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		<title>Unlocking Massive Profits: How a WordPress Website Can Skyrocket Your Domain Portfolio Value</title>
		<link>https://www.loudskymedia.com/unlocking-massive-profits-how-a-wordpress-website-can-skyrocket-your-domain-portfolio-value/</link>
					<comments>https://www.loudskymedia.com/unlocking-massive-profits-how-a-wordpress-website-can-skyrocket-your-domain-portfolio-value/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Don]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 29 Aug 2023 01:21:15 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Digital Ad Campaign]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Search Engine Optimization]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Web Design]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WordPress]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Affiliate Marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Domain Portfilio]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Domains]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Drop Shipping]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[E-Commerce]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ICANN]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Print-On-Demand]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Profit]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Revenue]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.loudskymedia.com/?p=18918</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p><a href="https://www.loudskymedia.com/unlocking-massive-profits-how-a-wordpress-website-can-skyrocket-your-domain-portfolio-value/">Unlocking Massive Profits: How a WordPress Website Can Skyrocket Your Domain Portfolio Value</a></p>
<p>In the vast digital marketplace, domain portfolios are akin to prime real estate. But what if those prized assets aren&#8217;t yielding the returns you anticipated? Idle domains cost money year-after-year until they are sold. With ICANN reliably raising prices on a yearly basis – renewal fees may be a hefty cost that only increases over [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.loudskymedia.com/unlocking-massive-profits-how-a-wordpress-website-can-skyrocket-your-domain-portfolio-value/">Unlocking Massive Profits: How a WordPress Website Can Skyrocket Your Domain Portfolio Value</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.loudskymedia.com">Loud Sky Media</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="https://www.loudskymedia.com/unlocking-massive-profits-how-a-wordpress-website-can-skyrocket-your-domain-portfolio-value/">Unlocking Massive Profits: How a WordPress Website Can Skyrocket Your Domain Portfolio Value</a></p>

<p>In the vast digital marketplace, domain portfolios are akin to prime real estate. But what if those prized assets aren&#8217;t yielding the returns you anticipated? Idle domains cost money year-after-year until they are sold. With <a href="https://www.icann.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>ICANN</strong></a> reliably raising prices on a yearly basis – renewal fees may be a hefty cost that only increases over time. What’s a domainer to do?</p>



<p>The solution might be simpler than you think: Build a WordPress Website. By launching a WordPress website with your domain, you can significantly enhance its value, drive sales, and ensure a steady revenue stream until it&#8217;s sold. In the domain world – this is known as domain flipping. Let&#8217;s delve into this strategy and uncover its potential.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">WordPress: Your Secret Weapon for Driving Domain Sales</h2>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The Unrivaled Benefits of WordPress</h3>



<p>WordPress isn&#8217;t just a blogging platform; it&#8217;s a powerhouse Content Management System (CMS) that fuels a significant portion of the internet – <a href="https://w3techs.com/technologies/details/cm-wordpress" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>over 43% of all websites on the internet</strong></a> and growing! Its adaptability, user-centric design, and extensive plugin ecosystem make it an invaluable asset for domain portfolio managers.</p>



<p>The ubiquitous nature of the WordPress framework means that there is plenty of support for managing WordPress websites &#8211; for buyers and sellers. This means building a WordPress website is more cost effective, quicker to launch, and there is less time spent on handholding during or after a sale.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Tailoring to Your Niche</h4>



<p>With a plethora of themes and plugins at your disposal, WordPress empowers you to mold your site to fit your domain&#8217;s niche perfectly. This bespoke approach can amplify the perceived value of your domain to potential buyers. Don’t just add <em>perceived</em> value – add <em>real</em> value by demonstrating real revenue.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Beyond Domain Sales: The Revenue Stream</h2>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Monetizing Your Domain</h3>


<div class="wp-block-image img_50">
<figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" src="https://www.loudskymedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/woman-making-it-rain-money-Loud-Sky-Media.gif" alt="Monetize your domain portfolio with a WordPress website!" class="wp-image-18925" width="512" height="288"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Monetize your domain portfolio with a WordPress website!</figcaption></figure>
</div>


<p>While awaiting the right buyer, your domains needn&#8217;t be dormant. With WordPress, you can seamlessly integrate diverse revenue channels, such as drop shipping, print-on-demand (POD), affiliate marketing, sponsored content, ads, and much more.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Affiliate Marketing: A Win-Win</h3>



<p>It&#8217;s a strategy that could transform your domain into a revenue magnet. Affiliate marketing has become a cornerstone for many domainers looking to monetize their domain portfolio. Essentially, you promote products or services aligned with your domain&#8217;s niche. With every sale via your referral, you pocket a commission. Let’s look at why affiliate marketing may be a good option for generating revenue for your domain portfolio:</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Passive Income Potential</h4>



<p>One of the most enticing aspects of affiliate marketing is the opportunity to earn passive income. Once the initial effort of setting up the affiliate links and promoting them is done, marketers can potentially earn a commission round the clock, even while they sleep!</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Low Startup Costs</h4>



