Ready to learn how to create a custom website?

We’re big fans of customised websites. It’s our specialty and always has been.

Many reasons – one being: that I would much rather say “Yes we can do that” than “no – this is a template and there are limits”

The official answer?

Custom WordPress website development allows for tailored designs and functionalities that align perfectly with specific brand identities and business goals, offering a level of customisation that off-the-shelf themes simply can’t match.

It’s a big responsibility, handling the website and marketing for your company.

Not only do you have to have correct information, but you also want to stand out, so you look better than competitors!

It’s a lot.

So this is where the debate between “themes” / “template” based sites versus the complete custom route gets sticky.

To me, custom is easier. We don’t have to spend so much time saying “no” to our clients.

Even way back when I started Top Left Design back in 2002, we went the customised route.

We listen, we take great briefs, we know how to design, and we’re good with chatting through the concepts, pointing things out, and saying “yes” to making changes.

It’s all about you, after all.

Now, you might be wondering why I’m giving you a how-to guide on custom WordPress website development. Honestly? Our SEO guy said we needed a long-form article.

We’re not expecting you to suddenly become web designers and developers overnight. Nope, this is more of a peek behind the curtain, a chance for you to see what goes into creating a website that truly reflects your brand.

Why custom is the way to go

Off-the-shelf themes are fine and dandy, but they’re a bit like wearing the same outfit as everyone else at a party. Not something you want people to notice. And you don’t want to be ignored either.

The journey of creating a bespoke WordPress website involves several key steps and considerations.

When we work with our clients we take them through these steps. We’re leading, they don’t have to remember all the steps.

And when you’re doing it yourself (by following this guide) it’s a bit different. You have to act like the client and the technician.

Also, if by the end of this you’re thinking, “This sounds great, but I’d rather leave it to you professionals,” or if you want to talk through some of this, I’ll be happy to answer your questions a and we do a lot scoping work for clients even before they commit.

So, this will take you through some key fundamentals of WordPress architecture and we’ll even go through some advanced coding techniques.

The process requires a blend of technical skill and creative vision. This guide will explore the essential aspects of custom WordPress web design and development, covering everything from initial planning and design conceptualisation to coding, testing, and launch.

By the end, readers will have a comprehensive understanding of how to bring a unique WordPress website to life. Wow, how generous are we!

Key considerations for custom WordPress development

When embarking on a custom WordPress development project, it’s crucial to strike the right balance between the client’s vision (as in YOUR vision) and what’s realistically achievable within your budget. And when I say budget I include your time.

So, the first step is to plan your website, and cost it out.

In our experience, navigating the intricacies of costing out the website, also known as budget planning, is a critical step in the web development process, serving as a safeguard against “scope creep” and ensuring that client expectations are met with precision

Effective budget planning relies on a thorough project discovery phase. This phase is guided by fundamental questions that delve into the project’s core aims. I call these the “scoping” sessions. I’ll detail this in the next section.

For smaller websites, 10-15 pages, one meeting can suffice. However, a recent project required several meetings to create the scope. By the project’s official start, I knew this client intimately. Now, several months post-launch, we are still very happy together.

The questions we ask form the backbone of the project discovery. They enable the development team to tailor their approach to each unique client requirement.

Project scope and goals

The first step in planning a custom WordPress development project is to determine the website’s type.

Is it what they call a brochure site?

Is it a landing page? Will there be e-commerce platform?

Is this a membership site?

Will it go deep into the services?

The size of the website, expected traffic, and ongoing digital marketing budget to fuel traffic are also important considerations.

Other key factors to consider include

• Whether SEO migration is required,
• The design approach (custom design, template, or a mix of both),
• The plugins needed for unique features.

t’s also essential to understand whether the project is a set of improvements, a full website overhaul or a brand-new venture and to identify the business goals behind the website.

Budget and timeline

The cost of creating a custom WordPress site ranges from £7000 to £30000, depending on the development region.

Factors such as complexity, how many people are in the team, how much information needs to be in the website influences budget.

Believe it or not, so does the experience of the client in managing this sort of thing – ask me about this part if you are curious.

To ensure a smooth development process, it’s crucial to set realistic expectations for the project timeline and budget. A clear outline of these factors ensures that the team knows when the project should be completed and how many resources are available.

It’s important to strive to stay within the budget as much as possible and ensure transparency about any changes to the timeline or budget

By thoroughly addressing these key considerations during the planning phase, you can lay a solid foundation for a successful custom WordPress development project.

Choosing the right development approach

When embarking on a custom WordPress development project, one of the critical decisions to make is choosing between creating a custom theme from scratch or utilising a child “theme”.  Don’t worry I explain this more soon!

