Practical Guide · Web Design · Elvis Web
Creating a professional WordPress website involves more than just choosing a theme, installing a few plugins and adding a logo. For a business, the website must fulfil a specific purpose: to explain what the business offers, to inspire confidence, to answer visitors’ questions and to facilitate a useful action — such as requesting a quote, making a call, booking, arranging an appointment or making a purchase. Success therefore depends as much on preparation and content as it does on the technical aspects and design.
This guide is aimed at entrepreneurs, micro-businesses, SMEs, the self-employed and organisations considering creating their own website or having one created for them. It takes into account the realities of projects carried out in France and Madagascar: client expectations, budgets, remote communication and operational constraints may differ, but the fundamentals of a reliable website remain the same.
The first question is not ‘what do you want the website to look like?’, but ‘what should the website be able to do?’. A company looking to receive requests for quotes does not need to build the same user journey as a business that wants to process online orders. A consultancy firm needs to reassure visitors and explain its expertise; a hotel needs to showcase its rooms, availability and booking options; a tradesperson needs to display their work and make it easy to get in touch.
A primary objective helps with decision-making. It does not mean that the website can only do one thing, but that one action should be more prominent than the others. If every page features ten competing buttons, visitors will be unsure what to do. If the website presents a clear offer and a straightforward path, visitors will understand more quickly what to do.
Avoid vague objectives such as ‘having an online presence’ or ‘looking modern’. Opt instead for measurable outcomes: receiving qualified enquiries, increasing the number of calls generated from the website, securing bookings, showcasing a catalogue, reducing repetitive queries, or enabling customers to download a document. You can then select appropriate metrics: forms submitted, clicks on the phone icon, booking enquiries, sales, downloads or visits to key pages.
It is also important to specify who the website is aimed at. Describe your target customers, their needs, their concerns and the information they are looking for before contacting a business. A page aimed at an SME manager is not written in the same way as one aimed at a private individual. Understanding this helps to avoid producing content that focuses solely on the company rather than meeting the visitor’s expectations.
If the company already has a website, gather the domain address, login details, content, original images, available statistics, forms and any integrations. Identify the pages that are already generating traffic or enquiries. A redesign should not remove useful pages, URLs recognised by Google or essential features without good reason.
For your first website, focus on bringing together the key brand elements: logo, colours, photos, contact details, service area, team profile, services and frequently asked questions. If some content isn’t ready yet, make a note of who will provide it and by when. Delays in receiving text or images are a common cause of hold-ups in web projects.
WordPress is a content management system that enables you to create and manage websites. Its flexibility explains why it is used in such a wide variety of projects: showcase websites, blogs, corporate websites, online shops using WooCommerce, or portals enhanced with specific features. It offers an environment that can be adapted to suit your needs, provided you maintain a sensible architecture and choose well-maintained plugins.
With self-hosted WordPress.org, the business chooses its own hosting provider and retains the option to move its website. It can manage its pages and posts via an admin interface, organise its media, assign user roles and enhance the website with plugins. In return for this freedom, however, the company must manage updates, backups, security and the compatibility of components.
WordPress is not a ‘zero-maintenance’ solution. A discontinued plugin, a poorly designed theme, inadequate hosting or neglected updates can cause problems. Adding plugins for every little feature also increases complexity. It is therefore important to limit dependencies, check for updates and document project-specific elements.
WordPress isn’t automatically better than all other platforms. A hosted solution may be simpler for very specific needs; a bespoke application may be better suited to a complex business process. To compare the options, see our article WordPress or Wix: which is the right choice for a business?. The right choice depends on your needs, the level of autonomy you require, your overall budget and any future developments you have in mind.
