Community – WP Buffs https://wpbuffs.com Thu, 30 Dec 2021 16:51:53 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.2 https://wpbuffs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/burning-header-logo-48x48.gif Community – WP Buffs https://wpbuffs.com 32 32 MonsterONE Review: One-Stop Shop for Unlimited Digital Resources https://wpbuffs.com/monsterone-review/ Tue, 15 Jun 2021 21:21:48 +0000 https://wpbuffs.com/?p=62335 Here at WP Buffs we like to pass along a quick look at new products as we’re introduced to them, and Template Monster’s new “ONE” recently caught our eye. So, here is our MonsterONE review.

MonsterONE is an all-in-one collection of creative resources and assets that meet a variety of design goals. Whether you’re building a website from scratch, just want to make a few design changes, or are looking for a new template for your next presentation, their one monthly fee gives you access to it all. No matter how often you use it or how many websites you put it on.

How is this possible?

In This Article:

  • Introducing MonsterONE
  • Benefits of Using MonsterONE
  • MonsterONE Products
  • MonsterONE Licensing
  • MonsterONE Affiliate Program
  • Wrapping Up

Introducing MonsterONE

MonsterONE builds relationships with a vast collection of contributors. Their transparent policy allows contributors to submit their work right on the main website, removing the marketing barrier for the artist. All work is fully vetted before it appears on the site and contributors are guaranteed payment within the first five days of each new month.

On top of curating the assets, MonsertONE also manages support.

How They Get Contributors

This is a huge benefit to both the contributors and users as each subscription comes with 24/7 support. That’s instant general assistance in chat or extended product support in the ticket system to handle all of your requests. Users get the help they need without the contributors answering a thing.

Who This Service Is For

Intrigued by this new subscription-based resource solution? Consider these ways you might put it to work for you:

  • Graphic designers can save time by finding quality, reusable assets to supplement their custom work.
  • Marketers and promoters can quickly find resources for social media posting and corporate identity templates.
  • Website owners have easy access to resources they need to update their existing online projects whenever they feel like it.
  • Anyone can find stock photography without taking high-quality pictures themselves.

Benefits of Using MonsterONE

MonsterONE’s flexibility continues into its pricing plans. You can choose monthly, yearly, or lifetime, each with increasing benefits. Start monthly, upgrade as needed, and cancel anytime.

Unlimited downloads for unlimited projects all on unlimited domains and 24/7 general support might seem like a lot, but MonsterONE offers even more. Subscribers are also able to take advantage of special deals and offers from MonsterONEs partners.

For instance, right now subscribers can use the Draftium tool for one year without any additional cost. What a great way to try out this unique instrument for site prototyping and collaborating with your team. On top of that, subscribers currently receive a 35% discount on assets not included in the subscription.

MonsterONE Products


Depending on the subscription you buy, MonsterONE has dozens of categories with ready-made solutions for highly popular platforms. The collection is updated regularly, so if you don’t see something at first, check back. For now you can download:

  • WordPress and other CMS themes
  • Elementor kits
  • HTML templates for admin sites, landing pages, newsletters, and other purposes
  • eCommerce themes for WooCommerce, Shopify, OpenCart, PrestaShop, Magento, and others
  • plugins for PrestaShop
  • Graphics including PSD templates, logo templates, illustrations, resume and certificate templates, infographics, animated banners, patterns, background, product mockups, and others
  • Presentation templates for PowerPoint, Keynote, and Google Slides
  • Video and audio assets including both stock media and effects for popular software
  • 3D models
  • Stock photography.

MonserONE really does cover all the design assets you’re looking for. And because they’re network of contributors is always creating, the selection changes weekly. What a great way to keep your presentations and websites looking fresh without having to take the time to create assets yourself!

In addition, MonsterONE’s marketplace also features best selling items for Monstroid2, Woostroid2, Brave Theme, Intense2, Eveprest; and many others.

MonsterONE Licensing

It’s always important when talking about digital assets to have a clear understanding of the licensing. MonsterONE does an excellent job of laying out their licensing terms clearly and concisely. You’ll easily be able to find what is allowed, what is prohibited, and what happens if you cancel your subscription.

Make sure to take a moment and read through this yourself. Misused digital assets can cause a huge headache that you do not need!

MonsterONE Affiliate Program

Finally, let’s take a look at the MonsterONE Affiliate Program. Here’s your chance to make your investment in MonsterONE work even harder for you. With their program, you can earn up to 30% commission for every new customer you refer to MonsterONE.

Along with that, you’ll also receive a personal affiliate assistant, commissions from sub-affiliate sales, access to a rich set of free promotional tools, and access to the affiliate dashboard to track stats and sales.

And if you’re a creator, you can be both an affiliate and a contributor to receive an even bigger payout. Talk about getting the most out of one resource.

MonsterONE Review Summary

If you’re looking for limitless digital products to update your website, marketing materials, and presentations, then MonsterONE has a lot to recommend it. 24/7 support, additional offers, an affiliate program, and free cancelation anytime are just a few of the perks that make it hard to resist.

