WordPress Website Design and Development

Yes, the source code of a WordPress website is free.  It is open-source software, where you can see, inspect and update the code.  However, whilst the source code is free to use, you will need technical skills to make a fully functional website and there will be costs including your domain, hosting and potentially paid plugins which improve the functionality of the website.  

Yes, WordPress is one of the leading website CMS platforms in the world.  According to W3Techs 43.3% of all websites are WordPress in 2026.  WordPress is used by a number of leading companies including Microsoft, Time Magazine and Disney.  

Yes, WordPress can be a very safe website, but only if you keep it up-to-date, well maintained and secure.  Read more about our website security on our blog here.  At Channel we apply our own bespoke security configuration and keep all our websites up-to-date and go that extra mile to ensure your website is safe from hackers.  

Yes, a WordPress website can be fast, but to ensure this is the case, it needs to be built the right way.  Many WordPress websites suffer from poor design and bloated code (unused plugins, heavy weighted themes, large images etc).  There is lots that can be done to optimise a WordPress website for speed, at Channel we apply innovative performance updates to ensure your site loads quickly.  Choice of your hosting environment is also important, our own servers are optimised for running content management systems with the best technology and high performance. 

The WordPress Full Site Editing feature (FSE) is the default content creator tool/editor on WordPress.  New functionality is added after it has been tested on the Gutenberg plugin.  In the FSE editor we create templates and patterns when we build your website, these are then used when your content is updated.  To create new content you will add the content to assigned places in the blocks with the templates.  You will be able to add new areas to these templates using the ‘patterns’ that are set up for you during the build. 

• Pro:  As the default editor it will be around for the long term.  More future proof for your business using the default product. 
• Pro:  The Block Editor is WordPress’s built-in editor, it is lightweight and optimized for page speed.  
• Con:  You will need a developer to help with any designs that are outside of the templates and patterns set up for you.  The drag and drop tool is less streamlined than many page builders at the moment, with more likelihood of needing custom CSS for your styling.  This could also be a Pro as it limits any individual styling outside of your brand guidelines.  
• Con:  The FSE has less functionality available (at present) than many page builders.  You may need extra coding or plugins to give you all the functionality you need.  

 The alternative to WordPress FSE is a WordPress Page Builder.  This is a third-party content creator tool/editor built into your WordPress website theme.  Page builders have been around for longer than the Block Editor and at the moment have more default features available.

• Pro:  Easier to create and design new pages on your website.  This could be a Con, as it could allow users to create pages that are outside your brand guidelines. 
• Pro:  More features by default available in this page builder that are not yet available in the Block Editor.  This saves time in a website build which may be reflected in the pricing.
• Con:  If you use too many elements and forms on any page builder your website will go slower.  

Not all page builders are equal, at Channel we have carefully selected a page builder that gives excellent performance and usability. We will take the time to understand your business and recommend the best option for you.  

With us of course!  At Channel we have our own hosting environment selected for performance and reliability.  This includes a 99.99% uptime guarantee with uptime monitoring and server usage alerts.  Not only that, we are not a faceless hosting provider hiding behind a ticket system, you can pick up the phone and chat to one of our team. 

Yes, WordPress is definitely Search Engine Friendly.  It is an excellent website to help rank for competitive areas online.  When we build a website for you we include the option to start with SEO before we build the website, ensuring the structure and content is designed efficiently around your niche.  In conjunction with our SEO Campaigns, we will help you with Keyword research, content strategy and on and off-page optimisation. Read more about WordPress SEO here.

WordPress is very user friendly and is intuitive to use.  For day to day updates like managing your shop orders, subscriptions and other business activities, you will not need technical skills.  After we build your website, we will train you and your team on how to use the site.  And if you get stuck, email or call us and we can help.    

From small startups to international businesses, WordPress is the ideal choice for your business presence online.  To find out more you can pop into our office either in Cornwall or London, or pick up the phone or email us and find out how we can help you.   

A WordPress Multisite is a network of websites sharing the same WordPress infrastructure—core files, database, themes, and plugin and all managed from a central database. For some businesses they are an effiecient way of running multiple websites.  To find out more about if this setup would work for your business we have a comprehensive article on WordPress multisites here.