Hello!
I'm interested in hearing your opinion on the following matter. The person in question has a background in marketing and good experience in developing marketing strategies. They have a basic knowledge of web development, which they studied as an additional course at university. They have familiarity with HTML, CSS, and a little bit of SQL and PHP.
They are currently attempting to establish a web studio that takes a marketing-based approach to the final product. They work in a small team and avoid taking on complex projects that they cannot guarantee successful implementation for. All of the websites they create are built on WordPress, using Elementor and stable addons that ensure smooth operation, compatibility, and stability.
Initially, their plan was to involve both backend and frontend development using a classic and correct approach. However, they are curious about the advantages of development without using website builders or frameworks, compared to their current method.
While they understand that flexibility in functionality is important, they note that most projects with budgets up to 100 thousand do not require anything out of the ordinary. In fact, many projects only utilize a fraction of the available functionality. Design and more complex elements are added using PHP and CSS, and any missing blocks in Elementor are manually created (excluding interactive features).
Although they haven't encountered it yet, they believe that certain functionalities can be implemented using custom templates and additional Java, without altering the foundation of Elementor. This leads them to wonder about the potential critical disadvantages of this approach.
P.S. They want to clarify that they don't strictly rely on Elementor and similar solutions. If needed, they will add necessary blocks, designs, or functionalities within the scope of their team's basic to average knowledge.
P.P.S. They acknowledge that professional developers may not appreciate their approach, but they are asking these questions to determine the direction for their team's training and growth, rather than relying solely on their existing experience. Nonetheless, they would like to know how feasible it is to create typical projects from a technical standpoint using this approach.
Development is not an abstract concept that exists in isolation. The purpose of any application is to address the business's needs and provide opportunities for growth and profitability. Technologies serve as tools to solve problems, and if a technology is suitable for a specific problem, it is applied accordingly.
"Real developers" don't harbor any disdain towards the use of such tools, so there's no need to worry. Different tasks require different solutions and investments, creating specialized niches.
There is also an approach known as "testing the idea," where the goal is to quickly and cost-effectively determine if a particular concept can generate profits. Based on the results, one can decide whether additional features are needed or if the project can be implemented using existing solutions, or if custom development is necessary for further advancement.
The choice of technology, in general, is dependent on the specific needs of each client.
Wordpress is a widely used content management system (CMS) that can accommodate various extensions, such as plugins and themes, making it suitable for addressing around 70% of tasks for small and sometimes medium-sized businesses.
Similarly, standalone website builders can be effective for different purposes, primarily for prototyping, although with sufficient expertise and skills, they can offer similar capabilities as Wordpress.
Both options can be used effectively; the key is understanding which tool is most appropriate for a given scenario.
Custom solutions also have their merits in many cases. However, if your clients are satisfied with the existing tools, why not test using them for more complex projects before considering developing your own solutions?
It may be beneficial to explore alternative approaches only after ensuring the satisfaction of your clients and their needs.
Different tasks require different solutions.
When it comes to developing an online store, we consider the client's plans and budget. The majority of orders are handled on OpenCart, a popular content management system (CMS). Although there have been instances where we developed a custom platform for specific clients, it often involved significant time and effort, only to end up with the same solution - OpenCart.
For Landing Pages, we have three options. If there is a need for multiple landing pages, we integrate a template engine with the store or OpenCart. However, if there is only one landing page, we utilize Mobirise or Elementor WP. The choice ultimately depends on the budget and development time.
If you can generate leads, promote the site through SEO, and successfully close deals using Elementor, there's no need to worry.
The decision to avoid complex projects beyond their capabilities is wise, as it maintains a focus on delivering successful outcomes. Using WordPress as the foundation offers a user-friendly content management system, and Elementor provides a visually intuitive way to design and build websites. These tools can be very efficient for projects with budgets up to 100 thousand, especially given the observation that many projects only require a fraction of the available functionality.
However, their curiosity about the advantages of development without website builders or frameworks is valid. While using website builders can speed up the development process and provide a range of pre-built functionalities, a custom development approach offers more flexibility and control over the codebase. It allows for tailored solutions and potentially better performance, especially for larger-scale or more complex projects.
The consideration of adding custom templates and additional JavaScript without altering the foundation of Elementor is a good indication of their intention to extend functionality while maintaining stability. However, they should be aware that this may introduce complexity and potential conflicts in the long term, particularly when dealing with updates and maintenance.
From a technical standpoint, it is feasible to create typical projects with their current approach, provided they continue to enhance their team's knowledge and expertise. They should focus on continually improving their skills in PHP, CSS, and JavaScript to ensure they can handle any project requirements within the scope of their team's capabilities.
It's also essential for them to monitor industry trends and best practices, as web development is an ever-evolving field. Seeking feedback and learning from other professionals, even if their approach differs, can greatly contribute to their team's growth and success.
A Web Studio is a team of people who's professional occupation is designing and building things that live on the web: websites, blogs, apps, e-commerce stores. At its core, a studio consists of: Web Designers who design how the interfaces will appear and behave when the user interacts with it.