<p>Getting started with affiliate marketing doesn&#8217;t require a hefty investment. Unlike other business models, there&#8217;s no need for inventory, storefronts, or significant upfront costs. You don’t even need to worry about collecting taxes, chargebacks and processing fees. All that&#8217;s required is a domain and a website and the drive to promote.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Flexibility and Independence</h4>



<p>Affiliate marketing offers the freedom to work from anywhere and set your own hours. You needn’t be tied down to a 9-to-5 grind and can choose which products or services align with your website and audience.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Performance-Based Rewards</h4>



<p>The more effort and strategy you put into your affiliate promotions, the higher the potential rewards. Since commissions are earned based on actual sales or actions, domainers are incentivized to refine their tactics and optimize for conversions.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Diverse Product Selection</h4>



<p>With a plethora of companies offering affiliate programs, you can choose from a vast array of products or services to promote. This diversity allows for niche targeting and the promotion of products that truly resonate with a specific audience.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Minimal Risk</h4>



<p>Since there&#8217;s no need to create a product or handle inventory, the risks associated with affiliate marketing are minimal. You are able to test different products or services without any significant financial outlay, allowing for experimentation and pivoting as needed.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Scalable Earnings</h4>



<p>As you begin to grow your audience and refine your promotional strategies, your earning potential can scale up. There&#8217;s no cap on affiliate earnings, making the sky the limit for those who master the art of affiliate marketing.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Learning and Growth</h4>



<p>Affiliate marketing provides a hands-on opportunity to learn about digital marketing, audience engagement, and sales tactics. It&#8217;s a continuous learning journey that can bolster your skills and expertise.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Building Valuable Partnerships</h4>



<p>Engaging in affiliate marketing can lead to valuable partnerships with brands and other marketers. These collaborations can open doors to other revenue-generating opportunities, from sponsored content to joint ventures.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Resilient Revenue Stream</h4>



<p>Economic downturns, market fluctuations, and other external factors can impact many revenue streams. However, affiliate marketing, with its diverse product range and global reach, offers a level of resilience, ensuring marketers have a steady income flow.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Drop Shipping: The Low-Risk E-Commerce Model</h3>



<p>Drop shipping is an e-commerce strategy where the retailer doesn&#8217;t keep products in stock. Instead, when a product is sold, it&#8217;s purchased from a third party and shipped directly to the customer. This model offers several benefits:</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Minimal Upfront Investment</h4>



<p>Domain portfolio managers can kickstart an e-commerce store without the hefty investment typically associated with stocking inventory. This low barrier to entry makes drop shipping an attractive option for those looking to monetize one or more domains.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Diverse Product Offerings</h4>



<p>Without the constraints of inventory management, domain managers can offer a wide range of products on their site. This flexibility allows for quick adaptation to market trends, enhancing the site&#8217;s appeal to a broader audience.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Scalability and Flexibility</h4>



<p>As the business grows, scaling becomes seamless. The drop shipping model inherently adjusts to the volume of orders, ensuring that operational complexities remain manageable.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Print-on-Demand: Customization Meets E-Commerce</h3>



<p>Print-on-Demand (POD) is another e-commerce model that&#8217;s gaining traction. Here, products are created only after an order is placed, allowing for personalized and customized offerings. The benefits of POD include:</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Unique Product Offerings</h4>



<p>POD allows domain managers to offer custom-designed products, from apparel to mugs. This uniqueness can set the website apart in a saturated online market.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Low Overhead Costs</h4>



<p>Just like drop shipping, there&#8217;s no need for inventory. Products are printed and shipped once orders come in, eliminating storage costs and minimizing waste. Plus, if a design just isn’t selling, it’s easy to try new designs without worrying about liquidating junk inventory.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Enhanced Branding Opportunities</h4>



<p>With the ability to offer custom designs, domain managers can establish a strong brand identity, making their site memorable and increasing repeat visits.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Building an Email List</h3>



<p>You&#8217;ve probably heard the saying, &#8220;The money is in the list.&#8221; And guess what? It&#8217;s not just some old wives&#8217; tale. Building an email list isn&#8217;t just a smart move; it&#8217;s a game-changer. For every dollar invested in email, the <a href="https://www.litmus.com/resources/email-marketing-roi/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>average return on investment is $36</strong></a>, outperforming all other channels.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">A Treasure Trove of Engaged Users</h4>


<div class="wp-block-image img_50">
<figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img decoding="async" width="336" height="252" src="https://www.loudskymedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/youve-got-email.gif" alt="Build an email list of engaged subscribers" class="wp-image-18929"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Build an email list of engaged subscribers</figcaption></figure>
</div>


<p>First off, an email list is like a gold mine. Picture this: a group of folks who&#8217;ve willingly given you their email addresses because they&#8217;re interested in what you have to offer. These aren&#8217;t just random Joe&#8217;s and Jane&#8217;s; they&#8217;re potential customers, eager to hear from you &#8211; and in the world of domain and website sales, that&#8217;s pure gold.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Boosting Your Domain&#8217;s Value</h4>



