If you work with the block editor, you have heard about the theme.json file, which allows WordPress theme developers to define and apply theme settings to various theme elements.

Introduced in WordPress 5.8, the theme.json file provides developers with control over the settings and styles of blocks in the editor. As the site editing experience has evolved to include blocks, the range of settings requiring management has expanded. The theme.json file centralizes these configurations, ensuring a consistent experience when applying theme settings and styles.

The theme.json file, located in the root directory of a WordPress theme, contains a JSON object consisting of key-value pairs. JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a standard format for representing structured data. The main JSON object is enclosed in curly braces, and each key-value pair is separated by a comma, which is essential except for the last pair in an object. A good code editor will highlight errors if commas are missing.

Schema validation in theme.json enables auto-completion in code editors, suggesting available options and values. To enable this, add the schema key and its value at the top of the file, available in the Block Editor handbook. This feature helps ensure correct syntax and provides descriptions of each option.

WordPress Core includes a default theme.json, which sets specific settings and predefined CSS variables. The settings key allows developers to extend or modify these settings and functionality. For example, enabling appearanceTools (disabled by default) allows control over border color, radius, style, width, link color, block gap, margin, padding, and text line height.

Replacing the add_theme_support requirements in the functions.php file, theme.json allows for defining custom colors directly within the JSON configuration. For instance, disabling custom colors globally can be achieved by setting settings.color.custom to false. Custom colors for specific blocks can also be enabled as needed.

Additionally, new CSS preset variables can be defined within theme.json. For example, to add a new colour to the palette, specify its name, hex value, and slug under the settings.color.palette key. These colours become available throughout the theme and can be applied globally or to specific blocks or elements.

For a comprehensive understanding of theme.json capabilities, refer to the Global Settings and Styles guide, the theme.json reference in the Block Editor handbook, and the Theme handbook.

Jane James is the founder of Alpha Omega Digital, and is a WordPress web developer based in Melbourne, Australia but also services clients from Sydney, Brisbane, Newcastle, Perth, Adelaide, Darwin and Hobart. Have a project in mind? Contact me here.

The post Getting started with theme.json in your WordPress project appeared first on Freelance Wordpress developer Melbourne | Sydney | Gold Coast | Brisbane |.

Check Image Sizes and Quality

An image will appear blurry if it’s too small for the space it’s displayed in. While there’s no single recommended image size, you can refer to our image optimization guide to learn how to ensure an image is large enough to display in good quality on your website without being too large that it slows down your site’s speed.

If your images appear blurry, start by uploading a high-quality, larger image file and check if it looks better.

If uploading a larger, clearer image still doesn’t improve the appearance of the images on the live site, it might be one of the other issues listed below.

Check Your Internet Speed

If your internet connection is extremely slow, the images could be downloaded at a lower quality, causing them to appear blurry. Try loading your website with a different, faster connection to check if the images look better that way.

Try deactivating Imagify or Jetpack

Imagify and Jetpack both change the way images are loaded and depending on your settings they may load the lowest resolution image first, which will be the thumbnail image.

As a first step I would deactivate these and see if the image is clearer, or go into the settings and reduce the level of compression.

Theme Changes

We take measures to provide a seamless experience with your images when switching from one WordPress.com theme to another. However, some third-party themes don’t have similar measures, which can affect your images when you switch to or from these themes.

If you’ve recently switched your site’s theme and noticed that all images uploaded on the new theme look good, but the older ones uploaded on the previous theme appear blurry, you can re-upload the older images on the new theme to get them to display correctly.

If you’re working on a plugin-enabled site, you can regenerate the blurry thumbnails using an image regeneration plugin or, if you are a developer, using WP-CLI. With these methods, you don’t have to manually upload all your older images again.

Plugin Conflicts

Occasionally, installing a new plugin on your site might cause your images to appear blurry. Updating an existing plugin can also introduce conflicts that may affect your images.

Try deactivating the plugin to see if the image quality improves. You may also need to restore a backup from before you installed the plugin to return the images to their previous state.

For detailed instructions on troubleshooting plugin conflicts, refer to our guide on solving problems with plugins.

Check server config

If your staging site is using a different version of php or using Nginx instead of apache this could be causing the issue. It’s not likely, but it’s possible.

Watch out for HTML rules that display images in sizes

When nothing else works, check the rules of the markup that are resizing the images. In this client’s case, they had a rule after the image src which said -300×150 which is displaying the image in a smaller size. By removing this from the file path, the image is displaying correctly.

Jane James is the founder of Alpha Omega Digital, and is a WordPress web developer based in Melbourne, Australia but also services clients from Sydney, Brisbane, Newcastle, Perth, Adelaide, Darwin and Hobart. Have a project in mind? Contact me here.

The post Fix it: blurry images on Worpress appeared first on Freelance Wordpress developer Melbourne | Sydney | Gold Coast | Brisbane |.

If you’re a business owner, you’ve probably wondered what the benefit of using Woocommerce is over Shopify. I can promise from a developer experience point of view- that WordPress is much nicer, more customisable. But from a client point of view in terms of ease of management Shopify is the obvious choice.

Here’s some reasons why you would choose WordPress over Shopify:

Flexibility and Customization

Let’s start with flexibility, shall we? Picture this: you’ve got a killer business idea, and you’re ready to take the online world by storm. But wait, you want your store to be as unique as your brand, right? Well, that’s where WooCommerce swoops in to save the day. As someone who loves to put their personal touch on everything, WooCommerce’s flexibility is a dream come true. With its roots firmly planted in WordPress, the possibilities are endless. Want to tweak your product pages to match your brand’s vibe? Piece of cake. Need a custom checkout process that reflects your unique selling proposition? WooCommerce’s got your back. The power to mold your online store into whatever shape you desire is truly a game-changer, and for me, WooCommerce hits the nail on the head.

