This is a question we hear quite often, why should I pay a team of developers to build a WordPress website for me when I can do it myself? When getting your business online, you're probably looking to save as much money as possible, so opting for a free version of WordPress can seem tempting. In this guide we'll explain why choosing to get your WordPress solution developed by an agency (us, of course!) will get you much better results than going it alone.
Design
Although there's a whole variety of both free and premium themes available, there may still be aspects of your website that you would like to custom develop that you will not be able to code yourself. Many themes are used across thousands of WordPress sites worldwide, which will also have a negative impact on any SEO or marketing strategies that you put in place in the future. By using a team of designers and developers, you can get the exact unique look that matches your business and also give your website a great boost in the search engines.
Extra Functionality
Thanks to its open source community, you can find plugins to help you add extra features to your website such as marketing your website, managing your content or emailing your subscribers. With nearly 44 thousand plugins now available, the sky is the limit when it comes to adding extra features to your WordPress website. However, for security reasons, you're not allowed to use any of these plugins when you host your site for free on WordPress.com.
Security
The biggest issue in creating a DIY WordPress website is keeping it safe and secure. In 2013, it was reported that 41% of WordPress websites where hacked through vulnerabilities. By working with a professional web team who know WordPress's weaknesses, you can be safe in the knowledge that both your business’ and your customers’ information is safe and secure.
Time
Every minute you spend trying to get your head around WordPress or writing content for your website could be used for working on your business. Using a ready-made template seems appealing, but in reality it could take you hours to learn how to install it, adding your content and making modifications so that the template matches your branding. By working with an agency instead of attempting to develop it yourself, you could save up to 60 hours! How much could you achieve for your business in that time?
It will save you money
Although WordPress.com allows you to get started for free, it will actually cost you more in the long run. If you would like to use your own domain name, ie. yourbusiness.co.uk instead of yourbusiness.wordpress.com, it will cost you $13/year for the privilege, plus your yearly cost for your domain name. Free WordPress also comes with advertisements that will cost you $30/year to remove.
Professionalism
Would you buy a product or service from a business that uses a free website builder such as Wix? If the answer is no, then you should re-consider using a free WordPress website. By hosting your WordPress on your own server, it offers you more flexibility and also presents your business in a more professional way.
Ready to get started?
If you have any questions about WordPress developments and how we could help you, you can contact Emily any time on 01827 781 311, or email hello@webfwd.co.uk. Do you have a self-build story? Let us know in the comments below!
Let's make something great together!
If you'd like to discuss your next project with us, please feel free to give us a call on 01827 781 311 or press the "Start My Project" button to get in touch for a quick quote.