So, don’t. Take a few minutes to see if MonsterONE is right for you, and remember to use the promo code wpbuffs for your additional discount!

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46 WordPress Support Forums and Resources to Best Assist You https://wpbuffs.com/wordpress-support-forums/ Tue, 08 Jun 2021 15:07:00 +0000 https://wpbuffs.com/?p=61703 Have you heard the saying, “There’s no such thing as a free kitten?”

If you haven’t, you likely will. It’s commonly used in WordPress, often with a knowing look and a chuckle.

Why?

Because just like that kitten your neighbor convinced you to take home, your free WordPress website needs food, a place to sleep, regular grooming, and wellness trips to the vet. Of course, for your website it’s regular content, a host, updates, and security solutions to keep it safe.

kittenkeyboardgiphy

And just like holding a kitten doesn’t make you an immediate expert, neither does downloading and installing WordPress.

But fortunately, you don’t have to be! With this extensive group of resources, you’ll find places to ask the questions you have and get the answers you need to enjoy a long and happy relationship with your WordPress website.

In This Article 📝

Tips for Using WordPress Support Forums ✏

Before we look at WHERE to find the answers to your website questions, let’s quickly discuss a few important tips for HOW to get the most out of your time spent asking them. 

Evaluate what’s wrong. This might seem straightforward, but when you’re feeling frustrated it can be really easy to rush to ask questions before you’re prepared. Don’t worry, you don’t have to know everything, just gather as many details as you can.

Do some research on your own before asking. Don’t be too hasty to throw a question into a WordPress support forum. Check the internet and see if there’s an answer that already exists. If you haven’t taken the time to troubleshoot the issue on your own, community members might not be so willing to help, particularly if the answer is painfully obvious.

Screenshot of WordPress.org Support Forum Page

Have a clear question, notes about the problem, and when possible, reference materials. When you do have a question that you can’t find an existing answer for, make sure you have a complete description of what is happening so you can present full details. Screenshots or videos are also helpful if you’re not sure how to describe the problem properly.

Check in this specific resource to see if your question has already been answered. As noted previously, many of the questions or issues you need to raise in forums have already been answered. Before you ask for assistance in this particular space, search through previous conversations and responses to make sure your question hasn’t already been answered.

Keep the topic relevant to the group. As you’ll see below, some of these help resources focus on specific areas of interest, and just because you can ask a question doesn’t mean you should. Be a quality community member and don’t deviate from the focus with irrelevant questions.

Mind your manners. Be polite and show gratitude when someone has taken their own time to answer your question. If you receive an impolite response, keep it civil. This is the place to contact support, not get into a fight. And always make sure to review the posting rules and code of conduct in the forum before you post a message to it.

Now, let’s look at which of these trusted WordPress resources are right for you.

Free WordPress Support Forums and Resources 💻

Why is there such an extensive collection of WordPress support forums and resources? Because WordPress.org and other users who came before you know you’re going to need it. 

WordPress is complex. It’s the nature of open source projects, particularly ones that have been under development as long as WordPress has been. To help balance that, WordPress.org has a team actively working to produce the best, most up-to-date collection of free support resources possible.

And it’s not just WordPress.org. Developers and users are constantly keeping track of common questions and new, free WordPress support forums and resources are being created all the time for people looking to build and maintain their WordPress websites themselves. 

WordPress.org Support: the Original WP Help

image of the WordPress.org Support menu

Here you can find guides for getting started with WordPress as well as gain free access to a forum system with millions of previous posts.

Under Support you’ll find two different options: documentation and forums.

Documentation is the ideal place to begin your search. Since we know the best practice is to see if an answer to your question already exists. The most frequently asked categories are grouped on the main page. If that doesn’t help, there’s a search box front and center for you to type in your own question.

Forums are the next best place to look as they have a variety of resources to help you get the most out of WordPress, with options for both general questions and developer forums. Again, as we mentioned in the tips above, make sure to check through the forums to see if your question has already been answered before posting.

 

Developer Resources

screen shot of WordPress.org developer resources page

Tucked down in the footer under Developer, you’ll find what was formerly the WordPress Codex has become part of Developer Resources.

This is the official WordPress developer forum and knowledge center for everything technical as it relates to WordPress.

Because WordPress is open source and anybody can have access to the core code as well as suggest changes and improvements, this vast resource allows for a cohesive development experience. So if your question is development-related, this should be your go-to. Among many other resources you’ll find the Code Reference, the Coding Standards, information about making applications with the REST-API, and commands for using WP-CLI, all things many developers rely on every day.

 

Additional WordPress.org Resources

When it comes to what WordPress.org has to offer, this really is only the tip of the iceberg. You’ll see in the main navigation separate sections dedicated to Plugins and Themes. Although not specifically help-related, they do give you a look at what’s new, what’s being developed, and information on tools you may want to use. While you’re there, take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with it. If you don’t need it now, you likely will before long.

Enjoy a good workshop? Whether you’re a first-time blogger or seasoned developer, there’s always more to learn. Check under the Learn menu to find these brand new resources from community members all over the world that will help you grow your skills, and share them with others.

