by Hourly WordPress consulting is not cheap. So, why make the investment? A seasoned WordPress consultant will help you figure out what you want to accomplish with your website and how to best use WordPress to get you there. Even when you know what you want, you don’t know all of the steps required to achieve your business goals as they relate to your website. It’s the old adage: you don’t know what you don’t know. Your website manager at EJ&A is here to help you identify effective ways to achieve maximum results and transform your business.
Meet our team of WordPress professionals »
Highly Responsive
“I’ve been working with Emily Journey & Associates for about six years now. I originally came across their services while looking for someone to train my staff and I to manage our website independently. Emily worked with us and was able to get us successfully trained – to the point that we were easily able to manage the website on our own (with the occasional question emailed to Emily or one of her friendly team members). As the business grew, the time we were able to personally dedicate to management of the website became limited. Emily and her team were there to take over and manage all aspects of the website at that point. They’ve done so ever since and we couldn’t be more satisfied with the results. I always trust that the website is in very good hands. The results have been consistent. Emily and her staff are accessible, knowledgeable, friendly and highly responsive. Year after year, they’ve continued to exceed our expectations. I highly recommend their services.”
How to use hourly WordPress consulting
There are three ways to use a WordPress consultant plus a bonus.
1. Strategy Development
An experienced professional knows the importance of getting to know your business and goals before diving into work. For example, if a company calls our office to request a website development proposal, then we will in turn propose a website development strategy session as an important first step. We think it's important to take the time to get to know you, your ideal prospects, and your business goals.
A strategy session also provides valuable clarity to our clients. Prior to a strategy session, our clients usually have a general idea of what they want from working with us. After a strategy session, our clients are clear on their goals and how they can achieve them.
At EJ&A, we start every project by getting to know you, your ideal prospects, and your business goals.
2. Website Maintenance
This may not come as news but it bears repeating: WordPress websites require regular maintenance.
You might think, The website looks fine. It doesn't need maintenance.
That's where you're mistaken. Website maintenance involves more than cosmetic edits to your website. The majority of website maintenance tasks involve processing security updates and troubleshooting conflicts.
Because WordPress is so popular, it is a regular target for hackers.
But that doesn’t mean that it’s not secure. In fact, WordPress is just as secure as any other platform as long as you take the correct security measures.
Luckily, these measures aren’t complicated—they’re mostly housekeeping. But if you let these things slide, then yes, your WordPress website is easily hacked.
Watch my video below to learn more about WordPress security.
Get pricing and details for website maintenance services »
3. WordPress and SEO Training
At EJ&A, we're experts with teaching our clients WordPress and SEO. Even if you don't want to take over the management of your website, increasing your knowledge goes a long way in helping you make informed decisions about your website. We've found that our clients who already have a good understanding of WordPress value our attention to detail the most!
Want to know even more about WordPress training? Watch this video to learn more about this popular service.
3.5 Peace of mind
A website is not something you can ignore. Well, okay, maybe you can... but not without consequences. We've seen it happen. But, sometimes things go wrong even when you are keeping up with your security updates. Then what? It's always great to have an existing relationship with someone who knows what they're doing. That's us!
In the rare instances when one of our client's websites go down, we make it our priority to troubleshoot and resolve the problem quickly.
How to hire the right WordPress consultant
Hiring a WordPress consultant can be a costly proposition if you make the wrong choice. In fact, we've heard some terrible stories about unprofessional website developers. But, when you hire an experienced professional to help you with your website, then you can get an excellent return on your investment.
The first step in finding the right WordPress consultant for your needs is to understand what you need them for. Do you just need someone to edit a few things here and there? Or, do you want the benefit of consultative support and website strategy advice? If you want ongoing support, you may find that a monthly website maintenance subscription model works better for you than paying by the hour. If you're unsure of the type of WordPress support you need, then you are not alone. Contact our office to discuss your options.
The best WordPress consultants share the following four characteristics:
1. They are great communicators
The best WordPress consultants are great communicators. Communication is a two-way street. You want to work with someone who can speak AND listen: someone who not only hears what your website management needs are, but who can translate them into actionable steps and keep you informed about progress.
You should never be left to wonder what your developer or content manager is up to. If she drops off the planet for weeks at a time, you’re wasting valuable time and money trying to keep track of a lost cause.
2. They under-promise and over-deliver
When it comes to website support services, the old adage is true. If it sounds too good to be true…
This can be a hard line to walk, especially if you’re relatively new to working with web content management agencies. You want to work with an ambitious team with big ideas, but you don’t want to be paying month after month for promises that never materialize.
Don't even get me started on so-called SEO services that produce zero results!
At EJ&A, we make a point of under-promising--especially when it comes to timelines and turnaround times. We can't always accurately predict how long a project will take so we're conservative in our time estimates. As a result, it's a pleasant surprise when we can accomplish tasks ahead of schedule.
3. They empower their clients
It’s unethical for your web developer to restrict your access to your own website. At the beginning of your working relationship, make sure it’s clear that you will register your own domain name and expect top level access to your hosting account and WordPress dashboard.
It’s simple: your site is yours. If your web developer, designer, or content manager won’t give you access, don’t work with them!
4. They work efficiently
I can’t count the number of times clients have approached me feeling utterly defeated by an unresponsive, almost comically slow web developer. The key word, though, is almost—it’s never funny when your website goes offline or your registration form breaks on the last day of sign-ups for your webinar.
An experienced WordPress expert knows how to prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, manage projects, and solve problems quickly.
What else can a WordPress consultant do?
1. Improve the look of your site
Your website is an important part of your business, but it’s not the only thing that matters. You need a strong brand identity, which means having a visual style that represents who you are and what you do. If you don’t have one yet, we can create a logo or design your entire site from scratch. We also make sure that your site looks great on all devices so customers can find you no matter where they go.
2. Create content that converts visitors into leads
If you want people to visit your site, then you need to provide them with something interesting to read. But if you just throw up any old blog post, chances are it won’t convert well. That’s why our team works closely with you to develop high-quality content that attracts readers and encourages them to take action. Whether you need fresh blog posts written, social media updates created, or video scripts produced, we’ll work with you to ensure that your content gets seen by your target audience.
3. Grow your email list and build relationships
Email marketing is still one of the most effective ways to reach potential clients and customers. However, many small businesses fall short when it comes to their email strategy because they don’t know what to say in their email or don’t have enough contacts to send them. Our team has years of experience creating engaging newsletters and other types of email communications that grow your list and keep your customers coming back for more.
