I keep running into clients who expect their WordPress sites to be done super fast. They don’t really get all the stuff that goes on behind the scenes like fixing plugin issues, making sure everything works on mobile, testing everything over and over, and trying to make complex things look easy.
If you could teach clients just one thing about what we do - maybe about how much things cost, how long projects really take, getting content ready on time, or dealing with constant change requests - what would you pick?
Would love to hear what bugs you most and get some real talk going.
The biggest thing I wish clients got? WordPress development isn’t just slapping on a theme and walking away. There’s a huge gap between DIY sites and professional work. When you hire me, you’re paying for custom features, real security, speed optimization, and code that won’t explode when WordPress updates. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve explained why their cousin’s friend who “knows WordPress” built something that looks fine but is completely broken underneath. Good development takes time because I’m building something that’ll work for years, not just look pretty for a month. Going cheap almost always costs way more later when you’re dealing with hacks, crashes, and having to rebuild the whole thing properly.
the worst part? clients who think maintenance is optional. they demand perfection at launch, then vanish for 6 months. site gets hacked or plugins break - suddenly it’s my fault. WordPress isn’t set-and-forget like a brochure. core updates, themes, plugins, security patches - it all needs regular attention. i switched to mandatory maintenance contracts bc i got tired of explaining why their abandoned site crashed.
Content delays destroy project timelines more than anything else. I build buffer time into every quote now because clients always underestimate how long writing copy, gathering images, and making basic decisions takes. A 4-week project becomes 8 weeks when content arrives piece by piece. Development might only need 2-3 weeks, but we’re waiting around for final text, decent photos, or simple decisions like how contact forms should work. I require 80% of content upfront before I start development. I’m not being difficult - starting with placeholder content means rebuilding sections when the real content doesn’t fit.