Our WordPress Web Development Process
Project Discovery
- Identify your objectives and your website’s functionality requirements
With our WordPress services, we begin each custom WordPress development project by identifying your objectives. Additionally, we will outline the functionality and project assets required for the success of your project. - Research and identify your buyer persona and optimal user journey
Your WordPress website will be crafted for the user experience your visitors need and expect. Designing your “buyer’s journey” is an exciting step for every client investing in custom WordPress web development. - Market and competitive analysis
Not only do we research your competition, we research your industry and market landscape. This enables us to refine your website and build the functionality best suited to your target audience. - Develop the website’s architecture and sitemap
With your user experience mapped out, we develop the overall structure of your website and sitemap. - Build high-fidelity prototypes
Your website architecture is then built into high-fidelity wireframes that you can browse to get a “first glance” at how each page and element will interact. This is an exciting phase where your website begins to come to life. - SEO research
Your marketing goals and site architecture are the two needed pieces to start our SEO analysis. We build out the necessary SEO architecture to ensure your finished WordPress site is optimized for findability and gives your target users the information they need.
Web Design
- The project style guide is built
Your project’s style guide serves as the design “rule book” for your website’s look and feel. This guide is built around your branding and priorities. We work closely with you to identify the colors, elements, and overall style that will be applied to your website. - The Website architecture is organized
The content already outlined in your high-fidelity wireframe is then organized into an architecture of all the webpages mapped out for your website. - Homepage design
The “concepting” of the homepage design is done during this phase. The homepage is, fundamentally, the most important page of your website. It’s serves as the first impression of your business and our team takes great care to design a homepage that will serve as a solid foundation for your entire project. - Subpage design
Once the homepage design is right, the remainder of the internal pages for your WordPress site are designed. All our web designs are fully scalable for desktop and mobile devices. - Additional WordPress website elements designed
If your website requires additional elements, we will design and implement them according to your website’s needs. Additional elements might include highlighting important information on the page, incorporating calls to action, etc.
Web Development
- Map out website architecture
This phase of your WordPress website project launches in parallel with the web design phase. The first step here is to map out the underlying architecture of your entire website. - Take approved designs and design elements and set them into your site
Next, as a WordPress web development company, we take all the approved page designs and design elements and slice and code them into your website. The code is then connected with your WordPress CMS. At completion, your team will learn to adjust or change your website and content through the easy-to-use WordPress admin panel. - Build in website functionality
After all the attractive, front-facing website design elements are built in, we code in the functionality of your website. This “behind-the-scenes” coding includes everything from third-party tool integrations to complex member-access areas. - All content is built in
At this phase, both your website copy and images are added to the site. This is the wonderful, unifying moment when all the design decisions meet your brand’s message. - Mobile-responsive site set up
Comrade Digital Marketing ensures your website is fully functional and equally attractive across all devices: desktop, laptop, and mobile.
Foundational SEO
- Identify and set up SEO priorities
Our team, in collaboration with yours, identifies SEO priorities and long-term insights into how your website performs against your ranking objectives. - On-site SEO is woven into your website
The SEO priorities are then used on all your website elements for optimal findability of all your content. This helps Google understand the value of your content so it recommends your site to its users. - Check the website for embedded SEO keywords
The SEO keywords used on your website have to be “readable” by Google to get you the SEO benefits. We perform a full sweep of your website to check for embedded SEO keywords so that Google can understand every optimization on the page. - Set up Google Analytics, Google Webmasters, and other monitoring systems
Our team also sets up all the website monitoring tools your team will need. We even establish the event triggers and work with you to ensure you get the most out of the data collected.
Acceptance, Launch & Stakeholder onboarding
- Website functionality and performance testing
Once everything has been built and optimized, testing is the final phase to ensure the full functionality of your WordPress web design. We test every last detail to maximize your site’s performance. - Website “sign-off”
Once we’ve completed testing, the final website is sent to you for review and approval. As soon as you give us the green light, we launch your website. - Deployment and tracking of initial performance
Once your website is live, Google finds and indexes it. After this process is complete, we start monitoring the initial performance numbers to ensure your site has optimal findability and functions properly once users land on a page. We review this initial performance with you. - Training for you and your team
Whether it’s you, other stakeholders, or teammates identified in your organization, we train the people who will be responsible for monitoring, managing and updating your WordPress website in the future. - Support for your website as needed
Once a project is completed, we don’t disappear into the horizon. You get ongoing support. First, our WordPress website development comes with a set warranty period during which we monitor your website and continue to make necessary adjustments. We also have maintenance packages available if you would like our team to perform website updates and performance optimizations over time. We are here, every step of the way, to answer any questions you may have.
Custom-Built vs. Template WordPress Websites
At Comrade Digital Marketing in Chicago, we often see businesses deciding between custom-built WordPress sites and pre-made templates. Both can deliver a professional online presence, but the right choice depends on your goals, budget, and long-term vision.
