I’m looking to develop a website for a new business, but know very little about the process which makes weighing my options and understanding pros and cons challenging. I have been in touch with a web developer, but I’m not sure if this is the best route to go. The developer charges nearly $1000 to create a website. I need something pretty basic. Looking to make a multi page, low traffic website, need plug-ins and SEO. I am thinking of just using WordPress and designing it myself. I am creative and don’t mind taking the time to do this if it would be easy enough for a first timer that knows very little about tech or website development.
The web developer I was in touch with sent me to themeforest.net to pick out a Word Press theme. When I saw this it made me think that maybe what the developer was going to do was just plug in my information to the theme I choose and format things until I say I like it. If this is the case, it seems pretty easy and just like what I would be doing for myself otherwise.
Am I wrong in thinking that what the web developer would be doing is nearly exactly what I would do for myself? Is there some advanced coding the developer would be doing with the word press theme and advantages I would have from this route apart from saving my own time? Does it sound like the developer is trying to take advantage?
Are there questions I should be asking? What should I know? FYI: If you are using any tech jargon or acronyms it’s going to go over my head. Please dumb it down for me. Thank you!
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The dev is most likely gonna customise your theme without code, considering the budget.
You can learn the same and do it too, in under a week.
Idk who the developer is, but an ideal dev should help you to not overload the website with plugins and keep it fast and optimised for SEO.
The dev might also be adding/removing sections using page builders like Elementor.
However, SEO is something you might need to consult an expert for. It’s hard and takes time to show results. Alternatively, you could self learn that too and see results in a much longer time, but yeah that will need alot of effort.
At that budget…you aren’t getting anything but installing and configuring for you. That’s not a developer. Telling you to pick a theme is a giant red flag.
For context, I charge $180/hour, and minimum is 30 hours. Before anyone says “I can put a site together in 6-8 hours” no you can’t…not correctly, anyway.
I only point that out to give some contrast between whatever that dude is selling you and minimum costs of actual development. That’s not to say there aren’t good developers who charge less per hour, but not “pick a theme and $1k website” cheap. At minimum they should take the time to listen to the requirements and advice you on stack recommendations, instead of asking you to do the legwork and “pick a theme”. It’s kinda like you going to a mechanic saying you have a noise, and them saying “ok, well pick the part you think is making it and I can replace it for you”