The format should be based on the customer journey you wish to offer. There is no point in paying for a shopping basket and a payment system if customers simply need to request a quote. Conversely, a shop that takes orders via messages can quickly reach its limits if the product range expands and stock levels need to be monitored.
| Type of site | Main objective | Common functions | Things to bear in mind |
|---|---|---|---|
| Showcase website | To introduce the company and secure contacts | Services pages, form, telephone, case studies | Clear messages and calls to action |
| Corporate website | Informing a range of audiences | Sections, documents, news, search | Editorial governance and accessibility |
| Blog or media | Publish content regularly | Articles, categories, authors, search | Editorial calendar and internal linking |
| Online shop | Selling and managing orders | Products, basket, payment, delivery | Stock levels, returns, taxation and support |
| Website with booking facility | Organising time slots or requests | Calendar, availability, notifications | Cancellation and synchronisation rules |
| Portal or customer area | Granting access to private information | Accounts, registers, documents, dashboards | Security, privacy and testing |
A showcase website can consist of a single page when the offering is straightforward and the content naturally fits into a short user journey. Where there are multiple services, geographical areas or different target audiences, separate pages are often clearer and easier to optimise for search engines. Our guide on creating a professional showcase website sets out the pages to be included.
For a shop, compare your actual requirements before choosing a solution. The article WooCommerce or Shopify: which solution is right for your online shop? helps to understand the differences, whilst the guide Set up an online shop with WooCommerce outlines the steps involved and the associated costs.
The site map shows how the pages are organised and how they relate to one another. It must be easy for a visitor discovering the company for the first time to understand, whilst also being structured enough for search engines to identify the topics covered. Excessively deep navigation, vague headings or important pages hidden in the footer complicate the user experience.
For a service-based business, a possible structure is: Home, Services (with a separate page for each major service), Case Studies, About Us, Blog or Advice, Contact and Legal Notice. This template is not set in stone. It should be adapted to the actual number of services offered and the way in which customers search for them. A business selling a single, complex service may need a very comprehensive page; a multi-service business often needs to separate its offerings.
A service page must serve a specific purpose: what problem does it solve, for whom, using what method, with what deliverables, and how does one get started? Avoid creating ten almost identical pages where only the name of the town changes. If several local pages are required, each one must provide genuinely useful and verifiable information, not simply repeat the same text with a keyword replaced.
The main menu should be kept short. Group secondary pages into sub-menus if this genuinely helps the visitor. Add contextual links within the text to guide visitors to further resources. A breadcrumb trail can also help visitors understand where they are, particularly on a site with several levels.
Visitors want to know who is behind the website, how to contact you and what happens after they make an enquiry. A credible ‘About Us’ page, consistent contact details, clear terms and conditions, and genuine case studies help to build trust. Testimonials must be genuine and used with permission. If you do not yet have any testimonials, it is better to leave them out than to make them up.
Content is often the most underestimated aspect. A well-designed website cannot make up for a page that fails to clearly explain what the company offers. Before you start writing, make a list of the questions you’ve received over the phone, by email or during meetings: prices, lead times, service area, the process, guarantees, required documents, payment terms and differences between offers. These questions provide a solid editorial foundation.
A good service page starts with a clear proposition. Visitors must be able to quickly identify the service, the target audience and the expected benefit. Then go on to explain the approach, the deliverables, the scope of the service, what is required from the client and how to address any objections. Finish with a clear call to action. Do not use grandiose language if you cannot back it up.
Choose one main topic per page, but do not simply repeat the same keyword over and over. Use the natural vocabulary of your customers, explain technical terms and structure the text with descriptive headings. Lists and tables are useful when they facilitate comparison; they should not be added simply to pad out the page. Images should illustrate the content, be relevant and have descriptive alternative text when they convey information.
Avoid pages made up of generic, interchangeable paragraphs. Describe your actual approach, the choices you make, the stages of the project and the information the client will receive. Concrete, verifiable details are what distinguish useful content from text that simply repeats advice available everywhere.
A website does not need to publish content every week to be credible. Above all, it must have comprehensive and accurate key pages. A blog can then address more specific questions: comparisons of solutions, costs, common mistakes, maintenance or practical advice. Each article should complement a service page or another guide, rather than targeting exactly the same search query.