<p>When you&#8217;re looking to sell your domain or website, what&#8217;s the one thing that can skyrocket its value? Yup, you guessed it—an active and engaged email list. Think about it. A potential buyer isn&#8217;t just buying a domain name; they&#8217;re buying access to a community, a ready-made audience that can be reached for pennies on the dollar. It&#8217;s like walking into a party where everyone&#8217;s waiting to hear what you have to say. Pretty cool, right?</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Ad Integration: The Passive Income Route</h3>



<p>Strategically pepper your WordPress site with ads, and voilà, you&#8217;ve got a passive income source. It&#8217;s a way to ensure your domain remains lucrative while on the market.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">SEO: The Silent Advocate</h3>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Driving Organic Traffic</h4>



<p>A well-optimized WordPress site can ascend search engine rankings, pulling in organic traffic. This visibility not only attracts potential buyers but also establishes domain authority.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Harnessing Long-Tail Keywords</h4>



<p>Incorporating long-tail keywords pertinent to your domain&#8217;s niche can supercharge your site&#8217;s SEO. These specific keyword phrases draw a targeted audience, enhancing the likelihood of a sale.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The Fast Track to Revenue: Leveraging Paid Traffic for Domain Sales</h3>



<p>In the fast-paced world of domain sales, waiting around for organic traffic can feel like watching paint dry. Enter the magic of paid traffic. It&#8217;s like adding rocket fuel to your revenue generation efforts. Let&#8217;s dive deep into why using paid traffic can be your secret weapon to validate your revenue model and supercharge your domain sales.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Immediate Traffic Surge</h4>



<p>First things first, paid traffic is like an on-demand tap. Turn it on, and voila! Instant visitors. Unlike the slow burn of SEO and organic growth, paid traffic offers immediate results. Whether you&#8217;re using pay-per-click (PPC) ads, social media promotions, or display ads, you&#8217;re in the driver&#8217;s seat, controlling the flow of visitors to your domain.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Validating Your Revenue Model</h4>



<p>Here&#8217;s the deal: potential buyers want proof. They want to see that your domain isn&#8217;t just a pretty face but has a revenue model that actually works. With paid traffic, you can quickly drive targeted visitors to your site, convert them into paying customers, and showcase tangible results all while building your customer list. It&#8217;s like showing up to a pitch meeting with a suitcase full of success stories.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Targeting Your Ideal Audience</h4>



<p>One of the beauties of paid traffic &#8211; Precision targeting. You&#8217;re not just casting a wide net and hoping for the best. With platforms like Google Ads or Facebook Ads, you can zero in on your ideal audience based on demographics, interests, behaviors, and more. This means every dollar you spend is aimed at folks who are genuinely interested in what your website has to offer.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Flexibility and Scalability</h4>



<p>Here&#8217;s something to chew on: paid traffic is incredibly flexible. Got a campaign that&#8217;s performing like gangbusters? Scale it up. Seeing less-than-stellar results from another? Tweak it or pivot entirely. This agility allows you to optimize for the best ROI continually and ensures your website is always putting its best foot forward.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Rich Data and Insights</h4>



<p>Paid traffic isn&#8217;t just about driving visitors; it&#8217;s a goldmine of data. Every campaign provides a wealth of insights, from click-through rates to conversion metrics, to buy demographics. This data is invaluable, not just for optimizing your campaigns but for showcasing the potential of your domain to prospective buyers. After all, numbers don&#8217;t lie!</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Building Momentum for Organic Growth</h4>



<p>Think of paid traffic as the initial push that sets the ball rolling. While you&#8217;re driving immediate visitors and revenue through your campaigns, you&#8217;re also boosting brand awareness and engagement. Over time, this can spill over into organic growth, creating a snowball effect that amplifies your domain&#8217;s value.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Partner with Loud Sky Media: The WordPress Maestros</h2>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="alignright size-full"><img decoding="async" width="200" height="200" src="https://www.loudskymedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/WordPress-Website-Developer.jpg" alt="WordPress Website Developer" class="wp-image-18931" srcset="https://www.loudskymedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/WordPress-Website-Developer.jpg 200w, https://www.loudskymedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/WordPress-Website-Developer-150x150.jpg 150w" sizes="(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px" /></figure>
</div>


<p>In the cutthroat domain sales arena, differentiation is key. By leveraging WordPress, domain portfolio managers can infuse unparalleled value into their assets. This strategy not only augments the domain&#8217;s market worth but also guarantees a consistent revenue inflow until it has sold. So, why let your domains languish and the renewal fees add up? Harness WordPress&#8217;s potential and watch your domain revenue and sales trajectory soar.</p>



<p>Ready to elevate your domain portfolio? Entrust it to the seasoned experts at Loud Sky Media. With a stellar track record in crafting revenue-generating WordPress sites, we&#8217;re poised to help you extract maximum value from your domain portfolio. Let your domains be more than mere digital assets that cost you money to hold year-after-year. Instead, transform them into revenue reservoirs with our expertise.</p>



