Marcus Crutcher
- Marcus Crutcher
- Web Design, SEO, Online Marketing
- Website: cSocially.com
- Twitter: @mcsocially
How were you first introduced to WordPress?
I can’t remember exactly when I first heard of WordPress, but I built my first WordPress business site a few years ago — and that changed everything.
What do you like about it?
I like that the WordPress community is generally easy to engage and interact with. I like that developers have put so much thought and effort into great plugins, tips, and code that can be forked to extend the functionality and effectiveness of any kind of site. And I like that WordPress is easy enough to use that anyone can make minor changes with relatively little effort.
What do you do with WP now?
I use WordPress for most new site development.
How as the WP community helped you?
The WP community has been huge in helping me gain knowledge of & confidence in everything from design trends, to SEO techniques, to server configuration. The Nashville WP community is awesome and the leadership team has been instrumental in creating what I feel is a very open & accepting community for WP users and developers of all levels.
Did learning WP lead to any significant changes in your life?
Yes. It has helped me grow my business substantially as one of my primary service offerings.
What would you tell a new user? A new developer?
Start following some authority sites and don’t be afraid to pay for the best plugins, themes, etc. up front. It will be worth it in the long run. And always keep a your site secure & fully backed up in an offsite location (not on your server).
Users – Learn the basics & be consistent in your learning. You’ll forget it if you only log in once per month. If you get stuck on something, just Google it. There’s about a 100 percent chance that someone else has run into the same issue and has a tutorial or forum thread about it.
Developers – jump in with both feet and keep a developmental site where you test new toys (frameworks, themes, plugins). Actively learn from other professionals in premium forums like iThemes Support, WPMUDEV Support, etc.
Anything else we should know?
Keep WP updated!