Have you tried to design your own WordPress website, but still finding it a bit of a challenge, even though “everyone” said it would be easy?
Or, maybe you’re like my client Lori, whose daughter set up her WordPress website a few years ago, but now she’s living in another state and has a life of her own. “Mom, I just don’t have time to keep updating your site.”
You might even be like my client Sara, who hired another designer to setup her WordPress website but 10 months later it’s still not finished. Oops. Talk about over promising.
No matter what the reason, stop fretting. Gather the following materials and you’ll be armed and ready when the perfect website designer crosses your path.
1. Domain registrar username & password
— where you bought your domain name: the more popular resources are GoDaddy, Namecheap, or even from your current web host
2. The name of your web host plus the cPanel login username & password
—the web company where your site lives: the more popular resources for web hosts are Bluehost, HostGator, ASmallOrange, GoDaddy
3. Email usernames & passwords
— these could be with your web host or Google
4. Google username & password so your new site designer can install Google Analytics on your site
— It’s free!
5. Your WordPress username and password login6. If you have a Premium Theme (one that you paid for) usernames & passwords for that, too.
7. Usernames & password associated with any premium plugins.
— Many site designers will suggest Backup Buddy, Gravity Forms, WordPress SEO by Yoast, and SlideDeck which are all premium plugins that you may have paid for. If you did not pay for them and they are on your site, your designer may have added them under his/her developer’s license. If that’s the case you’ll need your own license, or can just drop the plugin if you don’t want it.
If the above list makes you fret, take a deep breath. Start by finding the emails your domain registrar sent to you when you purchased your domain name. With any luck you printed it out and it’s in a file with their name on it. If not, search your inbox under your domain registrar’s name. Still can’t find the information? Phone your domain registrar and ask them.
Do the same with your web host.
If you’re still on speaking terms with your family member, or former web designer phone them and ask them, and promise you’ll put everything in one place, this time.
If all else fails, you can phone or email me for an estimate on what it will cost to help you gather all your materials, update your site, and get you back on your feet in no time, plus train you on how to use your awesome new site.
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