The vast majority of my work is creating custom WordPress themes for others based upon the design they have created for their client.  They then send me the Photoshop or Fireworks file(s) and then I create the theme with the functionality they need.  None of these themes are meant or intended for more than a one time usage.

I also customize existing WordPress themes as some designers/developers just don’t have time to learn WordPress, but need something done and it’s not a problem.

However, if you would like a custom WordPress theme that will be reused and modified repeatedly for your clients these are the guidelines.

WordPress Theme Development Guidelines

1. No third-party is allowed to modify the theme and use it or place the designs in their portfolio.
2. If you will be using a third-party then I will price it accordingly for my loss of income with an additional license fee required for each website.
3. I always retain the copyright unless I specifically release it in writing.  If you want the copyright to the design (not the code) then it will be priced accordingly for the loss in income.  Or I will require a licensing fee for each website that it is used on.  The license fee will depend upon the industry the theme is used for.
4. I am not restrained from creating additional themes or working with clients in any specific industry as this is what I do for a living.  If you insist it will cost you big bucks.  I go for nothing less than $250,000.00.  Besides that’s a major non-compete no-no and I have never been your employee nor will I be.
5. You may modify the code, but you do not own the copyright to it, and I reserve the right to reuse it for other clients in the same or other industries.  Your theme is likely to be using code that I have used previously for another client or under subcontract to another designer or developer.
6. It is not your intellectual property.

If you don’t like my guidelines there are hundreds of WordPress themes out there as well as WordPress theme developers.

It happens.   And I hope to never have to do it again.  The bad ones make you really appreciate the good clients.

My first client was let go after one of those I need it done or something done by X date.  So you work on fixing the small (make that tiny)  list of items he sent…then you get an email from him stating he never approved the go ahead of work when you send the invoice.  My response was to tell him that working together would not be a good fit.  He still wanted me to work with him, but I said no.

The former client then attempted to work with another web developer that I know.  Couldn’t/wouldn’t sign a contract or send a deposit.  So that client/developer relationship never progressed.

I ended another client relationship yesterday.  I have no problem working with clients that have a very tiny/small budget, and they understand  they are not going to have a  $7,000 website for $500. But when they expect a $7,000 site for $500 and then can’t understand why not….oh heck no!  I was not going to work on their project.

Red flags that I should have paid attention to and ended the work relationship with them a lot sooner, or just said no in the beginning.

• They were working with a previous developer and there was just a tiny list of tweaks to do when they fired the developer. I’m thinking they were actually fired by the developer.
• They complained about their ex-wife, and referred to a colleague as stupid.
• They want to meet so they can see on your laptop what you’ve done.  You tell them again that the work that has been done (site architecture aka the links/pages with the appropriate content and images have already been added) can be seen via the link they were sent earlier, and you advise them that you can’t go any further until you get design approval.  A week later still no approval, and they keep asking about progress.

In a previous post I discussed clueless businesses. The “people will call us” to order…yeah right! Well they might get a few callers, but all I can think about is how many they are losing. At the moment it’s Monday night (9:11PM) and say I want to order a few items at the last moment. I can’t call you as you aren’t open, but if I could order from your website I’d do it in a heartbeat.

But the heart of the matter is that you need to stop thinking “old school”. Anyway here is a superb article written by Jonathan Fields. Enjoy!

If Your Business Sucks, Don’t Blame the Market
by Jonathan Fields

Awakened Abstract: Market’s don’t turn businesses bad, failure to respond to markets does¦

Over the last year, I began to notice I was holding books a bit further away. And, getting headaches with increasing frequency.

Now, I’m 44 years old, I don’t wear glasses or contacts and the last time I went to an optometrist, my vision was 20:15. In fact, the guy laughed, sent me on my way and told me clients like me made it hard to pay his kids’ college tuition. Flash forward 5 years and it appears I’ve entered what’s known as the mid-40s vision-drift crowd. Still 20:20, but I now need reading glasses when writing or reading for long periods.

I learned this while visiting a new optometrist last week. After the exam, he shared, I’d love to sell you something, but my glasses range from $300-$700 and frankly you’d be better off grabbing a pair for $20 at CVS.

Thanks, I replied, then added, So, are you going anywhere for the holidays?

No, he said, business is really tough right now.

I’m new to this whole glasses thing, I replied, but I’m curious, what’s making it so hard? Is it the internet? Can people buy what you’re selling for a lot less online?

Click here to read the full article. And subscribe when you’ve finished reading. He’s a very smart man!

Recently I was contacted by a gentleman requesting a quote for search engine optimization for his website. He used Intuit’s Website to create his website. So being curious, especially after seeing TV commercials, I went and checked it out.

