Can you build us a WordPress website?
Of course! How much it costs will depend on what you want. You might want to have a brand blitz or consultancy session too or want us to do some keyword analysis before we start. We’ve got three starting points – as with our app packages, we couldn’t come up with a good name for them, so we’ve called them after what we like in the office.
Why WordPress?
You need a website for your business. You are faced with about a gazillion options – all of which vary in price and functionality. So where do you start? WordPress, Wix, GoDaddy, 1&1… the list goes on!
When I started blogging I chose WordPress as a platform and I loved it. Over 10 years on I’ve invested a huge amount of time into trying things out, learning, breaking it, learning how to fix it and not do it again and I still love it!
Being in control
WordPress gives you the chance to control your own website. If you want to take the content out and put it in another site you can. You don’t need a web developer to do routine maintenance and it’s easy to learn how to post your own content.
WordPress now powers one third of the world’s websites – from tiny start ups to massive international brands – it can work for everyone. In addition, many schools and universities are teaching their students how to use WordPress so there’s a new generation of users coming to the workforce.
FAQ
With so many options out there, we’re often asked questions about why we work in WordPress. If we’ve not answered your question here, just get in touch and we’ll be happy to help.
WordPress is free. Why do you charge to make websites with free software?
If you want to build a WordPress website yourself, by all means go for it – it’s a really good learning experience and there’s a great sense of satisfaction when it works.
The reason we charge is because I use premium (paid for) themes, some premium plugins for functionality (I own developer licences) and you’re paying for my skills to customise that theme to how you want it to look – your colour schemes, fonts and the way that it works. This all takes time and specialist knowledge.
What about the risk of hacking?
WordPress is freeware – it’s available to everyone and therefore there is a risk of hacking. However, that risk can be managed with good security and good maintenance procedures. To put it another way – every house is at risk of being burgled – but you lock your doors and close the windows to reduce that risk. Using a reputable host, strong passwords and being mindful of the site security at all times minimises the risk.
Can’t I just use a free website builder?
Sure – if that’s what you want to do. However, I would encourage to check what’s actually free and what functionality that you’ll have to pay for. As with most things, the free options tend to give you the basics – if you want more, you’ll have to pay for it.
I have yet to find a free sitebuilder which allows you to export your content if you change website provider (that’s a bit like moving house but having to leave all your property behind!). Squarespace, Wix and other platforms do not give you full control or ownership of your content, once you’ve published the page.
Equally, I’ve yet to find a sitebuilder that offers the SEO functionality of WordPress. It’s improving but it’s still not nearly as comprehesive or customisable. If you want your site to be found by Google, a well optimised WordPress site is a very, very good start.
Does being able to optimise my site really matter?
If you want your website to be found – the simple answer is yes!
Is it too late to move to WordPress?
Moving from a platform like Wix to WordPress is not the most straightforward job in the world. However, every client we’ve done it for has seen immediate improvements in their site traffic and the amount of work it’s brought to them
Hosting – what is it?
If you have a WordPress website, you need it to be hosted somewhere – it needs it’s own little corner of the internet in which to live. There are many options out there (including our own hosting packages) and I am happy to advise on what would suit you. As a rule of thumb though, the cheaper the hosting, the worse the customer service!
Can you look after our WordPress site for us?
Absolutely – whether I’ve designed it or not, we’d be delighted to look after your site for you. We offer 3 packages:
- £15/month – we do the plugin updates, any upgrades and keep a general eye on the site for you
- £35/month – everything in the £15/month package plus up to 3 changes per month (for example adding a page, changing a colour, tweaking functionality)
- £55/month – everything in the £15/month package plus up to 6 changes per month
Other technical work is charged at £45 per hour, with a minimum of 1 hour .
Can you train us to look after our own site?
Definitely – WordPress isn’t scary and you can certainly manage it yourself. We’re happy to be on hand if you need a little extra help now and again.
Want to chat? Get in touch