Design should facilitate understanding and action. A coherent visual identity is generally based on a limited number of colours, one or two typeface families, consistent spacing and reusable components. Consistency conveys a sense of control; conversely, an overabundance of decorative effects can distract the eye.
The priority is readability: sufficient contrast, a comfortable text size, lines that are not too long, clearly structured headings and buttons that are easy to spot. Links must be distinguishable by more than just a very slight difference in colour. Forms must indicate which fields are compulsory, explain any errors and clearly confirm submission. Interactive elements must be usable with a keyboard as well as with a mouse.
On mobile devices, the menu, forms, tables, images and buttons must remain usable without the need to zoom in or scroll horizontally unnecessarily. Key actions — such as calling, requesting a quote or making a booking — must be accessible without having to search for them at length. A responsive website is not simply a matter of reducing the width of the desktop version: it is sometimes necessary to reorganise the content and simplify interactions.
Test the pages on different screen sizes and with real content. A button may look perfect in a mock-up, but end up being too small when the text is long. An automatically cropped image may cut off the subject. A table may become unreadable on a mobile phone. These issues must be rectified before delivery.
Every feature must meet an identified need. Sometimes a simple contact form is enough. A more detailed quote form may ask for the type of project, the indicative budget, deadlines and contact details, but it must not turn into an interrogation that puts visitors off. Only ask for the information needed for the initial exchange.
Common features include forms, appointment booking, maps, galleries, downloads, customer portals, payments and integration with external tools. For each one, specify the rules: who receives notifications, what data is recorded, who can view it, how long it is retained and how to handle errors.
Before installing a plugin, check that it is necessary, actively maintained, compatible with your version of WordPress and suitable for your level of traffic. Check its documentation, licence terms, potential impact on performance and whether it allows you to export data. Two plugins that perform the same function may cause conflicts or result in conflicting settings.
Page builders can speed up the design process and make it easier to make changes, but your choice should take into account maintainability and reliance on the tool. Ask how the templates are organised, whether the components are reusable, and what happens if the extension is no longer used. A website that is easy to modify must also remain understandable to the person who will be maintaining it.
SEO is not a magic formula to be applied after a website goes live. Page structure, URLs, titles, content, internal links, performance and indexability all need to be prepared right from the start. No reputable service provider can guarantee a specific ranking on Google: results depend on the competition, the quality of the website, search demand and numerous external factors.
For each key page, note down the question it answers and the action you want visitors to take. A ‘WordPress website creation’ page should explain the service and help visitors request a quote. An article on pricing should cover price ranges, cost components and factors affecting price variation. If several pages address the same user intent with very similar content, they risk competing with one another and making it less obvious which page to choose.
Define one main topic per URL, write a clear title and a description that makes people want to click without making unrealistic promises. Use H2 and H3 headings to organise the content. URLs should be short, readable and stable. Changing a URL after publication requires a suitable permanent redirect when the old address needs to be replaced.
Internal links connect pages that complement one another. A page on website creation can link to guides on pricing, choosing between a showcase or e-commerce site, specifications, hosting and search engine optimisation. These specialised articles should, in turn, link back to the general guide when it provides an overview. Use descriptive anchor text, for example ‘compare the cost of a WordPress website in France’, rather than ‘click here’.
To find out more about SEO, see the guide WordPress SEO: the SEO checklist, the article on the WordPress SEO audit when it is published, as well as content on Google’s indexing of a website when it becomes available. A resource that has not yet been published must not be presented as an accessible page: please check the links when the guide is published.
Check that pages intended for the public are not blocked by a ‘noindex’ directive, that the robots.txt file is not blocking the necessary resources, and that the XML sitemap is accessible. Link the site to Google Search Console to monitor indexing, coverage issues and search performance. Indexing is neither instant nor guaranteed: publishing a page does not mean it will appear immediately in the results.
