Reasons to choose a WordPress Website

Reasons to go
custom on your WordPress website development

If you're unsure whether investing in a custom design over a theme is worth it, here's why you should consider it.

Is a custom WordPress website suitable for my business?

Custom WordPress websites are suitable for all businesses, including SMEs. Prices for a simple custom portfolio site usually start from around £7K but can go up to tens and even hundreds of thousands for bespoke functionality (a simple site with more advanced functionality usually starts at around £15K). The more you're willing to invest, the more tailored your WordPress website becomes without relying on themes or plugins. But before taking the plunge, knowing what you're getting for your money is helpful. Below, we outline some key benefits of investing in a custom WordPress website.

Better performance

No themes and minimal plugins

Over 500 WordPress websites are built daily, and the WordPress Plugin Directory features 55,000+ plugins (Kinsta). If you need a budget solution (£500-£5k), you might opt for a designer who combines pre-existing themes and plugins to achieve the look, feel and functionality you require. This approach is perfectly valid if your budget is on the lower end of the spectrum. It's often the most sensible choice for SMEs that need a 'shop window' type presence to refer clients to. But, bear in mind, it can come with unnecessary functionality that impacts your site's performance over time.

In contrast, a custom build is designed and built to your needs. The look, feel, and functionality are tailored to your requirements, with nothing extra behind the scenes. A custom WordPress website is ideal if you want to introduce unique functionality, integrate with specific application programming interfaces (APIs) and create various pages within a pre-branded framework. This option is more likely for you if you have a £5k+ starting point and can commit to a regular maintenance budget. When committing to a custom build, you’ll likely work with a WordPress agency or development company that assigns multiple specialists to your project.

Bespoke functionality

A solution tailored to your needs

How vital is custom functionality if all sites are 'custom' to a degree? It all depends on how well you need your website to perform. A budget site could be perfect if you're an SME looking for an infrequently updated online portfolio. If you have an in-house marketing team that makes regular content updates, it's worth investing in a custom WordPress website.

Your specialist team will include subtle details like a back end that matches almost perfectly with the front end and a branded framework to create pages and page elements. It may seem immaterial, but it can help bring content to life while speeding up content entry. Features like advanced navigations, searches and databases can also be factored into your build. Advanced technical elements are usually itemised in a custom build quote, giving you an understanding of how much each element costs to deliver (and allowing you to omit or add aspects as required). It’s worth noting that a custom budget will not be based on the number of pages required but on the features/functionality needed to build the underlying structure. Once the underlying structure is built, you can add as many pages as you like with our solutions. ‘Simple’ or ‘microsites’ are not necessarily as basic to build as it seems.

SEO benefits

Optimised content throughout

A budget build may include technical search engine optimisation (SEO) but is unlikely to include keyword research and optimised copywriting. If you don't need your site to be found and want to direct clients to it verbally, omitting SEO copywriting will not cause you too much trouble. You won't appear on page one of Google, but other ways exist to direct users to your website.

By opting for a custom approach, your chosen agency will conduct SEO research and write optimised copy that improves your chances of ranking higher in search engine page results. If your core aim is lead generation and conversion (to be found online and to make sales), you’ll want to opt for this service. Sometimes agencies work together to provide all the required services, and others offer a complete in-house service. In our case, we offer itemised marketing and copywriting services in-house as part of our WordPress web design and build services.

Expert support

Hosting and maintenance packages

You'll need to host your website; that's a given. And it doesn't have to break the bank. But opting for a monthly service from your WordPress agency that includes hosting and maintenance ensures your site performs consistently well. If you've decided to go custom, your chosen web agency will outline several hosting and maintenance packages, allowing you to select the right option.

If you think that all hosting options are the same, think again. There are lots of providers offering different levels of services. For example, green hosting is something to consider if you want to align your hosting with your environmental goals. Yes, that’s right. Your website produces carbon with every click, but innovative hosts are looking at ways to address and offset website carbon emissions. If you collaborate with a WordPress development company on your website build, they’ll run you through the various options.

Listed above are just some of the main benefits of custom design. Ultimately though, you should opt for what suits you. Explore your options. Think about your goals vs your budget. If you need more information, pick up the phone! We're always happy to discuss your requirements and point you in the right direction.

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