Woocommerce is cheaper

Now, let’s talk about costs. As a savvy business owner, I’m always keeping an eye on the bottom line. And let me tell you, WooCommerce’s open-source nature is a godsend. Say goodbye to those hefty monthly subscription fees that come with platforms like Shopify. WooCommerce is free to use, plain and simple. Sure, you might have to dish out some cash for hosting and premium plugins down the line, but it’s still a far cry from the ongoing expenses that come with other platforms. Plus, the freedom to choose your hosting provider means you’re not locked into a one-size-fits-all solution. Financial flexibility? Sign me up!

Scalability

Scalability is another biggie for me. As someone who’s always dreaming up new ways to grow my online business, having a platform that can keep pace with my ambitions is non-negotiable. And guess what? WooCommerce delivers in spades. Thanks to its WordPress backbone, you have access to a vast ecosystem of developers and resources to help you scale your store to new heights. Need to integrate with a third-party service? There’s a plugin for that. Want to dip your toes into international waters with multi-currency support? WooCommerce has your back. The sky’s the limit, and with WooCommerce by my side, I’m ready to reach for the stars.

SEO

Let’s not forget about SEO because, let’s face it, if your online store isn’t showing up on Google, you might as well be shouting into the void. WooCommerce understands the importance of SEO, and it’s built to help you climb those search engine rankings with ease. With its clean code and customisable URLs, WooCommerce lays the groundwork for success right out of the box. And with the help of powerful SEO plugins like Yoast SEO, you can fine-tune your site’s SEO strategy to ensure you’re always ahead of the curve. As someone who’s passionate about driving organic traffic to my online store, WooCommerce’s SEO-friendly features are a godsend.

Support and Community

But perhaps the biggest selling point for me is the sense of community that comes with WooCommerce. From online forums to local meetups, the WooCommerce community is a vibrant and supportive ecosystem of like-minded individuals who are always willing to lend a helping hand. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a newbie just dipping your toes into the world of e-commerce, there’s a place for you in the WooCommerce community. And knowing that I’m part of something bigger than myself gives me the confidence to tackle any challenge that comes my way.

In conclusion, my journey with WooCommerce has been nothing short of transformative. From its unrivaled flexibility to its budget-friendly nature, WooCommerce has become an indispensable tool in my e-commerce arsenal. So if you’re on the fence about which platform to choose for your online store, take it from me: WooCommerce is the way to go. Trust me, you won’t regret it.

Jane James is the founder of Alpha Omega Digital, and is a WordPress web developer based in Melbourne, Australia but also services clients from Sydney, Brisbane, Newcastle, Perth, Adelaide, Darwin and Hobart. Have a project in mind? Contact me here.

The post Reasons to pick Woocommerce over Shopify appeared first on Freelance Wordpress developer Melbourne | Sydney | Gold Coast | Brisbane |.

Here’s the warning in my client’s dashboard for example:

Since this release can cause breaking changes, and this site is an enterprise site, we agreed to fix it. The article gives you a number of options such as:

How to use ACF securely

This is the best option, so I found all the template files where the_field is being called directly and changed them:

<?php the_field(‘general_text_container’); ?> (the_field is being called directly)

Changed to:

<?php echo wp_kses_post( get_field(‘general_text_container’) );?> (field is now escaping unsafe HTML)

Remove the warning

I can’t recommend, as all it does is remove the warning, and not actually fix the problem. Remember when Homer Simpson covered the ‘check engine’ warning on his car with duct tape Let’s not do that.

But if you do choose to go with this one, you can add this to your functions.php file:

add_filter( 'acf/admin/prevent_escaped_html_notice', '__return_true' );

Conditionally disable the new rules

I can’t recommend this option either, but here’s how you can conditionally allow unsafe HTML.

If you trust your users with the role of contributor or higher, it is possible to use one of two new filters to disable this automatic escaping by returning true. You should limit the filter to specific field keys using the additional parameters available.

• acf/shortcode/allow_unsafe_html will disable the escaping for the shortcode.
• acf/the_field/allow_unsafe_html will disable the escaping when using the_field.

The filters provide different arguments should you wish to allow unsafe HTML for a specific field type, on a specific page, or for a specific field name or key.

The shortcode filter provides you the field type and the full attributes array passed into the shortcode, along with the full field object if available:

apply_filters( 'acf/shortcode/allow_unsafe_html', false, $attributes, $field_type, $field_object )

For example, if you’re using [acf field="podcast_iframe"] to output an iframe, you could use the following code to allow that field to output potentially unsafe HTML (the iframe)

add_filter( 'acf/shortcode/allow_unsafe_html', function ( $allowed, $atts ) {
    if ( $atts['field'] === 'podcast_iframe' ) {
        return true;
    }
    return $allowed;
}, 10, 2 );

The filter for the_field() (and the_sub_field()) provides you with the field selector provided to the output function, the post ID (if provided), and the field type. It also provides you the field object which will contain the field key (but may be false if ACF wasn’t able to find the field reference).

apply_filters( 'acf/the_field/allow_unsafe_html', false, $selector, $post_id, $field_type, $field_object )

For example, If you’ve got a field called google_maps_iframe which contains an iframe of a google map, the follow code would allow it to still be output by the_field:

add_filter( 'acf/the_field/allow_unsafe_html', function( $allowed, $selector ) {
    if ( $selector === "google_maps_iframe" ) {
        return true;
    }
    return $allowed;
}, 10, 2);

Enable the new behaviour early

I also went for this, so all stripping of unsafe HTML is immediately implemented and an error report is given if it happens again. You can add this to your functions.php file.add_filter( 'acf/the_field/escape_html_optin', '__return_true' );

Jane James is the founder of Alpha Omega Digital, and is a WordPress web developer based in Melbourne, Australia but also services clients from Sydney, Brisbane, Newcastle, Perth, Adelaide, Darwin and Hobart. Have a project in mind? Contact me here.

