CMS & e-commerce
WordPress agency: custom development, performance and security
WordPress powers a large share of the web, but a well-built WordPress site and a patched-together one have nothing in common. Our WordPress agency service covers the design and development of custom themes, business plugins, headless sites with a React or Next.js front end, as well as performance optimisation and security hardening.
It is aimed at SMEs, content publishers and marketing teams that need a reliable, fast and easy-to-manage site, without stacking forty extensions or depending on a page builder that slows everything down.
In practice, we start from your editorial needs to define custom post types, clean Gutenberg blocks or Elementor templates, a coherent data structure and suitable hosting. The result is a site your team can run day to day, and one we can maintain over time without unpleasant surprises.
When do we step in?
Your current theme blocks every change
A bloated premium theme or a page builder makes every change risky and every page slow. A custom, lightweight, version-controlled theme gives you back control.
You need a business plugin
A complex form, a members area, a sync with your CRM or ERP: when no plugin from the repository does the job cleanly, we build the one you need.
You want a headless site
Your team edits in WordPress, but the front end is served by Next.js or React through the REST API or WPGraphQL, for performance and security that are hard to reach with a classic theme.
The site is slow or poorly rated by Google
Core Web Vitals in the red, heavy SQL queries, unoptimised images, no caching: we measure, fix, and set up the right server cache and CDN.
You are rebuilding a multilingual site
WPML or Polylang, per-language URLs, hreflang, translated ACF fields: multilingual support is planned in the architecture, not bolted on after launch.
How we work
- 1
Editorial and technical scoping
We list your content, user roles, integrations and hosting constraints. We choose between Gutenberg, Elementor or a headless approach based on how you actually work.
- 2
Content architecture
Custom post types, taxonomies, ACF fields, URL structure and redirect rules are defined before the first line of code to avoid mid-project rework.
- 3
Theme and plugin development
Child theme or custom theme, custom blocks, business plugins: code is versioned with Git, follows WordPress coding standards and is deployed with WP-CLI to a staging environment.
- 4
Performance and security
Object and page caching, WebP images, lazy loading, CDN, security headers, hardening of wp-config.php and .htaccess, login attempt limiting.
- 5
Acceptance and go-live
Testing on staging with your team, content migration, checks on 301 redirects, sitemap and Search Console, then a scheduled DNS switch.
- 6
Handover and follow-up
Documentation, training for your editors, then a maintenance contract or ad hoc support depending on your needs.
Technologies we use
- WordPress
- PHP 8
- MySQL / MariaDB
- Gutenberg
- Advanced Custom Fields
- Elementor
- WPML / Polylang
- WP-CLI
- WPGraphQL / REST API
- Next.js
- Redis
- Nginx
Related expertise
Why choose Agencei?
Code, not just settings
We build clean, tested, version-controlled themes and plugins rather than assembling extensions that conflict at the first update.
Hosting and infrastructure in view
We also handle the server side: PHP-FPM, Nginx, Redis, backups, CDN. A fast WordPress site is as much about the server as about the theme.
Compatibility anticipated
Elementor, WPML, WooCommerce, ACF: we know how they interact and test major PHP and WordPress updates before they break your site.
A contact who stays
The team that designs your site is the one that maintains it. No handover from a freelancer to an anonymous support desk.
In brief
- What is this service?
- WordPress agency service: design and development of custom WordPress sites, themes, plugins, headless sites, performance optimisation and security hardening.
- Who is it for?
- SMEs, content publishers, marketing teams and organisations that want a reliable, fast WordPress site their teams can manage.
- What problem does it solve?
- Slow sites, themes or page builders that block changes, business needs not covered by existing plugins, insufficient security.
- How long does it usually take?
- A custom brochure site usually takes a few weeks; a headless project or one with business integrations often takes several months.
- What factors influence the price?
- Price depends on the number of templates and content types, custom versus premium theme, third-party integrations, multilingual support and the performance target.
- How does the engagement run?
- Scoping, content architecture, version-controlled development on staging, performance and security work, acceptance, go-live, then maintenance.
- What are the risks?
- Stacking incompatible plugins, technical debt from a page builder, undersized hosting, poorly prepared content migration.
- What alternatives exist?
- A dedicated headless CMS, a static site, or custom web development when the project goes beyond content management.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a custom theme or a premium theme?
A premium theme is fine for a simple brochure site with few constraints. As soon as you have specific content types, performance requirements or integrations, a custom theme is lighter, safer and easier to maintain. We advise you after reviewing your actual needs.
Do you work with Elementor or Gutenberg?
Both. Gutenberg with custom blocks gives a lighter, more durable site. Elementor remains relevant if your team already uses it and wants full layout freedom. We can also optimise an existing Elementor site.
What is headless WordPress and when is it useful?
In headless mode, WordPress is only used to manage content; the front end is a Next.js or React application that fetches it through the API. It makes sense for high-traffic sites, rich applications, or when the WordPress admin must stay isolated from the public. For a classic brochure site it is often overkill.
Can you take over an existing WordPress site?
Yes. We start with an audit of the theme, plugins, database and hosting, then propose either a gradual upgrade or a rebuild if the foundation cannot be salvaged.
Do you also handle hosting?
We do not resell hosting, but we configure and manage your server or managed plan: PHP, database, caching, backups, TLS certificates. You keep ownership of your contracts.
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Tell us about your project
Describe your need in a few lines: we come back to you with a first analysis and the next steps.