The Cloud

Static Sites and WordPress

When beginning a project, or even revisiting a long-standing website, a question should be asked as to whether a content management system(CMS) like WordPress is necessary or if a static site will work. Or perhaps a hybrid of the two, or even something like Medium is sufficient sometimes. But often, in the excitement to set up a CMS, the question was never asked if it’s even necessary. And even…

Is WordPress Necessary for Your Goals?

Do I Even Need WordPress? This is a question that I have to assume people often ask, especially when they realize the overhead involved. Just because WordPress can be used for something doesn’t mean it must. And there are lots of valid reasons to not want to, or need to, use WordPress for your project, whether that’s a blog, website or app. There’s so much dedicated, open-source, quality software…

How Much Do Websites Cost?

What should a website cost? The price of a website is one of those things that’s similar to asking “how much does a car cost?” There are lots of variables. Most people don’t view websites like I do, which I understand, and would probably respond with “OK, just a good simple basic website.” That still doesn’t break down the necessities of the project. Not to be difficult, or anything. But…

The Inseparable Intertwining of Web Design, Marketing & English

As the owner and founder of web design POP, I’ve never explained how I came to form such a business. I’ve been doing it for quite a few years, and I’ve only come across less than a handful of people with a similar background and skills. So it’s a niche, to be sure. Something that’s remarkable is that despite any real forethought or planning, hobbies, interests, and passions of mine have merged,…

The Best Free All-Purpose WordPress Theme Out There

Note: I found this post I wrote a long time ago in my drafts folder. Interestingly, I still stand by my opinion. Modifying a theme by using a child theme is an easy (and recommended) way to tweak and make changes to your website when the budget is on the small side. I’ve covered how to set that up on some other sites of mine so I won’t repeat myself here. But if that’s the route you pick, how do…

An Attempt to Streamline

For almost five years I’ve been building custom websites and applications for clients in a “come-one, come-all” fashion, which has been awesome and I’ve learned and seen some great things from some amazing clients and their interesting businesses. But there’s a way to focus on something I do well and satisfy an actual need for it while helping others. Perhaps you need it. Most of the people I’ve…

My typeface collection borders on insane hoarding, which I’m not afraid to admit. You’ll read advice from designers that preaches having 10 or so “go-to” typefaces, and nothing more. That doesn’t register with me, as every font has a personality and quality that others don’t. Otherwise, there would have been no reason for the designer to have created it. Making your own typeface is doable, but…

If you do web development and design, you’re probably familiar with Codrops. If you aren’t then you just hit the jackpot and need to set aside several hours days. I get the naming convention, but it always reminds me of “cough drops.”

Codrops is a wonderful site, which everyone knows. And they do a lot with CSS and CSS3. To that end, this is a referencethey put together which I thought I’d…

You’ll hear a lot of talk about “custom post types” in WordPress. At least among the people I know, which are a lot of bloggers and developers. WordPress gives you the ability to add custom post types, as your application requires. I don’t know how useful this feature is to the average person, but it’s always tossed out as one of many exciting features of WordPress that set it apart as a CMS.…

I suppose a web design blog should discuss some web design. So here goes. SVGs are (finally)a reality, Material Design by Google is creeping in and some habits are harder to break than others.

Even my own website is currently sporting the material design look. Get used to material design. Not only is it not going anywhere anytime soon, it’s being played out every way possible.

Flat design and…

I was thinking the other day that it’s sort of crazy to have this website and not be working it for any SEO. As if it’s going to magically work on its own. So in the spirit of getting some usage out of this site, I’m cranking up the ol’ blog. Blogging is a great marketing tool. It helps clean cobwebs out of your brain as well.

It typically requires you to put your mastery of something on display…

from Instagram: http://instagram.com/p/ie23gMyNIh/

Inspirational shot by teslamotors

Inspirational shot by thejustinseeley

Inspirational shot by bradluttrell

from Instagram: http://instagram.com/p/iDau4YSNGT/

from Instagram: http://instagram.com/p/hzOkShSNAx/