A WordPress website can be an excellent investment for your business, but choosing the wrong developer or rushing through the project can create problems that are expensive and frustrating to fix.
A bad WordPress website may load slowly, be difficult to update, look poor on mobile devices, or leave you dependent on a developer for even basic changes.
The good news is that many of these problems can be avoided before they happen.
Start With Clear Requirements
Before hiring a developer, decide what your WordPress website actually needs.
Think about:
- How many pages you need
- What services you offer
- Who your target customers are
- Whether you need forms or bookings
- Whether you need e-commerce functionality
- What features you may need in the future
Having clear requirements makes it easier to compare developers and avoid paying for features you don’t need.
Check the Developer’s Previous Work
Don’t choose a WordPress developer based solely on price.
Review their previous websites and look at how they perform on both desktop and mobile devices. Check whether the websites are easy to navigate, load quickly, and clearly communicate what each business offers.
Ask for examples that are similar to the website you want to build.
Make Sure You Own Your Website
One of the most important things to confirm is ownership.
Your business should have control over important assets such as:
- Your domain name
- Hosting account
- WordPress website
- Website content
- Images and branding
- Analytics and tracking accounts
Avoid situations where a developer controls everything and you can’t access your own website.
Don’t Ignore Mobile Design
A website that looks good on a desktop computer can still provide a poor experience on a smartphone.
Before your WordPress website goes live, check that:
- Text is easy to read
- Buttons are easy to tap
- Images display correctly
- Navigation works properly
- Forms are easy to complete
Mobile-friendly design should be part of the project from the beginning, not something added at the end.
Ask About Website Speed
Slow websites can frustrate visitors and make it harder to generate enquiries.
Ask your developer how they plan to optimise performance. This can involve image compression, efficient code, caching, reliable hosting, and limiting unnecessary plugins.
A professional WordPress website should be built with performance in mind rather than relying on fixes after launch.
Be Careful With Too Many Plugins
Plugins are one of the biggest advantages of WordPress, but installing too many can make a website harder to maintain.
Before adding a plugin, consider whether it’s necessary, actively maintained, and compatible with your website.
A good developer should prioritise a clean and manageable website instead of adding a plugin for every small feature.
Think About SEO From the Start
SEO shouldn’t be an afterthought.
Your website should have a solid technical foundation, including:
- Search-friendly URLs
- Proper heading structure
- Fast-loading pages
- Mobile responsiveness
- Internal links
- Optimised images
Building these elements into your WordPress website from the beginning can make future SEO work much easier.
Have a Maintenance Plan
A website isn’t finished forever when it launches.
WordPress, plugins, and themes need regular updates. You may also need security monitoring, backups, content changes, and technical support.
Ask your developer what happens after launch and whether ongoing maintenance is available.
Get Everything in Writing
Before work begins, make sure the agreement clearly explains the project scope, costs, timeline, revisions, ownership, and ongoing support.
This can help prevent disagreements later and gives you a clear understanding of what you’re paying for.
Build a Website You Can Grow With
Avoiding a bad WordPress website starts before development begins. Choosing the right developer, establishing clear requirements, maintaining ownership, and planning for long-term performance can save your business significant time and money.
At Hands Free Marketing, we help businesses across New Zealand create professional WordPress websites that are designed to be fast, user-friendly, mobile-friendly, and ready to support long-term business growth.
👉 Book your free 15-minute consult
📞 027 590 9421
📧 jevon@handsfreemarketing.com
🌐 Web Design Hawke’s Bay