If you’re looking to create a website for your business, you may be considering using WordPress as your platform. This Content Management System (CMS) powers over 40 percent of all websites on the internet. But although it’s user-friendly and doesn’t require coding knowledge to master, you might still need a WordPress specialist to help you launch your site.
A well-designed and functional website can be a powerful tool to engage audiences, showcase products or services, and build credibility. By hiring a WordPress specialist, you can ensure that these goals are met. Plus, you won’t have to spend hours designing pages and learning how to use all the different aspects of WordPress.
In this post, we’ll take a closer look at WordPress specialists and what they do. We’ll then help you determine whether you need to hire one for your business (in case you’re still undecided!). Finally, we’ll discuss working with a WordPress agency like Freshy to get started. So, let’s dive right in!
What is a WordPress specialist?
A WordPress specialist is a professional with in-depth knowledge and experience in developing, designing, and managing websites on the WordPress platform. They offer a range of services that can be tailored to meet the specific needs of your business.
For instance, they can suggest the right plugins and integrations for the type of business you run.
Typically, most WordPress specialists will be able to design a website for you from scratch. However, you can also hire them for specific tasks, like search engine optimization (SEO).
Let’s take a closer look at the key services offered by these WordPress professionals.
Custom development
Custom development involves creating unique features and functionalities that aren’t available out-of-the-box in WordPress themes or plugins. If you don’t have any coding knowledge, you’ll likely need an expert to handle this task.
A WordPress specialist can develop bespoke solutions tailored to your specific business needs. This may include projects like an online store with complex product management capabilities, a membership site with gated content, or a portfolio site with unique interactive elements.
Website design
The user experience (UX) of a website plays a crucial role in engaging visitors. Plus, if customers can navigate your site easily and make purchases without any issues, you’ll likely see your conversion rate grow.
A WordPress specialist can craft a custom site that reflects your brand identity and appeals to your target audience. They will consider factors like site navigation, layout, color schemes, and typography to create a cohesive and aesthetically pleasing design.
Additionally, they can ensure that your site looks great across all devices, including mobile phones, and that users with physical or cognitive disabilities are still able to interact with your content.
Plugin development
While there are thousands of WordPress plugins available, your website may require functionalities that aren’t found in existing tools. This is especially true for large companies or businesses with unique setups.
A WordPress specialist can develop custom plugins to meet your specific needs. This will help ensure that your site has the necessary tools to operate efficiently.
Performance optimization
A slow-loading website can drive away visitors and negatively impact your search engine rankings. There are various things that can make your site slow, including large media files and heavily-coded plugins.
While you can implement measures to improve your load times, this is an ongoing process that can take up a lot of your time. A WordPress specialist can step in to optimize your site’s performance. They may do this by compressing your images, removing unnecessary code, and installing a caching tool.
Security enhancements
As mentioned earlier, WordPress is a popular platform. Unfortunately, this makes it a desirable target among hackers.
A good WordPress specialist will know exactly what needs to be done to protect your site. They can set up secure login procedures, like two-factor authentication, install a malware scanner, and enforce a strong password policy.
They may even create a backup schedule for your site, so that you always have a recent copy of your content should anything go wrong.
SEO and analytics
Once you launch your website, you’ll want to keep track of its performance. Ideally, each page and post on your site should be optimized for search engines. This will help you generate more organic traffic.
WordPress specialists have the expertise to optimize your site’s content, meta tags, and structure to improve its visibility on search engines. They can also set up analytics tools to monitor your site’s traffic and visitor behavior.
You can then use this data for your marketing campaigns. For example, if the analytics tool shows that the majority of visitors are interested in a particular service, you can create similar offerings or develop upsells to increase your profits.
Do you need to hire a WordPress specialist?
Deciding whether to hire a WordPress specialist depends on various factors, including your technical skills, the complexity of your website, and your budget.
Even if you’ve used WordPress before, or you have experience with building sites, you may still need to hire a specialist for your next project. This will allow you to focus on other aspects of your business, such as social media marketing.
Here are some considerations to help you make an informed decision.
Technical skills
If you lack technical skills or experience with WordPress, hiring a specialist can save you time and frustration.
WordPress has a user-friendly interface, but customizing it to meet specific needs often requires coding knowledge and a deep understanding of the platform.
Of course, you can always use a page builder plugin like Elementor. But you’ll likely spend hours – if not days – familiarizing yourself with its various features and customization options
A specialist can design the entire site for you, allowing you to focus on your core business.
Custom functionality
Standard themes and plugins may not always provide the exact functionality you need.
If your project requires custom features, such as a unique booking system, custom user roles, or a specialized e-commerce checkout process, a WordPress specialist can develop these functionalities specifically for your site.
Before you hire them, you’ll want to make sure that they can create that functionality for you. For instance, you might look at similar work they’ve done for other businesses.
Quality and professionalism
A professionally designed website can significantly enhance your brand image. WordPress specialists bring a level of quality and polish that can be challenging to achieve on your own.
They’ll go beyond things like fonts and color schemes, and make sure that everything from layouts and images aligns with your branding.
Plus, they’ll consider aspects that can be easily overlooked by non-professionals. For example, they’ll add alt text to images for visitors who use screen readers, and enable keyboard navigation for users with mobility issues.
These measures will make your site more accessible, and show people that you value inclusiveness.
Time and efficiency
Building and maintaining a website can be time-consuming. By hiring a WordPress specialist, you can expedite the development process and ensure that your website is up and running efficiently.
Some specialists will also provide ongoing WordPress maintenance and support. This way, you can rest assured that your site is constantly secure and updated.
Budget considerations
If you have a small business, you’re likely concerned about the costs of hiring a WordPress specialist. While this involves an upfront investment, it can save you money in the long run.
DIY solutions may seem cost-effective at first. For instance, you might decide to install a page builder and design the site yourself. However, potential errors and suboptimal performance can lead to higher costs down the line.
A specialist ensures that your site is built correctly from the start. This reduced the likelihood of costly fixes in the future.
Why working with an agency is the best way to get started
If you’ve decided that hiring a WordPress specialist is the right choice for your project, you may want to consider working with an agency rather than a freelancer.
Typically, agencies have a team of WordPress specialists with experience in various areas, including custom development, responsive design, and SEO. Therefore, you can get an all-in-one solution for your business.
At Freshy, we specialize in creating custom WordPress websites for businesses. Whether you need a professional blog or a complex e-commerce platform, we can create a tailored solution that meets your unique requirements:
Freshy offers end-to-end services, from initial design concepts to development, launch, and ongoing support. This comprehensive approach ensures that your website is fully optimized and maintained throughout its lifecycle.
Plus, you’ll get a dedicated project manager. They will carefully consider your goals and needs, and make sure that the team delivers a website that aligns with your vision.
Conclusion
Hiring a WordPress specialist can be a game-changer for your online presence. Whether you need custom functionality, a unique design, or performance optimization, these professionals have the skills and experience to deliver a high-quality website.
An agency like Freshy can be the right solution for those seeking a reliable WordPress development partner. You’ll get a service that’s tailored to your specific business goals and needs. Plus, you will continue to receive support and regular maintenance even after you’ve launched your site.
At Freshy, you’ll get a dedicated project manager and a team of WordPress specialists. Reach out to us for a quote today!
Featured image: Pexels
