Once you have started working on your WordPress website, there comes a point when you think about hiring help. Because there is so much more than what meets the eye. Once you reach a point where website conversion rates are high enough, you will probably require more hands on the deck. But should you hire a WordPress website development agency or a Freelance WordPress developer in this case?
This blog will dive into a detailed comparison of the Web Development Agency vs Freelance WordPress Developer, attempting to find what will suit your needs the best. Let’s get into it!
Who is a WordPress Developer?
A WordPress developer is another name for a web developer. They are responsible for building a WordPress website, as well as the front-end and back-end of the website. Therefore, they are also known as full-stack developers. A dedicated WordPress developer can enhance your existing website or build a custom one from scratch.
Their responsibilities include:
- Planning and creating the website layout
- Combine different elements like videos, graphics, and text coherently
- Work closely with the marketing team for seamless brand integration
- Maintaining consistency in the design and theme of the website
- Maintaining page speed and functionality
What Does a WordPress Website Development Agency Do?
A web development agency is an organization that plans and designs websites. The in-house team comprises of web designers, website developers, an accounting team, a marketing team, writers, and SEO experts.
While some agencies have experts for all your WordPress needs, a few are also more specific in their positioning. They might fulfill only one WP need of many. General WordPress services include website design, maintenance, development, and more.
Agencies often hire only a selected few talented individuals. Everyone works on multiple projects, and no one handles more than one project at a time. Therefore, you might find the promise of professionalism, quality, timely delivery, clear communication, and unique ideas at a website development agency.
Agency for Website Development: Pros & Cons
| Pros of an Agency for Website Development | Cons of an Agency for Website Development |
| Top-notch quality work is guaranteed – quality control measures & established processes ensure quality work and timely delivery | Higher priced models – due to overhead costs and the involvement of multiple team members, agencies charge higher |
| Experience and expertise – a collective team of individuals specialized in different areas of WordPress website development | Less flexible – agencies usually have a set work process which might not be up to your liking |
| Ability to scale – agencies can expand their resources based on the demand of the project | Limited point of contact – you might only speak to your project manager and not the designer or developer |
| Long-term relationships – beyond website design and development, agencies can promise other services like branding, SEO, and ongoing maintenance | Overwhelming process – at first, the services of an agency and work process might overwhelm you, but the goal is for you to define what you want |
| Reliability – in terms of communication, project management, and meeting deadlines, they are more dependable | Timelines can be an issue – rigid timelines/ deadlines might not be acceptable to an agency due to extensive workload |
Work Process of a Freelance WordPress Developer
A freelance WordPress developer is the sole employee of their own brand. They are usually specialists in the many skills required in developing a website: designer, developer, marketer, writer, and SEO expert.
They market their services through networking platforms and work with multiple clients simultaneously. To hire them, you will have to navigate through the website to higher freelancers. You can hire a freelance WordPress developer on a contract or as a part-time employee.
Freelancer for Website Development: Pros & Cons
| Pros of a Freelancer for Website Development | Cons of Freelancer for Website Development |
| Affordability – freelancers have their own rates, and based on the required services, you can negotiate the payment Based on your budget and requirements, you can search for an ideal fit on the available websites to hire freelancers | Zero supervision – freelancers work alone; hence, there is no one to correct their mistakes, if any. Additionally, if you hire multiple freelancers due to the need for multiple hands on deck, you will have to moderate the conversations between them while communicating your needs |
| Flexibility – they can change their schedule based on your project’s needs | Unavailability – flexibility does not mean that freelancers are available all the time; their commitment to multiple clients at once limits their time for you |
| Direct point of contact – you talk directly to the person who is doing your work, not a member of their team | Less reliable – since freelancers work individually, sometimes the work can suffer because of unprecedented emergencies |
| Niche experts – usually, freelance WordPress developers are niche experts; hence, you hire for what you need | Limited specialization – if you need multiple hands on the deck, then hiring multiple niche freelancers might prove costly For example, if you have hired a freelancer for WordPress website designing services, then you will not be able to ask them for SEO practices |
| Access to a global talent pool – you can choose to work with a freelancer from a different country altogether if your needs align with their expertise, hence more exposure | Longer turnaround time – their commitment to other clients can cause a delay in their time of delivery for your project |
Why is an Agency for Website Development Better?
Working with an agency would allow more room for discussions and guidance throughout the working relationship. The team will not only shed light on the current process but also inform you of the future outcomes.
Web development agencies are an ideal choice for projects with a larger scope. Unlike freelancers with limited resources, they can expand their resources and cater to your needs.
An agency also provides you with advice at every stage of web development because they have experts working within their in-house team. Web designers in an agency might also have different specializations. For example, if one designer has a fine hand in UI/UX, another might handle all the workload related to graphic design. Hence, they can provide you with various WordPress website designing services.
Additionally, an agency is always worried about its reputation, so there are minimal chances of it leaving your project midway or delivering average work. Disruptions in a freelance working relationship brings the whole project to a halt, thus affecting the time of delivery and sometimes the quality as well.
There is a chance that you might not want to be actively involved in your WordPress website development process. Agencies are adept at handling projects with minimal client involvement. They work according to your instructions, handling all your needs without disturbing you. In contrast, with a freelancer, you have to be actively involved at every stage.
Hence, WordPress website development agencies are more adept at timely handling and delivering your project. They are a team of professionals handling different aspects of your website individually, thereby providing precision to each.
Did You Find Your Answer Yet?
An agency is more equipped to handle emergencies, unprecedented developments, expanding resources, and even paying attention to different aspects of your web development process. On the other hand, a freelancer is only one individual taking care of only a part of the process. Which one is your pick?
