1. When WordPress is the right choice
WordPress is free, open software. The usual setup, often called self-hosted, is WordPress installed on hosting you pay for. It can be moved between hosts, and it powers a very large number of sites. That is a real strength.
There is also WordPress.com, a hosted service that works more like a website builder. This page is about the usual self-hosted setup. Use WordPress if any of these are true:
- You already have a WordPress site that works and someone looks after it. Keep it.
- You, or someone you trust, will keep it updated and backed up.
- You want to own the site outright and keep the option to change host.
- You need a site with a lot of written content, and you have the time to manage it.
- You want to do it yourself and are happy to learn how.
2. Where WordPress falls short for a local business
Someone has to look after it
WordPress needs regular updates and backups. Either you do that, or you pay someone to. Software that is not kept up to date is a risk, and it is easy to forget when you are running a business.
It is built from other people's parts
A WordPress site usually depends on a theme and plugins from different authors. Each one is updated on its own schedule, and a change to one can affect another.
It can get slow or fragile
A site assembled from many plugins can become slow, or hard to change without something else breaking. That can build up over time.
It often starts from a theme
Many sites begin with a theme that other sites also use. You can change the look, but the starting point was not designed around your business.
There are costs, and the time is yours
The software is free. Hosting is a cost for as long as the site exists, and some themes and plugins are paid for. Building it yourself costs time, and paying someone to do it costs money.
3. What you get with me instead
I do the work
I handle the domain, the hosting, the design, the build and what comes after. Changes to your text and images are done for you as part of the fee.
Built for your business
Your site is built for you, not from a theme that other sites share. It is designed and built for that one business.
Built around how you already work
Bookings, enquiries and bespoke systems are built around the way your business runs now. If something slows you down, I can build the thing that fixes it.
One person from start to finish
You deal with me, and only me. I answer my own messages, and I am still here after the site goes live.
A way to pay that suits you
Pricing is per project. You can pay upfront, or make one monthly payment that includes hosting and updates. I aim to have your project up and running for you to test within 7 days. Extremely complex projects may take longer.
4. WordPress and Built by Curtis side by side
| Topic | WordPress | Built by Curtis |
|---|---|---|
| Who does the work | You build it, or pay someone to. | I build it. I make text and image changes for you as part of the fee. |
| Starting point | Often a theme that other sites also use. | Built for your business, not from a shared theme. |
| Who looks after it | You, or someone you pay. It needs regular updates and backups. | I handle what comes after the site goes live. |
| Where the site lives | On hosting you choose and pay for. It can be moved to another host. | I handle the domain and the hosting for you. |
| Cost | The software is free. You pay for hosting, and for any paid themes or plugins. | Priced per project. Pay upfront, or one monthly payment that includes hosting and updates. |
| Time to a first version | As long as it takes you, or whoever you hire, to build it. | I aim to have it up and running for you to test within 7 days. Extremely complex projects may take longer. |