The post How to fix: ACF will soon escape unsafe HTML that is rendered by the_field() appeared first on Freelance Wordpress developer Melbourne | Sydney | Gold Coast | Brisbane |.

Being a good developer isn’t just about knowing PHP, HTML, CSS and JS, it’s collaboration, communication and efficiency. Soft skills are just as important as technical skills when it comes to finding a WordPress developer in Brisbane.

1. Expertise as a WordPress developer in Brisbane

A reputable WordPress developer in Brisbane should have a proven track record in WordPress development. Look for a diverse portfolio showcasing real projects, from basic sites to e-commerce stores. Also look for a range of designs. A WordPress developer who’s websites all look the same is not a great sign – they need to be flexible, and design according to your branding guidelines.

2. Experience matters alot

Is your WordPress developer inexperienced? Are they fresh out of uni or coding school? Make sure they can reference real life projects for real businesses and not just to do lists or capstone projects.

3. SEO Optimization Skills

Your WordPress developer should understand the importance of SEO. In Brisbane’s competitive digital space, having a website that is optimised for search engines is paramount. Inquire about their approach to SEO-friendly development.

4. Customization Capabilities

Brisbane businesses often have unique needs. Ensure your developer can customise WordPress themes and plugins to align with your brand identity and functionalities. Modifying theme and plugin files should be stock standard to any WordPress developer. They should also be able to work with your WordPress site however its built – ACF, underscores, Gutenberg, Elementor etc.

5. Responsive Design Skills

Responsiveness is a must. Choose a developer who prioritises creating websites that work seamlessly across various devices and knows the breakpoints for mobile, ipad, laptop and desktop.

6. Collaboration is key

Effective communication and collaboration are key to project success. Look for a developer who understands your goals and incorporates your input throughout the development process.

7. Budget and Timeline Considerations

Clearly define your budget and project timeline. Choose a WordPress developer in Brisbane who can deliver within your constraints without compromising quality. Of course the caveat to this is the budget has to be realistic for the work needing to be done. Don’t be drawn in by offshore developers- what you save in money, will cost you in another area such as SEO, quality, bugs and so on.

Please think about these points to help you choose the best WordPress developer in Brisbane. Remember, investing time in the selection process pays off in the long run, ensuring a successful and SEO-optimized WordPress website.

Jane James is the founder of Alpha Omega Digital, and is a WordPress web developer based in Melbourne, Australia but also services clients from Sydney, Brisbane, Newcastle, Perth, Adelaide, Darwin and Hobart. Have a project in mind? Contact me here.

Brisbane clients

Flowerlovers had a Shopify store that was really outdated, and had poor navigation and user experience. They also had a number of issues such as people ordering outside their delivery zone of Metro Brisbane and having to refund those customers, which was creating more admin and work for the staff. The new site has a much better design and is now able to filter buyers by postcode and either allow them to purchase or not purchase based on their input.

View Site

Champion mortgage brokers are a Brisbane based financial services company, that has some technical issues with their site. Their site was no displaying properly on devices after a number of browser updates, and they had php incompatibility issues after upgrading WordPress. I worked with them to fix these issues and get their site back online to get their inbound leads flowing again.

View Site

The post Choosing aWordPress Developer in Brisbane: find a good fit appeared first on Freelance Wordpress developer Melbourne | Sydney | Gold Coast | Brisbane |.

Being a good developer isn’t just about knowing how to code a website, it’s collaboration, communication and efficiency. Soft skills are just as important as technical skills when it comes to finding a WordPress developer in the Gold Coast.

1. Expertise as a WordPress developer in The Gold Coast

A reputable freelance WordPress developer in the Gold coast should have a proven track record in WordPress development. Look for a portfolio showcasing diverse projects, from simple blogs to complex e-commerce sites. Also look for a range of designs. A WordPress developer who’s websites all look the same is a red flag – they need to account for your desired look, and design according to your branding guidelines.

2. Experience matters

Is your WordPress developer green? Are they fresh out of uni or coding school? Make sure they can reference real life projects for real businesses and not just to do lists or capstone projects.

3. SEO Optimization Skills

Your WordPress developer should understand the importance of SEO. In the Gold Coast’s competitive digital landscape, having a website that is optimised for search engines is paramount. Inquire about their approach to SEO-friendly development.

4. Customization Capabilities

Brisbane businesses often have unique needs. Ensure your developer can customise WordPress themes and plugins to align with your brand identity and functionalities. Modifying theme and plugin files should be bread and butter to any WordPress developer. They should also be able to work with your WordPress site however its built – ACF, underscores, Gutenberg, Elementor etc.

5. Responsive Design Skills

Mobile responsiveness is critical for user experience and SEO. Choose a developer who prioritises creating websites that work seamlessly across various devices and knows the breakpoints for mobile, ipad, laptop and desktop.

6. Collaborative Approach

Effective communication and collaboration are key to project success. Look for a developer who understands your goals and incorporates your input throughout the development process.

