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Quick Guide to Relaunching your WordPress Website with a new theme

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Pat Walsh IT Services
Pat Walsh IT Services

A quick guide to relaunching your WordPress website with a new theme. Contents include: - Establish your Requirements - Theme Selection - Theme Tryout - Prep for Going Live - Going Live - After Relaunch

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Quick Guide www.patwalsh.co.uk email@patwalsh.co.uk QUICK GUIDE TO: RELAUNCHING YOUR WORDPRESS WEBSITE WITH A NEW THEME Contents Introduction ....................................................................................................................1 Establish Your Requirements ................................................................................................2 Theme Selection ...............................................................................................................2 Theme Tryout ..................................................................................................................2 Prep For Going Live ...........................................................................................................3 Going Live .......................................................................................................................3 After Relaunch .................................................................................................................3 Freelance IT & Testing Specialist ...........................................................................................4 Introduction Early in 2013, I relaunched my website at www.patwalsh.co.uk using a new WordPress theme – the excellent Avada Theme so I thought I’d create a Quick Guide to doing this, to help out anyone else planning this. © Pat Walsh 2013 IT & Testing Specialist Pat Walsh IT Services
Quick Guide www.patwalsh.co.uk email@patwalsh.co.uk Establish Your Requirements  What do you want to achieve with the relaunched version of your website?  What do you want your website to do in its new look?  Do you have a budget for the relaunch? If so, how much? Will you do the changes yourself or get someone else to do it for you?  This would be an excellent time to draw up a rough idea of the website architecture / sitemap.  Look at lots of other websites for ideas and inspiration.  Consider an agile/iterative approach to the relaunch. The first phase could just include the main functionality and content, then you can add further as you progress. This would require identifying what is the main functionality, including this in cycle 1 and then adding further content in subsequent cycles. Theme Selection  Check the various Theme websites (see below for a selection) to see what’s available and possible.  Check live previews of themes to see if it does what you want.  Check other sites which have used the theme – if none shown, then could be pointer to a problem.  Check theme support / reviews etc.  Check any comments on the theme – there could be widespread praise for the theme – or perhaps, widespread criticism.  Check the theme documentation – are you technically capable of using it? Do you have enough time to spare to do this? Theme websites ThemeForest WooThemes StudioPress ElegantThemes Theme Tryout  To fully ensure the theme you’ve selected will work in the way you want it to, I’d recommend trying out the theme. This may require purchasing the theme at this point, or you may be able to get a demo version, or something like a 30 day trial version.  To tryout the theme, you can setup a WordPress test system. I’d recommend the excellent Instant WordPress for this, which allows you to setup a WordPress test system on a Windows machine  Read the theme documentation fully to understand the capabilities and technicalities.  When you have established its definitely the theme you want to use, begin creating your content in the test system. You could create a brand new install at this stage.  Finalise your site architecture as much as possible. I recommend drawing it out in pencil, as there may be many changes as you progress.  The test/tryout system could be a basis for your new site, perhaps using copy and paste of the content to transfer it. This is a manual method, but gives you control over the process.  Make regular backups / exports during development, in case you make any large errors. © Pat Walsh 2013 IT & Testing Specialist Pat Walsh IT Services
