Website Design
WordPress Websites.
Built Properly. Priced Fairly.
Professional WordPress design and development from a team that actually knows what it’s doing. No page-builder cowboys, no off-the-shelf templates slapped together and called bespoke. Real websites, built to last, with the tools to grow.
Not Another Generic WordPress Agency
Most web designers hand you a theme from a marketplace, stuff in your content, and call it done. We build from the ground up and bring tools to the table that most agencies simply don’t have.
| What You Get | Dearthwood | Typical WordPress Agency |
|---|---|---|
| Watch your site being built. Live. | ✓ Staging preview from day one | Surprise reveal at the end |
| Exclusive in-house plugins | ✓ Included. Not available elsewhere. | ✗ Off-the-shelf plugins only |
| Bespoke plugin development | ✓ We can build what doesn’t exist yet | ✗ Limited to what’s on the market |
| Basic SEO setup | ✓ Included on every build | Often an expensive add-on |
| Database migrations | ✓ Handled. Ask for a quote. | Hit and miss |
| E-commerce (WooCommerce) | ✓ Full builds, price on application | Available but expensive |
| Ongoing client input during build | ✓ You see changes as they happen | PDF mockups and revision rounds |
| Transparent pricing | ✓ Fixed price, no nasty surprises | Scope creep is their best friend |
What Every Build Includes
These aren’t optional extras or upsells. They come with every project, full stop.
Live Staging. Watch It Take Shape.
From the moment we start, your site is live on a private staging environment. You can watch it take shape in real time: every page, every section, as it’s built. No waiting weeks for a reveal that isn’t what you imagined.
Exclusive In-House Plugins
We’ve developed a range of proprietary plugins, not available anywhere else, that enhance your site’s visibility, performance, and functionality straight out of the box. Every site gets them. They’re part of what makes a Dearthwood build different.
Basic SEO Setup
Every site leaves us properly configured for search engines: page titles, meta descriptions, clean URL structures and sitemaps. We give you a solid foundation to start from.
Fully Responsive Design
Your site works properly on every device: desktop, tablet, and mobile. Not “it kind of works on mobile.” Actually works. Tested. Every breakpoint.
Security-First Build
SSL configuration, hardened WordPress defaults, login protection and sensible user role management. Security isn’t a paid extra. It’s just how we build.
Performance Optimised
Image compression, caching, clean code. No bloated page builders dragging your Core Web Vitals into the floor. Fast sites rank better and convert better. Simple as that.
Contact Forms & Integrations
Properly configured, GDPR-compliant contact forms included. Need a third-party integration such as a CRM, booking system or mailing list? We’ll tell you what’s possible and what it’ll cost up front.
CMS Handover
When we hand over, you can actually run your own site. We’ll walk you through the WordPress dashboard and show you how to add pages, posts and images. No IT degree required.
We don’t disappear the moment the site goes live. Got a question two weeks after launch? Get in touch. We’re not the sort to invoice you for a five-minute fix.
Plugins Built In-House. Not Available Anywhere Else.
This is where things get interesting.
🔌 Exclusive Dearthwood Plugins. Included With Every Site.
We’ve built a suite of WordPress plugins internally. Not published, not on the marketplace, not available to the general public. These tools are reserved for sites we build and manage. They’re designed to enhance your visibility online, improve how your site performs, and give you capabilities that off-the-shelf plugins simply don’t offer.
On top of that, because we develop our own plugins from scratch, we’re not limited to what exists. If your business needs something specific, such as a custom booking workflow, a specialist data integration or a unique front-end feature, we can build it. Bespoke plugin development is available as a separate service. Get in touch and we’ll give you a straight answer on whether it’s doable and what it’ll cost.
Visibility & Discoverability
In-house tools that help search engines understand and index your site correctly, going beyond what standard SEO plugins provide. Included automatically on every build.
Performance & Reliability
Lightweight, purpose-built plugins that do specific jobs efficiently, without the bloat, unnecessary features and tracking that come bundled with popular alternatives.
Bespoke on Request
Got a requirement that doesn’t exist as a plugin? We’ll scope it, build it and maintain it. Price on application. Complexity varies but we’ll be straight with you from the off.
You’re Involved From Day One
Web design isn’t something that should happen behind a curtain. Here’s how we work.
Discovery & Brief
We find out what you need, what you don’t need, who your audience is, and what success looks like. No fluff, no 40-page brand questionnaires.
Staging Environment Live
Within 24 hours of starting, your site is accessible on a private staging URL. From here on, you can watch every change as it happens.