<p>Give us a call today at <strong><a href="tel:8005435067" title="Click to Call 800-543-5067">800-543-5067</a></strong> or fill out our <strong><a href="https://www.loudskymedia.com/contact/">Contact Form</a></strong> for a free consultation.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.loudskymedia.com/unlocking-massive-profits-how-a-wordpress-website-can-skyrocket-your-domain-portfolio-value/">Unlocking Massive Profits: How a WordPress Website Can Skyrocket Your Domain Portfolio Value</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.loudskymedia.com">Loud Sky Media</a>.</p>
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		<title>Don&#8217;t be a theme, be an original</title>
		<link>https://www.loudskymedia.com/dont-be-a-theme-be-an-original/</link>
					<comments>https://www.loudskymedia.com/dont-be-a-theme-be-an-original/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Don]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 07 Apr 2019 15:50:51 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Development]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[General Topics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Themes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WordPress]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.loudskymedia.com/?p=16406</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p><a href="https://www.loudskymedia.com/dont-be-a-theme-be-an-original/">Don&#8217;t be a theme, be an original</a></p>
<p>To me, when I see that a business has a heavily outdated, dysfunctional, sluggish, and/or a cookie cutter website &#8211; that indicates to me that the company is either clueless or careless with their brand. If that&#8217;s the image that they are willing to portray, then what other lapses in their product/service are they also [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.loudskymedia.com/dont-be-a-theme-be-an-original/">Don&#8217;t be a theme, be an original</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.loudskymedia.com">Loud Sky Media</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="https://www.loudskymedia.com/dont-be-a-theme-be-an-original/">Don&#8217;t be a theme, be an original</a></p>

<p>To me, when I see that a business has a heavily outdated, dysfunctional, sluggish, and/or a cookie cutter website &#8211; that indicates to me that the company is either clueless or careless with their brand. If that&#8217;s the image that they are willing to portray, then what other lapses in their product/service are they also clueless or careless about? It is for this reason, that I am less likely to do business with that company &#8211; not to mention reviews.</p>



<p>When it comes to your brand &#8211; image is everything. At first, how people perceive you can be more important to your brand than the quality of the products and services you may actually provide. That&#8217;s not to say that quality isn&#8217;t important. However, we all know that first impressions can be the difference between a long-lasting business relationship or just being skipped over for a competitor.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Cookie-Cutter WordPress Themes</h2>



<p>One of the most common complaints that I&#8217;ve heard about WordPress is that most WordPress websites look the same. That&#8217;s a valid point because most WordPress websites use cookie-cutter themes.</p>



<p>The most popular WordPress theme on ThemeForest.net is Avada. To date, it has well over 500,000 purchases. There are plenty of other themes, both paid and free, that have massive adoption as well &#8211; some more, some less. It&#8217;s no wonder as to why there might be similarities amongst most WordPress websites.</p>



<p>Many of the WordPress themes available provide some form of customization. Often times this will include configuring variations of:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Color</li><li>Page layout design</li><li>Header design</li><li>Sidebar placement</li><li>Typography/fonts</li></ul>



<p>However, in the end, these minute changes aren&#8217;t enough to create differentiation, let alone be unique.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Page Builders</h2>



<p>There are plenty of page builders available on the market today. While they may differ in the level and ease of customization, the basic premise is the same &#8211; provide a user interface for managing the placement of content on a page/post without messing with code.</p>



<p>The benefit of page builders is that it gives greater control of the design decisions and changes to people who otherwise would need to hire a professional.</p>



<p>The disadvantage of page builders is that it gives greater control of the design decisions and changes to people who otherwise would need to hire a professional. </p>



<p>Design isn&#8217;t just about aesthetics. It&#8217;s about the strategic placement of content and elements that helps lead the visitor to a desired action through thoughtful UX/UI design principles predicated on maximizing conversion potential. Having the ability to hatchet your way into a design on the basis that it is <em>&#8220;pleasing&#8221;</em> to you is likely to hit your business where it hurts the most &#8211; conversions.</p>



<p>Furthermore, there is an undeniable increase in load time of the website because of the additional resources that page builders include on every page &#8211; just to render the content.</p>



<p>Page load time is part of the overall user experience, and a slow website will lead to a poor user experience. This is why Google has included page speed as part of the metrics on how it ranks web pages.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Child Themes</h2>



<p>What about <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="child themes (opens in a new tab)" href="https://developer.wordpress.org/themes/advanced-topics/child-themes/" target="_blank" title="WordPress Child Themes">child themes</a>? For those who do not know &#8211; a child theme inherits the design and functionality of the parent theme <em>(a cookie-cutter theme)</em>, and allows overriding the parent theme on specific aspects of the design and/or functionality. In other words, it is up to the discretion of the designer/developer on how much customization will go into transforming a cookie-cutter theme into something relatively unique.</p>



<p>The primary benefit of a child theme is the ability to make changes and modifications without being overwritten whenever there is a software update to the parent theme.</p>



<p>If one were to successfully transform a child theme into a completely unique design, then there would be no need for the parent theme. The whole point of the parent theme is to serve as the base upon which the core design and functionality are utilized into the child theme.</p>



<p>Regardless of how much customization of the design goes into a child theme, the end result still requires the parent theme &#8211; a cookie-cutter theme.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Custom WordPress Themes</h2>