If you’re working with WordPress, WordPress.org is definitely one place you want to be familiar with and comfortable navigating. After all, it’s an entire site dedicated to helping people find success with WordPress, and who doesn’t need that?

 

Stack Exchange

screen shot of Stack Exchange search page

If the official resources didn’t have what you needed, Stack Exchange is a go-to WordPress developer forum users turn to.

Stack Exchange is a question and answer forum for WordPress administrators and developers. Anybody can ask or answer questions and the best, most helpful responses are upvoted to the top so they’re easily found by those who have questions.

Technical WordPress help forums at their finest!

And being a more technical resource than some of the others, this would be a good place to come if you have a difficult question that would require the opinion of a WordPress developer. If you’re accessing the source code of your WordPress site, ask questions here first.

One advantage of using this forum is that it has some really experienced WordPress users. They’ll most likely be able to get you the answer you need before you make a mess of your WordPress website. Or help you get out of the mess you may have already made.

 

Slack

screen shot of Slack header

Many businesses today use Slack for internal company and external client communications. The same goes for web developers and agencies that want to centralize all communications in a single platform and establish dedicated channels for the things they discuss most.

It’s not surprising then that WordPress.org has its own Slack channel called Making WordPress.

However, this is a Slack channel for WordPress core development and community projects, not a place for answering general WordPress questions. If you’d like to learn more about donating your time to the future of WordPress, please check out the Get Involved section on WordPress.org and see if there’s a good fit for you. 

That said, while there isn’t an official Slack channel for WordPress questions, there are other private options, and as you get to know others in the community, you may be invited to join unpublicized ones. Or even start your own.

Two to check existing channels to check out are:

  • WP Developers’ Club: The WPDC is a community of professional WordPress developers where you and your peers can come together to work, share ideas, answer questions, and help one another innovate, learn, and grow. Their mission is very simple: promote a community just for the professional WordPress developer, and it’s free to join.
  • WooCommerce: One of the most popular options for those selling on WordPress has a free Slack channel! With over 13,000 members and 23 different discussion channels, including announcements, jobs, and espanol options, help is right at your fingertips. If eCommerce is going to be part of your WordPress experience, this is definitely a resource to look into.

 

Facebook

screen shot of Facebook search box

If you’re looking for free WP help and resources but like a more conversational approach than a traditional WordPress support forum, Facebook groups might be just what you need. Beginners and advanced users alike can ask questions and get help from all over the world at any time of day or night. 

Follow each group’s rules, which you can usually find in a pinned post or the group’s description. Administrators are tough on self-promotion and spammy activity and you don’t want to get banned! Many have a one offence and your out rule, so absolutely make sure you read the group rules on posting and interacting. Let’s make their lives’ easier by honoring their process and being a positive part of the group.

Check the group’s activity level. At the bottom of each group’s About section you’ll see an Activity box that quickly tells you how many posts were made today, in the last month, and how many members are in the group. How you choose your group is entirely up to you, but if you have a question that you need a quick answer on, you’ll want to choose a more active group.

  • Advanced WordPress: This is the premier WordPress group on Facebook! The idea behind this group is simple, a place for WP developers on Facebook to meet and share ideas and knowledge with a focus on the most advanced features and functionality without necessarily having to go into any basics.
  • Supporting WordPress Products: This group is for professionals who provide free/pro support for WordPress products. They chat about all things related to support. Just talking about doing support and doing it better.
  • WordPress Nerds: A place to learn and share your WordPress experiences. Engage and get help on WordPress themes, plugins, hosting and issues you may encounter.
  • WordPress Freelancers: This group is not just for WordPress, but also for Web Developers (Frontend & Backend), UI & UX Designers. Get the chance to be in one of the big communities that helps people, answers questions, improves all our skills, and approves job posting.
  • WordPress Explained – Help for Beginners: As it states, this is all about helping people find answers to their WordPress.org questions.
  • WordPress Speed Up: This group is for all WordPress.org speeduper skill levels who want to know more about how to speed up your sites. The purpose of this group is to help you speed up your sites for free.
  • WordPress, SEO & Internet Questions: This group is for helping people find answers to WordPress.org, SEO, and Internet questions.
  • WordPress Security: This is a WordPress security group with a lot of experts and almost-experts. They are beginner-tolerant and can point you toward beginner security resources.
  • WordPress Plugins: This group is for helping people find answers to their WordPress.org plugin questions.
  • All About WordPress: This group is dedicated to helping WordPress users, designers, and developers.
  • WooCommerce Community: This Official WooCommerce Facebook Group is a place for store owners/managers, WordPress developers, and WooCommerce enthusiasts on Facebook to connect, share ideas and inspiration, provide each other with support, and empower members to get more done with WooCommerce.
  • WP Care Market: This group is all about providing quality website care and support to clients. Open to all website professionals to gather resources, support and training for implementing website care in their business the right way. Highly related to what we do over at WPMRR!
  • Turnkey Websites Blueprint Community: This group helps people share tips and resources for building an automated turnkey website system using WordPress.
  • WP Innovator: This group is for design and web agencies that are growing their business online. And if you happen to be using WordPress, you might find this a particularly useful resource!
  • Digital Mavericks: This group helps digital professionals take their craft to the next level. The guidelines for this group are simple: be helpful, take massive imperfect action, share everything you can, ask for help, and don’t spam.
  • The Fearless Freelancer: This group is designed to provide a high-quality source of education, insights, and other information for freelancers. Content will be focused on helping members transition into a full-time freelance career or grow their existing freelance business.
Screenshot of the Fearless Freelancer Facebook Group

Speaking of the Fearless Freelancer – meet Carrie Dils (Princess Leia) on the WPMRR WordPress podcast.

