This document provides tips for freelancing with WordPress by selling WordPress services, guiding clients, and maintaining control of projects. It recommends determining client needs and goals, creating a site map, gathering content, setting deadlines, using the right tools, and being available as a support resource. Key steps include asking questions, discussing design examples, getting content from the client, using plugins to manage pages, and offering training and resources to clients for maintaining their WordPress site.

1. Freelancing with WordPress How to sell WordPress, guide and support the client, and be the boss

2. Who Am I? I am a successful, self-taught, freelance designer who has leveraged trial, error, and observation to become a WordPress expert. While I specialize in WordPress themes and CMS development, I also do all levels of Web Design and XHTML/CSS coding. I am married with three children, I live in Birmingham, Alabama, and I am shamelessly addicted to Twitter. TammyHartDesigns.com tammy@tammyhartdesigns.com @tammyhart

3. How to Sell WordPress This isn’t as hard as you think

4. How to Sell WordPress What does the client need? Low cost Content Management Good support Room for Growth Customizability Do it yourself maintenance Media Tools Keep in touch with the audience What Would WordPress Do? It’s free! Easy to use admin interface Unmatched community Add content now & later Thousands of themes & plugins Easy as writing an email Built in tools and plugins Multiple subscription options

5. What Has WordPress Done? There’s nothing like an impressive résumé

6. H-Mag.com Blogs gone wild!

7. Magazine.WSJ.com Stylin’ & Profilin’

8. KurdishRights.org Simple application

9. VancouverConventionCentre.com Now that’s what I call beyond the blog!

10. PasadenaSymphony-Pops.org Complete CMS and Blog

11. Design & Functionality Take it slow, make this part count

12. Ask Questions Summary What are their primary goals? Prioritize their call(s) to action Budget How much site can they afford? How custom can they afford? Timeline How fast do they want it How fast do they need it? Details Let them ramble on and on about things they want it to do

13. Start with a List Essentials are essential Static content Blog/News Widget enabled sidebars/footers Contact Forms Social Media Integration Subscription Tools Search Have them thoroughly explain custom features Don’t be afraid to suggest a better way

14. Get Examples Competitor sites What elements are working? What elements are overdone? What do they offer that is better? Design styles Color schemes Effects Layouts Current design resources Logo Printed material (business cards, brochures)

15. Getting the Content The holy grail of website development

16. “ Krug’s Third Law of Usability Don’t Make me Think – Steve Krug New Riders 2006 Get rid of half the words on each page, then get rid of half of what’s left.

17. Get Started off Right Develop the site map first Krug’s third law applies here too Set and enforce deadlines When you’re designing, they should be writing Your deadline is x amount of days or weeks past the time they deliver

18. Use the Right Tools Set up their WordPress site before designing Jumpchart (www.jumpchart.com) Third tier and up has “export to WordPress” Use plugins to manage pages pageMash > Page Management My Page Order WordPress 3.0 “Menus”

19. Be the Boss It’s your thing, do what you wanna do

20. “ 2 Corinthians 6:14 KJV Bible Be ye not unequally yoked together…

21. Basic Rules to Remember Never give verbal estimates Custom designs are better when started from scratch Code from a starting point that you are comfortable with Be Strict Say “No” Guide them, don’t follow their lead Don’t be afraid to ask for help

22. Support &Resources You are the customer’s support

23. WordPress is Easy! De-clutter the dashboard Set up multiple user accounts for them Install the essential plugins for them Do a live walkthrough Advise them of upgrades Offer a list of resources

24. De-clutter the dashboard From “WordPress is Easy!”

25. Resources WordPress.org codex.wordpress.org/Getting_Started_with_WordPress WordPress.tv How to Videos wordpress.tv/category/how-to Fresh Workshops Live Training freshworkshops.com wpMethod free eBook: “WordPress for Clients” wpmethod.com As their developer, you are your client’s best resource!

27. Tutorials

28. Plugin and Theme Reviews

29. Case Studies

30. Business Tools and Advice

31. eBooksLive Q&AGrand Opening! Thursday, June 3rd 7:00pm CST

32. Thanks! Questions? TammyHartDesigns.comtammy@tammyhartdesigns.com@tammyhart