<p>Cookie-cutter themes like Avada are popular because they try to appeal to a broader audience of people by being a &#8220;multipurpose&#8221; theme. Multipurpose themes try to be all things to everyone, and include a myriad of features, elements and resources &#8211; essentially bloat. Often cookie-cutter themes will require the installation and activation of additional plugins just to allow the theme to render &#8211; more bloat.</p>



<p>This bloat can impact page load time negatively &#8211; which again, leads to a poor user experience, and therefore, poor Search Engine Optimization <em>(SEO)</em>.</p>



<p>Custom WordPress themes are built from the ground up with a specific design and functionality in mind. This means that only the absolutely necessary resources are included into the theme &#8211; reducing bloat, and therefore, reducing page load time.</p>



<p>When you start from scratch on a website design, you have more flexibility with how things are laid out because you&#8217;re not trying to fit within the limitation of a cookie-cutter theme or a page builder. Design elements can be placed wherever makes the most sense for conveying the message and conversion potential.</p>



<p>The same is true for the functionality. A theme shouldn&#8217;t require a myriad of plugins just to render &#8211; including page builders. A theme should only include what is absolutely necessary, and nothing more. It should work within the WordPress framework, and nothing more. It shouldn&#8217;t degrade the user experience, but enhance it.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Be an Original</h2>



<p>Your brand deserves to be an original &#8211; not seen before, not easily replicated, and not cookie-cutter.</p>



<p>Don&#8217;t let your brand fall victim to a bad first-impression.</p>



<p>Improve the user experience, conversion potential, and page speed with a custom WordPress theme that is tailored to your specific business needs.</p>



<p>At <a href="https://www.loudskymedia.com" title="Loud Sky Media">Loud Sky Media</a>, we go the extra mile to create original custom WordPress themes that improve the user experience, and your brand. <a href="/contact/" title="Contact us today">Contact us today</a> to discuss how we can help give your brand a great first impression!</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.loudskymedia.com/dont-be-a-theme-be-an-original/">Don&#8217;t be a theme, be an original</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.loudskymedia.com">Loud Sky Media</a>.</p>
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		<title>Another Strategy for Initializing Plugin Settings</title>
		<link>https://www.loudskymedia.com/another-strategy-for-initializing-plugin-settings/</link>
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		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Don]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 25 Dec 2018 01:50:51 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Development]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[General Topics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WordPress]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tom McFarlin]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.loudskymedia.com/?p=9371</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p><a href="https://www.loudskymedia.com/another-strategy-for-initializing-plugin-settings/">Another Strategy for Initializing Plugin Settings</a></p>
<p>Learn of yet another strategy for initializing plugin settings, as well as how to save and retrieve plugin settings using a little known solution.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.loudskymedia.com/another-strategy-for-initializing-plugin-settings/">Another Strategy for Initializing Plugin Settings</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.loudskymedia.com">Loud Sky Media</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="https://www.loudskymedia.com/another-strategy-for-initializing-plugin-settings/">Another Strategy for Initializing Plugin Settings</a></p>

<p><a href="/tag/tom-mcfarlin/">Tom McFarlin</a> wrote an interesting article titled <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="A Strategy for Initializing Plugin Settings (opens in a new tab)" href="https://tommcfarlin.com/initializing-plugin-settings/" target="_blank">A Strategy for Initializing Plugin Settings</a>. In it he suggested that there were three ways to save and retrieve plugin settings in WordPress:</p>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow"><p>use the <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Settings API (opens in a new tab)" href="https://developer.wordpress.org/plugins/settings/settings-api/" target="_blank">Settings API</a>,</p><p> use a custom page and calls that are a hybrid of the two,</p><p> use some type of hybrid between a <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="submenu page (opens in a new tab)" href="https://developer.wordpress.org/reference/functions/add_submenu_page/" target="_blank">submenu page</a> (or a <a href="https://developer.wordpress.org/reference/functions/add_menu_page/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="menu page (opens in a new tab)">menu page</a>) and other functionality.</p><cite>Tom McFarlin</cite></blockquote>



<p>I&#8217;d like to throw my hat into the ring and offer yet another alternative to accomplish this, and I believe it to be a cleaner and more efficient way.</p>



<p>Use the built-in WordPress Customizer, also known as the <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Customize API (opens in a new tab)" href="https://developer.wordpress.org/themes/customize-api/" target="_blank">Customize API</a>. It&#8217;s incredibly easy to add settings into the WordPress customizer, and you will future-proof your plugins. In <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Gutenberg Phase 2 (opens in a new tab)" href="https://make.wordpress.org/core/2018/12/08/gutenberg-phase-2/" target="_blank">Gutenberg Phase 2</a>, blocks will be brought into the customizer. </p>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow"><p>The next phase of Gutenberg will take the ease of use that was introduced with block-based editing and extend that capability to the Customizer, starting with widgets, to make it easier for users to customize the rest of their sites.</p><p>In the first step of phase 2, we will bring blocks into the Customizer to create a more consistent user experience and give developers a smoother path to upgrading themes to Gutenberg. Longer term, we will expand the current Gutenberg post and page editor to become a full-fledged site editor, bringing everything together into a unified, modern product experience.</p><cite>Mel Choyce</cite></blockquote>