7. Budget and Timeline Considerations

Clearly define your budget and project timeline. Choose a WordPress developer in the Gold Coast who can deliver within your constraints without compromising quality. Of course the caveat to this is the budget has to be realistic for the work needing to be done. Don’t be drawn in by offshore developers- what you save in money, will cost you in another area such as SEO, quality, bugs and so on.

Please think about these factors to help you choose the best WordPress developer in the Gold Coast. Remember, investing time in the selection process pays off in the long run, ensuring a successful and SEO-optimized WordPress website.

Jane James is the founder of Alpha Omega Digital, and is a WordPress web developer based in Melbourne, Australia but also services clients from Sydney, Brisbane, Newcastle, Perth, Adelaide, the Gold Coast, Darwin and Hobart. Have a project in mind? Contact me here.

WordPress developer Gold Coast: Clients I’ve worked with nearby

Engmattec are a Gold Coast based hydraulics business, that specialise in wholesale parts for mechanics. They have both a Shopify and a WordPress store. I have signed on as their web partner to help them fix some long standing issues around UI, layout, broken links, functionality and SEO.

View Site

Champion mortgage brokers are a Brisbane based financial services company, that has some technical issues with their site. Their site was no displaying properly on devices after a number of browser updates, and they had php incompatibility issues after upgrading WordPress. I worked with them to fix these issues and get their site back online to get their inbound leads flowing again.

View Site

Flowerlovers had a Shopify store that was really outdated, and had poor navigation and user experience. They also had a number of issues such as people ordering outside their delivery zone of Metro Brisbane and having to refund those customers, which was creating more admin and work for the staff. The new site has a much better design and is now able to filter buyers by postcode and either allow them to purchase or not purchase based on their input.

View Site

The post Finding a freelance wordpress dev in Gold coast : how to choose appeared first on Freelance Wordpress developer Melbourne | Sydney | Gold Coast | Brisbane |.

Being a good developer isn’t just about knowing how to code a website, it’s collaboration, communication and efficiency. Soft skills are just as important as technical skills when it comes to finding a WordPress developer in Melbourne.

1. Expertise as a WordPress developer in Melbourne

A reputable WordPress developer in Melbourne should have a proven track record in WordPress development. Look for a portfolio showcasing diverse projects, from simple blogs to complex e-commerce sites. Also look for a range of designs. A WordPress developer who’s websites all look the same is a red flag – they need to account for your desired look, and design according to your branding guidelines.

2. Experience matters alot

Is your WordPress developer inexperienced? Are they fresh out of uni or coding school? Make sure they can reference real life projects for real businesses and not just to do lists or capstone projects.

3. SEO Optimization Skills

Your WordPress developer should understand the importance of SEO. In Melbourne’s competitive digital landscape, having a website that is optimized for search engines is paramount. Inquire about their approach to SEO-friendly development.

4. Customization Capabilities

Melbourne businesses often have unique needs. Ensure your developer can customise WordPress themes and plugins to align with your brand identity and functionalities. Modifying theme and plugin files should be bread and butter to any WordPress developer. They should also be able to work with your WordPress site however its built – ACF, underscores, Gutenberg, Elementor etc.

5. Responsive Design Skills

Mobile responsiveness is critical for user experience and SEO. Choose a developer who prioritises creating websites that work seamlessly across various devices and knows the breakpoints for mobile, ipad, laptop and desktop.

6. Collaborative Approach

Effective communication and collaboration are key to project success. Look for a developer who understands your goals and incorporates your input throughout the development process.

7. Budget and Timeline Considerations

Clearly define your budget and project timeline. Choose a WordPress developer in Melbourne who can deliver within your constraints without compromising quality. Of course the caveat to this is the budget has to be realistic for the work needing to be done. Don’t be drawn in by offshore developers- what you save in money, will cost you in another area such as SEO, quality, bugs and so on.

Please think about these factors to help you choose the best WordPress developer in Melbourne. Remember, investing time in the selection process pays off in the long run, ensuring a successful and SEO-optimized WordPress website.

Jane James is the founder of Alpha Omega Digital, and is a WordPress web developer based in Melbourne, Australia but also services clients from Sydney, Brisbane, Newcastle, Perth, Adelaide, Darwin and Hobart. Have a project in mind? Contact me here.

The post Choosing the Best WordPress Developer in Melbourne: Find the right fit appeared first on Freelance Wordpress developer Melbourne | Sydney | Gold Coast | Brisbane |.

This is when you would hire a WordPress developer to help you.

Tasks a WordPress Developer Can Help With

A skilled WordPress developer in Melbourne can assist with various tasks, including:

• WordPress website setup and installation.
• Custom theme development and customization.
• Plugin integration and customization.
• Responsive design implementation.
• Website performance optimization.
• E-commerce functionality setup using WordPress.
• WordPress security and backup implementation.
• Migration from other platforms to WordPress.
• Customization of website functionalities according to specific business needs.
• Ongoing maintenance, updates, and troubleshooting.

Types of WordPress Development

When hiring a WordPress developer in Melbourne, you can explore different types of WordPress development services, such as:

1. Theme Development: Creating custom WordPress themes from scratch or modifying existing themes to match specific requirements.
2. Plugin Development: Building custom plugins to add new functionalities or extend the default capabilities of WordPress.
3. Website Customization: Tailoring the design, layout, and functionalities of a WordPress site to align with your brand and business goals.
4. E-commerce Development: Setting up an online store with features like product listings, shopping carts, payment gateways, and inventory management using WordPress.
5. Multisite Development: Building a network of interconnected WordPress sites under a single installation, useful for managing multiple websites centrally.