Their package details can be found here. And quite frankly I cannot recommend them even for someone starting out. And for $14.99 extra a month you can be listed in their WebListings and get found. You would be further ahead listing yourself in Google’s business listings and manually submitting your website.

Intuit Packages*
*As of December 11, 2009

Intuit mentions nothing about submitting to Google, Yahoo or MSN, and quite frankly most website designers/developers always feature your site (at least good ones do) so you’ll get picked up. But content and a search engine friendly website is important.

E-commerce with Intuit
They use SimpleStore and is an additional $9.99 a month and is only available to Gold or Platinum website packages. Details are here with additional packages here, and quite frankly if you pick one I think you are unbelievably stupid to pay those prices.

For what they want for the Enterprise Package ($2759.88 annual costs and that is for each and every year). For that price you could have a professionally designed website and a shopping cart, and then you only have annual hosting fees with a good web host, merchant fees (which are extra no matter what service you use) to process credit cards and an SSL, or use PayPal. There are several excellent shopping carts.

My Recommendation
Businesses would be further ahead using WordPress. It’s great for SEO, it’s dynamic, it’s easy to add content, you can blog which can be a simple as just news about your business, get subscribers, use social media, affiliates, and so much more. There are several WordPress e-commerce plug-ins, or just simply add Buy Now PayPal buttons. If you want to add features such as wholesale, wish lists/gift registry, etc. then you will need a full-fledged e-commerce solution.

Reviews
Amazon
Why not to use Intuit Website Builder

Footnote
It’s not just Intuit. I have a current client that will be moving to a different shopping cart. The original web designer set the business up with a company that charges $229.00/$299.00 a year for the cart and that’s in addition to separate hosting fees for the site. For $159 the client will have a shopping cart that does not require annual fees.

Bottom line is that a good web developer knows what’s out there, and what does and doesn’t work, and will save you money in the long run.

I think all web developers have come across the following type of potential clients, and we are just absolutely floored. So here goes:

Business #1: They did their own site. It shows. They constantly refer to “contact us” on each page, but their email address is only on the home page and there is no link not even a “mailto”. They sell products and you cannot order them unless you call them. They think that’s just fine. But in this economy you cannot afford to do that. Oh heck, that’s any economy.

Business #2: Same thing. They also want to offer wholesale.

Business #3: Someone did their site in all graphics. Since the site was launched (2001?) they haven’t made one sale from their site. The site cost them $200. Actually the site has cost them more than that….all those lost opportunities for sales.

The problem with all three businesses is the total lack of understanding of how a well developed website can help their business. And many potential customers are not in their time zone.

The following video provides an interesting overview of social media and its impact on how businesses will have to begin embracing it if they are not already doing so.

However, I don’t believe email will ever go away as a method of communication between a customer/client and a business. Typically there are too many details that simply cannot be provided within 140 characters. However, it can be a great tool to have a web page discussing the problem and how to resolve and then Twitter about it. Or add it to your Facebook page.

As LinkedIn is more of a professional contacts or trade related form of social media it is still important to join groups that are business related and participate. You never know when you may need a contact.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Well I found another company (LPH Internet Services) located in Laguna Beach, CA taking my content, and actually linking directly to it using my bandwidth. I am so not amused. And yes, I have sent them a Cease and Desist.

If you go to any of the following pages and either select “View Source” or “Source” (depending on your browser) you will see the direct link.

http://www.lphinternetservices.com/colors/warm.html

http://www.lphinternetservices.com/colors/site.html

http://www.lphinternetservices.com/colors/green.html

http://www.lphinternetservices.com/colors/red.html

http://www.lphinternetservices.com/colors/blue.html

I also believe they may have downloaded my Worksheet, and were interested in a design I did for one of my clients.

I do a good amount of subcontracting for other about 6 other website design and development companies, and another one that I troubleshoot for. That is why you might not see a lot of new work being displayed on my home page (which is a great spot to promote new websites).

The two things that are important is to pay subcontractors on time when you have been invoiced, and provide clear instructions on any functionality that is required (sometimes all I get is a Photoshop file).

And definitely work with people or businesses that understand website design and development. It’s a nightmare to work with someone that doesn’t understand it.

If you have an email address listed on your website or use a contact form, and you receive an email, please respond to it. If you do not respond to a customer’s inquiry they will most likely look elsewhere.

And check the email at least once every single day.

Yes, you need to treat them like gold. There is the old adage that for every one bad experience it will reach ten people faster than one good one.

And businesses need to treat their webmaster or web designer like gold.