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Your business needs a website that works. Customers search on their phones. They expect fast loading. They want easy navigation. A poor website costs you sales.
Many Nanaimo businesses face this problem. You know you need a better website. You see your competitors online. But you don't know which web designer to hire or which platform to use.
WordPress runs 43% of all websites in 2025. This includes small Nanaimo shops and large corporations. WordPress gives you control. You can update content yourself. You can add features as your business grows.
This guide helps you ask the right questions. You will find a WordPress designer who understands your business. You will get a website that brings customers.
Search engines changed their rules. Google now ranks mobile-friendly websites higher. Page speed affects your position. Local search brings customers to your Nanaimo location.
Your website represents your business 24 hours a day. It answers customer questions. It shows your products. It builds trust before customers visit your store.
WordPress handles these demands. The platform offers:
Built-in mobile responsiveness
Fast loading with proper setup
Easy content updates
Thousands of plugins for new features
Strong security with regular updates
SEO tools built into the system
A good WordPress designer knows these 2025 standards. They build sites that you can manage. You don't wait for a developer to change a price or add a photo.
Other platforms lock you in. Custom code costs thousands to modify. Proprietary systems trap your content. WordPress gives you freedom and control.
Designers charge in different ways. Some bill by the hour. Others charge per project. Some offer monthly packages. Web321 has a few models:
Very small jobs (under $500), bill on delivery.
Design projects ($500 - $50,000), charge a deposit and and then charge an increment at the project milestones, and then charge the remainder plus change order fees when the site is delivered.Â
Web321 offers monthly WordPress support for $321/mo. to manage your website; update your content and keep everything in good repair.Â
Web321 offers a Web123 plan to keep your website in good working order.
Ask for clear numbers. Get the total cost in writing. Understand what you pay for.
A website has many parts. Design work is one part. Code writing is another. Content creation costs extra at some agencies.
Ask if the price covers:
All design revisions
Mobile responsive layout
Contact forms
Image optimization
Basic SEO setup
SSL certificate
Initial content upload
Web321.ca provides clear pricing that includes these essentials. No surprise fees appear later.
Most designers require a deposit. Typical splits are 50% upfront and 50% at launch. Others divide payments into thirds.
Know when you pay. Budget for these dates. Get payment terms in your contract.
Look at websites they built in 2024 and 2025. Check if those sites load fast on your phone. Try the navigation. Read the content.
Pay attention to sites they built for businesses similar to yours. A designer who built restaurant sites understands food service needs. A designer who built retail sites knows e-commerce.
Not all web designers specialize in WordPress. Some dabble in many platforms. Others focus exclusively on WordPress.
Ask specific questions:
How many WordPress sites have you built?
How long have you worked with WordPress?
Do you build custom themes or use pre-made templates?
Which page builders do you prefer?
How do you handle WordPress security?
WordPress specialists understand the platform deeply. They know which plugins work well together. They prevent common security problems. They build sites that stay fast as you add content.
Web321.ca specializes in WordPress exclusively. Their team builds WordPress sites every day. They stay current with WordPress updates and best practices.
WordPress offers thousands of themes. Some are free. Some cost money. Quality varies greatly.
Popular choices in 2025 include:
Custom themes (built specifically for your business)
Gutenberg (WordPress built-in editor)
Elementor (drag-and-drop page builder)
Divi (all-in-one design system)
GeneratePress (lightweight and fast)
Each option has pros and cons. Custom themes cost more but fit your exact needs. Page builders let you edit layouts yourself. Lightweight themes load faster.
Ask why the designer recommends their choice. Make sure it matches your technical comfort level.
In 2025, over 70% of web traffic comes from phones. Your site must work on small screens. Buttons need easy clicking. Text needs easy reading. Images must load quickly.
Ask to see mobile versions of their past projects. Test them on your own phone.
SEO gets your business found on Google. Nanaimo customers search for local services. Your site needs to appear in those searches.
A good designer includes:
Proper heading structure
Fast page loading
Mobile optimization
Local business schema
Google Business Profile connection
Web321.ca builds SEO into every site from day one. Your Nanaimo business shows up in local searches.
AI changed web design in 2024 and 2025. Smart WordPress designers use AI for:
Code assistance
Content suggestions
Image generation
Design variations
Plugin recommendations
WordPress integrates with many AI tools. These speed up development. But AI cannot replace human judgment about your business needs.
Ask how they balance AI efficiency with custom work for your Nanaimo business.
WordPress needs regular updates. The core software updates every few months. Plugins update even more often. Themes need updates too.
Outdated WordPress sites face security risks. Hackers target old versions. Updates also fix bugs and improve speed.
Ask about:
Monthly maintenance plans
Who handles WordPress updates?
Who handles plugin updates?
Response time for fixes
How you request changes
Who owns the website files?
Training for basic WordPress updates
Some designers disappear after launch. Others provide ongoing WordPress maintenance. Know what you get.
Web321.ca offers WordPress maintenance plans. They handle all updates. They monitor security. They backup your site daily. You focus on running your business.
Most projects include 2-3 rounds of revisions. More revisions cost extra. Understand this limit before you start.
Ask what counts as a revision. Small text changes differ from complete redesigns.
WordPress sites can have issues. Plugins conflict with each other. Theme updates cause problems. Servers go down. Forms stop working.
Most issues come from plugin conflicts. A good WordPress designer tests updates before applying them to your live site.