Agency vs. Freelance Rates

The rates for hiring a WordPress developer in Melbourne can vary between agencies and freelancers.

• Agencies often charge higher hourly rates due to the overhead costs involved in running a business, maintaining a team, and providing additional services such as project management and support.
• On the other hand, freelance WordPress developers may offer more competitive rates as they typically have lower overhead costs and can work directly with clients without any intermediary.

It’s essential to consider the scope and complexity of your project, expertise required, and the level of support you need when deciding between an agency or a freelance WordPress developer.

Importance of Hiring a WordPress Developer

Businesses need a WordPress developer on hand for several reasons:

1. Custom Solutions: A WordPress developer can create tailored solutions to meet specific business requirements, ensuring a unique and efficient website that stands out from competitors.
2. Technical Support: Having a WordPress developer ensures you have professional assistance whenever technical issues arise, helping you maintain a secure and high-performing website.
3. Time and Cost Efficiency: With their expertise, a WordPress developer can efficiently handle tasks like website setup, customization, and troubleshooting, saving your time and effort.
4. Future Scalability: A WordPress developer can build a scalable website architecture that allows for future expansion and integration of new features as your business grows.

By hiring a WordPress developer in Melbourne, businesses can leverage the power of WordPress to create a professional and functional website that meets their specific needs.

Cost of Hiring a WordPress Developer in Melbourne

• Rates for hiring a WordPress developer in Melbourne can vary depending on several factors, including the developer’s experience, expertise, and the complexity of the project.
• On average, the cost of hiring a WordPress developer in Melbourne starts at $75per hour, and goes up to $200 per hour.
• For a simple WordPress website setup or theme customization, you can expect to pay around $3,500 to $4,500
• More complex projects, such as building custom plugins or advanced website functionalities, may cost anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000 or more.

Tasks a WordPress Developer Can Help With

A skilled WordPress developer in Melbourne can assist with various tasks, including:

• WordPress website setup and installation.
• Custom theme development and customization.
• Plugin integration and customization.
• Responsive design implementation.
• Website performance optimization.
• E-commerce functionality setup using WordPress.
• WordPress security and backup implementation.
• Migration from other platforms to WordPress.
• Customization of website functionalities according to specific business needs.
• Ongoing maintenance, updates, and troubleshooting.
• Email marketing integrations
• Accounting integrations eg. Xero

Types of WordPress Development

When hiring a WordPress developer in Melbourne, you can explore different types of WordPress development services, such as:

1. Theme Development: Creating custom WordPress themes from scratch or modifying existing themes to match specific requirements.
2. Plugin Development: Building custom plugins to add new functionalities or extend the default capabilities of WordPress.
3. Website Customization: Tailoring the design, layout, and functionalities of a WordPress site to align with your brand and business goals.
4. E-commerce Development: Setting up an online store with features like product listings, shopping carts, payment gateways, and inventory management using WordPress.
5. Multisite Development: Building a network of interconnected WordPress sites under a single installation, useful for managing multiple websites centrally.

Agency vs. Freelance Rates

The rates for hiring a WordPress developer in Melbourne can vary between agencies and freelancers.

• Agencies often charge higher hourly rates due to the overhead costs involved in running a business, maintaining a team, and providing additional services such as project management and support.
• On the other hand, freelance WordPress developers may offer more competitive rates as they typically have lower overhead costs and can work directly with clients without any intermediary.

It’s essential to consider the scope and complexity of your project, expertise required, and the level of support you need when deciding between an agency or a freelance WordPress developer.

Why you need a WordPress Developer

Businesses need a WordPress developer on hand for several reasons:

1. Custom Solutions: A WordPress developer can create tailored solutions to meet specific business requirements, ensuring a unique and efficient website that stands out from competitors.
2. Technical Support: Having a WordPress developer ensures you have professional assistance whenever technical issues arise, helping you maintain a secure and high-performing website.
3. Time and Cost Efficiency: With their expertise, a WordPress developer can efficiently handle tasks like website setup, customization, and troubleshooting, saving your time and effort.
4. Future Scalability: A WordPress developer can build a scalable website architecture that allows for future expansion and integration of new features as your business grows.

By hiring a WordPress developer in Melbourne, businesses can leverage the power of WordPress to create a professional and functional website that meets their specific needs.Why Hire a WordPress Developer in Melbourne?

If you’re a website owner in need of custom solutions and modifications to your existing website, hiring a WordPress developer in Melbourne can be a game-changer for your business. With their expertise in WordPress development, they can help you create a professional and functional website that meets your specific needs.

One of the key services a WordPress developer can provide is e-commerce development. Whether you’re looking to set up an online store or add features like product listings, shopping carts, payment gateways, and inventory management to your existing website, a WordPress developer can make it happen using WordPress’s robust e-commerce capabilities.

Another valuable service a WordPress developer can offer is multisite development. This involves building a network of interconnected WordPress sites under a single installation, which can be extremely useful for managing multiple websites centrally. Whether you have multiple websites for different brands or business units, a WordPress developer can help you streamline your website management process.

Now, let’s talk about the rates for hiring a WordPress developer in Melbourne. It’s important to note that the rates can vary between agencies and freelancers. Agencies often charge higher hourly rates due to the overhead costs involved in running a business, maintaining a team, and providing additional services such as project management and support. On the other hand, freelance WordPress developers may offer more competitive rates as they typically have lower overhead costs and can work directly with clients without any intermediary.

