What is WordPress?

WordPress is a free, open-source content management system (CMS) that allows you to create and manage websites without needing to write code. Originally created for blogging in 2003, it has evolved into a full website builder that powers over 43% of all websites on the internet, from small business sites to major publications like BBC America and TechCrunch.

Yes, WordPress itself is completely free to download and use. However, you will need to pay for web hosting (typically £25-100/month for quality UK hosting) and a domain name (around £10-15/year). Premium themes and plugins may have additional costs, but thousands of free options are available.

WordPress.org is the free, self-hosted version where you download the software and install it on your own hosting. This gives you complete control and flexibility. WordPress.com is a hosted service with various paid plans that is easier to set up but more limited. For business websites, we recommend WordPress.org for its flexibility and ownership.

Absolutely. WordPress is ideal for Welsh and UK small businesses because it offers cost-effective websites with professional results, easy content management so you can update your own site, excellent SEO capabilities for local search rankings, and a huge ecosystem of themes and plugins. Most importantly, you own your website and are not locked into any platform.

WordPress offers more flexibility and ownership than Squarespace or Wix. While those platforms are easier for beginners, WordPress provides better SEO, more customisation options, lower long-term costs, and you actually own your website. With Squarespace and Wix, you are essentially renting your site and are limited to their features.

WordPress core is secure when kept updated. Security issues typically arise from outdated software, weak passwords, or poorly-coded plugins. With proper maintenance - regular updates, security plugins, SSL certificates, and quality hosting - WordPress is highly secure. We offer maintenance packages that handle all security updates for you.

Yes, that is one of WordPress's biggest advantages. The admin dashboard lets you easily update text, images, and pages without any coding knowledge. We provide training to all our clients so they can manage their own content. For more complex changes, you can always ask us for help.

A typical business WordPress website takes 2-4 weeks from initial consultation to launch. This includes design, development, content entry, and testing. More complex sites with custom functionality may take 4-6 weeks. We provide a clear timeline at the start of every project.

A WordPress theme controls how your website looks - colours, fonts, layouts, and design elements. Themes can be free or premium (paid). We use the Bricks theme builder which allows us to create fully custom designs rather than using pre-made templates, giving your business a unique online presence.

Plugins are add-ons that extend WordPress functionality. There are over 60,000 free plugins available for features like contact forms, SEO, security, ecommerce, and more. We carefully select plugins for reliability and performance, only using what is necessary to avoid slowing down your site.