RFP: Ghost(Pro) Theme Customization (Gazette Theme) 1) Project Overview I’m seeking an experienced Ghost(Pro) developer to customize my publication website using the Gazette theme as the base. I have a defined target layout (attached PDFs) that must be implemented with high fidelity. Gazette already contains some relevant features; the work here is to modify/extend Gazette so the homepage, post pages, archive pages, header, footer, and off-canvas menu match my layout and are easy for me to manage inside Ghost Admin. Primary objective: Create a polished, editorial “magazine front page” experience with repeatable section modules, curated feature placements, clear navigation, responsive design, and stable theme delivery on Ghost(Pro). 2) Scope: Pages/Areas Included This project includes theme-level changes to: 1. Global Header + Navigation (all pages) 2. Homepage (Front Page) redesign with multiple editorial sections 3. Post Page Template (single post page layout + CTA/ad slots) 4. Archive Pages (24 section/category pages sharing three consistent template) 5. Off-Canvas Menu (layout + function) 6. Global Footer (layout + newsletter module + links) 3) Required Changes (Must Match Attached Layout) A) Global Header + Top Navigation (All Pages) Required: • Implement top navigation exactly as in the layout: o Popular | Latest | Newsletter (left/center) o Donate | Subscribe | Login (right) • Logo sized and aligned to match spacing in the layout (no oversized logo or misalignment). • Hamburger/off-canvas trigger and search placement consistent with the layout. • Header must remain consistent across Homepage, Post, and Archive templates. Acceptance criteria: • All links route correctly. • Header spacing/alignment matches the layout on desktop and mobile. B) Homepage (Front Page) — Magazine Layout With Repeatable Sections The homepage is not a simple feed. It is a multi-section front page composed of repeatable editorial modules. 1) Hero Banner (Top Feature) • Build the top hero feature to match layout: prominent feature + accompanying text. • Hero text panel must support black/white variation (e.g., a clean mechanism like tag-based styling or a theme setting). Acceptance criteria: hero layout matches; hero is readable on mobile; hero color option works per story. Note: There are a total of 10 hero banner for the front page and 1 hero banner for the post pages. The hero banner will not use scroll. 2) “KEEPING YOU IN THE KNOW” Module (Curated) • Section title and subcategory links appear as shown. • Center feature must be curated (“whatever I want it to be”), not purely latest. • Supporting posts display in the intended multi-column pattern. Acceptance criteria: I can control the center feature; subcategory links are active and styled; module is responsive. 3) Repeatable Editorial Section Modules (Multiple sections on homepage) You have multiple homepage sections that share a consistent pattern: • A section title • Optional icon/artwork under the title (as shown in layout) • A row of subcategory links • A curated center feature (editor-controlled) • Supporting post lists/blocks around it (matching layout columns) Sections shown in the layout include (not limited to): • Jesus Please Take the Wheel (Bible Study | Devotionals | Prayer | Church Life) • The Edge of Sanity (US | World) • Living Your Best Life (Career | Business | Money | Pets | Relationships) • Culture (Books | Entertainment | Culture) • Plus additional blocks such as: Health, Opinions, Ideas, Our Voices, Advice, “What You May Have Missed!!!” grids, etc. Acceptance criteria: each module matches layout; subcategory links are functional; center feature is curated; spacing/typography consistent across modules. 4) Subscription CTA Strip (Homepage) • Implement the subscription bar exactly as shown (copy and placement aligned to layout). • Buttons/links must route correctly to subscription/signup. Acceptance criteria: CTA appears where shown; links work; CTA is responsive. 5) Podcast Promo Block (Homepage) • Implement a dedicated podcast promo module with LISTEN NOW CTA linking to the podcast page. Acceptance criteria: module matches layout; button is active; responsive. 6) Advertisement Placements (Homepage) • Create theme “ad slots”/placeholders in the locations shown as “Advertisement” in the layout. These must be easy to populate later (theme containers for embed code). Acceptance criteria: ad slots exist in correct positions; don’t break layout on mobile. C) Post Page Template (Single Post) • Align post header and reading layout to your post-page layout. • Add mid-article Advertisement slot (theme container). • Add the Subscribe CTA strip in the location shown. • Ensure the footer is displayed correctly after post content. Acceptance criteria: post page matches layout; ad slot present; subscribe strip present; typography readable; responsive. D) Archive Pages (24 Section Pages) — One Consistent Template You need 24 archive pages that