Carrie spills the beans on everything from why you feel like you’re not being paid enough, why not knowing what to do is okay as long as you’re persistent, how to network with like-minded people, and much more! She’s a teacher at heart so have your notebooks ready and enjoy.

E22 – Princess Leia on developing fearless freelancers (Carrie Dils, Fearless Freelancer

And if you’re using specific plugins, themes or page-builders, there are some fantastic Facebook groups and communities specifically for many of those, too.

Screenshot of Beaver Builders Facebook Group
  • Beaver Builders: This group has become one of the largest hubs of Beaver Builder users and web pros. They’re glad to have you!
  • Elementor Advanced Users: This group is dedicated to the advanced users of the Elementor Page Builder for WordPress. Or if you’re a designer who works with Elementor, check out The Elementor Design Community.
  • WP Rocket Users: This group is the place to be if you love the WordPress caching plugin WP Rocket. Here you can share the results you obtained using it and get in touch with other WP Rocket users. Don’t be shy, if you want to share/learn tips and tricks for using WP Rocket, feel free to write your post or leave a comment!

Podcasts

WPMRR WordPress podcast iTunes

WordPress podcasts are a great way to stay up-to-date with what’s happening in WordPress, web design, and marketing. Virtually whatever you’re interested in.

It’s true that you can’t ask questions during a podcast — unless it’s presented live — so these aren’t like traditional WordPress forums where you submit and wait for a response. All the same, WordPress podcasts can be helpful resources in answering questions that arise during your workday.

The WPMRR WordPress podcast is WP Buffs’ contribution to the fray and a way for our Head Buff, Joe, to give out WP help for free every week!

All in all, the WPMRR podcast is our way to respond to our customers’ common questions related to increasing monthly recurring revenue (or MRR, for short). Productivity hacks. Networking tips. Business-building tricks. Plus, we do some fun, spontaneous IRL episodes every once in a while!

And with guests like Chris Lema, Brad Touesnard, Rachel Cherry, and people from companies like HubSpot, GoDaddy, and startups.com, it’s easy to see why it’s one of the top podcasts people tune into to get help making WordPress businesses work!

We understand where WordPress users are coming from, so we’ve crafted each episode to tackle questions and issues that inevitably arise as you’re trying to grow your business.

LinkedIn

screen shot of LinkedIn header

Did you know that LinkedIn has groups similar to Facebook? If you’re looking for a WordPress help forum from other businesses-minded individuals, this could be the place for you.

Not only can you connect with other WordPress professionals and start building useful long term relationships, you can also find job opportunities and places to post your own relevant content once you begin creating it. These groups can be ideal for busy people looking for a less cluttered environment to get the help they need. After all, that’s what LinkedIn is all about.

A quick search on the platform shows 2,200 results to choose from ranging from general WordPress to those dedicated to specific WordPress positions, as well as language and location-based options. Here are a few to consider:

  • WordPress: This is a place for users, lovers, developers, and consultants on the WordPress platform, be it .org or .com, to connect and share ideas, questions, and contacts.
  • #WordPress Experts: This group is for WordPress users to ask questions and share resources.
  • WordPress Web Designers: This is a group for Web designers who use WordPress extensively. Our ideal member is an actual web designer who uses WordPress to design websites, not just blogs, and is at the intermediate or advanced level for both WordPress and for web design.
  • WooCommerce:  Have a store? This group has an eCommerce toolkit that helps you sell anything — beautifully — with WordPress
  • WordPress en Espanol: WordPress en español es un grupo de discusión para diseñadores y desarrolladores que trabajen con WordPress como su principal herramienta de desarrollo web. Aquí podremos compartir ideas, preguntas y contactos.

Want to grow your skills in a different way? LinkedIn Learning has a vast selection of courses to choose from, though many of these are not free.

linkedincourseforbuildingasecuresite

A few courses we like include:

Note: these are premium courses that you can purchase individually or access with a LinkedIn Learning Subscription (free trail is available).

Reddit

screen shot of a Reddit search

Reddit is a vast forum of infinite possibilities, and as such should be approached with caution and restrictions in mind. It is a place you can easily rabbit trail in a direction you never intended to go and lose hours of your time.

That said, it is also another place where you can find people who can answer your questions.

If you’re going to use Reddit, I suggest that you immediately search for WordPress to remove some of the potential distractions and then navigate within the results. You’ll find current questions and active communities, developer forums, and general WP help, all of the things you need to get from a free WordPress support forum.

