Should I build my own WordPress website?

When you’ve got a business, you’ll inevitably need a website. But the big question is whether you should build it yourself, create your own static HTML website, or hire an agency or developer.

The idea of building your own website can seem like it would be confusing or difficult, but it doesn’t need to be. WordPress is a great option for those who want to build their own website. It is very easy to grasp because it is so user friendly - much easier to understand than sites such as Drupal. You don’t need to be a web developer to be able to grasp WordPress.

However, designing, maintaining and updating a WordPress website can take time, and it can be very easy to ruin your website. If you don’t have the best computer skills, then it’s best to hire an agency. There’s tons of questions to ask before building a website, but we’ve narrowed it down to a few important ones.

Here are some questions you need to ask if you are considering building your own WordPress website:

Do you have programming experience?

Don’t panic if the answer is no. You don’t need to be a programmer or developer to be able to use WordPress. WordPress is user friendly and is very easy to navigate. Even if you’re not tech savvy, you’ll be able to quickly learn how to use WordPress. You can download and install WordPress in under five minutes, and start writing and producing content instantly. There are even tutorials available if you need assistance starting off using WordPress.

When you first start building a website with WordPress, you will pick a theme that you can customise to suit your business. This is all pretty straightforward. However, if you’re going to add plugins to customise your website, then you’re going to need a bit more coding knowledge. It may be difficult to create a completely professional looking website with just basic WordPress knowledge. Of course, WordPress is the easier option than starting with a blank canvas and designing the website yourself. However, you have to decide whether it is better to hire an agency or trust your own skills.

What is your budget?

How much money are you spending on hosting and web development? Do you have enough money to hire an agency to build and design your website for you? These are questions you have to stack up. While WordPress is free to install and use, there are hidden costs not all businesses would initially consider. While there are around 38,000 free plugins on WordPress, you have to pay to use premium themes and plugins. Chances are you’re going to end up using at least a few of these plugins. You’ll also need to factor in hosting costs. Designing your own website could end up being substantially cheaper than using WordPress.

How much time do you have?

While WordPress is the option for those who are financially strapped, you also have to consider your time allowances. Your website will need constant updating. That’s not only the content, but the plugins and themes as well. If you develop your own website, you won’t be hounded with constant updates. All you’ll need to do is backup your website. But, like WordPress, having a static HTML website will take time to initially develop, and a considerably larger amount of time if you don’t have the web skills.

If you don’t really have the time to dedicate to web development, then hiring an agency is definitely the best decision.

What type of business do you run?

It depends on what type of business you run to know whether WordPress is really the most suitable website for you. WordPress is great if you are producing lots of content that can be constantly changed and updated. It’s also very simple to change the appearance and layout using WordPress. If you decide to build your own website from scratch, then you’ll have to know the appropriate coding to modify all these components. Using WordPress will save you a whole lot of time and effort.

It’s also important to consider the size of your business. Not just the size of it now, but also consider whether it’s likely to expand in the future and need a bigger, more capable website. Including lots of plugins and content on WordPress will slow your website down. If you’ve got a business whose website will be data heavy, then it’s best to use sites such as Drupal, design your own website from scratch or hire an agency.

So, how should you build your businesses website? Well, if you have the knowledge, have a website that doesn’t need updating frequently and want to avoid hosting costs, you could design your own HTML website. If you need a bit of assistance with the technical side, and don’t mind paying a little more, then WordPress is for you. And if you simply don’t have the technical skills or time to dedicate to building a website, then hiring an agency to do the work for you is the best option.