Digital illustration comparing a professional developer coding a website from scratch on one side, and a WordPress user assembling a site with drag-and-drop tools on the other, highlighting the contrast in skill and security.

Why You Should Think Twice Before Hiring a WordPress Web Designer

What Is WordPress, Really?

WordPress is a free, open-source content management system (CMS) built with PHP and powered by MySQL or MariaDB databases. Its architecture revolves around a plugin ecosystem and theme templates. According to Wikipedia, it enables anyone to build a website in minutes - literally.

That may sound appealing on the surface, but there's a lot more under the hood that businesses must consider - especially when it comes to security, scalability, and professional quality.

WordPress Is a Website in a Box - and That's the Problem

Think of WordPress as a "website-in-a-box." You unpack it, choose a theme, drag and drop a few elements, install some plugins, and boom - you're online. It's marketed for ease of use and rapid deployment. While that's great for hobby blogs or personal portfolios, it is not how serious businesses should build or secure their online presence.

Professional developers don't rely on mystery plugins or anonymous theme authors. We write secure, scalable code from scratch. We don't depend on whether a third-party developer feels like releasing a patch. We are the developers.

Why Professional Web Developers Don't Use WordPress

Real web developers don't use no-code solutions to do what we spent years mastering. We've invested tens - sometimes hundreds - of thousands of dollars in education, certifications, and licensing. Most IT credentials require renewal every few years, with proctored exams and ongoing education. This constant upskilling ensures we remain ahead of ever-evolving web standards and cybersecurity threats.

By contrast, WordPress "designers" aren't held to any standard. No certification. No license. No formal training. If someone can download WordPress and click through a wizard, they can call themselves a web designer. That's not just deceptive - it's dangerous.

WordPress Is a Security Liability

WordPress is one of the most targeted platforms on the internet. It accounts for over 39% of all websites, which makes it an ideal target for automated scanners and script kiddies.

Let's be blunt: every time a WordPress vulnerability is disclosed-whether responsibly by a security researcher or recklessly by malicious actors - exploit code spreads like wildfire. Script kiddies don't need to know how to code; they just copy and paste proof-of-concept scripts to compromise exposed sites.

Worse still, many WordPress-based sites are:

Even if WordPress releases core patches quickly, plugin developers are under no obligation to do the same, and WordPress doesn't require them to.

If you think that risk isn't substantial, consider this: the 2019 Cost of a Data Breach Report states the global average cost of a data breach is $3.92 million. That number has only increased.

Why Pay $2,500+ for a WordPress Site When You Could Get Better for Less?

We've seen so-called WordPress experts charging $2,500 to $5,000 for what amounts to a cookie-cutter installation of free software. Yes, WordPress is open-source. Many of its plugins and themes are free. And yes, the installation process takes under 5 minutes.

At KDG Web Solutions, we charge a straightforward $75 per page for custom-coded, professionally designed websites. That means no reliance on untrusted plugins, no third-party junk, and no shortcuts. A basic three-page site (Home, About, Contact) starts at just $225 - fully secured, professionally built, and designed to scale with your business.

You get what you pay for. Except in this case, you pay more for WordPress-and get less.

Why You Should Hire a Custom Web Developer Instead

Hiring a professional web developer gives you:

Final Thoughts

WordPress has its place - for bloggers, hobbyists, and quick MVPs. But if you're a serious business with customer data, brand reputation, and revenue on the line, then trusting your online presence to a platform known for high exploitability is not a smart decision.

Don't pay enterprise prices for a hobbyist solution. Hire a real developer. Get real results.

Let's Build It Right the First Time

Interested in professional, secure, and fully custom web development? Contact KDG Web Solutions today. Let's talk about how we can help your business stand out online - without standing in the crosshairs of every botnet and script kiddie on the planet.

Thanks for Reading. You may also like some of these popular articles:

Critical Security Vulnerability in XAMPP for Windows
A critical security vulnerability has been identified in the default settings of the Apache service configuration within XAMPP on Windows systems. This flaw, discovered by Security Researcher Kaotickj, raises significant security concerns. [ Read ]

Proof of Concept for Learning Management System Exploits
While testing and confirming the above known exploits, Security Researcher, Johnny Watts, has found an additional arbitrary file upload flaw in the "classroom materials" upload function. The researcher was able to successfully upload a php command shell which he used to gain administrative access to the target system. [ Read ]

Frequently Asked Questions About Web Design
I’ve compiled this list of questions that I frequently get from clients and visitors to provide you with a better understanding of what Web Designers do, and how your Business can benefit from hiring a professional Web Designer. [ Read ]

6 Reasons Your Local Business Listings Need to Be Accurate
All local business listings for your business must be accurate! Incomplete or inaccurate information can be the deciding factor in a potential customer's decision between you and your competitor! [ Read ]

How to Respond to Negative Reviews
How you respond to a negative review impacts not only the reviewer, but all the sets of eyes that come afterward. Seeing a business handle a particularly challenging review online suggests that management is proud of their business, and willing to go the extra mile to maintain their reputation! [ Read ]

Critical Data For Online Business Listings
If you want to rank well in local search, you need consistent NAP data, website, hours, and more across all major listing directories. [ Read ]

How to Respond to Positive Reviews
While negative reviews often get this most attention, positive reviews are as or more important! Its important to respond to positive reviews to thank customers for taking the time to review your business and to encourage others to do the same. [ Read ]

The Basics of Online Advertising
Digital advertising increases awareness - its that simple. Digital advertising consists of a range of services, all of which work to promote a business online. [ Read ]

How to Engage Your Audience Through Social Media
Is your social media falling flat? Don't sweat it; many hours have gone into perfecting the use of this not-so-secret weapon. Facebook, Google+, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram strategies are outlined in detail below. [ Read ]

Understanding and Optimizing Your Website Speed
Page speed is the amount of time it takes for the content on a website's page to fully load. In a world where people have come to expect instantaneous results, faster is better. [ Read ]

 

An animated image representing bots being counted with the text: One bot. Two bots. Three bots. Four. Each one counts a little more. johnny5
johnny5
johnny5
johnny5