WordPress Development & Optimisation

Development timelines range from 8-16 weeks depending on complexity and custom requirements. A brochure site with standard functionality takes 8-12 weeks. E-commerce sites with custom checkout flows or membership platforms with complex user journeys extend to 12-16 weeks.

Week 1-3 is discovery and architecture definition. We map your requirements, define information architecture, and create technical specifications before any development begins. Weeks 4-11 are development, integration, and comprehensive testing. Week 12 (or weeks 12-16 for complex builds) handles launch coordination and team training.

We don’t rush launches. Getting architecture right matters more than meeting arbitrary deadlines. Solid foundations let you build sophisticated capabilities later without rebuilding core systems.

Yes. We audit your current implementation, identify performance bottlenecks and security vulnerabilities, then optimise architecture without rebuilding unnecessarily.

Typical optimisation work includes performance engineering (caching strategies, asset delivery, database queries), security hardening (authentication workflows, plugin audits, server configuration), measurement integration (data layer implementation, GTM setup, analytics configuration), and accessibility improvements (semantic HTML, ARIA patterns, keyboard navigation).

If your current site has fundamental architectural limitations preventing proper performance or measurement, we’ll recommend targeted rebuilds focusing on problem areas rather than complete site reconstruction.

Yes, when custom functionality serves your business requirements better than adapting existing plugins.

We develop custom plugins for unique workflows (approval processes, calculation tools, custom post types), integrations not served by existing solutions (proprietary APIs, legacy systems, custom data structures), and performance-critical functionality where plugin overhead creates unacceptable load times.

Custom plugin development adds time to project schedules depending on complexity. We only recommend custom development when existing plugins genuinely can’t meet requirements or when plugin overhead significantly impacts performance.

Yes. We build to WCAG 2.1 AA standards as baseline, not optional enhancement.

Accessibility implementation includes semantic HTML structure (proper heading hierarchy, landmark regions, form labelling), ARIA patterns for complex interactions (modals, accordions, dynamic content), keyboard navigation for all interactive elements, and screen reader compatibility verified through testing with actual assistive technologies.

Accessible sites reach wider audiences (15% of UK population has disabilities) whilst generating cleaner analytics data. Consistent interaction patterns make measurement more reliable. Proper HTML structure improves SEO performance.

We also provide accessibility audits for existing sites if you’re concerned about current compliance.

We recommend hosting but don’t manage it directly. Our focus is development and optimisation, not infrastructure maintenance.

We specify hosting requirements based on your traffic patterns, performance needs, and security concerns. For most clients, we recommend managed WordPress hosting (WP Engine, Kinsta, Flywheel, DreamHost, Fasthosts) offering automatic backups, security monitoring, and staging environments. We also have a hosting partner we can refer you to if needed.

For complex requirements (high traffic, custom server configurations, regulatory compliance), we’ll specify VPS or dedicated server requirements. We configure your chosen hosting environment for optimal performance and security during site launch.

Yes. Training is included in every development project, available as both live sessions and recorded documentation.

Training covers content publishing workflows (using the block editor, managing media, maintaining consistent formatting), WordPress administration (plugin updates, user management, backup verification), and analytics interpretation (understanding GA4 reports, identifying conversion patterns, troubleshooting tracking issues).

We structure training around your team’s actual responsibilities. Content editors get focused training on publishing workflows. Marketing teams learn analytics navigation and interpretation. Technical staff receive architectural documentation and troubleshooting guides.

Recorded training sessions remain available so new team members can onboard without requiring our time.

Yes, through monthly retainers for maintenance and support.

Ongoing support includes plugin updates and compatibility testing, security monitoring and patch management, performance monitoring with monthly optimisation, backup verification and recovery testing, and priority support for troubleshooting and urgent fixes.

We also offer strategic support adding content strategy guidance, analytics review and optimisation recommendations, A/B testing implementation and analysis, and quarterly technical audits identifying improvement opportunities.

Support retainers ensure your WordPress site maintains performance, security, and measurement accuracy over time. Technology evolves. Requirements change. Ongoing support means your site evolves with your business.

