Having a website is essential for businesses and anyone looking to establish an online presence. WordPress is a popular platform for building sites – in fact, this Content Management System (CMS) powers over 40 percent of websites worldwide. But you might be wondering whether you should hire a WordPress professional to create your site, or consider other options, like doing all the work yourself.
Well, each option has its own set of advantages and disadvantages, as well as varying costs. For instance, WordPress makes it possible to build a site without requiring technical knowledge, but not everyone has the time and patience to design professional pages. Meanwhile, hiring a freelancer or web design agency can be the easiest way to build your site, but it can also be costly.
In this post, we’ll look at the main options you have for building a WordPress site, and discuss the pros and cons of each one. We’ll then show you why hiring a WordPress professional agency might be the best solution for your business. So, let’s dive right in!
What are the options for setting up a website?
Before we discuss whether it’s worth hiring a WordPress professional, let’s look at the main routes you can take to design and launch your website. This way, you’ll have a better idea of what each option looks like, and how much it may cost.
1. Building your website from scratch
WordPress is a beginner-friendly platform. Features like the Site Editor and Block Editor enable you to build each page using blocks:
WordPress also comes with a huge library of free themes and plugins. This means you won’t need to use code to design your site and add functionality.
Pros:
- Complete control. Building a website from scratch provides the ultimate level of control over every aspect of the project, from design to functionality. Plus, you can design the site at your own pace.
- Customization. WordPress is a flexible platform, and every theme and plugin comes with customization settings. Plus, custom coding enables you to create unique features that match your vision and requirements.
- Learning opportunity. Creating a website from scratch can be an excellent learning experience. It will also help you manage your content independently, and you can easily make changes and updates as needed, instead of having to rely on others.
Cons:
- Time-consuming. Developing a site from the ground up can take a significant amount of time. If you’re a business owner or digital marketer, you might prefer to prioritize other tasks.
- Maintenance. You are responsible for maintaining and updating the site, which can be technically challenging and time-intensive. Plus, if you miss a major update, it can lead to security issues on your site.
Pricing:
WordPress is a free CMS. However, you’ll need to purchase web hosting and a domain name.
Many web hosts include a domain name in their plans, as well as other essential features like a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificate and email domain. Some also offer managed services, meaning they will handle updates, backups, and other tasks for you.
Prices can range from $50 to $300 annually. While shared hosting is often the cheapest option, you may want to consider purchasing dedicated hosting instead. This offers additional security and resources for your site.
2. Using WordPress page builders
Page builders are WordPress plugins that make it even easier to design your website. These typically include a drag-and-drop editor and several ready-made templates.
Popular page builders include Elementor, Divi, and Beaver Builder.
Pros:
- Ease of use. WordPress page builders offer user-friendly interfaces that enable you to drag and drop elements to create your site.
- No technical skills needed. You don’t need coding skills to use page builders, although most of them enable you to make further customizations with custom CSS code.
- Flexibility and customization: These builders provide numerous templates and widgets, which you can customize to suit your needs.
Cons:
- Learning curve. While easier than coding from scratch, it may still take some time to master the tools and maximize their capabilities.
- Potential performance issues. Over-reliance on page builders can sometimes lead to slower website performance due to bloated code.
- Limited customization. Although flexible, page builders may not offer the same level of customization as custom coding.
Pricing:
Page builders typically have a free plan, although this will only offer basic features.
To get more templates and customization options, you’ll need to purchase a premium plan. Basic plans may start at around $10 per month, while more comprehensive plans with additional features can cost around $50 per month or more.
3. Working with a freelancer
You might consider hiring a WordPress professional instead. This can either be a freelancer, or a web design agency (which we’ll look at in the next section).
You can find freelancers on platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, and Toptal:
You might hire them for small tasks, like designing a particular page, or to design an entire page. Some freelancers also specialize in plugin development, so they can also create custom functionality for your site.
Pros:
- Expertise. Freelancers often have specialized skills in areas like design, development, or Search Engine Optimization (SEO), which can result in a high-quality website.
- Flexibility. Freelancers can often work around your schedule and specific requirements, offering a personalized approach.
- Cost-effective. Generally, hiring a freelancer can be less expensive than working with an agency, especially for smaller projects.
Cons:
- Reliability. Finding a reliable freelancer can be challenging, and there’s a risk of project delays or communication issues.
- Limited resources. A freelancer might not have the resources or skills to handle every aspect of a project, such as complex coding, marketing, and design. Therefore, you might end up having to hire multiple freelancers, which can be costly.
- Scalability: As your business grows, you may outgrow the capabilities of a single freelancer, requiring additional resources or skills.
Pricing:
Freelance web developers typically charge anywhere from $100 to $5,000, depending on the project’s scope and complexity. This price can increase if the freelancer is highly experienced or if the project requires advanced features.
4. Hiring an agency
Finally, let’s look at hiring an agency for your projects.
Typically, agencies offer an all-around service, and they can manage all aspects of your website. They’ll have experts in design, development, SEO, security, and other areas.
Pros:
- Expertise and experience. Agencies employ a team of professionals with diverse skills and experience. Therefore, you won’t need to vet your WordPress professional (as you would if you were hiring a freelancer).
- Reliability and support. Agencies typically provide ongoing support and maintenance, helping you with updates and troubleshooting. Plus, you’ll likely have a primary point of contact for all your website needs.
Cons:
- Cost. Hiring an agency is usually more expensive than the other options. These costs reflect the comprehensive services and expertise they provide.
Pricing:
Agency pricing can vary widely based on the scope of the project. Also, most agencies do not make their prices available on their sites, and they encourage you to reach out for a quote. This is largely because the cost is determined by your needs and requirements.
So, should you hire a WordPress professional?
If you want to create a stunning, fully functional website for your business, hiring a WordPress professional is likely the smartest option.
It saves you a lot of time and work. Plus, WordPress professionals will be able to implement features like advanced caching and image compression to help boost your site speed.
They will also ensure that your website is accessible. This means that users with physical or cognitive disabilities will still be able to access your content.
Additionally, they’ll make sure your site is responsive and looks good on all devices.
However, you might consider hiring an agency over a freelancer. With a team of experts, agencies can guarantee a higher level of quality in their work. This includes not only the visual aspects of the website but also the underlying code, security features, and SEO.
At Freshy, we offer a one-stop solution, managing everything from WordPress design and development to SEO and website maintenance. We can ensure that all aspects of your website work together seamlessly:
Our team of experts can handle projects of any size and complexity, including online stores and enterprise sites.
We also provide ongoing support and maintenance, ensuring that your website remains up-to-date, secure, and functional. This long-term partnership can save you time and hassle in the future.
Our services are tailored to your specific needs. You’ll get a dedicated project manager who will evaluate your goals and requirements, and create a plan accordingly. They will be your primary point of contact throughout the project lifecycle.
Overall, working with an agency like Freshy can be worthwhile if you want a professional website that runs smoothly at all times. A reliable and user-friendly site can boost your conversions and help you generate more leads.
Conclusion
As we have seen, there are several options for creating and managing a WordPress website. You can do it yourself from scratch, use page builders like Elementor and Divi, or work with a WordPress professional like a freelancer or agency.
Hiring a professional agency like Freshy offers numerous advantages. You’ll get a comprehensive service, expert quality, scalability, and long-term support. An agency will ensure that your website not only looks great but also functions optimally, helping you achieve your business goals.
At Freshy, our WordPress services are tailored to your specific needs and requirements. Reach out for a quote today!
Featured image: Pexels