Structured data can help search engines understand certain elements, but it must accurately describe the visible content. Do not include fictitious reviews, ratings or prices in the markup. For a local business, also ensure that the name, address and telephone number are consistent across all platforms where the business is listed.
Web hosting stores the website’s files and database and makes them accessible on the Internet. The domain name is the address used by visitors. These two elements are distinct and must be managed with access controls over which the company retains control. The choice of hosting depends on expected traffic, resources, support, backups, the location of visitors and scope for future growth.
A small showcase website does not usually have the same requirements as an online shop that processes orders or a portal with numerous accounts. Don’t base your decision solely on the promotional price for the first year. Compare renewal fees, storage and resource limits, backups, restoration, TLS certificates, email management and support terms.
To find out more, see our guide Which hosting service should I choose for WordPress?. Elvis Web also mentions its hosting partnership with LWS on the page dedicated to LWS hosting and partnerships. The final choice must be appropriate to the project and the client’s needs.
Security is built on a number of complementary measures. Use unique passwords, enable strong authentication where available, limit the number of administrator accounts, assign roles according to responsibilities, and remove access rights that are no longer required. Keep WordPress, the theme and plugins up to date after checking compatibility and making a backup.
A useful backup must be capable of being restored. Keep separate copies of the server wherever possible, set a frequency appropriate to the level of activity, and test the procedure periodically. For a shop, the frequency must take into account orders and data that change on a daily basis. A backup that has never been tested does not offer the same assurance as a restoration that has actually been verified.
You should also have a procedure in place in the event of an incident: who to contact, where to find access details, how to put the site into maintenance mode, how to restore a healthy copy, and how to check that the problem does not recur. For critical websites, maintenance may include regular checks, supervised updates and monitoring for faults. Visit the page WordPress troubleshooting in the event of a breakdown and the item WordPress maintenance: prices and packages to understand the requirements for ongoing monitoring.
There is no one-size-fits-all price. Two quotes labelled ‘WordPress website’ may cover very different services. One might include only the installation of a theme and a few pages; whilst the other might include design, content writing, integration, basic SEO, forms, migration, training and a support period. To make a fair comparison, you therefore need to compare the scope of work and the deliverables, not just the total cost.
| Job | What it can cover | Question to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Framing | Workshops, objectives, structure, specifications | Who approves the scope and priorities? |
| Design | Visual identity, mock-ups, components, responsive design | How many screens or models are planned? |
| Integration | Installation, theme, pages, menus, media | How many pages are included? |
| Features | Forms, bookings, shop, integrations | What licences and restrictions apply? |
| Contents | Writing, editing, photography, translation | Who provides and approves the texts? |
| Initial SEO | Structure, metadata, indexability, links | What specific measures are included? |
| Published online | Migration, testing, DNS, checks | Who manages redirects and tracking? |
| Follow-up | Training, maintenance, support | What is the duration and what are the exclusions? |
A distinction must be made between the initial cost and recurring costs: domain, hosting, premium licences, business email, maintenance, outsourced backups and upgrades. Some licences are annual; others may be charged per site or per user. Ask who is responsible for renewing the licences and what happens if the contract with the service provider ends.
Prices also vary depending on the market and the production method. For more specific information, please refer to the following separately the cost of a WordPress website in France and the cost of setting up a WordPress website in Madagascar. These articles cover budgets in greater detail: this core guide deliberately takes a broad view so as not to replace these specialised pages.
A low budget is not necessarily a bad decision if the scope is simple and transparent. It becomes risky when the quote does not specify the number of pages, the features, ownership or post-delivery costs. Conversely, a complex project should not be artificially simplified just to fit within a promotional price. The right budget is one that aligns with the objectives and enables the delivery of a fully functional website.
The service provider gathers information on objectives, target audiences, offerings, constraints and expectations. They identify which features are essential and which can be deferred. The outcome must be an agreed scope: number of pages, languages, content types, integrations, responsibilities and success criteria. A well-defined project avoids constant changes of direction.