Yes. Integration capability is core to our approach.

Common integrations include marketing automation platforms (HubSpot, Marketo, Pardot), CRM systems (Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics, custom solutions), e-commerce platforms (Shopify, WooCommerce, custom checkout flows), analytics tools (GA4, Adobe Analytics, custom tracking), and custom APIs connecting proprietary systems.

We architect integrations considering data flow, authentication requirements, and failure handling. Webhook implementations for real-time sync. Scheduled jobs for batch processing. Proper error handling so integration failures don’t break core functionality.

Integration complexity adds 1-4 weeks to project timelines depending on technical requirements and API documentation quality.

We combine development and analytics expertise. This integration means tracking architectures that work with privacy controls, performance optimisations preserving measurement accuracy, and data implementations informing technical decisions from day one.

Our development team understands conversion tracking requirements. Our analysts inform technical architecture. You don’t coordinate between agencies wondering who’s responsible when measurement breaks or performance degrades. We engineer solutions considering how development decisions affect measurement capability and how tracking requirements impact performance.

This integrated approach prevents the coordination overhead and finger-pointing that happens when different teams handle development and analytics separately. One team. One architecture. One system engineered for both performance and measurement.

Yes. WooCommerce development includes custom theme creation optimised for conversion, checkout flow engineering reducing friction and cart abandonment, payment gateway integration and PCI compliance configuration, advanced product filtering and search functionality, and comprehensive e-commerce tracking (product views, add to cart, purchase completion, revenue attribution).

WooCommerce projects typically run 10-14 weeks given additional complexity around payment processing, inventory management, and e-commerce analytics requirements.

We engineer WooCommerce sites for performance under traffic spikes (sales events, product launches) whilst maintaining accurate transaction tracking and revenue attribution across marketing channels.

Yes. Migration projects include complete content audit and structure mapping, custom theme development matching your brand whilst improving performance, content migration with URL preservation and redirect implementation, plugin selection and configuration replacing existing functionality, and comprehensive testing ensuring nothing breaks during transition.

Migration timelines extend 2-4 weeks beyond standard development for content migration complexity, data transformation requirements, and extensive redirect testing.

We maintain your existing site live during migration. Only when the new WordPress build is comprehensively tested do we coordinate the final cutover, typically scheduled during low-traffic periods.

We structure development in phases with review checkpoints ensuring alignment before proceeding.

After discovery (weeks 1-2), we present complete technical specifications and design concepts. You review and approve before development begins. Mid-project (around week 4-5), we provide staging environment access for preliminary review and feedback incorporation.

If architectural concerns emerge, we address them during development phases when changes are manageable, not after launch when modifications become expensive. Our phased approach with multiple review points prevents misalignment from compounding.

We also include 30 days post-launch support for bug fixes and minor adjustments ensuring production environment performs as staging demonstrated.

Yes, for applications requiring WordPress content management with custom frontend frameworks.

Headless WordPress implementations separate content management (WordPress backend) from presentation layer (React, Vue, Next.js frontends). This architecture suits applications needing sophisticated user interfaces, mobile apps requiring API access to WordPress content, or multi-channel publishing (web, mobile, kiosk) from single content source.

Headless projects extend timelines 4-6 weeks beyond traditional WordPress builds for API development, frontend framework implementation, and integration complexity.

We only recommend headless WordPress when business requirements genuinely justify additional complexity and cost.

Security implementation includes server hardening (firewall configuration, file permissions, database access controls), authentication strengthening (two-factor authentication, password policies, session management), plugin security (regular audits, minimal installation, update monitoring), backup strategy (automated daily backups, offsite storage, recovery testing), and monitoring (intrusion detection, uptime monitoring, security patch alerts).

We also conduct security audits quarterly identifying new vulnerabilities and implementing fixes before exploitation. Security isn’t one-time configuration. Threats evolve. Regular audits ensure your WordPress installation stays protected.

For sites handling sensitive data or operating in regulated industries, we implement additional security measures including SSL/TLS configuration, data encryption, and compliance documentation supporting regulatory requirements.