Quora

screen shot of Quora search

Quora is another general WordPress support forum that can be useful for free help. Choosing WordPress as your topic again narrows distractions to make the best use of your time.

Once you’re in their general WordPress discussion board, you’ll see an entire column of options on the right hand side that gives you additional ways to narrow your focus even further.

And while this isn’t an official WordPress support forum, industry developers and other professionals are around answering questions.

Twitter, YouTube, and Search Engines

linkedincourseforbuildingasecuresite

Why are these common? Because they’re universally useful.

YouTube: Most places creating content have added in a YouTube channel; WP Buffs certainly has. But we’re definitely not the only ones. Do a search. Watch a few. Find the style that best fits you.

Twitter: As you build relationships in WordPress, Twitter can become a great way to ask friends a question without being disruptive. Simply send out the question and they’ll answer when they can. An added bonus here is the greater possibility of reach.

Retweeted questions open the door for them to land in front of the right set of eyes that can help.

Search Engines: Whether you Google, Bing, or Yandex, this can be an ideal source of the answer you’re looking for, and you’ll be hard pressed to find a WordPresser who doesn’t rely on it nearly daily. As with any answer, consider the authenticity of the source, the age of the answer, and if it can be verified by other sources.

However, depending on the question, age and verification may not matter.

For all that WordPress is ever-changing, there are some elements that are fairly static so the answers may not have changed with time, and some questions may be so obscure that there will be only one source for the answer.

Premium WordPress Help 👨‍💻

While using free WordPress support forums and help can seem easy on the budget, the reality is that it isn’t actually free.

You certainly aren’t spending money on it, but you are spending your time. And not just your time posting the question, but also the time researching the initial problem, getting your resources together to share, finding the right place to post it, implementing the answers you get, and then going through all of that again if the answer didn’t work.

So while free WordPress help can be appealing, and certainly at times the correct or necessary direction to go, there is also a place for paid WordPress support.

 

WordPress Learning with WPCrafter

screen shot of WP Crafter home page

Maybe you’re still interested in the DIY route, but need a little help upping your skills. If so, WPCrafer is a great place to look.

From beginner to beyond, they have courses and tutorials that can help you make a website in 10 minutes, build a sales funnel website, teach you to use Beaver Builder and Divi, and the essentials of speed optimization, security, and maintenance. And that’s just the tip of it. As your WordPress needs grow, they offer resources that grow with you.

This is definitely a place where investing a little money can go a long way.

Turn to WP Buffs

WP Buffs homepage

If you’re having a serious issue with your website or would like to be investing your time elsewhere, sometimes paying the experts to fix and maintain everything can be the most productive solution.

WP Buffs fully manages websites for small business owners and white-label partners so you never have to use another WordPress support forum or Facebook group again to find help. We handle speed optimization, security management, plugin, theme and core file updates, emergency WordPress support, 24/7 unlimited website edits, and much more

Ready to let us take care of the headaches for you? Simply pick the care plan that’s right for you and leave the rest in our experts’ capable hands. 

Along with our expert services, we also have a range of free resources including ebooks!

Themeco One: Personal Attention to Your Questions

screen shot of Themeco One

Sometimes the most reassuring help is having someone dedicated to answering your questions as they arise, no matter when that is. If you feel that way too, then check out Themeco One.

Themeco One is available 24/7/365 to answer whatever questions you encounter whenever they arise.

For one flat monthly fee you can get all of the answers you need about a single platform, like WordPress, in a timeliness that fits your schedule. What’s more, as your skills grow and you branch out into other platforms, Themeco One can grow with you. Day or night, whatever the weather, they’re there to keep your project moving smoothly along.

Hire a WordPress Pro for One-Time Help

Speaking of moving projects along… While it’s true that not every website needs to be professionally developed, there is a reason people make a living doing just that.

Depending on how you’re stuck, you could hire them by the hour to review your code, help you strategize, teach you a particular tool, help you adjust a theme or plugin to fit your own needs, or simply hire them to do the entire build.

Regardless of why you do it, building a relationship with a developer adds another resource to your WordPress build process that helps you with your current challenges while having someone in place if you need more help down the road.

So, where do you find a reputable developer to work with?

screen shot of WPEZI header

Three common places are services like WP EZI’s simple once off fix, as well as meeting someone in-person (or over Zoom) at your local WordPress meetups and WordCamps.

The People Behind the Answers 👥

Now that you have resources to dive into, let’s take a minute to remember that there are people behind the answers you are getting. One of the reasons WordPress is available for free is because there are volunteers willing to give their time to help you, both in these community resources and in the official WordPress resources mentioned above.

Getting stuck is really frustrating. The struggle is real. And getting help can be difficult, particularly when you’re new to the process and still learning how to present your questions.

So, take a breath before you ask your question or respond to someone else.

Taking a minute to approach and respond to others with respect, will give you and everyone involved a much better experience. Does that mean you’ll always get your answers as quickly or thoroughly as you’d like? No. But every answer is a start that can lead to what you need.