The page structure is defined prior to implementation. For strategic pages, a mock-up is used to approve the order of information, sections, forms and calls to action. Approvals must be centralised: consolidated feedback prevents conflicting requests from multiple contacts.
WordPress is installed on a suitable environment, and the theme, templates, menus and necessary plugins are then configured. The pages are populated with approved text and media. Forms and integrations are set up, user roles are configured and essential settings are checked. Demo content must be removed prior to handover.
Testing is not limited to checking the home page. Every page must be reviewed, every link tested, every form submitted and every display checked on mobile devices. Check for errors, images, headings, metadata, any redirects, legal pages and how the site behaves after a user logs in or out. Tests must cover the scenarios actually used by visitors.
The client approves the pages and features in accordance with the defined criteria. The service provider provides the agreed access details, licence information, update instructions and a brief training session tailored to day-to-day tasks. A handover report sets out what has been completed, what remains to be done and any known limitations.
Going live may involve a DNS change, a TLS certificate, a migration or redirects. After launch, check that the domain points to the correct location, that forms are being submitted correctly, that the main pages are responding and that the analytics tools are recording the expected events. Allow for a monitoring period to rectify any issues that only become apparent in live conditions.
Your choice should not be based solely on price or an attractive design. Ask to see examples of their work online and make sure you understand the service provider’s exact role on each project. Test the websites on mobile devices, check the forms and see if the pages are easy to understand. A screenshot is not enough to assess technical quality or ease of administration.
Next, ask how the service provider works: who writes the content, who provides the images, how many rounds of revisions are included, how additional requests are priced, where the website is hosted and who has access to it. Also check what is planned after delivery: rectification of any issues, support, updates, backups and future developments.
A professional quotation must set out the deliverables, exclusions, deadlines, payment terms and the responsibilities of each party. It must specify whether third-party licences are included or charged for separately. The deadlines quoted must take into account the availability of content and client approvals. Be wary of guarantees regarding Google rankings or promises of commercial results that cannot be reliably guaranteed.
To find out more about this choice, read our article 10 criteria for choosing a WordPress website design agency and the comparison freelance WordPress developer or web agency. If you are considering working with a service provider based in Madagascar, the guide have your website created by an agency in Madagascar sets out the points to check.
The fundamentals remain the same: clarify the objective, secure the domain and access, organise the content, design a mobile user journey, test the forms and plan for maintenance. However, certain factors must be considered depending on the target market: currency, payment methods, taxes, delivery, languages, time zones, communication preferences and applicable regulations.
For a French company working with a service provider in Madagascar, distance is no barrier to a well-organised project. However, it is essential to appoint a point of contact on each side, centralise feedback, set out availability times, document decisions and establish approval milestones. Access must be set up securely, and the client must retain control of its domain name and key accounts.
If the website collects personal data from visitors located in the European Union, the applicable obligations must be assessed in light of the processing activities, the parties involved and any potential data transfers. Simply adding a cookie banner is not enough to ensure a website is compliant. Determine what data is collected, why, on what legal basis, to whom it is disclosed, how long it is retained and how individuals can exercise their rights. Have the legal and tax aspects reviewed by a competent professional where the situation requires it.
If you’re operating in Madagascar, you should also check the payment methods actually used by customers, local contact details, delivery or travel arrangements, and how enquiries will be handled. A contact page should reflect the channels that actually work for the business. Do not simply copy the same business settings from one country to another without checking their relevance.
