Category Archives: Website Maintenance

The Silver Maple Web Advantage

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Do you want your website built with WordPress so that you can easily update it yourself in the future? WordPress is a good content management system, but there can be issues with using plug-ins as part of the development.

  1. Plug-ins are often developed by students or developers who are creating them on a part-time basis – if they stop updating and maintaining them for any reason, the plug-ins may stop working when WordPress is updated, which could render parts of your website inoperable – and the original developer may no longer be available.

  2. Plug-ins are often generic – they may achieve PART of what you want to achieve but not quite everything.

  3. Most free plug-ins are like samples, to get full functionality you may have to spend more money for a “full-version”. You may also be required to pay a yearly fee for updates.

 So how is Silver Maple Web different

Unlike many “web developers” in the market, I am an experienced programmer.

What does this mean?

  • I can customize plug-ins to get the exact functionality you need to achieve the result you want.  I can also fix a plugin that stops working after a WordPress upgrade.

  • In many cases what some plug-ins do can be done with a few lines of code built into the CSS or PHP of your theme.

  • I have experience writing WordPress plugins. Chances are if you need a specific functionality, others probably do as well. I can write a custom plug-in for you. If it’s something that other web site owners will benefit from, the cost to you will be minimal as it will be a plugin that I can share with others in the WordPress plug-in repository.

  • I write themes, I don’t just modify an off the shelf theme or add a child theme.  I can build a theme to your exact specification.

 So when you are looking for the right person to develop your website, show them the information above – ask them if they have the Silver Maple Web advantage. Do you want a website that “sort of does what you want” or does “exactly what you want”.

Ask prospective developers how they will handle the challenge of getting you back on-line if one crucial plug-in fails after a WordPress update and the original developer has moved on.

 You are going to be in business for a long time – make sure your website has the staying power you need.