In the digital age, a strong online presence is paramount to the success of any business. One of the most effective ways to achieve this is through a well-designed and functional website. And when it comes to website development, WordPress is a platform that stands out due to its versatility and ease-of-use. But why should you consider hiring a WordPress Website Development Company instead of going the DIY route?
In this post, we will delve into the many advantages of partnering with professionals for your WordPress website needs. From expert design and WordPress theme customization to ongoing support, discover how these specialists can enhance your online presence and drive business growth. Let’s dive in!
What Exactly is a WordPress Web Development Firm?
A WordPress web development firm is a corporate entity that delivers a comprehensive array of WordPress development solutions. Its services range from building websites from the ground up, crafting custom themes and plugins to modifying existing ones, generating unique designs, helping with migration from other platforms to WordPress, and boosting site performance and security.
A standard WordPress web development firm employs a team composed of various professionals:
- Core developers. As the name suggests, these individuals handle the platform’s backend, writing code to augment its functionality and resolving any issues that emerge in the system core.
- Theme developers. They develop WordPress themes based on custom designs provided by clients or created by the company’s design team. They also modify third-party themes to reflect a specific business’s aesthetic.
- Plugin developers. They create WordPress add-ons to address particular business needs or adjust existing plugins to meet the client’s specifications.
- Designers. If a client lacks designs, these professionals can generate them based on the client’s concepts, following the highest industry standards.
- UX/UI Experts. They design user interfaces in accordance with the fundamental usability principles.
A WordPress web development firm typically has a vast talent pool to manage multiple tasks and projects concurrently by adhering to efficient procedures and workflows.
Clients can choose from a variety of engagement models, including fixed price, time and materials, dedicated team, and more.
As with any business, there are advantages and disadvantages to partnering with a WordPress development firm. Let’s delve into those next.
The Advantages and Disadvantages of Partnering With a WordPress Web Development Firm
Pros
Broad Expertise and Collective Experience
One of the compelling advantages of a WordPress development firm is the team’s comprehensive expertise and collective experience. A firm gathers all the necessary WordPress specialists under one roof: designers, developers (core, plugin, theme), UI/UX designers, and more.
You’re spared the hassle of hopping from one freelancer to another, wasting valuable time trying to find someone to handle a specific task, such as adding a feature or customizing a theme. Additionally, a firm typically boasts a plethora of successfully completed projects, which assures high quality and quick turnaround times.
Proven Workflows
Another advantage of partnering with a WordPress development firm is their adherence to processes that have been tested across numerous projects and various types of clients. Once a project commences, a dedicated Project Manager oversees it.
Their role is to supervise the work from inception to completion, serving as the main liaison between you and the team. They will regularly update you on the project’s progress and resolve any bottlenecks, ensuring timely delivery that meets your exact expectations and requirements.
Immediate Start
A standard WordPress web development firm has a large talent pool, enabling them to handle multiple projects concurrently. Therefore, you won’t need to wait for your project to start (in most cases), preventing delays and potential business risks.
Partnership Approach
Contrary to some freelancers who may disappear once they’ve delivered the work, a WordPress web development firm emphasizes long-term collaboration. It will provide continuous support and maintenance for your website, ensuring it’s always updated and secure. Satisfied clients lead to more satisfied clients in the future.
Drawbacks
Potentially Higher Service Costs
It’s a fact: the average WordPress website development company tends to charge more for their services than individual freelancers. This is due to overhead costs like office rent, salaries, taxes, software licenses, and unavoidable operational expenses.
Moreover, the cost can vary greatly depending on the breadth, intricacy, and urgency of your project. How many unique elements does it have? How complex are the features needed by your business? How quickly do you need the website? Do you already have designs or need the company to create them? All these factors should be considered when estimating the project cost.
Even though prices at a company may be higher than those charged by freelancers, many companies manage to significantly cut development costs by adopting a flat organizational structure. This model minimizes managerial levels, thereby reducing expenses associated with intermediaries (salaries, benefits, etc.).
Relying on the Company for Updates
Once your website is fully operational with all the desired features, making changes and updates can be daunting if you lack technical skills.
You could certainly hire another WordPress developer for this task. However, if the functionality is complex, it will take time for the new professional to understand it. As a result, you might end up spending more money on website updates than if you had relied on the original development company.
Communication Challenges
Some companies have a notorious reputation for poor client service. They may offer only one communication channel or take an unreasonably long time to respond to client inquiries, leading to delays and frustration. Therefore, it’s crucial to understand a company’s communication methods before engaging their services.
Overall, working with a WordPress development company to build your website is likely to bring more advantages. But how do you find a trustworthy one? Let’s explore some key indicators of a reliable WordPress website development company.
Factors to Consider When Selecting a WordPress Website Development Company
Experience and Proficiency in Specific Areas
You would naturally prefer a company with diverse expertise, including theme development and customization, plugin development, design, UI/UX, and more. Technical skills are also important (programming languages, frameworks, etc.). Look for information about the developers’ qualifications, especially the number of senior developers on the team.
