Thirty Years of Web Experience
I have been working on the web for nearly 30 years, starting with the installation of Netscape in 1994. Since then, I have spent tens of thousands of hours at a keyboard, ranging from running hosting departments to building complex Learning Management Systems (LMS). For the past 15 years, I have run my own business creating websites for clients worldwide. I love the web, but I also respect the complexity that comes with three decades of its evolution.
The Misconception of “Easy” Design
Platforms like WordPress, Drupal, and Joomla have made content editing incredibly accessible. However, altering a professionally designed and structurally sound website requires a specific set of skills. Because we spend so much time online, there is a common misconception that if a site looks good, it must be easy to modify. This is the premise that platforms like Wix use to attract users. While they offer simple “What You See Is What You Get” (WYSIWYG) tools, complex sites—even on those platforms—still require developer expertise to function correctly.
How We Build: Under the Hood
We build approximately 80% of our projects on WordPress using the professional version of Elementor Pro. A typical site isn’t just a single layer; it usually involves custom development and a stack of 8 to 10 essential plugins to handle everything from security to contact forms. There are many moving parts, and stating this isn’t about job protection—it is simply a technical fact.
The “Yes”: What You Can Edit
As part of a professional WordPress build, you should absolutely maintain a blog. Adding news, articles, or posts using standard editors is straightforward and highly recommended. If you want to go further and edit designed pages, you will need to learn the specific tools used to build them. For our clients, this means learning Elementor. A few hours of YouTube tutorials will get you started, and 15 to 20 hours of practice will make you proficient. Like any new skill, you will likely make mistakes along the way.
The “No”: The Learning Curve
The “No” comes down to time and training. While you can learn to edit your site, you must actually do the learning. We do not provide individual technical training. If you are a busy business owner whose digital interaction is limited to a few emails a day, it is often overly optimistic to think you will have the time or inclination to master web design on the side.
Maintenance and Care Plans
This is why we offer care plans. These plans handle the technical heavy lifting: backups, plugin updates, security monitoring, and content refreshes. Many of our clients prefer to focus on running their business and creating content while leaving the technical maintenance to us. It is a choice between spending your time learning a new trade or paying a professional to ensure your digital storefront remains in peak condition.
Just as I won’t be qualifying as a yoga instructor or financial planner anytime soon, I don’t expect every client to become a web developer.