update draft

content/posts/giana.md

@@ -11,36 +11,50 @@ externalLink = ""
 series = []
 +++
 
-Giana Boutique is an online ecommerce store.
+Now, this site, is one of the earliest I ever worked upon.
+It was my first time using WooCommerce and second time using WordPress to build a site.
+
+It is the site of Giana Boutique, an online ecommerce store.
 
 Done quite some time ago.
 
 Their [website](https://giana.rayelliott.dev/).
 
-First time using WooCommerce and second time using WordPress to build a site.
-
 Uses pre-existing theme.
 
 Nothing special required.
-Main customisations were little bits of CSS to tidy some things up -- created child theme based on a theme from ModernThemes called Exchange.
+Main customisations were little bits of CSS to tidy some things up -- created child theme based on a theme from [ModernThemes](https://modernthemes.net/) called Exchange.
+
+Now, onto why I used the Exchange theme?
+Well, it was pretty much entirely because it was free and I thought it looked okay.
+It was free and I felt it was a reasonable looking theme that I could use to get started with setting up a WordPress site to use WooCommerce.
+
+Would I use it again?
+Certainly not.
+I felt it was difficult to customise, although this may have been at least partly due to my inexperience.
+Doesn't really offer much over Storefront, the WooCommerce theme from Automattic???
+Doesn't do much to set it above all the other similar looking WooCommerce sites around.
+I feel it is perfectly fine for someone wishing to set up a WooCommerce with an acceptable theme quickly with little effort.
+Not so good for developers.
+
 
 Plugins used:
 
-* Contact Form 7.
+* [Contact Form 7](https://wordpress.org/plugins/contact-form-7/).
-* Cookie Notice.
+* [Cookie Notice](https://wordpress.org/plugins/cookie-notice/).
-* Display Posts.  
+* [Display Posts](https://wordpress.org/plugins/display-posts-shortcode/). 
   Would most likely write own plugin for this now.
-* Hustle.
+* [Hustle](https://wordpress.org/plugins/wordpress-popup/).
-* iThemes Security.
+* [iThemes Security](https://wordpress.org/plugins/better-wp-security/).
-* MC4WP:Mailchimp for WordPress.
+* [MC4WP:Mailchimp for WordPress](https://wordpress.org/plugins/mailchimp-for-wp/).
-* QuickView WooCommerce.
+* [QuickView WooCommerce](https://wordpress.org/plugins/quick-view-woocommerce/).
-* UpdraftPlus - Backup/Restore
+* [UpdraftPlus - Backup/Restore](https://wordpress.org/plugins/updraftplus/).
-* WooCommerce.
+* [WooCommerce](https://wordpress.org/plugins/woocommerce/).
-* WP Super Cache.
+* [WP Super Cache](https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-super-cache/).
 
-Would reassess the best plugins available currently, if doing this site now.
+Would certainly reassess the best plugins available currently, if doing this site now.
 
 Would definitely use a better theme.
 Main reason using this is that it was free.
-Would now almost certainly develop a child theme based on Storefront.
+Would now almost certainly develop a child theme based on [Storefront](https://woocommerce.com/storefront/#).
 

content/posts/stanthams.md

@@ -17,30 +17,39 @@ Done a while ago.
 
 Their [website](https://stanthams.rayelliott.dev/).
 
-Uses Elementor.
+Uses [Elementor](https://elementor.com/).
-
 Was before Gutenberg update.
 
 Nothing particularly special.
-Some bits of minor customisation via CSS required and so a child theme, based on OceanWP, is used.
+Some bits of minor customisation via CSS required and so a child theme, based on [OceanWP](https://oceanwp.org/), is used.
 
-Reasons for choosing OceanWP:
+Reasons for choosing Elementor and OceanWP:
 
-* one
+* Cuts development time considerably.
-* two
+* Flexible.
-* at least three good reasons
+* Free version can be enough for a lot of sites -- if need additional stuff can either purchase addon plugins or code manually.
+* Relatively lightweight compared to other page builders.
+
+Disadvantage is bloat required to cover many use cases, in which not many may be used.
+Purpose built design elements will always be leaner and more efficient with cleaner code (if coded correctly of course).
+This especially true if using very few components of the chosen parent theme / page builder.
+Performance may not be so much of an issue for small sites with few users -- will become much more of an issue the bigger the site.
+Can be harder to customise in ways that are not available in the interface -- e.g., CSS specificity problems.
 
 Plugins used (with reasons, and what I would probably use now):
 
-* Contact Form 7.
+* [Contact Form 7](https://wordpress.org/plugins/contact-form-7/).
-* Elementor.
+* [Elementor](https://wordpress.org/plugins/elementor/).
-* Elementor Addon Elements.
+* [Elementor Addon Elements](https://wordpress.org/plugins/addon-elements-for-elementor-page-builder/).  
-* GDPR Cookie Compliance.
+  For Google Maps integration.
-* iThemes Security.
+* [GDPR Cookie Compliance](https://wordpress.org/plugins/gdpr-cookie-compliance/).
-* Ocean Extra.
+* [iThemes Security](https://wordpress.org/plugins/better-wp-security/).
-* UpdraftPlus - Backup/Restore
+* [Ocean Extra](https://wordpress.org/plugins/ocean-extra/).
-* WP Fastest Cache.
+* [UpdraftPlus - Backup/Restore](https://wordpress.org/plugins/updraftplus/).
-* WP Mail SMTP.
+* [WP Fastest Cache](https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-fastest-cache/).
+* [WP Mail SMTP](https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-mail-smtp/).
+
+Always a good idea to test speed of site after adding a plugin, especially if not used before.
 
 Not much to say - a pretty basic brochure site.
 The primary purpose is to allow users to discover/get more information about the firm.