Remember: It’s a community and we’re all in this together.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) ❓

How do I start working on WordPress?

WordPress.org has you covered. Their blue Get WordPress button on the top right of the page will lead you to where you can download the platform and get started. They also have modules for learning WordPress.

One thing to remember, you will need a host. If you don’t have one that you’re already working with, consider one of these recommended hosts that will manage the WordPress installation process for you.

Is WordPress good for beginners?

Yes, it really is. Because WordPress is free and has so many options for growth, it’s a great option for anyone looking to build a website. But, that doesn’t mean it’s easy. The build process involves trial and error until you find what works best for you.

However, you’re not alone. Plan to use the help resources available and embrace the adventure of the process.

How do I contact WordPress support?

WordPress itself does not have traditional support.

WordPress.org is the first place to look for general WP help. Their documentation offers solutions for most new users and the general forums and developer forums enable you to ask additional questions that aren’t covered.

If you need support for a plugin or theme, you’ll want to contact the developer or business who built it. For paid products, that information will be available on the developer or business’s website. For free products, it can be found in the Theme Repository or Plugin Repository at WordPress.org.

How do I access WordPress live chat?

WordPress does not have live chat. Different companies may offer it for their individual WordPress product or service, but since WordPress itself is not a product or service owned by any one company, support resources are handled differently. 

Wrapping Up 📕

Whether you’re a WordPress do-it-yourselfer or someone who likes to leave it to the experienced professionals, there is a vast collection of resources at your fingertips that are always growing and changing.

Best places to start: documentation and groups

Growing your knowledge: podcasts and courses

Moving into development: WordPress.org’s Developer Resources and Stack Exchange

Time for a professional: WP Buffs

Any time day or night you can read a document, take a course, listen to a podcast, or chat with someone in a Facebook group on the other side of the globe. WordPress, it’s community members, and businesses are there 24/7 to help give your website all of the care and feeding it needs!

Want to give your feedback or join the conversation? Add your comments 🐦 on Twitter!

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12 Seriously Amazing Podcast Website Examples to Inspire Your Own https://wpbuffs.com/podcast-website-examples/ Wed, 26 May 2021 20:41:05 +0000 https://wpbuffs.com/?p=61740 Having your platform in the form of a podcast website can be really beneficial. It can be your home base—a place where you publish podcasts and accompanying textual content. What’s more, it may also make it easier for visitors to discover your podcast

The only catch? You have to apply podcast website best practices and ensure you stay on top of the WordPress update cycle.

This guide will be your one-stop inspiration spot for your podcast website. We’ll discuss 12 best podcast website examples on the web that do it right to motivate you to create an excellent podcast for yourself. 

Strap in! It’s going to be a fun, informative ride.

#1 The Cliff Ravenscraft Podcast

The Cliff Ravenscraft Podcast knows everything about podcasting (he’s known as the Podcast Answer Man, after all). So naturally, we just had to begin our podcast website examples list with this guru.

Ravenscraft has 30+ podcast shows and over 3600 podcast episodes devoted to business, technology, entertainment, family, and faith. He also sells equipment, guides, tutorials, and bundles on his website, making his podcast website a proper business-attracting engine.

His website is clean, fast-loading, and intuitive, which instantly ticks off three of the biggest elements of every successful website. 

Cliff Ravenscraft podcast website example

Ravenscraft also cuts right to the chase by telling the visitors what he can do for them. He has cleverly incorporated an eye-catching CTA to encourage them to learn more.

What we love best is how he leverages his Free The Dream podcast video to collect prospects’ email addresses—something he can use later to build his email list.

Ideas to Steal:

  • Make sure your podcast website loads fast
  • Add an eye-catching CTA towards the top of your website
  • Offer a lead magnet to capture listeners’ email addresses

#2 The Being Boss Podcast

Originally founded by two women entrepreneurs, Kathleen Shannon and Emily Thompson, the podcast was taken over by Emily in 2020. With over 9 million downloads that serve a global audience of creative business owners, Being Boss focuses on what it takes to launch, grow, and run a business.

With a bold color gradient and a clear and informative layout, this is one of the better-looking and more user-friendly podcast website examples. The excellent homepage is divided into seven different sections, each with its own CTA, to allow users to browse through various topics and explore the podcast.

Being Boss podcast website example

If the name wasn’t a dead giveaway, you’ll know the kind of topics Being Boss covers—business and entrepreneurship—by going through its landing page. We also like how it uses words like ‘strategies,‘ ‘business planning,‘ ‘productive,’ ‘coaching,’ and ‘masterminds,’ staying true to its niche.  

All the published content is stacked under different categories and subcategories to enhance navigability further.

Ideas to Steal:

  • Break down your homepage into different sections
  • Organize your content under different categories and subcategories
  • Play around with bright and bold colors and gradients for a unique and attractive look

#3 The WPMRR WordPress Podcast

What started as a fun project by Joe Howard and Christie Chirinos quickly became one of the biggest podcasts in the WordPress niche

The WPMRR WordPress podcast offers amazing advice for WordPress developers, maintenance professionals, writers, designers, and consultants. It features amazing guests with tons of experience to share, making it the go-to choice for anyone running a WordPress-based business and wanting to boost their monthly recurring revenue.

