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WordPress For Small Businesses

Professional WordPress Development For Small Firms

The WordPress Content Management System (CMS) runs over 43% of all websites, and two-thirds of all CMS sites. That’s more sites than any other system — even counting simple hand-coded sites. Clearly, using WordPress for small business web design projects is a great choice. Still, there are lots of ways to build websites badly, even with WordPress. So small businesses who are serious about success choose professional WordPress development.

Yet why is WordPress so popular?

Because it is hands-down the most flexible, user-friendly content management system around. It’s also free and open source.

The Benefits of WordPress Development

Unlike online site-building platforms, open source systems let programmers inspect and modify the core code if needed. That can be risky, though. So WordPress lets us create plugins and themes to expand it more safely.

As a result, WordPress is supported by a massive community of designers and developers. The many hundreds of thousands of (free and premium) plugins and themes available can cover almost any vaguely common need. When they don’t, developers (programmers) can create new ones.

Not all “WordPress developers” can program, though. Some are designers who only build websites at the component level (i.e. plugins and themes). That can be a problem when technical issues arise — and they do, occasionally. So it is worth checking that your “WordPress developer” can code.

I’ve been using WordPress for small businesses’ websites since 2005, hand-coding websites since 1997, and programming a lot longer than that. So yes, I have those technical issues covered.

Pete is one of the most creative, reliable, competent and ingenious people it has ever been my very great pleasure to work with. There is no problem he can't find an ingenious and unexpected way out of, and he has a work ethic you could bend horseshoes around. I cannot recommend him highly enough for his breadth and depth of knowledge and his total commitment to whichever project he is currently undertaking. — Ian A. Web Design: (5/5)

How Can WordPress Development Help Small Businesses?

WordPress is the standard solution for simple editable websites, but can do much more in the hands of an experienced WordPress developer. Some of the plugins available change and expand it extensively. So the common goals of professional WordPress development include:

  • Ecommerce
  • Appointment Bookings
  • Event Ticketing
  • Membership sites
  • Community Forums
  • Directory websites
  • Portfolios
  • Sales Funnels
  • E-learning sites

…and a lot more. Would you like to see how it could work for you?

Let’s chat!

Can WordPress Do Everything?

Whilst WordPress is a great starting point for most professional web design projects, it has limits. Sadly, some WordPress specialists don’t seem to recognise this. So I’ve watched several “specialist WordPress agencies” fail (expensively) to replicate systems I’ve built without WordPress because it wasn’t the right tool for those jobs.

That said, WordPress is popular enough to attract lots of invalid criticism, too. Most is either just a sales pitch to sell you an alternative, or geek-snobbery. Often, the complaints are about things that are easy to change with plugins or a little coding.

So a basic installation of WordPress can’t be perfect for everyone. That’s easy to criticise, but superficial — it can be fixed if you know what you’re doing. WordPress makes that relatively easy. Most alternatives don’t.

Still, to be clear — WordPress can handle 99% of small business web design projects. If someone defaults to “no WordPress”, they have an agenda. That bias will cost you a lot more, as bespoke coding is far more time consuming and expensive. Whilst coders (like me) enjoy coding, I’d prefer to provide what you really need.

5.0 from 30 reviews
Ratings and reviews
  • 5.0 from 30 reviews
  • 08-03-2024

    Alison Rider-Hill

    Pete has been patience personified, helping me to navigate a website I inherited for an event I am responsible for. But for him I would probably have broken the back end repeatedly.

  • 14-12-2023

    Ivan Caric

    Pete has been incredibly helpful and supportive, above and beyond what was required. We're a tiny business, and from helping with the initial web design to SEO advice and inevitable tweaks and changes as the business develops, Pete has been patient and full of sage advice. We cannot recommend him more highly!

  • 24-05-2023

    Dave M.

    Thanks, Pete! Since you updated my site, business has gone crazy – I now have more work than I know what to do with!

  • 04-04-2023

    Mark R

    I use Netcentrics for all my business needs. Always a professional, super-prompt and to date flawless service. Excellent.

  • 02-03-2023

    Ceri E

    A fantastic service! We are a small business just starting out with a new venture. Pete at Netcentrics has gone above and beyond to provide us with not only a fantastic website, but also invaluable business and marketing advice. The whole process has been incredibly positive and beyond what we expected compared to previous experiences. He is incredibly knowledgeable and supportive. His support did not stop at the end of the website build, he has continued to make himself available ensuring that we know how to maximise use of the website for our start up. We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Pete to anyone.

  • 18-11-2022

    Janet L

    Thanks, Pete — your advice is like gold dust!

  • 21-08-2022

    Barbara H

    Oh my goodness, thank you so much! In over 20 years of online retailing this is the best and most comprehensive bit of help I've ever had relating to the dreaded SEO. I really appreciate it - many thanks again

  • 07-11-2021

    Sam G.