When deciding between an agency or a freelance WordPress developer, it’s crucial to consider thespecific needs and budget of your business. If you require additional services such as project management and support, an agency might be the right choice for you. However, if you have a smaller budget and only need specific customizations or modifications to your website, a freelance WordPress developer may be the more affordable option.

Regardless of whether you choose an agency or a freelance developer, it’s important to hire a WordPress developer in Melbourne who has a strong portfolio and experience in WordPress development. Look for developers who have worked on projects similar to yours and have positive client reviews. This will ensure that you are working with a professional who can deliver high-quality results.

In addition to their technical skills, it’s also important to find a WordPress developer who has good communication skills and understands your specific needs. They should be able to listen to your requirements and provide suggestions and solutions that align with your goals. A developer who can communicate effectively will make the development process smoother and ensure that your website is built to your satisfaction.

In conclusion, hiring a WordPress developer in Melbourne can be a valuable investment for website owners in need of custom solutions and modifications. Whether you need e-commerce development or multisite development, a WordPress developer can help you create a professional and functional website that meets your specific needs. Consider your budget, specific requirements, and the developer’s portfolio and experience when making your decision. With the right developer, you can take your website to the next level and support the growth of your business.

Jane James is a WordPress web developer based in Melbourne, Australia but also services clients from Sydney, Brisbane, Newcastle, Perth, Adelaide, Darwin and Hobart. Have a project in mind? Contact me here.

The post The cost of hiring a WordPress Developer in melbourne appeared first on Freelance Wordpress developer Melbourne | Sydney | Gold Coast | Brisbane |.

Custom development is needed when the features and functions you want do not exist ‘out of the box’ – that is built into WordPress core, or something you can extend with plugins.

Reasons to employ Custom WordPress Development

Custom WordPress development can offer benefits such as more secure code, enhanced performance, and scalability. A custom site is alot easier to scale, than one built with a page builder and 50 plugins.

• Enhanced site speed- custom development involves using a minimalist approach to plugins
• Better security- when your site is custom built and not reliant on open source builders or plugins it’s a lot harder for hackers to gain control
• Custom WordPress development is often paired with custom WordPress design
• Achieve flexibility and scalability to grow and evolve as per your business needs
• Surpass your competitors by providing an enhanced user experience
• Stay within budget without compromising on quality and innovation

Custom WordPress development for Your Small Business

With custom WordPress development, your unique business requirements take centre stage. Our approach addresses your specific needs, providing a bespoke solution that aligns seamlessly with your website objectives.

• In-depth analysis of your business needs
• Unique design to echo your brand identity
• Custom functionalities for enhanced UX
• Specific features tailored to target audience
• Website scalability supporting growth

Flexibility to Implement Specific Features

Custom WordPress development equips you with the flexibility to incorporate distinct features into your website. It allows for innovation and uniqueness, enhancing your site’s functionality and appeal.

• Augment user experience with interactive elements
• Optimize for mobile responsiveness
• Embed analytic tools for data-driven decisions
• Seamlessly integrate e-commerce functionalities
• Incorporate bespoke functionalities, like reservation systems, forums or membership areas

Better Performance and Security

Custom WordPress development isn’t just about aesthetic changes—it’s also about enhancing your site’s performance and bolstering your site’s security. It ensures your website runs smoothly and stays safe from threats.

• Optimizing loading speeds with performance-enhancing tweaks
• Implementing robust built-in security features to protect your site from threats
• Ensuring an efficient and streamlined user experience
• Reducing page load times to prevent visitor drop-offs
• Establishing a solid defense system against hacking attempts
• Adapting to the site’s growing needs for performance optimization and security upgrades

Scalability to Grow Your Website

Scalability takes center stage in custom WordPress development, driving business growth. An adaptable website stands ready to expand with your business needs, ensuring you’re well-prepared for all growth phases.

Custom WordPress development offers active scalability, meticulously crafting your website for growth and readiness to accommodate increased traffic and expanded content.

Custom WordPress solutions offer measurable scalability benefits. They’re built to accommodate increased traffic and expanded content, making scalability intrinsic to robust WordPress development.

Remember, scalability is not a passive feature; it’s active and integral to the design process. Engaging with WordPress professionals ensures your site is meticulously crafted for growth, positively impacting your business.

Enhanced User Experience

The customized development of your WordPress site allows for enhancements catering specifically to your audience, therefore boosting user engagement. Features designed to ease navigation will incentivize visitors to explore your website, increasing your online visibility.

The connection between custom development and user experience is inarguable. Tailored WordPress sites are meticulously crafted based on user behavior and preferences, drastically improving the interaction between your website and its visitors.

With bespoke WordPress development, the site is no longer just a digital presence but a user-centric platform. Elements such as responsive design, speedy load times, and instinctive layouts create an unprecedented user experience, attracting and retaining more customers.

Cost-Effective Solution

With custom WordPress development, owners achieve a high degree of financial efficiency. You pay for what you need—no unnecessary features, keeping your website lean but powerful.

Investing in custom WordPress solutions means paying for resources that directly serve your goals. This strategy brings you greater returns in the long run, making it a cost-effective solution.

Customizing Your WordPress Website

To best navigate the process of WordPress customization for your business, partner with a professional developer who possesses an in-depth understanding of web design principles and coding expertise. Understanding your business goals helps choose customizations that truly resonate.

Unleashing your website’s potential calls for tailored WordPress customizations. Remember, a well-customized site can drive traffic, increase customer engagement, boost conversions, and ultimately, enhance your business reputation. Therefore, proper customization is a worthy investment.

