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WordPress

Michael Hampshire
Michael Hampshire
12,206 Points

Is it a bad habit to create websites with Wordpress using plugins such as page builders?

I'm creating a website for a guy that I work with. I'm using WordPress to create the site and I'm using Elementor page builder. Is it a bad habit to create a website using WordPress and plugins such as these? Or is it the day and age to use CMS tools to create website for clients?

I can still create websites from scratch, but it's easier, quicker, and cheaper to use WordPress and plugins. I almost feel like some kind of guilt or feel like I'm not actually creating the sites.

Just looking for some advice.

Thanks, Mike

2 Answers

Dale Severude
seal-mask
.a{fill-rule:evenodd;}techdegree seal-36
Dale Severude
Full Stack JavaScript Techdegree Graduate 71,349 Points

I looked at using page builders once, but decided against them. For simple presentation sites only, they may work fine. However, I found they didn't give me exactly what I wanted and I didn't want to keep fighting them. Ultimately I went with bootstrap to control over all my settings such as margins and padding, without all the extra overhead code that page builders add.

Ultimately it depends on what your needs are.

Kevin Korte
Kevin Korte
28,148 Points

I agree with Dale, it depends on the what the needs are. We as developers have a responsibility to use our best judgement to not build something too complicated for a clients needs (and thus bill them way more man hours then needed), and to not lie to them.

The the first point, does Mama's Little Bakery needs a fully custom CMS? Probably not. (Unless Mama's Little Bakery isn't so little, lol). It would be unfair to bill them for 600 hours to build a custom CMS when say, wordpress would have worked just fine and been a fraction of the hours spent.

On point two, while it's not wrong to use a page builder to build a site for a client, make sure they know that's what you did. I'm not accusing you of not doing this - but in general, make sure they know you're just managing the technical aspects of their site, and charge them accordingly. Never use a page builder plugin and pass it off as something you built, eventually they'll figure it out and be mad at all developers. It can be appropriate to use a page builder though when keeping my first point in mind - don't overbuild, or overcharge someone for more then something they need.