Do you ever feel like everyone but you has a beautiful, custom WordPress website?
You’ve been unhappy with your website for way too long and now you’re finally ready to do something about it. But, there are so many options, you don’t know where to start.
Knowing and understanding your options is the perfect place to begin so you don’t end up wasting valuable time and money.
What are your options?
- WordPress Page Builder Plugins
- Customized WordPress theme
- Custom WordPress site
WordPress Page Builder Plugins
WordPress page builder plugins like Divi, Page Builder by SiteOrgin and Beaver Builder are popular options. This will enable you to customize a WordPress theme with no knowledge of code and use a drag and drop page editor.
Using a page builder is an easy way to create a website. It comes with built in page layouts that you can edit, but if you don’t have any experience with design, your website can easily become a jumbled mess.
As you design your website, you want to make sure you are being as strategic as possible. Each element you place on your site should serve a purpose. Website builders have many flashy bells and whistles that you might find yourself adding on unnecessarily.
All of the bells and whistles of a page builder do come at a price. They often slow your website load time down. (Remember, your site has about 2 seconds to load before site visitors start to lose interest.)
Page builders don’t require any previous knowledge of code, but many builders user their own library of shortcodes. (A shortcode is a shortcut so you do not have to use multiple lines of complicated code.) These shortcodes can slow a website down and are often not compatible when switching to a different theme outside of the page builder.
Page builders can be great for making tweaks to a website without needing to call your web developer, but overall, are not recommended for building a new website.
Customized WordPress ThemeS
If you want to do more than just make a few changes to your website with a page builder, hiring a web designer to customize a WordPress theme might be the right option for you. A designer can take your existing website and branding to create your dream website.
With so many well built and designed WordPress themes on the market, like Coded Creative themes, a designer can customize a theme to your specifications. With the right designer, you won’t need to worry that your website will look cookie cutter.
A web designer will help you build a more strategic and user-friendly website that will help you reach your goals. Plus, you don’t have to spend the time DIYing your website, so you can focus on what really matters!
Custom WordPress Site
If you are wondering what a truly custom WordPress site is, I’ve invited my friend Krista, the WordPress developer behind Krista Rae and Coded Creative themes, to share her experience.
Once you’ve honed in on your target audience and understand the goals of your website, you may choose to have a custom WordPress site created. The benefit of a fully custom site is that you’ll work with a designer and developer to create a website that is totally focused on your goals.
Think of a website that is the exact opposite of cookie-cutter. Instead, it will be 100% customized for you. It will support your goals, attract your target audience, and lead them on a journey through your website.
While this may sound like the best option, there are a few things to keep in mind.
Custom WordPress sites come at a price. You can expect 60 hours or more to go into creating a custom site. Between getting to know your goals, developing a strategy, designing, and developing, custom sites don’t come cheap.
To get a well-created website without limiting yourself on features, you’ll want to budget around $5000. Depending on the team you work with, you may not use it all. But that way you can be confident in knowing you won’t be limited when it comes time to create your dream site.
Also keep in mind that some web designers advertise sites built on Page Builders or customized WordPress themes as a custom website. If you decide that a custom WordPress site is what you’re going for, decide what’s important going in. Do you want something that is truly custom? Or are you okay with a talented designer charging a premium, but using a page-builder?
Knowing those things will make the process of choosing the perfect designer for you much easier and will ensure you get the website of your dreams.
Choosing the Right Designer
If you want to be sure you’re not paying a premium for something that’s not truly custom, there are a few things to look for when searching for the right designer:
- Do they work with a developer? If the designer you want to work with does all the work themselves, it’s likely that you’re not getting a custom WordPress website. Instead, look for someone who works with a developer or ask them about their experience.
- Which framework do they use? If you find that the designer you want to work with uses something like Divi or another page builder, this is not actually a custom WordPress site. Customized, yes, but not custom. Decide what’s important to you before going in.
- What’s the total timeline? And last, if a designer claims that they can get a custom site created in less than a month’s time, odds are that it’s not a custom site. The actual timeline of a custom site is more around the 2-3 month range.
When it’s time for you to update your website, the options can feel overwhelming. Breaking each choice down makes them more digestible and approachable. If you still aren’t sure which option is best for you, I’ve created a worksheet for you to print out and use a basis for determining your next website update.
Download Choosing a WordPress Website That’s Best for Your Business WoRKSHEET
Thanks again to Krista for sharing her insights about a custom coded website. Learn more about her services on her website, Krista Rae, and don’t miss her beautiful WordPress themes at Coded Creative.