While templates offer a quick and affordable start, custom builds provide greater flexibility and brand uniqueness. Here’s how they compare:
| Feature | Custom-Built WordPress Website | Template WordPress Website |
|---|---|---|
| Design | 100% unique design built to your specifications | Pre-made design with limited customization options |
| Performance | Optimized code and speed for your specific needs | May include unnecessary code that can slow the site |
| Functionality | Fully tailored features and integrations | Features are limited to what the theme supports |
| Scalability | Easily expandable as your business grows | May require switching themes for major upgrades |
| SEO Optimization | Custom-coded for the best SEO performance | SEO options depend on the theme structure |
| Development Time | Longer build time (typically 8–12 weeks) | Faster launch (often 1–3 weeks) |
| Cost | Higher investment due to custom work | Lower upfront cost |
Custom-built sites are ideal for brands seeking a distinctive digital presence, complete control over features, and the flexibility to scale without major website redesigns. Our expertise in custom WordPress theme development will benefit you here.
Templates work well for smaller budgets, faster launches, and businesses that don’t need complex functionality or creating custom themes right away. However, they can become limiting if your growth demands a more advanced setup.
How We Fine-Tune Your WordPress Website to Dominate Local Search
Chicago’s competitive market demands a WordPress platform that doesn’t just look good but consistently shows up in local search results. Comrade Digital Marketing fine-tunes every element of your website — from structure to speed — to help it stand out in the neighborhoods where your customers live and search.
Our Chicago-based team blends technical SEO expertise with local market knowledge to boost your website optimization and position your site for top rankings.
How we optimize your WordPress site for local dominance:
- Targeted keyword mapping: We integrate Chicago-specific and neighborhood-based search terms into your content and metadata.
- Local schema markup: Structured data that helps search engines understand your business location and services.
- Mobile-first performance: Ensuring fast, responsive pages that Google favors in local rankings.
- Geo-optimized content: Pages and posts tailored to attract customers in your exact service areas.
- Review and citation management: Strengthening your online credibility with consistent business listings and reviews.
Our WordPress expertise and marketing go beyond generic SEO by weaving in Chicago’s local search patterns, seasonality, and competitor insights. We identify gaps in your current strategy and build a plan that makes your site more visible to the people most likely to convert.
Whether you’re targeting a single neighborhood or the entire metro area, Comrade focuses on measurable results — higher rankings, more traffic, and increased local leads. We ensure your WordPress site becomes a true asset in your digital marketing toolkit.
WooCommerce Explained: How Comrade Uses It for Your Online Store
Chicago-based Comrade Digital Marketing builds high-performance WordPress websites that go beyond design, integrating functionality that helps clients sell online with ease. One of our most effective tools for e-commerce development is WooCommerce.
As a leading WordPress development agency, Comrade leverages WooCommerce to deliver flexible, secure, and scalable online stores that fit your business model and growth goals.
What is WooCommerce
WooCommerce is a powerful, open-source e-commerce plugin for WordPress that turns any site into a fully functional online store. It supports a wide range of product types — physical, digital, subscriptions — and integrates seamlessly with payment gateways, shipping providers, and inventory systems.
Because it’s built for WordPress, WooCommerce allows full customization without compromising site speed or SEO performance. Businesses can tailor every aspect of the shopping experience, from product display to checkout, while maintaining complete ownership of their store’s data.
How Comrade Uses It to Build E-Commerce Websites
We use WooCommerce as the backbone of many client e-commerce projects, adapting its robust features to each brand’s unique needs.
Our WooCommerce Development Capabilities:
- Custom Store Design: Create a look and feel that matches your brand identity.
- Advanced Functionality: Add product filters, custom checkout flows, and user accounts.
- Secure Payment Integration: Set up multiple, trusted payment gateways.
- Mobile Optimization: Ensure seamless shopping on all devices.
- SEO-Friendly Setup: Structure your store for maximum search engine visibility.
Our team focuses on making every WooCommerce build not just visually appealing, but also technically optimized for speed, security, and conversions.
From planning the site architecture to integrating the right custom plugins and testing the checkout process, we handle every detail so you can focus on running your business. The result is an e-commerce site that’s easy to manage, ready to scale, and designed to increase sales.
Partner with Chicago’s Trusted WordPress Experts
At Comrade Digital Marketing, we understand that your WordPress website is more than just an online presence — it’s a vital business tool. Our Chicago-based team combines technical expertise with strategic thinking to deliver successful websites that are fast, secure, and designed to drive measurable results.
Whether you need a brand-new build or a full-scale redesign, Comrade will work with you to create a custom WordPress solution that reflects your brand and supports your goals. Contact us today to start building a website that’s built for performance and ready to grow with your business.
