Note: this site is built on the Genesis Framework. If you are asked to update, it is safe and recommended to do so. You should also keep WordPress reasonably current. I will attend to this as well when I receive notifications. I normally wait a week or two, though, in case any new bugs are introduced with updates. Note: A new major update of WordPress (4.9.x and 5.0) will be out soon with more drag-and-drop functionality, but I will want to make sure the bugs are worked out before updating to this major revision.
You asked me what CSS was and I gave a short answer. Cascading style sheets means that multiple style sheets can be referenced/linked. The styles I showed you in the Customizer have the highest priority. The rest of the design/layout is specified in the main style sheet that is actually accessible through Appearance Editor, but I would strongly suggest/request not touching this. Additionally, plug-ins can have style sheets, and sometimes external references are accessed, so that is where the cascading comes into play, and priorities.
Images – add in Media gallery or from pages/posts. Float right or left as desired. Hover and click “edit pencil” as needed.
Header Images – Three uploaded, can also be replaced with new. Size wants to be 1000 x 200 or 1250 x 250 pixels, so crop before this step if necessary. Install at Appearance > Customizer > Background Image, custom, centered, original, no repeat, scroll. A small amount of CSS in the Customizer Additional CSS right justifies placement for small device sizes. “Comment out” with /**/ if desired for a particular image.
Nav Menu – Width or spacing may need to be changed if upper level is expanded or changed. Add to menu from choices at left, shorten name as needed/desired.
Slideshows are added in Meta Slider. Set width, height, and slide delay (under Advanced) before creating new slide show. For new larger slideshows, main content column is 720 wide; 700px wide may be best. Determine aspect ratios of photos to set height.
Slider in the main column such as on Explore needs to be wrapped in a div to float the text around it. This may take some coaching, or a different approach; I haven’t figured a way to float right, which may go away if you use larger photos going forward. (This will be easier when we upgrade WordPress.)
Regarding sidebar and columns:
- I suggest you use the default page layout with sidebar and take advantage of the built-in column. If you don’t like what’s in the custom-defined sidebars, change contents.
- The Genesis Framework has columns built into the main content field. This video shows the method of inserting (simply) via the Text tab: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6Pb3LjUptQ. If you find this challenging, see next bullet.
- I added the plug-in Genesis Columns Advanced. This offers shortcode installation, more varied layouts, and some custom CSS options. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ortnpInn_YE
- I added the plug-in Tablepress. Tables are built aside and inserted into page content column or sidebar widget with shortcode.
- The History sidebar is not in use. I used it to include the footer content (which is not the same location as Footer Sidebars). See below.
Plug-ins: each have a “view details” link with additional help. Be aware that plug-ins can have conflicts with each other. I have vetted the ones I recommend. If you wish to add any new, check that they are rated well, currently maintained and kept up-to-date with WordPress versions, and are at least a week or two old (for same reason to avoid bugs). Be careful not to deactivate any in use or data will be lost.
Footer: The text shown is edited within Genesis > Theme Settings > Custom Footer, but this field shows code only. I copied this into the History sidebar as noted above to give you a place to edit the html if easier, but using the widget introduces a different problem where the code is simplified and not exactly the same as the footer. I’d suggest comparing the two and you should be able to modify.
Member area is password protected in upper right of admin under Visibility. Note: I’m not yet sure whether child pages of Member are automatically protected, but they can’t easily be found. Member communication could alternatively be done with posts rather than pages.
Post Status Notification Plug-in will alert all registered users when a new page or post is made. Owners that choose to subscribe will be added as contributors so they can write a post if they’d like. The only place the blog sidebar appears is in the Member section, so no harm done if what they post needs adjustment.
Back-ups: WordPress database back-ups and site back-ups are made nightly, but recognize that the need to restore a back-up can take billable time of 0.5 to 1.5 hours.