<p>The customizer is here to stay, and from the looks of it, it will be an essential part for the future of Gutenberg and therefore WordPress.</p>



<p>I know what you&#8217;re thinking. <em>Isn&#8217;t the customizer just for themes?</em></p>



<p>No.</p>



<p>When creating a customizer settings object, there are two main types of settings &#8211; theme modifications (mods), and options.</p>



<p>Theme mods are the default when storing settings data. Theme mods are tied to a specific theme, and do not transfer over or are not linked to the same settings when switching themes. To call a theme mod into a theme, you would use <a href="https://developer.wordpress.org/reference/functions/get_theme_mod/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="get_theme_mod() (opens in a new tab)">get_theme_mod()</a>.</p>



<p>The solution for plugins is to use options. Options store in the <code>wp_options</code> table directly, and can apply regardless of which theme is activated. To call an option into a plugin, simply use <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="get_option() (opens in a new tab)" href="https://developer.wordpress.org/reference/functions/get_option/" target="_blank">get_option()</a>. </p>



<p>Customizer settings already handle the saving, and sanitization of customizer objects. Here is an example of adding a customizer setting with options specified:</p>



<pre>$wp_customize-&gt;add_setting('custom_plugin_setting', array(
    'type' =&gt; 'option'
));
</pre>



<p>You also have the ability to use a keyed array for options, to allow for storing multiple settings into one option. For example:</p>



<pre>$wp_customize-&gt;add_setting('custom_plugin_settings[color]', array(
    'type' =&gt; 'option',
    'default' =&gt; '#000000'
));

$wp_customize-&gt;add_setting('custom_plugin_settings[limit]', array(
    'type' =&gt; 'option',
    'default' =&gt; '20'
));
</pre>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Initializing Plugin Settings</h2>



<p>Like Tom, I also prefer to use classes in my plugins and themes. I typically would initialize plugin settings in a core plugin class. I&#8217;ll give you an example of what I do, and then go into the explanation below:</p>



<pre>class MyPlugin {
    public static $settings = array();

    private function __construct() {
        // set settings
        self::$settings = array(
            'setting' =&gt; array(
                'name' =&gt; 'get_bloginfo',
                'admin_email' =&gt; 'get_bloginfo',
                'phone' =&gt; 'get_option',
                'email' =&gt; 'get_option',
                'facebook_url' =&gt; 'get_option',
                'google_plus_url' =&gt; 'get_option',
                'twitter_url' =&gt; 'get_option',
                'youtube_url' =&gt; 'get_option',
                'linkedin_url' =&gt; 'get_option',
                'pinterest_url' =&gt; 'get_option',
                'instagram_url' =&gt; 'get_option',
                'flickr_url' =&gt; 'get_option',
                'rss_url' =&gt; 'get_option'
            )
        );
    }

    // get a setting from the settings array
    public static function setting($setting = FALSE) {
        $output = FALSE;

        if (!$setting) {
            return $output;
        }

        // set function variable
        $function = self::$settings['setting'][$setting];

        // if setting not already loaded, set it so we're more efficient on the next call
        if (!array_key_exists($setting, self::$settings)) {
            self::$settings[$setting] = $function($setting);
        }

        // set output to setting
        $output = self::$settings[$setting];

        return $output;

    }

}
</pre>



<p>My approach is with load time and versatility in mind. I want to standardize the calls that would need to be made, regardless of whether it&#8217;s an option or a theme mod or <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="get_bloginfo() (opens in a new tab)" href="https://developer.wordpress.org/reference/functions/get_bloginfo/" target="_blank">get_bloginfo()</a>. I also want to only call what I need, and to limit the number of database queries when calling the same data multiple times on a single page load.</p>



<p>As you can see in the constructor, I set a static variable settings array with a predefined set of settings names as the key, and the corresponding function as the element for retrieving that setting. The setting name must match that of the actual setting regardless of the type.</p>



<p>This is what will allow for me to simply call <code>MyPlugin::setting('facebook_url')</code> instead of <code>get_option('facebook_url')</code> or <code>get_bloginfo('admin_email')</code>. In this way, I only need to know the setting I want to get, and call the static method for getting that setting without bothering with what type of setting it&#8217;s supposed to be.</p>



<p>Running through the <code>setting()</code> method:</p>



<ol type="1"><li>I set an output variable to <code>FALSE</code> as a default.</li><li>I check to see if the <code>$setting</code> argument was set, and if not, return the output variable <em>(which is <code>FALSE</code>)</em>.</li><li>I set a function variable from the static settings variable array using the setting argument as the key.</li><li>Then, I check if the static variable settings array contains an existing key that matches the setting argument. If not, then we will set it by calling the function variable and passing the setting argument through the function variable.</li><li>Then we set the output variable to the static variable setting and return it.</li></ol>



<p>In the case that step #4 is <code>TRUE</code> we simply reference the existing value in the static variable settings array, thereby eliminating the need to make additional database queries. If it&#8217;s <code>FALSE</code>, then we make a single database query, and then set the setting value in the array for future use.</p>