    You’re amazing — highly recommended!

  • 16-06-2021

    Abid Hussain

    Amazing service. Professional and outstanding company to deal with. Pete has great understanding with online requirements and core issue's. Spent hours on the telephone explaining and working on the website to bring it up-to-date. Noting but gratitude and respect to Netcentric. Highly recommend to any one through my experience they have gone above and beyond.

  • 15-05-2021

    SakineO-1

    Pete is the most professional and knowledgeable web developer I have experienced since 2016 as I have had many since. You won’t regret. I highly recommend him.

  • 05-10-2020

    Paul Mercer

  • 26-08-2020

    Susan Baynham-Evans

    Peter expertise is exactly what I needed . When I have ideas Pete makes them work. I could not run my website without him

  • 09-07-2020

    Emma Cunliffe

    Can't recommend him highly enough. He was extremely professional, laid out exactly what we needed to do and his role within that, setting expectations all round very clearly, and working within our budgetary constraints to set clear boundaries. He was extremely prompt and punctual in his responses and work. He was also extremely patient with his recommendations and explanations, which were clear and simple to follow. Excellent value for us as a charity. We're very grateful to him - he was a real pleasure to work with.

  • 05-06-2020

    Graham Smith

    knowledgeable and professional service designing and building a website for a local SME business.

  • 05-06-2020

    Keary Birch

    Very helpful staff who really understood the problem and dealt with it.

  • 05-06-2020

    Ali van Dam

    First rate! Knowledgeable, professional and creative. I would absolutely use Netcentrics again for future projects.

  • 05-06-2020

    Barbara Harris

    Amazing, professional service and speedy communications. Very impressed and highly recommended.

  • 05-06-2020

    JWComp Sol

    Netcentrics designed, implemented and have maintained our company website for many years.If you want a secure and reliable website I strongly recommend Netcentrics.

  • 21-12-2019

    Alison van Dam

    I can’t say enough good things about Netcentrics.co.uk - thorough, knowledgeable, dedicated and innovative. Highly recommended.

  • 05-12-2019

    Helen Rich

    Very pleased with my new e-commerce site from Netcentrics. Very professional, knowledgeable, and highly recommended.

  • 05-06-2019

    Mark Davies

    I have been using Netcentrics' SEO service and they have impressively managed to get over 250 of my keywords onto the first page of the search results. A very friendly and thoroughly professional service. Highly recommended.

  • 05-06-2018

    andrew cocchiara

    Many thank's Pete for all your advice and expertise over the years. A first class professional service and excellent value for money.

  • 15-03-2018

    Tim D

    Just saw that my site is now in 2nd place on the first page of Google. I’m not sure what you have done, nor do I understand it, but it worked! Many thanks!

  • 24-02-2018

    Paul G

    It is a pleasure dealing with a professional with a high degree of technical skill allied to a ‘can do’ positive attitude. Your ability to explain technical concepts in layman’s language is also a great advantage. I would have no hesitation in recommending your services.

  • 03-01-2018

    Lisa

    Excellent and professional work from beginning to end. Pete was open to ideas and able to make suggestions on how to develop my site.

  • 05-06-2017

    Ian A

    Fast, friendly, efficient service that exceeded the spec and made a complicated job hassle free for me. Five stars, would highly recommend and would happily employ again for all things web and internet based.

  • 05-06-2017

    Mo Rich

    A flourishing web designer, who is thorough and meticulous in everything he does. Will create a great looking unique and professional website particular to your needs.

  • 14-09-2016

    Ian A

    Pete is one of the most creative, reliable, competent and ingenious people it has ever been my very great pleasure to work with. There is no problem he can’t find an ingenious and unexpected way out of, and he has a work ethic you could bend horseshoes around. I cannot recommend him highly enough for his breadth and depth of knowledge and his total commitment to whichever project he is currently undertaking.

  • 31-05-2015

    Jayne H

    DogLost is the UK’s largest community of pet owners and rescuers. Other developers have struggled to meet our needs, but since Peter rebuilt our site and support systems we have gone from strength to strength, winning major awards including the 2013 Innovation Award from the International Fund for Animal Welfare. We couldn’t have done that without him.

  • 19-11-2013

    Codyspetdeli

    Cody's Pet Deli is an online business that sells pet food & accessories. Approaching Pete to set up a new website was the best move I have made. We wanted a system that was easy to navigate and look good when customers shop online.Pete made the whole process simple and dealing with him was a great pleasure. He can't do enough to help and solve any problem that may arise. I would highly recommend Pete for his experience and knowledge and total dedication to see the project through to final conclusion.Steve H.

Still, if — after due consideration — WordPress doesn’t seem to be your best option, we can look at other systems and/or bespoke web development. There’s only one way to be sure, though:

Tell me your goals