share the same design where only the section/title changes (as in the attached archive layouts). Required archive pages: US, World, Opinions, Features, Advice, Money, Health, Theology, Bible Study, Devotionals, Prayer, Church Life, Ideas, Culture, Voices, Books, Entertainment, Relationships, Career, Business, Pets, Podcast, Popular, Latest. Acceptance criteria: • Same template/design across all 24 pages. • Title changes correctly based on section. • Includes the featured area, “Read more” grid, CTA/ad placements, and footer as shown. • Fully responsive. E) Footer (Global) • Implement multi-column footer structure and newsletter signup module exactly as layout indicates (copy, fields, links). • Include required legal/nonprofit/trademark lines shown in layout. Acceptance criteria: footer matches layout; newsletter form works/links correctly; responsive. F) Off-Canvas Menu (Overlay/Slide-out) • Implement off-canvas menu layout and behavior to match the layout: o Clear “Sections” list with the correct links o Secondary content block area as shown o Utility links (help/account/login, etc.) • Must be keyboard accessible and function on mobile and desktop. Acceptance criteria: opens/closes reliably; focus/keyboard behavior works; layout matches; all links active. 4) Required Skill Set (Bidders Must Demonstrate) • Proven Ghost(Pro) theme customization experience (not only admin configuration). • Comfortable modifying Gazette (or similar premium Ghost theme) without breaking core theme functionality. • Strong Handlebars (.hbs) templating skills (home, post, archive templates, partials). • Advanced HTML/CSS (Grid/Flexbox) for editorial layouts and typography systems. • Solid JavaScript for off-canvas interactions and UI behavior. • Strong responsive design implementation + cross-device testing. • Ability to implement editorial curation: o curated “center feature” per homepage section o stable tag/category-based feeds o hero text panel black/white option (clean mechanism) • Experience adding ad slots and CTA modules cleanly in templates. • Preferred: performance awareness, accessibility fundamentals, version control, and clear documentation/handoff notes. 5) Functional Requirements + Acceptance Criteria (Non-Negotiable) Bids must confirm the following: 1. High-fidelity layout match to the attached PDFs across homepage/post/archive/header/footer/off-canvas. 2. Curated center feature control for relevant homepage modules (not auto-latest only). 3. 24 archive pages delivered via a consistent template and correct routing/collections approach. 4. All CTAs work: Donate, Subscribe, Newsletter, Login, Listen Now, Popular, Latest. 5. Ad placeholders exist where shown and do not break responsiveness. 6. Responsive behavior is clean and intentional across common breakpoints. 7. Theme deliverable: final theme ZIP uploaded and working on Ghost(Pro), with documentation of what was changed. 6) How We Will Test Completion (Checklist) The project will be considered complete only if all items pass: Header/Nav • All nav links route correctly. • Alignment and spacing match layout on desktop and mobile. Homepage • Hero matches layout; hero color toggle works as specified. • “Keeping You In The Know” module: curated center feature works; subcategory links work. • Each homepage section module matches layout pattern and remains responsive. • Subscribe CTA bar appears in the correct location and links work. • Podcast promo module displays and LISTEN NOW links correctly. • Ad slots appear in correct positions and do not distort layout. Post Page • Post template matches layout; typography and spacing correct. • Mid-article ad slot present. • Subscribe CTA bar present and links work. • Footer renders correctly after post. Archive Pages (24) • Each of the 24 pages loads, displays correct title, and uses the same template. • Featured area + “Read more” grid + CTA/ad slots appear as designed. • Responsive behavior verified. Off-Canvas • Opens/closes reliably. • Keyboard navigation works (tabbing, focus visibility). • Links and layout match the design. Delivery • Theme ZIP provided and successfully installed on Ghost(Pro). • A brief handoff note explaining how curation works (how to select center features, hero styling, etc.). 7) What to Include in Your Bid • Links to 2–3 Ghost theme customization examples (preferably editorial/magazine-style). • Your approach to implementing curated homepage features and 24 archives. • Timeline and milestone breakdown (homepage → post → archives → header/footer → off-canvas → QA). • Fixed price or hourly estimate and what’s included. • Any risks/constraints you foresee with Gazette + Ghost(Pro). The freelancer will be required to sign an Intellectual Property (IP) Agreement and Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) confirming that all work produced under this project is your exclusive property. Please provide examples of previous Ghost Pro work. Looking forward to your bids!