What approach do you use for webdesign?

**content** · 12 January 2024, 4:35 pm

Hi,

I am curious what people's experiences have been with web design.

I am wondering, because I want to know if you could have done things differently, would you and why.

I am building more sites, going for a network of microsites basically(and some out of niche). Doing it myself. I figure later on, I can just hire someone for more advanced theme modifications(or just more advanced blocks for homepage etc without modifying the base theme). Basically, only spend money and time on it if the site is beginning to perform well. I can learn how to do more myself, though I think the best use of my time, is working with theme templates and content to set up sites. Though I'm curious if others have taken a different approach, and what their thoughts are on why one option may be better(maybe, significant changes could require general reformatting, and would be better to redesign earlier on).

Or maybe it's not worth it, and sticking with generic base theme for long term of site will be what's best.

Also, wondering if people have added custom variants, which allow for more advanced sorting, or allow for more custom information presentations etc(and did you add at the beginning, or later on).

Just curious of what people found to be the best approach, and more so if people had a bad experience or wasted a lot of time with an approach that in retrospect was a bad idea.

Thanks

**chaumi** · 12 January 2024, 6:12 pm

I've never done anything with a site that's materially different from what you appear to be doing here, so this may not be an entirely valuable contribution and is arguably flawed without that other direct experience.

And I can only comment from a search engine performance perspective.

But - until recently - I'd have been 100% confident that with very basic outlay in $ terms, I'd have been able to compete with a site that had spent $50k on creation/initial build. Provided, ofc, I had the commitment, focus, time, correct balance of other responsibilities, necessary growth funds, and likely the support (ie some form of team environment). In varying quantities/levels.

Now, I'm not so sure. AI appears to be changing the game. The SERPs are changing and will change further. I think presentation and how you visually deliver information will be increasingly important for any real level of success, in combination with everything else that's necessary. And, in my experience (it may be flawed, I'm probably just not clever enough), you often need deeper design support/capability to enhance your presentation.

Maybe these gambling-based themes we all know will be adequate, but to me they all just look like a sea of the same.

In short, I'd say that from a search engine perspective, the optimal approach is to spend the money and get the clever stuff built at the outset.

But clearly not everyone has the funds or is in a position to accept the risk balance of that approach ...so I still wouldn't put you off your current intent if you can undertake the task while recognizing and accepting the risks involved, perhaps based more on the premise that if you don't try, you'll never know.

**baldidiot** · 13 January 2024, 1:03 pm

I'm not a designer or developer by any stretch of the imagination, but I do my own customisations, largely figuring out stuff as I go.

Over the years I've tried various things - joomla, wordpress, simple php, flat file and so on... but these days pretty much everything is on wordpress.

I tend to use a lightweight theme and then customise it as needed, adding custom post types, custom fields and shortcodes to make it do what we want.

The benefit of doing it yourself is that you can make it do exactly what you want, and it doesn't cost tons of money (just time). The downside is that you have to do it all yourself and fix your own bugs (which there are a lot of!).

I have to outsource javascript though. That's something I've never really got on board with... Thankfully it's not something we use very often.

**bitcasinorank** · 15 January 2024, 11:17 am

For me it depends on the budget and your skills. Obviously, if you don't have money or skills you can't heavily customize your theme or create a new cusom one.

I usually go with no advance modifications at first. If I see the potential sucess in the site I work on and have extra money I hire a developer to create a custom theme. I did that with my main site bitcasinorank which was lauched on Mercury theme and now operating a custom one. The theme was designed by my partner and made by hired developer.

I plan use similar approach for my next project as well.

**NoDepositCasinos** · 15 January 2024, 1:25 pm

The best approach will depend on your resources.

In my case, I'm not the most tech-savvy person, and I really struggled with even the most basic customization. So, initially, I used to pick a base theme and hire someone for the modifications. I could have tried to do it all by myself from the beginning, but it was so challenging that it didn't make sense (I would spend days trying to accomplish something that a professional could handle in less than an hour). So, the most cost-effective approach at that time was to hire someone.

These days, with more experience, I handle the majority of the modifications myself, but I've also built a network of contacts to turn to in case something exceeds my capabilities or if I'm short on time.

To be honest, if I were in your position, I would take a similar approach because, as Chaumi mentioned, things are changing rapidly, and it's better to be cautious.

**CasinosBroker** · 16 January 2024, 2:34 am

In my opinion it's best to go with the custom approach when building a website, if:

you have the neccessary skills
you have the money to invest

The completed website should be functional and to achieve your set goals.

I would make it load super-fast and be customizable, with many functions and features.

If someone doesn't have the neccessary skills or funds to invest, I'd recommend taking the WordPress route and learn as you go/build.

Knowledge can go a long way in life!

**idanbraun** · 21 January 2024, 5:16 am

I always buy a Wordpress theme and modified it as necessary, mainly with HTML. If necessary I modified the theme also with CSS, JavaScript and PHP.

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