Choosing a Professional WordPress Developer

The choice of the right WordPress developer for your custom solutions should be your priority. An experienced developer can support your vision, offer practical advice, and deliver the desired results.

When selecting a professional developer for your WordPress customization needs, focus on industry expertise, development methodology, and portfolio of past projects. These factors can help gauge their suitability for your project.

Consider your potential developer’s reputation among previous clients and their ability to communicate effectively. These traits can significantly impact your project’s success rate.

Identifying Your Customization Goals

To kick-start the process of WordPress customization, objectives must be clearly defined. This involves identifying issues requiring resolution, specifying desired functionalities, and setting improvement targets. It’s a roadmap to achieving a customized website that meets your specific needs.

Clear goals become the foundation for your custom WordPress project. You’d want the end result – a finely tuned site, to align with your business objectives, while presenting better user experience. This all starts with well-outlined customization goals.

Whether it’s adding new features, enhancing the user interface, or improving the website’s backend operations, your goals guide the developer’s efforts. It leaves little room for error, ensuring each change brings you closer to your ideal WordPress website.

A website with clear customization goals can direct its evolution effectively. It’s not just about immediate improvements, but also enabling long-term growth. It aids in making sustainable changes that continue to deliver value over time.

Outlining goals also assists in keeping customization costs under control. By knowing exactly what needs to be done, you can avoid unnecessary modifications. Not only does this speed up the project, but it also makes your WordPress customization more affordable.

Creating a Detailed Project Scope

Understanding your vision down to the minutest detail significantly boosts the chances of executing a successful WordPress development project. A comprehensive project scope helps both you and your developer understand each other’s expectations and visualize the final outcome.

Drafting a detailed project scope enables developers to meticulously craft a WordPress site that aligns perfectly with your traits. It lays down the roadmap, indicating specific milestones and projected timelines required for your custom development tasks.

Having a sound project scope can save you from potential misunderstandings, extra costs, and delays. It serves as a contract, specifying technical requirements, user functionality, and other key aspects of the project, ensuring your vision is realized on time and within budget.

Determining a Realistic Budget

Mapping out your custom WordPress development budget can be a game of tactics. Identify essential features, factor in development costs, and allow for unexpected expenses to form a practical financial framework.

Managing the quality-affordability scale can be challenging. Make calculated decisions that prioritize necessary customizations while staying within your budget. A well-built, cost-effective site is achievable with thoughtful planning.

Exploring Customization Options

WordPress customization offers a vast spectrum of choices- from themes and plug-ins to unique coding for specific features. Understanding these options can enhance and align your website to your business needs. The potential for customization in WordPress is only limited by imagination. From choosing specific colors to match your brand, or crafting personalized user experiences, you can tailor every aspect of your website. This goes beyond aesthetics – custom features can automate business processes, optimize the site for SEO, and much more. It’s therefore essential to explore these options thoroughly before starting your project, ensuring you leverage all the potential of WordPress customization to maximize your online presence.

Finding Affordable Custom WordPress Development

With custom WordPress development, affordability is within reach. Harnessing expert tips can help navigate this world effectively and lead you towards cost-effective solutions tailored to your unique needs.

Choosing the best path to custom WordPress development doesn’t have to break the bank. Explore available options, evaluate services and negotiate packages to find a cost-effective solution that meets your goals.

Researching and Comparing agencies and freelancers

Begin your search with multiple WordPress development service providers. Check their years of experience, portfolio, client testimonials, and overall reputation, establishing a well-rounded understanding of their capabilities.

While comparing providers, take note of their specific strengths and how these align with your requirements. Additionally, look out for providers who specialize in custom WordPress development, as they may offer more tailored solutions.

Don’t shy away from contacting these providers to clarify their services. Armed with your research and interactions, create a comparison sheet documenting each provider’s services, pricing, and specialization.

By now, a few providers should have emerged as frontrunners. Don’t make the decision yet; this is the time to dig a little deeper. Explore their customer support, response times, and how they handle problem-solving scenarios.

Making an informed decision relies heavily on diligent research. Not only does it help you choose the right WordPress developer, but it also gives you the understanding and confidence to negotiate for an affordable, custom solution.

Comparing apples with pears

Unraveling the pricing of WordPress development isn’t straightforward. Costs highly depend on your project’s complexity, the developer’s level of expertise, and region-based offline or online operations.

To comprehend better, grasp the quote: lower prices might indicate limited capability or competence, while exorbitantly high prices don’t always assure superior quality.

Striving for financial efficiency involves smartly requesting and comparing quotes. This starts with a detailed breakdown of the services included, understanding the developer’s hourly or project-based rate.

Remember, it’s integral to compare quotes based on similar project scopes to make an apposite comparison. This primes you to strategize your decisions and procure a cost-effective WordPress development service.

Cost benefit analysis

When scouting for affordable WordPress development services, remember, experience speaks volumes. It directly influences work quality. So, prioritize developers with proven track records and relevant expertise.

Understand that affordable does not equate to poor quality. Comprehensive evaluation beyond price will reveal developers who deliver high-quality, cost-efficient services. Make quality a cornerstone in your selection process.

Affordability – what’s the difference between a 3k website and a 20k website?