<p>If I were to implement Tom&#8217;s approach of storing all option settings in a single array based option, that would reduce the number of possible database calls, but would require rewriting the <code>setting()</code> method.</p>



<p>Tell me what you think. What would you do differently? Leave me a comment below.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.loudskymedia.com/another-strategy-for-initializing-plugin-settings/">Another Strategy for Initializing Plugin Settings</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.loudskymedia.com">Loud Sky Media</a>.</p>
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		<title>WordPress Websites &#8211; Theme or Custom Design?</title>
		<link>https://www.loudskymedia.com/wordpress-websites-theme-or-custom-design/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Mike]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 12 Mar 2015 04:47:47 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[General Topics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WordPress]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.loudskymedia.com/?p=1819</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p><a href="https://www.loudskymedia.com/wordpress-websites-theme-or-custom-design/">WordPress Websites &#8211; Theme or Custom Design?</a></p>
<p>Choices! There are so many choices when it comes to a custom website. The word “custom” can have many meanings, so let’s explore the term and what options are available to business owners looking to create a fully functional, responsive new website. WordPress is a versatile and dynamic foundation and because of that, we develop [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.loudskymedia.com/wordpress-websites-theme-or-custom-design/">WordPress Websites &#8211; Theme or Custom Design?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.loudskymedia.com">Loud Sky Media</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="https://www.loudskymedia.com/wordpress-websites-theme-or-custom-design/">WordPress Websites &#8211; Theme or Custom Design?</a></p>
<p><strong>Choices!</strong> There are so many choices when it comes to a custom website. The word “custom” can have many meanings, so let’s explore the term and what options are available to business owners looking to create a fully functional, responsive new website. WordPress is a versatile and dynamic foundation and because of that, we develop over 90% of our websites using WordPress. If you can think it up, it can be done in WordPress.</p>
<p>Websites have come a long way in the last few years, and any current business owner should be well aware that having an appealing website is imperative to running a successful business. Loud Sky Media was created as a way for business owners to work with top notch American talent but at a fair price. Unlike other “website builder” programs, customer service should be easily accessible and with Loud Sky Media we are real people who are always around to take your calls or emails. Have an itch to call us Sunday evening at 8pm? Feel free, we are here for you. If by chance we do miss your call, we guarantee you will hear back from us within an hour.</p>
<h2>We Only Sell You What You Need &#8211; Nothing More</h2>
<p>Our business is about doing the right thing for our customers. Not every business needs a full fledged social media campaign and we will be the first ones to tell you why you should or should not be considering it. SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is a specific skill that can only be performed by experienced individuals. SEO experts rarely perform any other job duties because SEO is tricky, intricate, and takes a lot of attention to detail. By hiring someone with little experience in SEO, you could be subject to penalties from search engines that will actually damage your rankings more than no SEO help at all. The professionals at Loud Sky Media are both experienced and proven in their expertise &#8211; just take a look at our <a title="previous work" href="/portfolio/">previous work</a>.</p>
<h2>The Magic Word &#8211; “Custom”</h2>
<p>Want to know a secret? The word “Custom” as it is used by website designers is often overly used and wildly exaggerated. Most who offer “custom” sites use the same WordPress themes as any other business and then charge you “custom” prices. When it comes to real website customization there are 3 options to consider.</p>
<ol type="1">
<li><strong>A WordPress Theme:</strong> There are thousands of individuals that have created themes built on the existing functionality of the WordPress platform. Most of these themes cost between $40 and $100 bucks. It’s a great option if you only need the most basic website. You insert your logo, move a few things around and you’re done. No custom coding is required. As a guesstimate, we would say 50% of the businesses that have a WordPress website fall into this category. With the engaging themes available today, when finished these sites come across as custom. In fact, you probably interact with several of them online everyday.</li>
<li><strong>A WordPress Theme + Customization:</strong> Think of it like buying a house but then adding your own personal details to make it your home, the way you envision it. This is a great option when you need form and functionality but want a site that doesn’t look just like your neighbors. Customization on this level requires skilled code writers to match custom touches with the existing WordPress functionality, otherwise you could end up with big, ugly problems. In our estimation roughly 40% of sites are built this way.</li>
<li><strong>Full Customization:</strong> This would fit the needs of a larger company that has many aspects to their work, like multiple product lines, various corporations under a parent corporation, or transactional requirements like an online shop with inventory. A graphic designer will mock up the site design and then a backend coder makes the design work. Working with us, no stock images would be used, full customization means just that &#8211; everything is unique to your business. This sort of site takes multiple people from various backgrounds &#8211; all which we just happen to have on hand!</li>
</ol>
<h2 style="color: #d03737;">A GIANT RED FLAG!</h2>
<p>Here is a <strong style="color: #d03737;">GIANT RED FLAG</strong> to watch for. Website companies like to tell potential customers they will be getting a completely Custom Website when in reality they will be handed a regular WordPress theme. We see this all the time and frankly, it really pisses us off. Custom sounds unique, complex, showy and innovative but what it really means when being sold to unsuspecting business owners is one word &#8211; <strong>EXPENSIVE</strong>.</p>
<h2>Managed WordPress Hosting &amp; Maintenance</h2>
<p>Loud Sky Hosting was created as a result of our clients repeatedly asking us two questions. Who do we suggest for a website hosting company and who is going to maintain the site once it is completed? We created a solution to both of these questions.</p>