Ask about their fix policy:
Response time for urgent issues
Cost of emergency fixes
Backup procedures
WordPress security monitoring
Staging site for testing updates
Accessibility laws got stricter. Websites must work for people with disabilities. This includes:
Screen reader compatibility
Keyboard navigation
Color contrast
Alt text for images
Non-compliant sites face legal risk. Good designers build accessible sites from the start.
Your business uses tools. Booking systems. Payment processors. Email marketing. Inventory management.
WordPress connects to these tools through plugins. Over 60,000 plugins exist for WordPress. The right plugins extend your site's capabilities.
Ask about integrations with:
Online booking systems (Calendly, Acuity)
Payment processors (WooCommerce, Stripe, Square)
Email marketing (Mailchimp, Constant Contact)
Inventory software
Social media feeds
Customer relationship management (CRM) systems
Appointment scheduling
Review platforms
A good WordPress designer knows which plugins work reliably. They avoid bloated plugins that slow your site. They choose plugins with good support and regular updates.
Some designers push custom solutions. Others recommend proprietary platforms like Wix or Squarespace. These options limit you.
WordPress gives you:
Ownership: You own everything. Your content. Your design. Your data. You can move to any hosting company. You can hire any WordPress developer.
Cost Control: WordPress itself is free. You pay for hosting and design. No monthly platform fees. No surprise charges when you grow.
Flexibility: Need a blog? WordPress handles it. Need e-commerce? Add WooCommerce. Need bookings? Install a booking plugin. WordPress grows with your business.
SEO Power: WordPress sites rank well on Google. The code is clean. The structure is logical. SEO plugins like Yoast make optimization simple.
Community Support: Millions of developers work with WordPress. You can find help easily. Tutorials exist for every feature. You never depend on one company.
Updates and Security: WordPress releases regular updates. Security patches arrive quickly. The platform stays current with web standards.
Proprietary platforms lock you in. If they raise prices, you have no choice. If they shut down, you lose your site. If they lack a feature, you wait or pay extra.
WordPress puts you in control.
Some warning signs indicate problems:
No Contract: Professional designers use written contracts. The contract protects both parties.
No Portfolio: If they cannot show past WordPress work, they lack experience.
Promises Instant Results: Good WordPress sites take time. Fast work means low quality.
Owns Your Domain: You must own your domain name. Never let a designer register it in their name. That said, add them as a Technical contact on your domain. Authorize them to keep your domain name in a good state. If it lapses, anyone could buy your domain and cause you a lot of grief.
Vague Answers: Professional designers answer questions clearly. Vague responses hide problems.
No WordPress Specialization: Designers who work on every platform master none. WordPress specialists deliver better results.
Cheap Shared Hosting: Some designers use $3 per month hosting. These servers are slow. Your site suffers. Good WordPress hosting costs more but performs better.
Too Many Plugins: Excessive plugins slow your site. Quality designers use minimal, essential plugins.
Nulled or Pirated Themes: Some designers use illegal theme copies. These contain malware. They lack support. They put your site at risk.
Nanaimo businesses benefit from local designers. Local designers understand:
Vancouver Island customer behavior
Seasonal tourism patterns
Regional business networks
Local events and culture
A designer in Nanaimo can meet you in person. They see your location. They know your competition. While Web321 is based in Saanichton, we love road trips!
Web321.ca specializes exclusively in WordPress. They don't dabble in other platforms. They build WordPress sites every single day.
Their WordPress expertise includes:
Custom WordPress theme development
WooCommerce for online stores
Plugin selection and optimization
WordPress security hardening
Speed optimization techniques
WordPress multisite setups
Migration from other platforms to WordPress
They serve Vancouver Island businesses. They understand the local market. They build WordPress sites that attract Nanaimo customers.
Their process includes:
Free initial consultation
Clear project timeline
Regular progress updates
Mobile-first WordPress design
Built-in SEO setup
WordPress training sessions
Ongoing maintenance plans
Fast, reliable WordPress hosting options
They work with retailers, restaurants, service providers, and professional offices. Each WordPress site fits the specific business.
Web321.ca knows WordPress inside and out. They stay current with every WordPress update. They attend WordPress conferences. They contribute to the WordPress community.
You get a WordPress expert, not a generalist.
You now know what questions to ask. You understand why WordPress makes sense. You can spot warning signs.
Contact Web321.ca today. Schedule your free consultation. Discuss your business goals. Get a clear quote. See examples of their Nanaimo WordPress client work.
Visit Web321.ca or call to start your WordPress project. Your new site can launch in weeks, not months.
Print this checklist. Take it to designer meetings:
[ ] Price structure explained clearly
[ ] Payment schedule in writing
[ ] Portfolio shows recent WordPress work
[ ] WordPress specialization confirmed
[ ] Theme or builder choice explained
[ ] Sites work well on mobile
[ ] SEO services included
[ ] WordPress maintenance plans available
[ ] WordPress update process clear
[ ] Plugin strategy explained
[ ] Revision limits clear
[ ] Emergency support defined
[ ] Accessibility standards met
[ ] You own all WordPress files
[ ] Quality hosting recommended
[ ] Contract provided
[ ] References available
The right WordPress designer grows your business. The wrong designer wastes your money. Ask these questions. Make an informed choice.
Your Nanaimo business deserves a WordPress website that works. Web321.ca delivers WordPress sites that bring customers and increase sales.