
● How many times per day do you check your email?
● Most people check email several times per day.
● Someone who signs up for your email list is interested
in what you have to offer.

30. Some Popular Email Lists Services
● MailChimp
● Constant Contact
● Aweber
● MailPoet

31. Integrating a Email List on Your WordPress Site

32. Integrating a Email List on Your WordPress Site
Other Ways to Capture Email Signups:
SumoMe.Com List Builder
HelloBar.com

33. Questions?
&
Let’s Review Some
Websites!
Rich Plakas Connected Systems
@RichP on Twitter Rich@ConnectedSystems.US