We are very happy to have Brad Williams, the Co-Founder, and CEO of WebDevStudios (WDS), for our today’s interview. We will discuss with him about website design and development.
We will also know about the mistakes website owners make and tips to solve them. And as always we will try to fetch some expert suggestions from Brad for the new website owners.
Let’s first get to know Brad’s career a bit more.
Brad is responsible for defining the vision and direction of the overall company, WebDevStudios.com. He works closely with Marketing and Sales with a strong focus on Business Development.
Brad has helped grow WDS from a coffee table startup to one of the oldest and most respected WordPress Agencies working with clients like Microsoft, Viacom, Campbell Soup Company, Starbucks, and the NBA.
Prior to WebDevStudios, Brad was the IT Director at a major eCommerce company based in Indiana, where he managed all online web properties, warehousing systems, and internal servers and networks.
Brad is also a US Marine Corps veteran and graduated from the Military Occupational Specialty School as a 4067 Computer Programmer.
Brad served one tour in Kuwait/Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom where he learned to program with a gas mask on!
Brad is a co-author of the Professional WordPress Book Series, which are some of the highest-rated advanced WordPress Development books on the market. He is the co-organizer of WordCamp Philly 2010 – 2015 and the Philadelphia WordPress Meetup.
Brad was also a co-organizer for the Inaugural WordCamp US in 2015 and again in 2016. He has been developing websites for over 20 years. In the last 10, Brad has specifically focused on open-source technologies like WordPress.
Brad lives in Philadelphia with his wife and son. He’s obsessed with cheesesteaks, Raider’s football (it’s complicated), podcasting, Halloween, LED lights, and all things technology.
You can know more of Brad from the WebDevStudios blog or catch him on twitter, @williamsba.
Hello Brad, Thank You for Your Time. Could You Please Share With Us How You Start Working With WordPress?
My first exposure to WordPress was back in 2006. I was attending a Search Engine Strategies event in Chicago and everyone I met had a blog. I felt very behind, so that night in my hotel room, I downloaded WordPress and launched my first blog!
As a developer, I like to understand how things work; so naturally, I started examining the codebase behind WordPress.
Over time, I became more proficient in WordPress development and helped launch a few websites for friends. The rest is history.
What Inspires You to Start WebDevStudios, and Why Do You Feel That Website Design and Development Agency is Necessary for Website Owners?
I’ve always had a passion for building websites since I first started learning HTML in the mid-90s. I knew from that young age that I would be working on the internet the rest of my life.
Companies hire agencies like WebDevStudios because we are experts in our field. We truly understand the web and can help any company really increase their internet presence and grow engagement amongst their visitors.
Our team of professionals really takes the worry out of complex website projects so our clients can focus on their business.
Related Reading: Best Blog Setup Services
From Your Experience, Could You Please Tell Our Readers What Factors Are Essential While Choosing a Website Design and Development Agency?
An obvious factor is making sure the agency you are talking to has the expertise to make your project successful, but there are many other factors that are important, as well.
It’s very important to make sure you have a good connection with the team. Are they easy to talk to? Do they listen as much as they speak?
Are they talking to you or at you? Remember, you will be working with this team for a period of time. So, it’s important you all get along!
When searching for an agency to help with your website project, it’s essential to look beyond just the price tag. Hiring an agency will traditionally cost more than hiring a freelancer.
However, there are many benefits to having a team on your project versus a single person. Working with a team ensures there is not a single point of failure.
A team can also have developers who are experts in different areas. For example, that team could include a frontend developer that specializes in accessibility.
While Planning and Designing for a New Website, What Are the Core Factors That One Should Consider?
We like to start with understanding a company’s goals for their website. What is the website trying to accomplish? Is it purely informational, are you selling a product or service, or maybe it’s a way to release news about your company?
Understanding the goal of the website is always the first step in the process.
Another important factor is defining what a conversion is. If you are selling a product, a conversion is simply making a sale. If you are a WordPress agency, like WebDevStudios, a conversion is contacting us to discuss your project.
Understanding what a conversion is can help you determine how best to increase those conversions on your new website.
Who Are the Main Clients of WebDevStudios? And What Are Their Focused Concerns Between Design and Services?
We support a wide range of clients at WDS, from bloggers to large enterprises. WordPress has a massive adoption rate; so we have positioned ourselves to handle projects for small SMBs all the way up to Microsoft!
What Are the Difficulties Your Team Face When Designing and Planning for Your Clients?
One challenge that is present in every project we do is making sure we are 100% aligned with our clients. We never want a client to be surprised by something.
We make sure we have extremely transparent communication throughout the life cycle of a project.
Constant communication, project updates, and demos can help make sure your client is completely involved along the way and help avoid any misunderstandings or issues.
From 2002 to 2020, It is a Long Journey of WebDevStudios. Could You Share With Us What It Takes to Come to This Position You Are Now?
We bootstrapped WebDevStudios, meaning we didn’t take funding or loans to start. We had a little bit of savings and no real clients, but what we did have was a passion for building amazing websites.
We grew slowly and organically as the projects grew in size and in number. We started hiring in our first year to help bring on talent that we were missing, specifically around design.
Your Team Works With a Lot of Websites. From Your Experience Could You Tell Us, What Are the Biggest Mistakes WordPress Website Owners Are Making?
A big mistake is not focusing on mobile. Our clients are amazed to see how much of their website traffic is coming from mobile devices.
For most websites we work on, over 50% of their traffic is mobile. So, it’s imperative that your website is a good experience for mobile visitors.
Accessibility is another area that is often overlooked. Making sure your website is accessible for all visitors, regardless of their abilities, is not only the right thing to do, it’s also good for business.
So, What is Your Plan With WebDevStudios? What Variety of Services Are You Going to Plan for WebDevStudios in the Future?
Our plan is to continue to grow our team and services to align with anyone running a WordPress powered website. We position ourselves to be an extension of our client’s team to sit at the table and help them plan and execute on their website goals.
What is Your Top Advice for the New Web Site Owners Who Are Using WordPress for Their Business?
Keep your website updated with current stable releases of WordPress and plugins. A website is not a set-it-and-forget-it thing. It’s a living entity that needs maintenance to sustain.
Updates may include new features, but they also include bug and security patches. These are extremely important in keeping your website safe and secure.
If you aren’t comfortable updating your website or need help with your WordPress project, reach out to a company like WebDevStudios to help!
Wrapping Up
Today Brad talked a lot about providing service. As a new entrepreneur and service provider meeting the desire of the client is sometimes difficult. But Brad gives the best solution from his experience.
He mentioned, “Constant communication, project updates, and demos can help make sure your client is completely involved along the way and help avoid any misunderstandings or issues.”
Maintaining the overall website system and your core project is sometimes difficult and time-consuming. Also updating your website is important. This total system sometimes can create problems for your important task.
To reduce the extra hassle expert service is essential. A good quality service provider can reduce the pain related to website design and development.
Before choosing a service provider always check their customer support system for a better result.
Have a look at the WebDevStudios, follow Brad on Twitter, and read the WebDevStudios blog to learn more from the experts.
Read Other Interviews:
- Interview WIth Ryan Sullivan
- Interview With Steven Watts
- Interview With Chris Badgett
- Interview With Kimberly Lipari
- Interview With Jean-Baptiste
- Interview With Jan Koch
- Interview With Maddy Osman
- Interview With Adrian Spiac
- Interview With Alex Panagis
- Interview With Scott Bolinger
- Interview With Robert Abela
- Interview With Dave Macdonald
- Interview With Ashan Jay
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