Similarly, developers must also decide whether to build custom plugins or leverage existing solutions. These choices significantly impact the project’s timeline, budget, and overall success

Custom theme vs child theme

The decision between developing a custom WordPress theme or using a child theme depends on various factors, such as the client’s long-term goals, budget, and timeline.

Custom themes offer complete control over the design and functionality, and this is something most of our client’s websites have in common.

They allow our designers to design freely, according to our client’s needs. They allow our developers follow the design signed off by our clients.

With a custom theme (based on a design we create from scratch) we can create a completely unique website tailored to the client’s specific needs.

However, building a custom theme from scratch requires design skill and really advanced skills in coding. Altogether, we need more time and resources compared to using a child theme.

If you’re honestly considering this, and trying to do this the DIY way, then it may be helpful to get some honest feedback from experts about if you are being too optimistic about your skill level. It’s not something you can learn from a “For Dummies” book. But you may be great at one aspect or another, in which case you can hire someone to help you with the bit you’re not so great at.

On the other hand, child themes are built on top of existing parent themes, inheriting their functionality and styling. This approach is particularly useful when customising commercial WordPress themes, as it allows developers to make modifications without losing them when the parent theme is updated. Using a child theme can save time and budget, making it an attractive option for you if you’re fine without the COMPLETE custom solution.

When evaluating a commercial theme for a child theme project, developers should consider factors such as browser compatibility, responsiveness, documentation, and user-friendliness for you and your team.

It’s also essential to review the theme’s code quality, as it directly affects the ease of customisation and the project’s budget. To be safe, you can ask an expert developer in your network to check this for you – and in return offer to give them advice in your area of expertise.

Custom plugins vs existing solutions

Another crucial decision in custom WordPress development is whether to create custom plugins or use existing solutions.

Custom plugins offer the flexibility to add specific functionality tailored to the client’s needs, minimising code bloat and potential conflicts that may arise from using multiple third-party plugins.

We try minimise the number of 3^rd party plugins to no more than 10 in any site. This makes the site “lighter” and makes it easier to manage update. Plus it loads faster!

So – custom plugins is our favourite.

However, developing custom plugins requires more time and effort, and the developer is responsible for maintaining and updating the code.

In some cases, it may be more efficient to use existing plugins, especially for complex features that would be time-consuming to develop from scratch. For example, using a well-established e-commerce plugin like WooCommerce can be more effective than building a custom e-commerce solution.

When choosing between custom plugins and existing solutions, developers should your client’s long-term maintenance needs.

If a feature can be implemented quickly with a few lines of code in the theme’s functions.php file, a custom solution may be more appropriate.

However, for more complex features, a well-supported plugin that is regularly updated can be a better choice to ensure compatibility with future WordPress core updates.

In summary, the choice between custom themes, child themes, custom plugins, and existing solutions depends on the project’s specific requirements, budget, timeline, and the client’s long-term goals. By carefully evaluating these factors and considering the advantages and disadvantages of each approach, developers can make informed decisions that lead to successful custom WordPress development projects.

Essential custom WordPress development skills

Mastering custom WordPress development requires a strong grasp of various technical skills. These skills form the foundation for creating unique, high-performing websites that cater to specific client requirements. Let’s explore the key areas of expertise essential for success in this field.

PHP and MySQL

Proficiency in PHP, the primary programming language used in WordPress development, is crucial. PHP allows developers to create dynamic, interactive websites by enabling server-side scripting. Understanding PHP syntax, data types, functions, and object-oriented programming principles is essential for building custom WordPress plugins, themes, and functionality.

Equally important is a solid understanding of MySQL, the database management system used by WordPress. MySQL stores and retrieves data, such as user information, posts, and pages. Developers must be able to interact with the database using SQL queries to fetch, manipulate, and manage data effectively.

WordPress core knowledge

A deep understanding of the WordPress core is essential for custom development. This includes familiarity with the WordPress template hierarchy, which determines how WordPress displays content based on the requested URL. Developers should also be well-versed in WordPress functions, hooks (actions and philtres), and the WordPress Loop, which is responsible for displaying posts and pages.

Knowledge of the WordPress Codex, the official documentation for WordPress, is invaluable. The Codex provides detailed information on WordPress functions, classes, and APIs, serving as a comprehensive reference for developers.

Front-end development

While WordPress handles much of the back-end functionality, custom development also requires front-end skills. Proficiency in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript is essential for creating visually appealing and interactive user interfaces.