Quick Guide www.patwalsh.co.uk email@patwalsh.co.uk Prep For Going Live  Consider any SEO implications. If you use a totally new site layout, page names etc you may lose your current SEO status/search page rankings.  My idea to get around this potential issue was to 1) keep the same layout and structure 2) copy the newly developed content over pages that already exist, thus keeping same page name and age etc.  Its worth checking Google Webmaster Tools to see what tools there are to alert it to your site change and to also keep your SEO ratings.  I’d also highly recommend creating a checklist of what you need to do and tick it off as you go along – this helped my relaunch process immensely. Going Live  Backup / Export your existing content – pages, posts, db, WordPress files etc.  Announce that your website is down for maintenance and will be relaunched soon.  Could use Twitter, Newsletter, email, Facebook post etc.  Turn on Maintenance Mode.  Make the required changes to your site. If you’ve used a test system for developing the changes, it could just be a matter of copying and pasting page content from test system to your live site. Or you could be copying and pasting content from Word or similar software.  Test as you go along, using a couple of different browsers (can login to WP if use correct URL)  Address any issues found in this testing, where possible.  Keep track of any additional changes required or ideas for changes and new content which occur whilst making your changes.  At this point, if using an agile/iterative approach, you may need to review your planning for the different phases and cycles, depending on how well this first phase goes. After Relaunch  Turn off Maintenance mode.  Announce the site is up and running, again on the various platforms available – Twitter, email, Newsletter, Facebook etc.  Arrange more testing across the main browsers and platforms, to ensure the site is working properly. At this point you could also hire a freelance website tester, such as myself, to gain an independent view on your website and to uncover any issues that you may not have seen so far.  If using an Agile/Iterative approach, this is also a good time to set timeframes for work on the next cycles.  Establish procedures for blogging, creating content etc if the new theme has different approach to the old theme.  Track any issues reported with the site – could either use an Issue Tracking System or something simpler, such as a Google doc, an Excel xls or a Word doc © Pat Walsh 2013 IT & Testing Specialist Pat Walsh IT Services
Quick Guide www.patwalsh.co.uk email@patwalsh.co.uk Freelance IT & Testing Specialist I’m based in the London area and can work with you on projects of all sizes, onsite and online. I specialise in App Testing, Website Testing, WordPress website WordPress Websites creation and customisation. WordPress Website All In One My website provides full details of the range of services I provide Package and can be found at www.patwalsh.co.uk This package includes the essential Contact me at email@patwalsh.co.uk or give me a bell at 0786 Website elements, for the All In 835 1399 to get in touch and discuss your requirements. One price of £499. Including an initial Kickoff Meeting, Details of Recent Projects I have worked on and Client Testimonials Theme Selection advice, built in can be found at www.patwalsh.co.uk/about SEO, Web Usability, Social Media sharing, Training, accompanying Or connect on Twitter @PatWalshLondon Documentation plus, of course, your completed website. Full Details At: WebAllIn1London.patwalsh.co.uk Website Review & Report This service focusses on your existing website content. I review your website for SEO efficiency, App Testing Website Testing Web Usability, Social Media and other important areas, then provide Releasing an App? New Website or Web App? professional feedback in the form of a comprehensive report on your I provide a full range of iOS I provide a full set of Website website, plus an Action Plan for App and Android App Testing Testing Services on all major improving your site. Currently Services. I have tested within platforms – Windows, Mac OSX, priced at £149. a wide range of sectors, Linux – and browsers – Chrome, ranging from Retail Apps to IE, Firefox, Safari. Full Details At: Streaming Movies. WebReviewLondon.patwalsh.co.uk © Pat Walsh 2013 IT & Testing Specialist Pat Walsh IT Services