Build. In Full View.
Pages are built, content is added, plugins are configured. You can check in any time. You see it grow. No surprises at the end.
Your Feedback, Immediately
Don’t like the layout of a page? Say so. We’ll change it while you watch. No revision request forms, no waiting for a new draft to land by email.
SEO Configuration
Before launch, we configure all the basics: titles, descriptions, sitemaps and clean URLs. Your site is handed over search-engine ready, with everything in place for you to take it from there.
Handover & Launch
We advise you on hosting and domain setup if you don’t already have them and help you get that sorted. Then it’s your choice: take the code and database export and deploy it yourself, or we handle the deployment for you for a fixed fee. Either way, you leave with full ownership of everything.
Live Staging — Your Site, Visible As It’s Built
Most agencies build your site in private and present you with a finished product you’ve never seen before. We host your site on a staging environment from the very first day of the build. You have a URL. You can watch. You can comment. You’re part of the process, not an afterthought at the end of it.
Search Engine Visibility. We Set You Up Right.
Basic SEO configuration is included on every project. Here’s what that means in practice.
Technical SEO Foundations
Clean URL structures, canonical tags, robots.txt and XML sitemap. The structural basics that Google expects to see done correctly from day one.
Page Titles & Meta Descriptions
Every page gets a properly written title and meta description. Not lorem ipsum. Not the page title copy-pasted. Actual, considered entries that reflect your content.
XML Sitemap Generated
Your sitemap is built and ready to go. We hand it over with clear instructions so you can submit it to whichever tools you use. It takes about five minutes and stays in your hands where it belongs.
Image Optimisation & Alt Text
All images are compressed and properly tagged with descriptive alt text. Good for accessibility, good for search engines, good for load speed.
Mobile & Core Web Vitals
Google’s ranking signals include mobile usability and page performance. Our builds are fast and fully responsive. Not as an afterthought. As a baseline.
Schema & Structured Data
Where applicable, we add structured data markup so Google can better understand your business. Particularly useful for local businesses, services and e-commerce stores.
A Straight Word on SEO
We set every site up with the technical foundations done properly. What we don’t do is promise page-one rankings. SEO takes time, costs money and the results are never guaranteed. No matter who does it.
We do not offer full ongoing SEO management services. Results vary depending on your sector, competition and content, and the timescales involved are impossible to predict with any honesty. We’d rather tell you that upfront.
Straightforward Pricing
No surprise invoices. No scope-creep traps. You know the price before we start.
- Up to 5 pages
- Custom WordPress design
- Fully responsive (mobile, tablet, desktop)
- Contact form with spam protection
- Exclusive Dearthwood plugins included
- Basic SEO setup
- XML sitemap generated & ready to submit
- Live staging throughout the build
- CMS handover & walkthrough
- 30 days post-launch support
- No e-commerce
- No database migration
Domain and hosting not included. We’ll guide you through setting it up. Deployment assistance available for a fixed fee.
- Up to 12 pages
- Bespoke WordPress design
- Fully responsive on every device
- Advanced contact forms & integrations
- Exclusive Dearthwood plugins included
- Blog / news section setup
- Full basic SEO configuration
- XML sitemap generated & ready to submit
- Live staging throughout the build
- CMS handover & walkthrough
- 60 days post-launch support
- Gallery or portfolio section
Domain and hosting not included. We’ll guide you through setting it up. Deployment assistance available for a fixed fee.
Application
- WooCommerce setup & configuration
- Product catalogue build
- Payment gateway integration
- Stock & order management
- Exclusive Dearthwood plugins included
- Customer account area
- Mobile-optimised checkout
- Full basic SEO configuration
- Live staging throughout the build
- CMS & WooCommerce handover
- Complexity determines price. We’ll be straight with you.
Price depends on product volume, complexity, and integrations required
Application
- Database migrations
- Platform-to-WordPress migrations
- Bespoke plugin development
- Custom post types & data structures
- Third-party API integrations
- Legacy site rebuilds
- Scoped individually. No assumptions.
- Full brief required before pricing
Tell us what you need — we’ll scope it honestly and come back with a number
💡 Not Sure Which One You Need?
Tell us about your business and what you’re trying to achieve. We’ll tell you exactly which option makes sense and if none of them fit, we’ll scope something that does. Get in touch. No pushy sales, no obligation.
Ready to Get a Proper Website?
Get in touch with a brief description of what you need. We’ll come back to you with a straight answer, a clear price, and no waffle.
No contracts unless agreed. Transparent process. UK-based. We say what we mean.