HTML is used to structure the content of web pages, while CSS is responsible for styling and layout. Developers should be comfortable with CSS concepts such as box model, flexbox, and responsive design. We are really “picky” and we want to ensure websites look great on all the commonly used devices.

JavaScript adds interactivity to websites, enabling features like sliders, pop-ups, and form validation. Familiarity with JavaScript libraries like jQuery can streamline development and enhance user experience.

In addition to these technical skills, custom WordPress developers should also possess problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and the capacity to continuously learn and adapt to new technologies.

By mastering PHP, MySQL, WordPress core concepts, and front-end development, developers can create bespoke solutions that meet the unique needs of each client and project.

Custom WordPress design process

The custom WordPress design process is a crucial stage in creating a bespoke website that aligns with the client’s brand identity and business objectives.

This process involves several key steps, including user research, wireframing, prototyping, and visual design.

User research and personas

Understanding the target audience is the foundation of any successful custom WordPress design project. By conducting thorough user research, designers can gain valuable insights into the needs, preferences, and behaviours of the website’s intended users.

Creating user personas is an effective way to represent the website’s target audience. Personas are fictional characters that embody the characteristics, goals, and pain points of different user segments. They help designers and developers maintain a user-centric approach throughout the design process.

Wireframing and prototyping

Wireframing is the process of creating a basic layout and structure for the website. Wireframes are simple, low-fidelity sketches that outline the placement of key elements such as navigation, content blocks, and calls-to-action ⁸.

Prototyping takes wireframing a step further by adding interactivity and functionality. Prototypes allow designers to test and refine the user experience before moving on to the visual design stage

Tools like Figma, Sketch, and Adobe XD are commonly used for wireframing and prototyping custom WordPress websites

Visual design

We ourselves are a design-led company at Top Left Design. So I speak from experience!

This is the stage where visual design and website’s appearance takes shape. This involves creating layouts and mockups that incorporate the client’s brand colours, typography, imagery, and overall aesthetic.

During this stage, we designers work closely with our client.

Luckily we’re great communicators. This (plus experience, plus talent!) is how we ensure that the visual design aligns with their brand guidelines.

We think beyond just the aesthetics. For a website to be effective, it needs to also communicates the key message to the target audience. So we’ll be presenting ways to do this, considering content, SEO, and the hierarchy of information. We’re thinking of ways to present information so that key messages are easily absorbed.

A well-designed custom WordPress website should not only be visually appealing but also prioritise usability and accessibility. This means ensuring that the site is easy to navigate, has clear calls-to-action, and is optimised for various devices and screen sizes.

By following a structured design process that includes user research, wireframing, prototyping, and visual design, our designers and WordPress developers can consistently create high quality websites.

Building custom WordPress functionality

Custom WordPress development often involves extending the platform’s core functionality to meet specific project requirements. This can be achieved through various techniques, such as creating custom post types and taxonomies, leveraging plugins like Advanced Custom Fields, and utilising the WP REST API.

Custom post types and taxonomies are powerful tools for organising and structuring content in WordPress.

By registering a custom post type, developers can create a separate content type tailored to the project’s needs. We use these often for groups of data, such as a portfolio, testimonials, or events.

Custom taxonomies allow for additional categorisation and filtering of custom post type content, providing a more intuitive way to navigate and manage the website.

Building custom WordPress functionality

Custom WordPress development involves adding new features to the platform to meet specific needs.

Here’s a more detailed look at how it’s done:

Custom Post Types and Taxonomies:

• Custom Post Types: These allow developers to create new types of content beyond the default posts and pages. For example, if you need a section for portfolios, testimonials, or events, you can create a custom post type specifically for that. This helps in keeping different types of content well-organised.
• Custom Taxonomies: These are used to add extra categories or tags to your custom post types. For instance, if you have a custom post type for events, you might want to categorise them by event type (e.g., workshops, seminars) or by location. This makes it easier to filter and manage the content on your website.

Advanced Custom Fields (ACF):

• ACF is a popular plugin that simplifies adding custom fields to WordPress. Custom fields are additional pieces of information you can add to your posts, pages, or custom post types. For example, you might want to add a text field for a subtitle, an image field for a featured image, or a repeater field for a list of items.
• With ACF, you can create a variety of field types and attach them to specific post types or pages. This gives you greater flexibility in how you manage and display content on your site. For example, you can easily add and display custom fields in your theme templates.
• ACF used to be available for a one-time purchase, but since early 2020, it has moved to a subscription-based model with yearly renewals. This change was made to support ongoing development and maintenance, ensuring users receive regular updates and support.