<p>Gone are the days when you simply put up a website and leave it alone. Technology moves so fast that if you don’t have someone monitoring your site, there is a good chance you have opened yourself up for a possible internet intrusion or a complete failure on function. We have partnered with a leading hosting company in the US and inserted ourselves as the watchful eyes for our clients. All websites require plugin updates and maintenance to ensure they will continue to work. Who is doing this for you now? That is what we thought &#8211; no one. We can fix that without breaking the bank. Contact us about custom site building, hosting, and personal site maintenance options.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.loudskymedia.com/wordpress-websites-theme-or-custom-design/">WordPress Websites &#8211; Theme or Custom Design?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.loudskymedia.com">Loud Sky Media</a>.</p>
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		<title>Conversational Remarketing</title>
		<link>https://www.loudskymedia.com/conversational-remarketing/</link>
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		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Don]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 31 Dec 2013 14:13:48 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Remarketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Search Engine Optimization]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[remarketing]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.loudskymedia.com/?p=315</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p><a href="https://www.loudskymedia.com/conversational-remarketing/">Conversational Remarketing</a></p>
<p>Its possible now to do amazing things with advertising. Did you know that you can continue a conversation with visitors outside of your website and email efforts? Enter &#8216;conversational remarketing&#8217;. Its possible to track users who have visited your site, even if you don&#8217;t know who they are and have ads displayed on popular websites [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.loudskymedia.com/conversational-remarketing/">Conversational Remarketing</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.loudskymedia.com">Loud Sky Media</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="https://www.loudskymedia.com/conversational-remarketing/">Conversational Remarketing</a></p>
<p>Its possible now to do amazing things with advertising. Did you know that you can continue a conversation with visitors outside of your website and email efforts? Enter &#8216;conversational remarketing&#8217;.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://www.loudskymedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/remarketing.png" alt="remarketing" width="625" height="201" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-319" srcset="https://www.loudskymedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/remarketing.png 625w, https://www.loudskymedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/remarketing-300x96.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 625px) 100vw, 625px" /></p>
<p>Its possible to track users who have visited your site, even if you don&#8217;t know who they are and have ads displayed on popular websites based on that information. Here is how it works. A network, such as Google Adwords, provides a piece of code to add to your website or any specific page on your website. When a user visits, a line of code is stored in their browser. Websites that participate in that network are served your ads by the ad network based on the fact that they have that line of code.</p>
<p>Where this becomes very interesting is the fact that a previous visitor can be reinforced to any fact you want them to know and these can even rotate. For example, they visit your site then go to YouTube and your ad tells them that your company won a certain award. They then go to the NY Times website and see another ad that gives a coupon for today. You can even introduce a new line in their browser on the basis of that second visit and perhaps now show ads based on a killer deal or a call to action like scheduling a call or getting on your email list. Its possible even to &#8216;fractalize&#8217; what offers they are given based on what ads they clicked on or what page they have visited.</p>
<p>These new methods of marketing are more effective, and cost less than your normal cost per click methods.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.loudskymedia.com/conversational-remarketing/">Conversational Remarketing</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.loudskymedia.com">Loud Sky Media</a>.</p>
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		<title>Can the World Hear Your Hello?</title>
		<link>https://www.loudskymedia.com/hello-world/</link>
					<comments>https://www.loudskymedia.com/hello-world/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Don]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 31 Aug 2013 13:34:42 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[General Topics]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.loudskymedia.com/?p=1</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p><a href="https://www.loudskymedia.com/hello-world/">Can the World Hear Your Hello?</a></p>
<p>Launching a website or an online presence can be a great feeling. But how do you get heard? That great feeling often turns into a sinking feeling of hopelessness for many website owners. The truth is that websites and online marketing are deep waters. Is your website responsive? That is, does it work for mobile [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.loudskymedia.com/hello-world/">Can the World Hear Your Hello?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.loudskymedia.com">Loud Sky Media</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="https://www.loudskymedia.com/hello-world/">Can the World Hear Your Hello?</a></p>
<p>Launching a website or an online presence can be a great feeling. But how do you get heard? That great feeling often turns into a sinking feeling of hopelessness for many website owners. The truth is that websites and online marketing are deep waters. Is your website responsive? That is, does it work for mobile phones and tablets as well as desktops? &nbsp;The majority of users, and certainly the majority of buyers, are visiting via mobile browsers now. This could be one half of your business. Its definitely something that should be on the checklist. Likewise, online marketing has become so complex that you are much better off talking to someone that does it all day for a living. Things are changing so fast and the faster you go, the farther out you need to see. So don&#8217;t try to drive fast in the fog. Get the fog lifted and then you can see the next destination clearly.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.loudskymedia.com/hello-world/">Can the World Hear Your Hello?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.loudskymedia.com">Loud Sky Media</a>.</p>
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