WordPress theme development is one of our staple services, considering that our clients generally appreciate the flexibility of the WordPress CMS, but like having the look and feel of their websites to be more customized than is typically available when using free or even premium WordPress themes. As a rule, we develop a fresh, custom WordPress theme every time we begin a new project. This helps to keep the websites that we develop from all looking the same.

As far as custom WordPress plugins go, we have authored and released two free WordPress plugins into the WordPress Plugin Directory over the past year.

These are our plugins:

PrayBox is a prayer request management application that we developed in early 2011 and soon ported over to WordPress as a plugin in order to allow churches and ministries to add functionality to their websites that allows visitors to post prayer requests and be notified when those requests are prayed for. It also allows administrators to moderate prayer requests and control the way that they appear, using shortcodes.

After we realized how big of a hit PrayBox had become with churches and ministries, we decided to release a paid version of the plugin, PrayBox+, which includes a few advanced features and support for anyone who purchases it.

• See PrayBox in action
• Download PrayBox for free
• Purchase PrayBox+

Paid Business Listings is a plugin that we released for WordPress shortly after developing the PrayBox plugin. It provides the functionality for website owners to allow businesses to submit their information to be listed. It can be set up with a variety of options and really provides some awesome functionality, allowing administrators to display listings based on the category they were submitted under and use shortcodes to display higher priced package listings more prominently compared with lower priced listings.

Very soon, we will be releasing a premium version of the Paid Business Listings plugin that will include some advanced features, like providing administrators with the tools to better customize the look and feel of the listings on their websites.

• See Paid Business Listings in action
• Download Paid Business Listings for free

This is a plugin that allows businesses to pay to add themselves to a category-based business listing directory on your WordPress site using package parameters that you have set up. Install the plugin, fill in your settings, and paste shortcode into WordPress pages or posts.

For more information visit WordPress.com | Paid Business Listings

Tower Construction Co. contacted us about developing a website for them that would show off their work and be easy for them to update, as they completed future jobs. They also wanted a clear and simple way to show and tell visitors what they do and answer questions about what kind of licenses and certifications they have.

Blazing Torch, Inc. successfully developed and implemented the Tower Construction Co. website with consistent input from the client throughout the development process, while exceeding the client’s expectations, providing a professional level of quality service, and staying within the budget constraints defined by the client at the onset of the project.

PrayBox is a web-based tool targeted at meeting two key needs within the Body of Christ:

• For those who are in need of prayer, it provides a way to let others within the Body of Christ know your specific need so that they can lift up your request to the One who meets all needs out of his abundant riches in glory. [Phillipans 4:19 - "And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus."

• For those who are called to serve others by lifting them up in prayer, it provides an opportunity to come face to face with the real needs of real people. [Ephesians 6:18 - "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people."]

Many companies on the web are focused on providing “free” tools and applications aimed at serving a purpose for a price. They harvest email addresses and other personal information about users that can be sold or used to sell products. Unfortunately, this behavior has raised concerns about the purpose of web applications that appear to be free.

In developing PrayBox.com, privacy was one of our primary concerns. We wanted to make sure that we didn’t create an opportunity for “spammers” to turn what we have intended for good into something so riddled with suspicion that it ended up being futile.   The only communication at Praybox.com is between those who are praying and those who have posted their requests. At the end of each day (if the one who has posted the prayer request has opted for it), we will send a single email letting that person know how many times they have been prayed for.

Additionally, we have implemented a “flagging” system, which allows users to make us aware of any inappropriate prayer requests that have been posted. If you see a request that you believe may not be genuine, please flag it and we will take a look at it.

For more information visit PrayBox.com

Funkyness is a company that designs and produces an artistically-inspired clothing line, combining elegance and bohemian style into a look with alternative fashion appeal suitable for the mainstream chic.

Development for this project consisted of designing a layout for the client and building a custom WordPress theme based upon that layout. Further functionality and customization was required for displaying Funkyness’s product lines, integrating contact forms, and enabling the client to easily update components of the website as needed.