Technique	Description
Custom Post Types	Allows developers to create separate content types tailored to the project’s needs
Custom Taxonomies	Enables additional categorisation and filtering of custom post type content

We use ACF in all our custom sites as it provides so much flexibility. It truly makes content management much easier.

Using the WordPress REST API

The WordPress REST API allows developers to interact with WordPress data in a standardised way. Here’s a simpler explanation:

1. What is the REST API?
   • The REST API is a tool that lets developers access and manipulate WordPress content (like posts, pages, and custom post types) through code.
2. Why use the REST API?
   • It allows developers to create custom endpoints, which are specific URLs that can retrieve or update WordPress content. This is useful for building more dynamic and flexible websites.
3. Headless WordPress Applications:
   • With the REST API, developers can create “headless” WordPress sites. This means the backend (where you manage content) is separate from the frontend (what users see). This setup can improve site performance and flexibility.

Example Project: Company Portfolio

Imagine you need a custom post type for managing a company’s portfolio. Here’s how developers might use the REST API and other tools:

1. Custom Post Type and Taxonomy:
   • Create a custom post type called “portfolio” for portfolio projects.
   • Add a custom taxonomy called “project_category” to organise these projects.
2. Advanced Custom Fields (ACF):
   • Use ACF to add custom fields for project details like client name, project date, and featured images.
3. Custom REST API Endpoint:
   • Create a custom endpoint to retrieve portfolio projects and their details.
4. React-based Frontend:
   • Build a frontend using React (a JavaScript library) that fetches data from the custom REST API endpoint and displays the portfolio projects dynamically.

Developers can create highly customised WordPress websites using custom post types, taxonomies, Advanced Custom Fields, and the REST API. These sites are tailored to specific project needs.

Content entry and formatting

One step in the web design process that often gets overlooked is the careful entry and formatting of content. How you divide up the text on a webpage can make a big difference. At Top Left Design, we make sure not to overcrowd pages with text. Once the site designs are signed off, we send word count guides to our clients. This helps keep the content balanced and readable. While longer pages and blog posts are good for SEO, we prefer to break up text-heavy areas with subheadings, boxes, images, and bullet points. This way, the content doesn’t feel too heavy.

When it comes to content entry, attention to detail and consistency are key. Each piece of content should be carefully reviewed to make sure it fits with the overall design and branding. By following these tips, we create websites that are not only visually appealing but also user-friendly and effective in getting the message across.

Testing and launching your custom WordPress site

Testing is a crucial phase in the web design process WordPress development to ensure that the website meets the desired quality standards and functions as intended. Quality assurance (QA) for WordPress websites involves a standardised process of checking and verifying that the site satisfies the specified requirements.

Quality assurance process

The effectiveness of quality assurance for WordPress websites depends on using QA principles throughout the entire lifecycle of the site.

That, and remembering that you set your coals at the beginning of the project, and you want to make sure you’re meeting those goals! Is this site going to be easily understood by your target audience? Can they click around without getting lost? Do you show you understand them? Are your key messages signposted?  Does it load quickly? Are images appropriately chosen? Are they optimised?

Yes, you still need to have a clear understanding of the criteria the website should meet.

You still need to fully satisfy your business goals.

The quality assurance process for WordPress websites covers multiple aspects, including:

Pre-design

Early on the team compiles the necessary assets that define the test requirements. These include the site structure, functional specification, user journeys, and an agreement to which templates need to be created.

During design

This is when we are working closely with our clients. We have valuable discussions and ask important questions about design preferences, target audience, key messages and the different types of users. Then, we work on initial designs and present these for feedback and discussion.

We check for consistency and intuitive user experience. Our clients review designs and comment as much as needed. By sign-off, they are clear on the interface and visual feel. It reflects who they are.

We’re checking if designs:

• Reflect a client’s identity and business personality
• Are in keeping with the brand
• Appeal to their audience.
• Are in alignment align with business goals
• Clearly communicate key messages.

After design sign off

1. CMS functionality testing: This phase ensures that all required functions of the WordPress CMS work as intended, allowing the client to edit content areas and perform other necessary functions. It is divided into standard CMS functionality testing and site-specific functionality testing. We usually test this while entering the text and images into the website (the content entry phase) and if something doesn’t feel right or intuitive, we work with our coders to make improvements.
2. Front end functionality testing: This phase follows the user journey of the public user or typical “customer” visiting the website to ensure that they can easily navigate the site and perform the required functions during their visit.
3. Browser testing: The design of all page templates is compared to the site in all specified browsers and devices. All design issues identified are logged for the developers during this phase.
4. Client testing: This final phase allows the client to test both the design and functionality of the site, reporting any issues they encounter to the development team.

