Don Samples of Midnight Magic Studios in Knoxville TN works hard and makes really great wedding videos.  He has been a long time client and I adapted the first Kertesz release for use as his website starting in 2008 using WordPress 2.5.

So it seems very unfair that his site was severely hacked recently.  I think Don would be the first to admit he should have kept WordPress system more up to date, but the automated site hijack hackers are just wrong.

New Midnight Magic Studios website

After not being able to cure the site infection himself, Don contacted me in late June to see what could be done.  It was pretty bad, the database and PHP files were hosed, but WordPress was able to export a clean XML file we could use to rebuild the site pretty quickly.  So there were two paths, 1) restore the site using my old backup of the current theme or 2) take the opportunity to upgrade the  site to a newer more appealing theme layout offering all the new WordPress 3.0 features plus better SEO, improved security, easier one click total WP site system upgrades and social media integration with Twitter and Facebook. The second choice was only about two hours more time that the first even including some new site graphics.  Don chose the second option!

We picked a layout that was almost brand new and adapted well to videography. Then over the next two days I customized the layout, graphics, imported the old site’s content and setup a bunch of new features for both site visitors and search marketing.  Then like the Bionic Man, Don’s site was back even better, faster, stronger than before in just three days total. And for me the best of it all is Don likes it better, too.  Not to mention the improved site traffic and inquiries.  All for almost the same cost as just restoring the old site.

Please visit Don’s new site and see his work.  And if you have any questions about the potential advantages of a new WordPress based website system for your business please send me an email.