Applications software
Adding, integrating and updating applications software for your website is all part of the service I offer. I've been doing it since 2007 and am familiar with all the major blogging, e-commerce, forum and gallery programs because I use many of them myself.
When new versions come out, the existing ones have to be updated and I
know how to do that.
I can also add widgets and plugins as and when required for added
functionality.
If you don't know how to use blogs, online shops or galleries, I can
make Powerpoint presentation tutorials to show you what to do. Or, if
you prefer, I can add the content you want to them for you.
Maintenance
Website content
If you already have a website and need to have it updated on a regular basis, I can offer you the means to do it yourself or I can do it for you. I can fix broken links or add fresh content to your pages, or set up a content management system for you.
Acore Development & Training was set up for a corporate trainer who provides a wide range of services and wanted to display as many as possible on his home page. Visit the site.
It's important to have current information on an attractive-looking
website as outdated designs can be off-putting. You need to update the
content regularly to keep it fresh for returning visitors and to
improve your search engine ranking.
The type and importance of your content affect the appearance of the
website. Display solutions include a stacked column layout like the 960
grid-based one I'm using here or a three column layout like the one for
Acore Development & Training.
Adding Functionality
If you feel that your site needs a boost, you can add functionality with interactive widgets and features such as live chat. I've got a great script from Comm100 that gives you this neat little button to add to your website and alerts you when someone wants to chat with you immediately. It takes messages when you're not available.
A pop-up page comes on when people click on the image to begin the chat. The script is hosted remotely and integrating it is very easy. Best of all, it's free.
Countdown clocks, guestbooks, mailing lists and PayPal buttons can easily be customized and integrated to make your website more interactive.
A widget from Twitter or a feed reader (like the ones on my home page) will provide links to your latest tweets and blog posts, encouraging visitors to explore your website further.
Blogs and Content Management Systems
To easily update your site yourself without going into the backoffice, I recommend using a blogging program such as WordPress or Joomla. Other blogging and CMS programs are available but those two are the industry standard. A blog is a weblog or online diary and is generally used to post updates, opinion pieces and news articles. A content management system is an application program that is used to run an entire website. Many blogging programs such as WordPress, Joomla, and Blogger can be used as CMS. You can use CMS for anything including online shops, dating websites, review sites, news sites with multiple contributors, wikis, and discussion forums — even job boards. The uses CMS can be put to are increasing daily and there doesn't seem to be a limit to the functionality they provide. If you have an existing website and you want to transfer it to WordPress or Joomla and add selling, display or discussion plugins or extensions to it, that's not a problem. Or you can have an application program added to the site and matched to the theme — whatever you prefer.