The quality assurance process also involves various types of tests which we can do with tools. For this I made a table for you!

Type of Test	Description	Testing Tools (URLs)
Functional testing	Ensures that all functional requirements are satisfied as per the documented specifications.	Selenium, TestComplete
Usability testing	Verifies whether the website is user-friendly and delivers a better user experience.	Crazy Egg (and manual user testing)
Compatibility testing	Identifies how well the website performs on different browsers, operating systems, and mobile devices.	BrowserStack, LambdaTest
Performance testing	Assesses the website’s performance under different scenarios, such as load testing, spike testing, scalability testing, and volume testing.	Google PageSpeed Insights, GTmetrix, Pingdom

Deployment strategies

Once the custom WordPress website has undergone thorough testing and quality assurance, it is ready for “deployment”. Deploying a WordPress site involves transferring the site from the development environment to the live server, making it accessible to the public. We also call this “putting the site live”.

There are various deployment strategies that developers can use, depending on their preferred workflow and the project’s requirements. Some common deployment strategies include.

1. Manual Deployment: This involves manually uploading the WordPress files and database to the live server using FTP or a similar method. While this approach is straightforward, it can be time-consuming and prone to human error.
2. Git-based Deployment: This strategy utilises version control systems like Git to manage the WordPress codebase. Developers can push their changes to a remote repository, which can then be deployed to the live server using tools like Capistrano or WordPress Toolkit.
3. Staging Environments: Creating staging environments allows developers to test their changes in a production-like setting before deploying to the live site. This helps catch any issues or conflicts before they affect the live site. This is our preferred method at Top Left Design.

When choosing a deployment strategy, developers should consider factors such as the project’s complexity, the team’s familiarity with the tools and processes, and the need for easy rollbacks in case of issues.

By following a comprehensive quality assurance process and selecting an appropriate deployment strategy, custom WordPress developers can ensure that their websites are launched successfully, providing a seamless and engaging experience for the end-users.

Conclusion

Embarking on a custom WordPress website development project isn’t for the “faint hearted” but it, offers a powerful way to create unique online platforms that truly reflect a brand’s identity and meet specific business needs.

From initial planning and design to coding, testing, and launch, the process requires a blend of technical expertise and creative vision. Those who do the work need to have mastered essential skills like PHP, MySQL, and front-end technologies. They also need to understand how design works and have attention to detail and good organisational skills. This is really how we at Top Left Design make our client’s websites stand out.

The journey of building a custom WordPress site is both challenging and rewarding, demanding careful consideration at every stage. Whether it’s choosing between custom themes and child themes or deciding on the best plugin strategy, each decision shapes the final product. If you would like Top Left Design expert WordPress customised coders to help develop your next website, contact us now to find out more. With the right approach and expertise, custom WordPress development can lead to powerful, tailor-made websites that truly make a mark in the online world.

FAQs

What are the steps involved in developing a custom WordPress website?

The next step is to create a design brief. We have a set of questions we have developed over time.

Our preferred method at Top Left Design is design first. Our designers take the information in the brief and work on initial designs. We present these in stages to the client for feedback, and work on the designs for each and every page until sign off.

You may want to start with a theme first.  If so, you’d do this skipping the design phase. You would choose and install a WordPress theme and relevant plugins.

Setup your main pages and keep checking how they look on the front end. We like to load in demo content to guide your initial setup. I recommend you also write and publish your first blog post so you start to familiarise yourself with that process.

How much does it typically cost to build a custom WordPress website?

Ahh, it varies. We’ll start basic.

While the basic themes may start at around £15.71, and more complex themes could cost up to £78.56 or more. A website would become more customised the more you tweak it.

However, there’s a tipping point where you may as well have gone for a fully customised website, The results are much better. At a certain point, for it to be really customised, you need to have expert designers or developers.

And unless you are one of these, that’s when the costs you are paying are for expertise, not software. As a guideline:

• For personal or small business sites, a custom theme might range from £2000 to £7,000 depending on who you work with.
• More sophisticated themes with additional features or plugins can cost between £8000 and £15,000.
• For large-scale enterprise projects, the cost for a custom theme might exceed £25,000

What defines a bespoke WordPress website?

A bespoke WordPress website is customised specifically for a client, without using pre-existing free or premium themes. This approach grants developers and designers complete creative control over every aspect of the website, allowing them to tailor the design to perfectly align with the client’s brand identity.

What does custom development entail in WordPress?

Custom development in WordPress involves designing and developing a website that is specifically tailored to meet the unique needs of your business. This custom approach allows for a personalised layout, design, functionality, and features, all developed to address your specific requirements and goals.