Before starting a web project, it is very important to establish what purpose this project will have, the reason why the website is being created.

At this point, our clients usually have many doubts because in most cases they are faced with making decisions on issues that are foreign and complex to them.

Our job is to guide them throughout the entire process and help them make the right decisions. Each of our clients is different, their audiences are not the same, and therefore so are their specific needs.

It is essential to avoid biases or assumptions related to the fact that "all websites are intended to sell something.”

It is surprising how many times our clients simply want to have an online presence. In these cases, the website purpose is not to position on Google SERP or to sell products. This type of pages aim to give prestige to the companies that require them. Generally these are corporations that provide services, B2C or B2B and need simple web pages, with basic screen structures with only a few sections and great aesthetic appeal.

These web pages do not require constant updates, do not usually include blogs, nor are they self-manageable. When the client needs to modify something in particular such as a text or an image, maybe add or remove a section, each update is requested from the designer at the time it is needed, without the need for a monthly fee for maintenance.

For this type of projects, we usually recommend HTML layouts, which provides great advantages to clients who do not want or need to take care of their pages and do not want to have a monthly expense dedicated to their maintenance.

This represents a new challenge for the people in charge of making the decision about what type of web development should be required.

Most designers offer only WordPress developments. Why is that? It's really simple, there are very few designers who have the necessary coding skills to create web layouts in HTML. And so, what the designer can offer becomes more relevant than what the client really needs.

Now, let's talk about WordPress to understand the differences with HTML and make appropriate decisions. It is important to clarify that, from the user's point of view, there is absolutely no difference at an aesthetic or visual level between a web site done in HTML or WordPress. At a glance it is almost impossible to distinguish between the two of them.

When creating a web project, a huge range of possibilities opens up according to the specific needs of each person or company. One of the most important is, without a doubt, positioning on Google SERP, which is achieved in two ways. The organic way is done without paying the search engine (it is called SEO positioning), and the sponsored way, in which a web site's owner must pay Google through the creation of campaigns in Google Ads.

If a client wants a web site to position on Google or to sell products, we recommend carrying out projects in WordPress. Today, WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems (CMS) in the world. It allows to access modern tools for positioning and, at the same time, create self-manageable web pages. Each client who owns a WordPress site can update it without having to hire a designer to modify the contents. To do this, the client will need to have basic knowledge of WordPress.

At this point, it is very important to make a distinction between what is simply updating content, for example modifying texts and images, and what really means taking care of a WordPress "Health". A designer or developer takes care of updating plugins, php versions, data bases and every action related to avoid bugs or possible tech issues.

Unlike an HTML project, a WordPress site is created on a database and requires configurations and installations on the server. First, the database is created, then WordPress is installed, generally a template is purchased and all the requirements for this template are activated on the server through CPanel or similar. Finally, the purchased template and its plugins are installed and configured.

A plugin is a package of additional code that adds functions to extend the features of a WordPress site, such as a page builder. Plugin developers are independent of WordPress and constantly release new and improved versions of these code packages. Therefore, each plugin will require at least one monthly update. Some of these plugins are paid.

In conclusion, to have a fully functional WordPress site, it is essential to think about maintenance by hiring the studio or agency that develops the project. It is a mistake to assume that, since a WordPress site is a self-managed website, the client will never need the developer's services again.

WordPress is a great tool, but it is delicate and complex. It is pure technology that constantly evolves and requires the care of a professional.