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Quick Guide to Relaunching your WordPress Website with a new theme

  • 1. Quick Guide www.patwalsh.co.uk email@patwalsh.co.uk QUICK GUIDE TO: RELAUNCHING YOUR WORDPRESS WEBSITE WITH A NEW THEME Contents Introduction ....................................................................................................................1 Establish Your Requirements ................................................................................................2 Theme Selection ...............................................................................................................2 Theme Tryout ..................................................................................................................2 Prep For Going Live ...........................................................................................................3 Going Live .......................................................................................................................3 After Relaunch .................................................................................................................3 Freelance IT & Testing Specialist ...........................................................................................4 Introduction Early in 2013, I relaunched my website at www.patwalsh.co.uk using a new WordPress theme – the excellent Avada Theme so I thought I’d create a Quick Guide to doing this, to help out anyone else planning this. © Pat Walsh 2013 IT & Testing Specialist Pat Walsh IT Services
  • 2. Quick Guide www.patwalsh.co.uk email@patwalsh.co.uk Establish Your Requirements  What do you want to achieve with the relaunched version of your website?  What do you want your website to do in its new look?  Do you have a budget for the relaunch? If so, how much? Will you do the changes yourself or get someone else to do it for you?  This would be an excellent time to draw up a rough idea of the website architecture / sitemap.  Look at lots of other websites for ideas and inspiration.  Consider an agile/iterative approach to the relaunch. The first phase could just include the main functionality and content, then you can add further as you progress. This would require identifying what is the main functionality, including this in cycle 1 and then adding further content in subsequent cycles. Theme Selection  Check the various Theme websites (see below for a selection) to see what’s available and possible.  Check live previews of themes to see if it does what you want.  Check other sites which have used the theme – if none shown, then could be pointer to a problem.  Check theme support / reviews etc.  Check any comments on the theme – there could be widespread praise for the theme – or perhaps, widespread criticism.  Check the theme documentation – are you technically capable of using it? Do you have enough time to spare to do this? Theme websites ThemeForest WooThemes StudioPress ElegantThemes Theme Tryout  To fully ensure the theme you’ve selected will work in the way you want it to, I’d recommend trying out the theme. This may require purchasing the theme at this point, or you may be able to get a demo version, or something like a 30 day trial version.  To tryout the theme, you can setup a WordPress test system. I’d recommend the excellent Instant WordPress for this, which allows you to setup a WordPress test system on a Windows machine  Read the theme documentation fully to understand the capabilities and technicalities.  When you have established its definitely the theme you want to use, begin creating your content in the test system. You could create a brand new install at this stage.  Finalise your site architecture as much as possible. I recommend drawing it out in pencil, as there may be many changes as you progress.  The test/tryout system could be a basis for your new site, perhaps using copy and paste of the content to transfer it. This is a manual method, but gives you control over the process.  Make regular backups / exports during development, in case you make any large errors. © Pat Walsh 2013 IT & Testing Specialist Pat Walsh IT Services
  • 3. Quick Guide www.patwalsh.co.uk email@patwalsh.co.uk Prep For Going Live  Consider any SEO implications. If you use a totally new site layout, page names etc you may lose your current SEO status/search page rankings.  My idea to get around this potential issue was to 1) keep the same layout and structure 2) copy the newly developed content over pages that already exist, thus keeping same page name and age etc.  Its worth checking Google Webmaster Tools to see what tools there are to alert it to your site change and to also keep your SEO ratings.  I’d also highly recommend creating a checklist of what you need to do and tick it off as you go along – this helped my relaunch process immensely. Going Live  Backup / Export your existing content – pages, posts, db, WordPress files etc.  Announce that your website is down for maintenance and will be relaunched soon.  Could use Twitter, Newsletter, email, Facebook post etc.  Turn on Maintenance Mode.  Make the required changes to your site. If you’ve used a test system for developing the changes, it could just be a matter of copying and pasting page content from test system to your live site. Or you could be copying and pasting content from Word or similar software.  Test as you go along, using a couple of different browsers (can login to WP if use correct URL)  Address any issues found in this testing, where possible.  Keep track of any additional changes required or ideas for changes and new content which occur whilst making your changes.  At this point, if using an agile/iterative approach, you may need to review your planning for the different phases and cycles, depending on how well this first phase goes. After Relaunch  Turn off Maintenance mode.  Announce the site is up and running, again on the various platforms available – Twitter, email, Newsletter, Facebook etc.  Arrange more testing across the main browsers and platforms, to ensure the site is working properly. At this point you could also hire a freelance website tester, such as myself, to gain an independent view on your website and to uncover any issues that you may not have seen so far.  If using an Agile/Iterative approach, this is also a good time to set timeframes for work on the next cycles.  Establish procedures for blogging, creating content etc if the new theme has different approach to the old theme.  Track any issues reported with the site – could either use an Issue Tracking System or something simpler, such as a Google doc, an Excel xls or a Word doc © Pat Walsh 2013 IT & Testing Specialist Pat Walsh IT Services
  • 4. Quick Guide www.patwalsh.co.uk email@patwalsh.co.uk Freelance IT & Testing Specialist I’m based in the London area and can work with you on projects of all sizes, onsite and online. I specialise in App Testing, Website Testing, WordPress website WordPress Websites creation and customisation. WordPress Website All In One My website provides full details of the range of services I provide Package and can be found at www.patwalsh.co.uk This package includes the essential Contact me at email@patwalsh.co.uk or give me a bell at 0786 Website elements, for the All In 835 1399 to get in touch and discuss your requirements. One price of £499. Including an initial Kickoff Meeting, Details of Recent Projects I have worked on and Client Testimonials Theme Selection advice, built in can be found at www.patwalsh.co.uk/about SEO, Web Usability, Social Media sharing, Training, accompanying Or connect on Twitter @PatWalshLondon Documentation plus, of course, your completed website. Full Details At: WebAllIn1London.patwalsh.co.uk Website Review & Report This service focusses on your existing website content. I review your website for SEO efficiency, App Testing Website Testing Web Usability, Social Media and other important areas, then provide Releasing an App? New Website or Web App? professional feedback in the form of a comprehensive report on your I provide a full range of iOS I provide a full set of Website website, plus an Action Plan for App and Android App Testing Testing Services on all major improving your site. Currently Services. I have tested within platforms – Windows, Mac OSX, priced at £149. a wide range of sectors, Linux – and browsers – Chrome, ranging from Retail Apps to IE, Firefox, Safari. Full Details At: Streaming Movies. WebReviewLondon.patwalsh.co.uk © Pat Walsh 2013 IT & Testing Specialist Pat Walsh IT Services