The cost of your WordPress site build is going to depend on a lot of factors including:

1. Pre-designed Theme: A pre-designed theme is a ready-made template that you can install and customize on your WordPress site. Themes often come with predefined layouts, color schemes, and features. They are ideal for users who want a quick and budget-friendly solution. However, themes can be limiting when it comes to customization, as your design options are restricted to what the theme offers.
2. Custom Design: A custom design involves creating a unique website layout tailored to your specific needs and brand identity. With custom development, you have complete control over the design, functionality, and user experience. It allows for greater creativity and a truly personalized website. However, custom designs require more time, effort, and usually come with a higher price tag.
3. Page Builders – Elementor vs. Gutenberg: Page builders such as Elementor and Gutenberg provide a more flexible and intuitive way to design and layout web pages without coding knowledge. Let’s compare them:

• Elementor: Elementor is a popular drag-and-drop page builder plugin that offers a live front-end editing experience. It provides an extensive library of pre-designed templates, blocks, and elements to create visually appealing web pages. Elementor is known for its user-friendly interface and robust features like responsive design, animations, and third-party integrations. It offers greater flexibility and customization options compared to pre-designed themes.
• Gutenberg: Gutenberg, introduced in WordPress 5.0, is the default block editor for WordPress. It allows users to build content by stacking blocks such as text, images, videos, and more. Gutenberg provides a more streamlined editing experience within the WordPress dashboard. While it may not offer as many features as Elementor, Gutenberg is constantly being expanded and improved upon by the WordPress community.

If you’ve been following along for a while, you would know I’ve gone all in with Gutenberg, because it’s pretty unbeatable in terms of page speed, scalability and bugs. Sites built with Elementor tend to get alot of bugs in them over time, as the version of Elementor updates and becomes incompatible with WordPress versions and PHP updates. I haven’t had the same problems with Gutenberg that I’ve had with Elementor, which is why I’ve really stuck with it.

Jane James is a WordPress web developer based in Melbourne, Australia but also services clients from Sydney, Brisbane, Newcastle, Perth, Adelaide, Darwin and Hobart. Have a project in mind? Contact me here.

The post Custom WordPress Development: Make it affordable appeared first on Freelance Wordpress developer Melbourne | Sydney | Gold Coast | Brisbane |.

These options are specific to Genesis themes that include the accessible navigation menu, and the CSS was intended for themes that prioritise desktop display. I always use genesis sample theme, as opposed to pre built genesis themes, but these classes should work on most Genesis themes.

You will use a CSS class to specify which menu elements function as mega menu dropdowns. This allows the flexibility of having some normal menu items and some mega menu items. If your theme is NOT mobile-first, you will add a function to functions.php to limit the menu’s depth before adding CSS for the mega menu on large and small displays. You can determine how many columns your menu items require. Obviously, additional colour schemes can always be added.

How to edit the CSs file in your Genesis theme.

If you are logged into the WordPress dashboard, you can go to appearance – theme-file-editor and edit the files there. Make 100% sure you have a backup of your site, and even better yet, clone you site to a staging domain and work there.

If you search for “accessibility” in your theme’s functions.php file, you will find a section that appears like this:

Restrict the sub menus to a single level.

The first thing you should do is restrict submenus to a single level. Thus, you will have a total of two menu levels: the visible main level and one sub-menu. We are adding two levels to the primary menu. In the prototype theme, the depth of the secondary menu is already limited to 1.

If you are the only user of your website and you limit your mega menu items to two levels, you can omit this step.

Add the code below to your functions.php file. The end is acceptable. Utilise a text editor and make sure to create a backup before making any changes.

<?php // Do not include this

// Reduce the depth of the principal navigation menu to two levels.
add_filter(‘wp_nav_menu_args’, ‘genesis_sample_primary_menu_args’);if (‘principal’ does not equal $args[‘theme_location’) { return $args; }$args[‘depth’] equals 2return $args; }

Add the Mega menu class to the menu items

You’re going to add a class to the menu items that you want to behave as mega menu items.

1. Inside your WordPress dashboard, go to Appearance > Menus.
2. Select one of the top level menu items that you want to use as a mega menu.
3. In the CSS Classes field*, add megamenu.
4. Save the menu.

Add CSS for desktop

You’’re going’ll need to add some styles to your style.css file now. Use a text editor and be sure to save a backup first.

In style.css, find the following selector:

.genesis-nav-menu .sub-menu .sub-menu {
	margin: -56px 0 0 199px;
}

Note that the numbers may be different, depending on your theme.

Just below the selector above, add:

/* Added for Mega Menu */
	.genesis-nav-menu .megamenu .sub-menu {
		background-color: #fff; /* same color as .genesis-nav-menu .sub-menu a */
		border: 1px solid #eee; /* optional */
		height: auto;
		width: 610px; /* make width needed plus 10px */
		column-count: 3; /* optional to change the order of the items to be vertical */
		column-gap: 0; /* optional to change the order of the items to be vertical */
	}
	
	.genesis-nav-menu .megamenu.move .sub-menu {
		right: 0;
	} /* optional to right align the sub-menu */
	
	.genesis-nav-menu .megamenu .sub-menu a {
		border: 0; /* optional */
		width: 200px; /* 1/3 width for 3 columns */
		/* width: 300px; /* 1/2 width for 2 columns */
	}

Add media queries for mobile and ipad

As I mentioned I use Genesis Sample, but use the pre built defaults to build your media queries. In Genesis Sample this is 380px for mobile and 780px for ipad, but you can edit these in your core theme.scss file, or if you re using a modern WordPress stack your theme.json file.

Need help with youe Mega Menu? Please get in touch.

Jane James is a WordPress web developer based in Melbourne, Australia but also services clients from Sydney, Brisbane, Newcastle, Perth, Adelaide, Darwin and Hobart. Have a project in mind? Contact me here.

The post How to create a mega menu in Genesis appeared first on Freelance Wordpress developer Melbourne | Sydney | Gold Coast | Brisbane |.