I am often asked why we now use Wordpress exclusively for client website builds.
The answer could be glib and easy but I think I would be doing us both a dis-service to go down that route, so the longer answer follows.
To begin, let’s consider a business website per se.
Building a website is relatively easy
You may have a teenager who could put something together for you, you may have built something yourself. Building a great website is more challenging and complex – building a great website that does well in the search engine rankings is even more difficult.
Making a website pay for itself
There is, in my humble opinion, not a great deal of point in having a website if it isn’t going to bring additional business in for you. Every website should pay for itself in the increased business volume it produces for the business owner. This is a return on investment that can be reasonably expected. I understand that the cost of a website can represent a significant chunk of change for small and startup businesses – but, when built properly, a website will earn its keep.
Saving money with a business website
Having a good, effective online presence can save money in addition to bringing in extra sales. Encouraging clients and prospects to register to receive communications electronically can save a small fortune in paper based mailings. Setting up drop ship facilities for products sold can reduce the cost of storage. Setting up an ecommerce facility can mean your business is open for trading 24/7 without extending the cost of staff cover.
When lack of planning constitutes an emergency!
A lot of small businesses and startups come to us for help when they face a deadline. They may have paid a LOT of money for a full page ad in a trade magazine, they may have been talked into taking a last minute deal on a stand at a trade show, they may be attending a conference or networking event. Whatever the reason we are often faced with the task of getting to know a client, understanding their business and providing a first class website – sometimes within days.
Having set the scene, let’s talk about Wordpress.
It is not unusual for a web site project to run into months and thousands of dollars. Talk to many businesses and you will hear a similar tale. Projects over-running on time and budget. It’s rare to get both sides of the story. Web designers tell stories of clients changing specifications umpteen times. Business owners tell stories of web designers never producing what they want. It is a minefield.
The beauty of working with Wordpress….
…. and a premium theme such as Thesis is that a first iteration of a website can be produced in days (other projects permitting of course). Wordpress grows in a modular fashion. It is possible to put together the ‘rush site’ which can then be expanded and developed over time, once the panic is over. Old content rolls over seamlessly making way for the new up-to-date stuff.
Best of all
The strongest point in favour of Wordpress is the fact that clients can manage and maintain their business websites themselves, with a level of support that suits their technical expertise and time availability. The fact that content is kept separate from code means even the most technically challenged business owner can make web page updates – and this is how a small or startup business has to work. Until it is established with a steady revenue stream, the business owner needs to be able to do a little bit of everything. I know modern management gurus preach outsourcing but this is not feasible for the bootstrapping start up.
Wordpress and the Search Engines
Wordpress and Thesis are already optimised for good search engine rankings so a lot of the basic seo work is done for you. Now this does not mean your business website will bounce straight into Google at number 1 – there is still work to be done, but at least you are not starting from scratch.
And, finally
Using Wordpress is one of those oft talked about but rarely seen win-win situations. I can provide quick, scalable, reasonably priced web solutions and the client gets the web site they want, that they can maintain, at a price they can afford.