You know how phones and tablets have apps that add extra features and benefits?
Likewise, plugins are like apps for your WordPress website.
Websites built on WordPress use plugins to add features, specialized functionality, and specific experiences for visitors.
Third-party developers make these plugins, so they cost less than had the same functionality been created as a custom solution.
Many of these third-party developers have been in business for a long time and have a track record of stability and reliability.
However, adding many plugins to your website carries risks.
Plugins need regular updates for security and functionality. Whenever WordPress updates, plugins must be updated too. Without a maintenance plan, your website will eventually break.
Worse, if a plugin is not kept current, it is attractive to people and bots who make a living from hacking websites of all sizes.
Plus, if the third-party plugin developer has a security breach, it is your problem, ultimately, a customer experience problem.
Another risk is liability. You’re relying on third-party developers for your website’s features. If their company has issues, your website could be affected.
The more plugins a website uses, the higher the maintenance cost and the greater the risk your brand takes on.
Brand Shepherd prefers a minimalist approach to plugins.
We aim to use no more than five plugins per website, ideally closer to three.
If a brand needs more than 3-5 plugins for the functionality of their website, they want a customized experience. It is then a much smarter decision to create custom-coded solutions rather than depend on third parties. Brand Shepherd creates custom-coded solutions for websites to improve customer experiences.
We offer free assessments for WordPress websites to help reduce plugin risks while maintaining functionality and improving user experience.
get in touch with us today so we can help your customers experience better.
® Brand Shepherd llc • shepx is part of the Brand Shepherd herd of brands.
Steel suppy is a business of relationships and jm burns steel supply wanted the website to give buyers a sense of the competency and personality they will be working with.
JUSTIN ROBBINS – CEO, JM BURNS STEEL SUPPLY
Showcase a woman-owned steel trading business that has carved out a reputation of quality service.
Steel trading is a business of relationships and DST wanted the website to give buyers a sense of the competency and personality they will be working with.
As a woman-owned business, DST wanted the website to showcase the credentials awarded and by doing so, show new credentialing agencies of the brand’s trustworthy nature.
“jane, the owner, has created a brand that is a force to be reckoned with in a heavily male-dominated industry. crafting her brand’s website was a true honor to see come to life.”
dan crask – shepx
the website needed to be the handshake between academic scientific innovation and the capitalism marketplace.
“building the benanova brand was rewarding because we were entrusted to first craft their visual brand identity and then apply it to a robust website.”
dan crask – shepx
To eat at the half-day Cafe is a vibe unto itself. The goal was to give website visitors an experience consistent with what they’ll get during their meal.
The people of Cincinnati live and support their vast number of independent restaurants like Half Day Cafe.
Those visiting Cincinnati either know in advance or find out quickly of the great food scene. Discovering new independent restaurants is a priority for them.
“we have had the great honor of building, growing, and protecting the half day cafe website since 2008. the honor is double because their food is incredible!”
DANIEL CRASK – SHEPX
create a website that insurance professionals in need of specific data via forms can access quickly and easily.
berkshire advisor resource is a specific insurance professionals’ go-to resource for help, so long as all of the information is provided efficiently. this puts a lot of emphasis on how customers interact with the website.
the data the insurance professionals provide has to be accessible in a way that is not a time-drain on the overall process so that the specialists can get the data in the right hands.
berkshire staff need a website that is a living, breathing tool between their customers and the valuable information they rely on. everything hinges on how well the website can collect and provide data.
“They key to success with the Berkshire website was in the design of the forms. We did a deep dive into their forms and redesigned their flow for the most efficiency for everyone.”
DANIEL CRASK – SHEPX
homes require on-going maintenance to prevent costly repairs, yet many homeowners are either uninterested or unaware of every point of maintenance a home needs. simple fix handyman is a handyman service designed to make home maintenance easy and affordable for home owners.
property owners are all too familiar with the many needs for maintenance that their properties require. simple fix handyman is a service for property owners to outsource those needs so property owners have one less thing to take care of.
“I have never had anything less than an extraordinary experience. shepx are phenomenal. I will never work with anyone else when it comes to building a website!”
Adam Markesbery – Simple fix handyman
create a website that sums up the it services prospera provides while also making access to support easy.
“prospera went from an underperforming website with a lot of pages to a single-page website that surpassed expectations because we took time to understand what prospera’s customers would find most valuable from their website.”
DANIEL CRASK – SHEPX
A website experience for a top tier copywriter, without blasting the reader with verboseness.
Emilie works with a lot of brand managers and so we learned from her experience that they are usually short on time. They want a copywriter who can get to the point and do so with absolute clarity.
Business owners who see the need and value of a copywriter of Emilie’s quality are people who have tried to write concise content but found out it is very challenging. They need to see expertise in a short period of time
“Knowledgeable, outgoing and strategic, Brand Shepherd is always up to date on technology and important business-building trends.”
EMILIE D’AGOSTINO
create a website that evokes the true in-person brand experience for this one-of-a-kind title agency.
the knoxville, tennessee real estate market is hot and premier title group goes to great lengths to ensure home buyers and sellers feel right at home.
a hot real estate market is keeps its heat in large part to the realtors® who create the best deals for everyone.
ultimately, all parties involved need lenders who know what they’re doing and premier title group set out to attract partnerships with knoxville’s best lenders.
“ptg’s website was such a breath of fresh air because they truly wanted to disrupt what real estate title agencies typically feel like and do so with warmth and authentic joy. this is how a brand stands out in a hot market.”
DAN CRASK – SHEPX
