Project Title:
Optimization of 5 WordPress / WooCommerce sites + email delivery + hosting check
Task Description:
A specialist in WordPress / WooCommerce, SMTP/email delivery, and website speed optimization is needed.
There are 5 WordPress + WooCommerce sites that operate in foreign markets and sell digital video products.
There are no serious critical issues across all sites. Most sites just need to be checked, optimized, and ensured that they are functioning properly. A complete overhaul of the sites from scratch is not required.
Main Tasks:
Check the technical condition of the sites
It is necessary to review 5 sites and check:
— loading speed;
— operation of WordPress / WooCommerce;
— cart and checkout;
— mobile version;
— errors in plugins, theme, PHP, or console;
— if there are any plugin conflicts;
— if there is any unnecessary code that slows down the site;
— overall stability of the sites.
Some sites just need to be looked at and recommendations given, without major edits.
Optimize speed
It is necessary to speed up the sites as much as possible:
— configure caching;
— check plugins;
— remove unnecessary elements if they are actually hindering performance;
— optimize CSS/JS if needed;
— check the database;
— improve the speed of the store, products, cart, and checkout.
Check hosting / VPS
There is suspicion that some problems may be due to hosting or the virtual server, even though it is not cheap.
It is necessary to check:
— if the server resources are sufficient;
— if there are any issues with CPU/RAM;
— if PHP/MySQL is functioning properly;
— if the server is overloaded;
— if the current server is suitable for WooCommerce.
If the problem lies with the hosting/VPS, it needs to be stated whether to stay with it or if it is better to move to another option.
Set up proper email delivery after purchase
One of the main issues is that customers do not always receive emails after purchase.
It is necessary to set up stable WooCommerce email sending:
— order confirmation;
— email with a link to the product;
— proper delivery to Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook, and other email services;
— to ensure that emails do not end up in spam.
It is also necessary to configure:
— SPF;
— DKIM;
— DMARC;
— SMTP connection to WordPress/WooCommerce;
— test email sending.
Previously, SMTP2GO was tried, but the service blocked the account due to high-risk direction, so it is no longer considered. Another option needs to be selected: Mailgun, Amazon SES, Brevo, or another service suitable for this type of project.
Design / theme — only minor edits
There is no need to do a complex expensive redesign of all sites.
It is only necessary to:
— on one site, preferably replace the theme with a lighter one and slightly update the design;
— on the second site, check the design that I created manually through ChatGPT.
On the second site, after manual changes, it seems that a problem has arisen: products may display incorrectly or the page may not load completely. It is necessary to check for any unnecessary CSS/PHP code or conflicts with WooCommerce.
For the design, only neat basic edits are needed:
— menu;
— header/footer;
— store page;
— product cards;
— mobile adaptation;
— colors/theme;
— minor edits to make the site look tidy and function properly.
The logic of digital products does not need to be redone
Important: the system for issuing digital products does not need to be built from scratch.
The current scheme is simple: we insert links to Google Drive, and it works.
No need to:
— manually check each product unnecessarily;
— redo all products;
— change the logic of product issuance;
— create a complex new system.
Focus should be on:
— website speed;
— stability of WooCommerce;
— email delivery;
— hosting/VPS;
— minor edits to the theme/design on 1–2 sites.
Expected results:
— sites work faster;
— WooCommerce, cart, and checkout work stably;
— customers receive emails after purchase;
— SPF/DKIM/DMARC configured;
— it is clear whether the problem is with the server;
— one site receives a lighter theme and slightly updated design if needed;
— the second site is checked and corrected after manual edits if there is a problem with product display or page loading.
A specialist with experience is needed:
— WordPress;
— WooCommerce;
— SMTP/email delivery;
— SPF/DKIM/DMARC;
— speed optimization;
— hosting/VPS;
— basic edits of WordPress themes, CSS/PHP.