Project Overview

I am looking for an experienced WordPress developer to build a website for my media initiative, Church Potluck: A Smorgasbord of Christian Curiosity. This website will serve as the central hub for my blog, podcast, email newsletter, and future media projects. The design and style of the site must align with my brand guidelines, which I will provide.

Goals & Key Features

The site should be:

✅ Easy to manage – I will be posting daily or near-daily blogs and don’t want to spend a lot of time on tech.

✅ Well-integrated – The homepage should feature recent content from multiple sources (blog, podcast, social media, and future YouTube channel).

✅ Scalable – While I need specific features now, the site should be built with future expansions in mind (e.g., YouTube, Amazon store, merch).

✅ Brand-consistent – The design must follow my provided brand guidelines, including fonts, colors, and logo placement.

✅ Engagement-friendly – Readers should be able to comment, discuss, and sign up for a newsletter with ease.

Brand Guidelines & Design Requirements

The Church Potluck brand identity should be reflected throughout the website. Key elements include:

1. Logo & Visual Identity

The logo must be used according to brand guidelines (minimum clear space, correct proportions, no distortion).

Color Palette: Use the primary and secondary colors from the brand guide (e.g., Pelorous, Sunglow, Jaffa, Persian Green).

Typography: The site should use Lilita One (headers) and Poppins (body text) for consistency.

2. Homepage Design

A dynamic homepage that displays:

Recent blog posts

Latest podcast episodes (Buzzsprout integration)

Recent social media posts (Twitter/X, Facebook, Instagram)

Future: Latest YouTube videos (placeholder for now)

The homepage should be visually engaging, following the brand’s fun and joyful aesthetic, with stained-glass-inspired graphics where appropriate.

3. Blog & Content Layout

A clean, easy-to-read blog layout that matches the brand’s playful yet professional tone.

SEO-friendly blog setup with categories and tags.

Ensure commenting is enabled (native WordPress or Disqus).

4. Podcast Integration

Set up a Podcast page featuring Buzzsprout embeds.

Enable automatic updates from Buzzsprout feed.

5. Email Newsletter Integration

Set up Mailchimp, ConvertKit, or Substack (TBD).

Include a simple email signup form (visible on homepage & blog sidebar).

Enable automatic blog-to-email (optional).

6. Reader Engagement & Discussion

Enable comments on blog posts (with moderation tools).

Install a chat or community discussion feature (recommend options like:

Simple comment sections (native WordPress or Disqus).

Future potential for a dedicated forum (Circle.so, Discord, or Facebook Group).

7. Social Media & Sharing

Social media icons & links in the header/footer.

Social sharing buttons on blog posts.

Future-Ready Features (Phase 2 & Beyond)

The website should be built in a way that allows for easy integration of future features, including:

1️⃣ YouTube Integration (once I launch my channel)

Embed latest videos in homepage & relevant pages.

2️⃣ Merch Store (Small Scale)

Placeholder for future store using WooCommerce or Printful.

3️⃣ Amazon Store & Affiliates

Placeholder for future Amazon book page or affiliate store.

4️⃣ Paid Membership or Patreon Integration

Optional for reader support/donations.

Technical Preferences

WordPress + Gutenberg or Elementor (for easy edits).

Hosting: SiteGround or Kinsta preferred.

Theme: Must be lightweight, customizable, and match the brand aesthetic. Astra, GeneratePress, or Kadence recommended.

Plugins:

✅ SEO: Yoast SEO or Rank Math

✅ Security: Wordfence or Sucuri

✅ Backup: UpdraftPlus

✅ Email: Mailchimp, ConvertKit, or Substack

✅ Podcast: Buzzsprout Player Embed

✅ Social Media: Smash Balloon or Feed Them Social

Project Timeline & Budget

Expected timeline: 2-4 weeks for launch.

Budget: Please provide estimates based on the scope.

Next Steps

If you're interested, please provide:

A brief proposal on how you would approach this project.

Examples of WordPress sites you’ve built, especially for bloggers, podcasters, or media brands.

Your estimated cost & timeline for the setup.

Looking forward to working with you!