Adding a new feature on your website can be very exciting. It can be a great opportunity for your business to provide new content or services to your clients – like adding an online booking or payment option. If you are not a techy person it can also be intimidating. You might be unsure if you are using the correct vocabulary or asking the right questions. Here are some ideas to help you tackle the project with confidence.
How much is this going to cost me?
There are two types of cost you can expect during the WordPress development process. The first are fees that your developer will charge for their work. It can be hourly or per milestone. There is also a cost associated with purchasing WordPress plugins. Most plugins require a yearly subscription so the costs will be recurring, even after the project is completed. Always be sure to check how frequent the plugin payments are going to be.
How long is this going to take?
It is important to have an idea of when you can expect the WordPress project to be completed and also, what could contribute to delays. Surprisingly, a lot of the delays on the project are due to poor communication. As a client, you would want to know how you can contribute to a speedy completion, which brings up the next question…
What do I need to provide for the project?
Some projects will require you to provide a graphic design or give instructions regarding the page layout, colors, fonts etc. You might need to provide images for the page or make decisions regarding different design options. In a more advanced project you might need to provide additional files or product specific information. Sometimes, you just need to be available to answer questions. Identifying all the required materials early in the process makes everybody’s job easier.
Can I test this feature before it is released?
This is a very important step, especially if you are releasing a feature with high visibility. A good WordPress developer will give you access to a development or a staging website where you can preview the feature and provide your feedback before anything goes live. Releasing a feature that is not working the way you expect can confuse your online customers.
Can I make changes to the configuration myself?
This is an important question regarding your ability to maintain and update the feature long term. You want to make sure you understand what parts of the configuration are available to you and how you can access them. You would also want to know what changes would require additional coding and trigger a new development cost.
For example, if your project is adding a new event calendar to the site, you should be able to add new events and update the details of existing ones. You might even learn how to change the color scheme of the calendar view. But, if you want to add a new page with a different type of calendar display, you will have to reach back out to the WordPress developer for assistance.
Is this feature going to slow my site down?
Nobody wants a slow site, but some advanced features that handle a large amount of data will take longer to load. The same can be true of advanced graphic elements. It is important for you to understand if your new feature is going to affect the load time on the page. If the effect is significant, look for remedial solutions like caching, content delivery network etc.
How is this feature going to affect my SEO?
This is a very important question as it will shape your ability to reach customers online. Always make sure the new feature has all the required SEO settings and is not conflicting or competing for attention with any other pages on your site.
Have a project you would like to include on your WordPress site? Let us know how we can assist you to make your WordPress site work best for your business and organization needs.