In conjunction with he Tampa Bay Lightning hockey team’s 2011 promotional campaign, the team’s tour bus, the “Rolling Thunder” is traveling to scheduled appearances throughout the state of Florida. In order to get the word out, we developed a high impact website to announce the tour, complete with a database-driven display application for showing upcoming scheduled appearance, as well as appearances by county. The site’s “Gallery” is equipped with a photo uploader application interface that allows on-site photographers to upload photos at each location.

Development for this project consisted of designing a layout for the client and building a website utilizing the design/layout, along with flash components for displaying the promotional video and allowing users to interact with the scheduled appearances application. Along with these visual components, a robust database-driven application for collecting contest registrants and managing photo gallery submissions was designed and implemented to enhance functionality.

Effective website design takes the entire project into consideration and asks questions such as:

• What is the primary message that this website should convey?
• Does this website require any unique functionality?
• How can this website be customized so as to attract its target audience?
• How can this website be customized so as to be indexed by search engines most effectively?

Although many of these concerns are often overlooked during the design phase of a website development project.

Investing in the development of a website without considering the importance of its ongoing maintenance is a lot like buying a brand new luxury car and never putting gas in it. It might be pretty to look at and you might get some folks who say “hey, that’s a really nice car” but when it comes to folks asking questions about the car’s performance, you’re left with an embarrassing look on your face, because, honestly… you have no idea.

With over a decade of experience in every aspect of the web development process, Blazing Torch, Inc. is capable of providing solutions that are customized to your organization’s needs. If budget is a big concern, we will customize a budget-conscious solution that results in an effective website. If custom functionality is required, we will develop an effective web application that provides that functionality.

Effective Website Design

One of the biggest problems with "web design" is that website owners put too much importance on a website's graphic layout. While the aesthetic appeal of a website is certainly important, focusing on "cool" graphics and "flashy" animation instead of the website's content is commonly the reason why a website's effectiveness is diminished. When starting a new website, the first question that should be asked is "what percentage of the focus of this project should be dedicated to the graphic layout?" Far too often, the answer to this question ends up being 80% or higher. As a result, you have a pretty site that is launched, but does not have any appeal.

Effective website design takes the entire project into consideration and asks questions such as:

• What is the primary message that this website should convey?
• Does this website require any unique functionality?
• How can this website be customized so as to attract its target audience?
• How can this website be customized so as to be indexed by search engines most effectively?

Although many of these concerns are often overlooked during the design phase of a website development project.

Effective Website Implementation

Effective websites are implemented with a plan in mind. Just as you would not build a physical building without having plans drawn up first, a website should not be developed without a concise plan that addresses the purpose, development schedule, and long-term usability of the end result.

Effective Website Maintenance

Websites are often put in place and never maintained... many times, because of the cost or time necessary for effective website maintenance. Website maintenance is almost always the determining factor of its long-term success.

Investing in the development of a website without considering the importance of its ongoing maintenance is a lot like buying a brand new luxury car and never putting gas in it. It might be pretty to look at and you might get some folks who say "hey, that's a really nice car" but when it comes to folks asking questions about the car's performance, you're left with an embarrassing look on your face, because, honestly... you have no idea.

With over a decade of experience in every aspect of the web development process, Blazing Torch, Inc. is capable of providing solutions that are customized to your organization's needs. If budget is a big concern, we will customize a budget-conscious solution that results in an effective website. If custom functionality is required, we will develop an effective web application that provides that functionality.

Tower Construction Company

Tower Construction Co. contacted us about developing a website for them that would show off their work and be easy... More »

Funkyness Fashion

Funkyness is a company that designs and produces an artistically-inspired clothing line, combining elegance and bohemian style into a look... More »

Tampa Bay Rolling Thunder Tour

In conjunction with he Tampa Bay Lightning hockey team’s 2011 promotional campaign, the team’s tour bus, the “Rolling Thunder” is... More »