Before launching the website to the public, go through the following points with the service provider or the person in charge of the project. This check is not just a formality: it helps to identify errors that could undermine trust, affect enquiries and hinder search engine indexing.
| Control | To be checked |
|---|---|
| Contents | Proofread texts, accurate contact details, up-to-date offers, no demo pages |
| Navigation | Functional menu, internal links, breadcrumb trail and footer |
| Conversion | Forms tested, emails received, telephone and buttons working correctly |
| Mobile | Display, menus, buttons, images and controlled tables |
| SEO | Titles, descriptions, URLs, indexability, sitemaps and redirects |
| Technical | HTTPS, compatibility, no visible errors and ‘page not found’ errors handled |
| Safety | Accounts, passwords, roles, updates and initial backup |
| Measurement | Analytics tools and relevant events configured in accordance with the applicable consent |
| Ownership | Documented access to the domain, hosting, WordPress and licences |
Do not request the indexing of pages that are not ready or that need to remain private. If the site is replacing an old domain or URL structure, draw up a mapping list of the old and new addresses and test the redirects. Keep a copy of the old site and a plan for rolling back changes where the risk warrants it.
Going live marks the start of operations. Keep an eye on the pages viewed, the search queries that bring visitors to the site, the forms submitted and the enquiries generated via the site. The data should be used to inform decisions: improving a page that is not well understood, shortening a form, clarifying an offer or creating content that answers a frequently asked question.
Don’t draw conclusions based on just a few visits. Trends can be identified over a sufficient period of time, taking into account seasonality, campaigns and changes made. Google Search Console provides information on visibility in search results; a suitable analytics tool helps you understand interactions on the website. Comply with the consent and privacy rules applicable to your audience.
Draw up a maintenance schedule: controlled updates, backups, checking forms, account checks, licence renewals and content reviews. Service pages must remain accurate when offers or prices change. Older articles should be revised when information becomes out of date, rather than simply being dated with the current date without any actual updates.
Develop the website based on the needs you have identified. A new feature should not be added simply because it is available. Ensure that it solves a problem, that it does not unnecessarily complicate administration, and that its maintenance costs are acceptable. A simple, well-considered improvement is often better than repeated complete overhauls.
Elvis Web supports businesses in the design and development of WordPress websites. Please describe your business, your objectives, the pages you envisage and the features you require: this information will enable us to draw up a tailored proposal without including unnecessary options.
The timeframe depends on the number of pages, the level of customisation, the features and the availability of content. A simple showcase website can be completed more quickly than an online shop or a specialised portal. The schedule must distinguish between scoping, design, integration, feedback, testing and going live. Delays in approval or the provision of text can cause the project to run behind schedule.
Yes, particularly for a simple website if you have the time to learn how to use the tool, prepare the content and manage maintenance. However, you’ll need to make provision for hosting, the domain name, security, backups and testing. Calling in a professional may be worthwhile if the website plays an important commercial role, if the design needs to be customised, or if specific features are required.
WordPress allows you to optimise URLs, titles, content, internal links, images and technical data relevant to SEO. This does not guarantee good search rankings. The outcome also depends on the relevance of the content, the level of competition, technical quality, popularity and the user experience offered to visitors.
A blog is useful if a business can publish relevant answers to its customers’ questions and keep the information up to date. It is not essential for all businesses. Start with the key sales pages, then create posts that complement these pages and address specific search queries.
As a general rule, the company must retain control of its domain name and have the necessary access to its web hosting and website. A service provider may manage these services from a technical perspective, but responsibilities, transfer procedures and renewals must be clearly set out in the contract.
This is possible in many cases, but you’ll need to check the existing structure, the theme, the hosting and the sales requirements. An online shop involves managing products, stock, payments, deliveries, orders and customer data. If online sales are already planned for the near future, it is best to include this in the initial scope of the project.
Not necessarily. Compare the number of pages, content, features, licences, initial SEO, testing, training, access and support. A low-cost quote may be suitable for a very basic scope of work, but you need to know what isn’t included and how much any future changes will cost.
Elvis Web presents its services for the French and Malagasy markets. For a remote project, the scope, approvals, access arrangements and communication procedures must be defined from the outset. Contractual, tax and data protection issues must be examined in light of each client’s specific circumstances.
This guide provides an overview of how to create a WordPress website. If you’d like to explore a specific topic in more detail, please see the following resources from Elvis Web:
Contact us now to discuss your project. We’ll provide a free, no-obligation quote within 24 hours.