WPMRR podcast website example

Every podcast is presented in a consistent style. You see a thumbnail of Joe with the starring guest, along with a descriptive label that tells visitors what the podcast is going to be about. A small search bar at the top helps streamlines search.

Including clickable application icons is another great strategy. Visitors can subscribe and listen to the podcast on any platform of their choice.

Ideas to Steal:

  • Add attractive thumbnails and descriptive labels
  • Include easy-to-click links of platforms where your podcast is available
  • Add a search bar to simplify navigation 

#4 The Myths, Folklore, and Fairytales Podcast

The Myths, Folklore, and Fairytales podcast is one of the more unique podcasts on our list—content-wise and design-wise—where Tanner Campbell retells old stories as podcast episodes in a bid to catalog them so they don’t get lost. 

The website features beautiful artwork images that match the site’s branding and colors. As a result, everything blends together wonderfully.

Myths, Folklore and Fairytales podcast website example

You can listen to these episodes free of cost by visiting the podcast website or on third-party post-podcast platforms like Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, Castros, and Radio Public. There’s a clickable link for each of these.

All the episodes include the story title, with a short one-line description about the source of the story, narration, and music. The most recent episode is displayed at the top, along with the different controls to play it. 

The podcast also has excellent page speed and SEO scores. These help it make a good first impression on visitors and gain a higher search ranking, respectively.

Ideas to Steal:

  • Allow visitors to listen to podcasts directly from the home page
  • Create artwork that represents the podcast’s branding and colors  
  • Optimize website content for a higher rank in the SERPs

#5 The Smarter Sales Show Podcast

At first glance, you know the Smarter Sales Show is run by two women who offer sales-related advice. You don’t have to read any episode summary to understand it; this podcast website example informs you of that within seconds.

Smarter Sales podcast website example

With a cheerful color scheme comprising yellow, orange, and white, the podcast looks inviting and has eye-catching animation across the homepage, complete with a subscribe button right below the header.

You can listen to the latest episode from the homepage, and browse others by clicking on the ‘Check out more episodes’ CTA. Although the website only features one episode on the homepage, you can consider displaying several on your’s if you want.

Their website also includes tons of information about the podcast and the hosts. Going through Merit and Julie‘s bios tells you that these are two people who have the experience and expertise to give you good advice.

Ideas to Steal:

  • Add podcast hosts bios for more credibility
  • Position opt-in forms towards the footer area
  • Add a few animations for a fun effect—not too much as otherwise, you may lower your page loading speeds

#6 The Revisionist History Podcast

The owner of The Revisionist History Podcast, Malcolm Gladwell, reinterprets historical events and personalities (and even songs!) to understand whether we got it right the first time. His take is to analyze incidents and historical events from a different perspective.

The Revisionist podcast website example

Considering the concept, Gladwell has definitely done a fantastic job at naming the podcast, managing to keep it both intriguing and unique. The website, too, has a very distinct look, designed to appeal to people interested in history and those wanting to explore past events from a fresh perspective. 

Design-wise, everything is very simple. The homepage just has a header image with tags for Season 1 to Season 5 so as not to overwhelm website visitors with unnecessary information. 

Clicking on the season tags takes you to the different episodes that are labeled with more information about the topic discussed. Moreover, every episode has an accompanying thumbnail relevant to the topic, which adds personality to an otherwise straightforward design.

Ideas to Steal:

  • Include an introductory paragraph at the top of your website
  • Consider your target audience’s preferences when designing your website
  • Include a section that lists podcast episodes according to seasons

#7 The It’s a Monkey Podcast

It’s a Monkey gives you the latest tech news and interviews with industry thought leaders—all presented in an easily digestible podcast format.

It's a Monkey podcast website example

The website has a descriptive header image to inform visitors what it’s all about. You also see a news strip slide that mentions the names of all the impressive guests that have been on the podcast. A ‘Tweets from our listeners’ section lies towards the bottom.

Not only do these elements add eye-candy, but they also make the podcast appear authoritative and credible.

The website design is straightforward, mobile-optimized, and easily navigable. 

You’ll see the latest episode followed by tags for the most recent episodes as you scroll down. Every episode is labeled and includes a descriptive text so that visitors don’t have to guess what’s included in the content or feel overwhelmed.

Ideas to Steal:

  • Mention guest names and tweets from subscribers to establish authority
  • Include important points of discussion in your podcast episode labels
  • Optimize your podcast website for mobile phones and tablets

#8 The This Week in Startups Podcast

This Week in Startups is a no-nonsense, effortless website designed for easy access.

This Week in Startups podcast website example

As soon as you open the website, you know exactly what the podcast is about — “The most interesting, outrageous, and illuminating stories from the world of entrepreneurship.” This one-liner tells users what to expect but also creates a sense of intrigue and mystery.

However, the main reason why This Week in Startups is on our list is because of its exceptional user experience.