Additionally, find out when the company was established, how many projects it has completed, and what industries and types of clients it has served.
Portfolio and Reviews
Seeing is believing. A company might claim to have completed hundreds of projects, but until you see real examples, remain skeptical. A reliable WordPress website development company should have a portfolio that displays its capabilities.
Try to find client reviews about the company you’re considering. Platforms like Clutch.co are a good starting point. Read both positive and negative feedback. Take note of what people appreciated or disliked about the company.
Communication and Project Management
Effective communication and efficient project management are critical for a successful partnership. In addition to exploring the company’s website for information about their communication channels, send an email or chat message to see how quickly they respond.
Also, inquire about their project management process. Will you have a dedicated project manager to oversee your project? A company with a well-established and proven project management process is more likely to deliver high-quality results on time.
Pricing and Project Timelines
Getting an accurate cost and time estimate before starting the project is crucial. Determine if there are any additional charges that you may incur beyond the quoted amount. Does the company offer any pricing options that could potentially save you money? How many free revisions are included?
Some companies provide clients with imprecise project estimates and then introduce unexpected fees midway through the project. Avoid such scenarios at all costs.
Other Options Instead of a WordPress Website Development Company
While engaging a trustworthy WordPress website development company is undeniably the best route to take, there are other options available. These alternatives come with their own pros and cons, and it’s important to understand them before making your decision.
Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Method
Creating your own WordPress website can indeed be an achievable task. However, while this approach may save you money and allow quicker launch times, it also comes with significant challenges that may limit your capabilities and potentially compromise your website’s performance and security.
Here are some key issues to consider.
Theme Customization Challenges
One of the primary benefits of WordPress is the multitude of free themes that you can readily install and tweak to suit your business branding. However, you’ll soon realize that many other websites are using the same theme as yours.
This similarity can negatively impact your business as it may cause confusion among visitors, leading to decreased traffic and potential leads.
To address this issue, you might consider customizing your theme to make it more unique and appealing. Unfortunately, the customization options for free themes are usually basic and limited.
One solution might be to purchase a premium theme that offers broader customization features. But this comes with its own problems. Firstly, you may need to pay for updates and support, which can be expensive in some cases. Secondly, you’re entirely dependent on the theme developer – what happens if they stop maintaining and updating the theme? Besides becoming outdated, the theme could become vulnerable to cyber-attacks.
That’s why it’s recommended to work with a professional WordPress development company to create a custom theme for your website.
Plugin Issues
The same issues that apply to themes also apply to plugins. While there are numerous free plugins available on wordpress.org, you might find that you need more advanced functionality as your business evolves. Unfortunately, free plugins often lack deep customization options.
Upgrading to a Pro version of the plugin might be necessary, which could further strain your budget. Additionally, having multiple plugins installed can lead to conflicts, resulting in slow loading speeds and crashes.
Just like themes, it’s best to hire a WordPress development company to develop custom features or plugins that cater to your specific business needs.
Performance and Security Concerns
It’s rare to find DIY websites with free themes and plugins that perform optimally. This is especially true when there are many incompatible plugins installed. Furthermore, cybercriminals often exploit free solutions that have been around for a while and are rarely updated.
Unless you’re proficient in WordPress and the technologies used to support it, it’s worth investing in a reliable WordPress development company to optimize your website’s performance and enhance its security.
The DIY method has other hidden challenges aside from those mentioned above.
Freelancers
Another alternative to using a WordPress website development company is to hire freelancers. While this option may be cheaper and allow direct communication with the developer, it still falls short compared to working with a company.
Here are the main reasons why you should be cautious when considering freelancers:
- Freelancers usually specialize in one or two areas at most, such as web design or WordPress theme building. If your project is more complex, it’s better to work with a company rather than hiring multiple freelancers with different skill sets.
- Many freelancers lack adequate project management skills. They may take on multiple projects simultaneously to maximize their income, leading to delays and missed deadlines – unlike a company that typically assigns a dedicated manager to each project.
- A freelancer might suddenly disappear, leaving the project incomplete. If you didn’t sign a legally binding contract with the freelance developer, holding them accountable can be difficult. Conversely, you always sign a contract and non-disclosure agreement with a WordPress development company to ensure timely delivery and data security.
- As freelancers often juggle several projects at once, this can negatively affect the final product’s quality. In contrast, a company has strict quality control procedures in place to ensure that the website functions as expected.
Conclusion
Choosing the right option for your WordPress website development is critical to its success. While the DIY method and hiring freelancers may seem cost-effective initially, they come with their own set of challenges such as theme customization difficulties, plugin issues, performance, and security concerns.
On the other hand, a professional WordPress development company can provide you with custom themes and plugins, superior performance, enhanced security, and expert project management, thereby ensuring the reliable and efficient delivery of your project.
Thus, it’s highly recommended to invest in a trustworthy WordPress development company for the best outcomes.
