A functional website has become a basic necessity in the eCommerce business as more and more businesses go digital. However, business runners are busy managing their strategies and their team. That leaves the online business platform work to website development agencies they partner with. WordPress is the most popular website hosting platform, and a huge number of companies are WordPress agencies. Given that they are the experts in the field with years of experience, you would expect them to provide the best services. This is why you should only hire the top WordPress agency to work with.
The process of hiring a WordPress agency is fraught with challenges, and making the wrong choice in selecting one can make or break your online presence. In this article, we have listed a few common mistakes you should avoid when hiring the best WordPress Agency. Keep on reading to know more.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Hiring a Top WordPress Agency
It is imperative to know the WordPress agency you will be handing over your online business to manage. There are a few reasons for this. Firstly, only a good WordPress agency can lead your online business in today’s competitive market. Secondly, your profitability depends on the agency you decide to team up with. So, how do you find a reliable top WordPress agency? Well, that depends on your business goals and preferences. However, there are a few common mistakes that you should avoid while choosing a WordPress agency, no matter what industry you are in.
1. Unclear Communication of Requirements
A major part of hiring a WordPress agency is to clearly define your business requirements. You must share your business goals, both short-term and long-term, with the agency. You must also discuss with them the vision you see for your business in the future. Failure to communicate your expectations and goals effectively will lead to misunderstanding and, later on, unsatisfactory results.
Take your time to outline your website’s purpose, desired features, target audience, and even design preference before starting the initial discussion with potential agencies. You can create a detailed document or a comprehensive brief to make sure both parties are on the same page from the get-go.
You must remember that clear communication lays the foundation for a successful collaboration in the long run. It also ensures that your vision for the website is translated into the final product you imagined.
2. Price-Driven Selection of Company
Budget undoubtedly plays a huge role when choosing a top WordPress agency to work with. However, choosing a WordPress agency solely based on price can cost you a fortune in the future. We admit that opting for the cheapest option might seem appealing at first, but it comes at the expense of quality and expertise.
Top WordPress Agencies charge higher prices for a reason- they offer the utmost creativity, industry knowledge, a reliable support system, and a seasoned team. So, instead of fixating on the price alone, explore the agency’s experience, portfolio, client testimonials, and overall reputation.
Investing in a respected WordPress agency might require a hefty upfront investment, but you get a return on investments in terms of the quality and performance of your website.
3. Lack of Reference and Review Verification
Checking references and reviews from past clients is one of the most effective ways to gauge the capabilities and reliability of a top WordPress agency. They are pretty much a stamp of trust on the agency. Testimonials and case studies also provide an overview of the agency’s track record, customer satisfaction levels, and project management strategies.
The majority of agencies will provide testimonials and case studies themselves; some even have them showcased on their websites. However, if you run into an agency that doesn’t offer testimonials and case studies, even upon asking, it’s your sign to leave the discussion table.
In fact, before even starting the conversation, do a background check on the agency by reading their online reviews. Plenty of industry forums have reviews on major agencies with unbiased feedback you can rely on. You must keep this point in mind as it helps you make an informed decision and avoids possible pitfalls.
4. Neglecting Support and Maintenance
Many people make the mistake of solely focusing on the website development phase and forget the importance of ongoing support and maintenance services. Avoid being one of those people by making sure you add continuous website maintenance and support to the initial discussion with the agency. A well-built website needs regular updates, security patches, and technical support to ensure optimal performance and security against cyber threats.
Ask the WordPress agency about their post-launch support packages, response time for troubleshooting issues, and availability for future updates before finalizing a contract with them. This conversation about website support and maintenance can save you time, money, and disappointments down the line.
Remember that investing in maintenance can prevent downtime and security breaches that can cost you a lot of time and money in the future.
5. Lack of Discussion Regarding SEO Strategies
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is an important part of any successful website strategy. It determines your website’s visibility and ranking on Search Engine Pages (SERPs). Unfortunately, a majority of businesses forget to discuss SEO strategies with the WordPress agency they chose to work with. It results in subpar website performance and missed opportunities for organic traffic to the website.
Ask about the agency’s approach to SEO, keyword research techniques, on-page optimization methods, and content strategy recommendations when vetting potential agencies. A top WordPress agency will prioritize SEO and work collaboratively with you to boost website visibility and drive targeted traffic to your website.
6. Failure to Discuss Scalability and Growth
Your website should be able to accommodate future growth and scalability requirements as your business grows and evolves. Sadly, many businesses overlook this factor when teaming up with a WordPress agency. Instead, they opt for short-term solutions that become obsolete and restrictive to your business over time.
Relay your long-term goals, anticipated growth trajectory, and scalability requirements for the website during the initial conversations with potential WordPress agencies.
An agency that thinks of the future growth of the website and plans accordingly will take these factors into account and create a flexible solution. You can future-proof your website by planning for growth and scalability from the get-go. This helps you avoid the hassle of costly redesigns or migrations down the line.
7. Legal and Contractual Oversight
The legal and contractual parts of choosing the top WordPress agency are often overlooked. However, they are important for protecting your interests and maintaining a mutually productive partnership. Thoroughly read the terms and conditions, payment schedules, intellectual property rights, confidentiality clauses, and dispute resolution processes before signing any agreement or contract.
Businesses should consult legal counsel if necessary to ensure that the contract accurately describes the scope of work, deliverables, and responsibilities of both parties. You must pay special attention to any exclusions or restrictions on liability that may affect your rights or duties under the agreement.
It is important to remember that taking a proactive approach to legal and contractual oversight can help avoid misconceptions and reduce risks.
8. Ignoring Portfolio Red Flags
When reviewing the agency’s portfolio and client testimonials, pay close attention to the design aesthetics, functionality, and user experience of the websites they have developed. Always be on the lookout for signs of outdated design trends and lack of attention to detail. These are all indications of subpar works that won’t work for your business goals.
Moreover, a top WordPress agency should present a range of projects across several different industries. This reflects the agency’s versatility and ability to customize solutions to a range of client needs. A lack of diversity or a narrow focus on the portfolio suggests limited expertise.
The agency might be using a one-size-fits-all approach to website development, which might not work for your business. Working with such an agency might hinder your business’s growth as it will blend with every other business available online.
9. Ignoring Mobile Responsiveness
One of the biggest mistakes businesses can make is ignoring mobile responsiveness when developing their website. A major portion of web traffic comes from mobile users, and a website without mobile optimization is no longer optional. If you don’t prioritize mobile responsiveness in your website development, it can result in a poor user experience, lower engagement, and lost chances of conversions. Not to mention, Google prioritizes mobile-friendly websites in their rankings.
An effective SEO strategy can go in vain without mobile optimization, so make sure the agency you choose to work with keeps it in the plan. We advise that you don’t consider working with website development agencies that do not provide mobile optimization services. It will only lead to the futility of hard work, time, and money for both parties.
Conclusion
Choosing the top WordPress agency to partner with is a crucial decision that could lead to your website’s growth or downfall. Make sure you do not end up making one of the common mistakes people make when choosing a WordPress agency, as we have listed above. Remember that clear communication, avoiding price-driven decisions, and considering SEO, scalability, and mobile responsiveness are key points to take care of in the initial discussion with WordPress agencies.
Sonal S Sinha is managing director of Shri Krishna Technologies. He has been writing about website designing, digital marketing and WordPress ecosystem for the past 15+ years. He handles the overall operations and in his free time writes suitable blog posts which are knowledgeable and informative.