You can scroll down to see the latest content that’s sorted according to different topics and industries, as well as years. One can see that all the content is easy to access and properly ordered.

This podcast website example includes a list of partners and a link, which visitors can use to get “generous” software discounts for startup founders.

Ideas to Steal:

  • Sort your content in different styles, namely years and topics
  • Choose a one-liner that sets out expectations for customers while keeping the mystery intact
  • Make all your content easy to access

#9 The Serial Podcast

The Serial is another one of our excellent inspirational podcast website examples. 

As the website is custom-made, you can’t use the same platform or template to build yours, but it’s still an excellent source for inspiration to learn and borrow ideas from.

The Serial podcast website example

The main design and color scheme is great. The red and black background with white font complements the podcast’s theme well. You see a list of all the podcast episodes as you scroll down—all of which are easy to subscribe, download, and follow on social media.

Every episode has a brief summary that’s written in a way to compel the reader to hit play, along with a background image relating to the episode. These images are usually of the protagonists or evidence to add to the intrigue.

Including tags for Season 1 to Season 3 makes it easier to go through all the published content. There’s also a small menu bar on the side where visitors can browse through the different seasons and choose third-party platforms like Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Pandora to listen to episodes.

A sticky audio strip appears at the top when you click on the play button. This lets you continue reading more or navigate the site without stopping the episode.

Ideas to Steal:

  • Incorporate a sticky audio feature for easy navigation
  • Write podcast episode descriptions compellingly and include relevant keywords
  • Make it easier for visitors to download your episodes and follow you on different social media channels

#10 The Undefined Terms Podcast

Just like the other podcasts on our list, Undefined Terms has a descriptive one-liner at the top — “Solving the world’s problems one definition at a time“.

The Undefined podcast website example

It gives you an idea about the kind of content the podcast will cover. The CTA button right below the one-liner is conveniently placed for past listeners who want to listen to the latest episode—or those trying out the podcast for the first time.

The overall website aesthetic is simple, clean, and minimalist. Visitors can browse the site and listen to podcast episodes via the on-page player. This also lets you visit other websites, which can be a handy feature for multi-taskers.

Listeners can subscribe to the podcast, as well as share episodes on different social media platforms, thanks to the various CTA buttons.

The homepage features three episodes, each complete with a short description and a thumbnail. Another interesting thing to note is how the website looks like it has different sections when in reality, it simply uses different background colors. An excellent technique to enhance navigability indeed!

A brief introduction about the host, Nick Nugent, towards the bottom of the homepage allows visitors to put a face to the voice.

Ideas to Steal:

  • Use complementing color gradients to differentiate between different parts of your website
  • Place clear and convenient CTA actions wherever it makes the most sense

#11 The Essie’s Hour of Love Podcast

Essie’s Hour of Love tries to explore love and everything related to it. It is unique in our list of podcast website examples by using a design that is purposely minimalist to make the black-and-white photographs of the guests the main focus of the whole website.

Essie's Hour of Love podcast website example

At first glance, you see the main header text that tells you about Essie’s Hour of Love, along with a subscribe CTA button. But instead of making it too eye-catching, the CTA button is simple and (wisely) placed away from the description to catch your attention. 

You can use this as an inspiration to learn how to leverage white space to catch your visitor’s attention without using bright colors or a prominent element/animation.

The website uses beautiful portraits of the guests—something that immediately strikes a chord—encouraging you to click to listen to their stories. Once you click on the episode, you’ll see a small description, alongside the image of the guest, that tells you what to expect. 

Also, you can listen to the episode directly by clicking on the play button.

Ideas to Steal:

  • Select a theme, and plan the entire website design around it
  • Use large, high-resolution images of guests—B&W or colored
  • Use lots of white space

#12 The Mixergy Podcast

Mixergy gives listeners the opportunity to learn from proven entrepreneurs like Barbara Corcoran, Paul Graham, and Gary Vaynerchuk—their experiences, their struggles, and how they are where they are.

Mixergy podcast website example

Talking about the website, the podcast has a nice color theme, with a clear CTA above the fold. Adding the images of entrepreneurs who have appeared on the website in the past adds lots of social proof.

Every podcast has a descriptive text that introduces the guest and mentions what they’ll talk about in the episode. This way, visitors can decide whether they want to continue listening to the episode or move on to the next one.

An opt-in form also pops up for selected content. You see, visitors are more likely to submit their names and email addresses if they receive something worthwhile in return—in this case, it’s access to the interview of their favorite entrepreneur.

Ideas to Steal:

  • Include lots of social proof
  • Display podcast episodes in an organized manner with catchy titles
  • Add an email signup form

Over to You

Your podcast website can help you increase your subscriber list like no other. After all, it’s often the first impression a listener gets of your content.

That’s why it’s so critical to understand website best practices and optimize your website to establish instant trust with visitors and wow them enough to want to listen to your podcast, and even hit the coveted ‘Subscribe.’ 

The podcast website examples I’ve listed here do just that and illustrate firsthand the ideas you can use to ensure a superb visitor experience right off the bat.

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