WordPress development for businesses in South Africa
Get a WordPress site built, extended or taken over so that it does what your business needs. We build, extend and take over WordPress websites for small businesses, government departments, organisations and agencies: new sites, new features on sites that already run WordPress, and sites someone else built. Tell us what you need and we will quote from your brief.
Situations we can help with
If one of these sounds like your site, we can help.
Someone else built your site
You run a WordPress site you did not build. We review it without changing anything, then tell you what we found and what we can support. See how a takeover works.
A theme or plugin needs changing
Your site already runs WordPress, but part of it does not do what you need. We make changes and add new features on sites that already run WordPress.
You need forms, members or learning
We build forms and handle the entries they collect, and we build membership and learning sites.
Your site is missing a feature
We check first whether a well-supported plugin does the job and recommend it if it does. If none covers the need, we write the feature. See custom features.
You need a custom plugin or integration
Data imported from a supplier or another system, or a connection between your site and another system you use, written in PHP and JavaScript.
You need a new site or a rebuild
A new WordPress website, including a smaller microsite, or a rebuild of the one you have. Online shops are covered under ecommerce website development.
What the work covers
Whichever way you come to us, the work falls into these groups.
New sites and rebuilds
New WordPress websites, including smaller microsites, and rebuilds of existing sites. We build on a private copy that you approve before go-live.
Changes and new features
Changes and new features on sites that already run WordPress, including sites someone else built.
Forms and their entries
Forms, and the handling of the entries they collect.
Membership and learning sites
Membership sites and learning sites, built on WordPress.
Online shops
Shops on WooCommerce. See ecommerce website development.
Custom functionality
Calculators, multi-step forms, data imports and connections to other systems, written in PHP and JavaScript when a plugin cannot do the job.
If someone else built your site, we will review it and tell you what we can support. Other platforms are possible on request, and we will say honestly whether we can work on one.
Choosing the right approach
We choose the set-up by what your site needs to do, and we say so when a simpler one would serve you better.
WordPress where it suits the job
WordPress suits sites that you or your team want to edit yourselves, and sites that need real functionality, such as membership, learning, forms and shops. A static portfolio that rarely changes may be better as plain HTML, and we will say so.
A standard theme and supported plugins first
We use a standard theme and well-supported plugins wherever one does the job.
Custom PHP when nothing else fits
When a theme or a ready-made plugin cannot do what your business needs, we write custom code. See custom features, plugins and integrations for how we choose and deliver it.
Editing it yourself afterwards
At handover you receive a written content guide, short screen-recorded videos, a training session if you want one and your own admin logins. See what you receive at handover.
Taking over a site someone else built
Before anything on your site changes, you know what we found and what we plan to do first. A takeover runs like this:
- Access. We ask for hosting access (cPanel if possible), a WordPress admin login, and Search Console if search visibility is in scope.
- Review. We first review the site without changing anything.
- Findings. We tell you what we found and in what order we would act: secure it, update it, then work on search.
- Safe changes. Before we change anything we take a fresh recovery point and test updates on a private, password-protected copy. We never restore an old backup without agreeing it with you.
Custom features, plugins and integrations
When a theme or a ready-made plugin cannot do what your business needs, we build the feature for you. Then we write custom code in PHP and JavaScript. Typical requirements are:
- a calculator that works from your own figures
- a multi-step form with a review stage for your staff
- data imported from a supplier or another system
- a connection between your site and another system you use
Plugins first
Before we build, we check whether an existing plugin does the job, what it costs and whether it has the features you need. If it does, we recommend it. We write custom code only when none covers the need, or when you would rather not pay for a licence. If a simpler set-up would serve you better, we say so.
How custom work is delivered
- We confirm what data or system the feature depends on, then split the work into tasks with hours for each. Paid plugins and third-party fees are listed separately.
- We test on a private copy. You review it, we make one agreed round of revisions, and you approve it before go-live.
- We deliver it with editing instructions and training.
After launch, custom work can be covered by a maintenance retainer. See website maintenance.
Handover, and what stays yours
We build on a private copy that you approve before go-live. At handover you receive:
- a written content guide
- short screen-recorded videos
- a training session, if you want one
- your own admin logins
Your domain and hosting stay in your own accounts, or we host them for you; either way we move them to another provider when you ask. Licences for paid plugins are bought for you and stay with you.
On quoted builds we optimise images, caching and assets, and set up login protection. We publish no speed figures.
What happens after you get in touch
We work remotely and quote from your brief. The steps from your first message to handover are described in how a project runs.
We have no fixed packages, and every quote is itemised by task, as set out in how we quote.
Useful answers
Can you take over a WordPress site that someone else built?
Yes. We review the site and tell you what we can support. We ask for hosting access (cPanel if possible), a WordPress admin login, and Search Console if search visibility is in scope. We review without changing anything, take a fresh recovery point, and test updates on a private, password-protected copy before we change anything. We never restore an old backup without agreeing it with you.
Who edits the site after it goes live?
You or your team can. WordPress suits sites that you want to edit yourselves, and at handover you receive a written content guide, short screen-recorded videos, a training session if you want one, and your own admin logins. Custom features are delivered with editing instructions and training.
Do you use plugins or write custom code?
Plugins first. We use a standard theme and well-supported plugins wherever one does the job, and we check what a plugin costs and whether it has the features you need. We write custom code in PHP and JavaScript only when none covers the need, or when you would rather not pay for a licence.
Who owns the domain, hosting and plugin licences?
Your domain and hosting stay in your own accounts, or we host them for you; either way we move them to another provider when you ask. Licences for paid plugins are bought for you and stay with you.
Is WordPress always the right choice?
No. A static portfolio that rarely changes may be better as plain HTML, and we will say so. Other platforms are possible on request, and we will say honestly whether we can work on one.
Tell us what you need
Describe the site, the feature or the problem, and we will quote from your brief.
Related services
- A new look or a new design for the site: website design and website redesign.
- Selling online: ecommerce website development covers shops on WooCommerce.
- Looking after the site once it is live: website maintenance.
- A logo or brand to go with the site: graphic design.
Have a project in mind?
A new website, a shop, a design refresh or a feature your site is missing: tell us a little about what you need and we will talk through the options.