Great subject. Who would you rather turn to, to get work done on your WordPress Website? Local or International?
I watched the video below, a few days ago – Stefan is worth subbing, if you’re into development, and I’ve been thinking about writing about this subject, discussing what I believe are the Pro’s and Con’s with using Freelance Websites as opposed to a Local WordPress Professional.
Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working on websites that weren’t based in Australia. The issues I primarily faced, was payment related, and time differences which was a bit of a problem when needing to communicate with the websites’ owner. Chasing someone overseas for payment was pretty much a waste of time.
In Australia, we have a rather high cost of living / standard. Sometimes, if you’re doing work on a US or Canadian, or European Country-based website, the exchange rate can work in your favor, because you can lower your rate to match or ‘beat’ another WordPress Professionals’ rate. Other things that come into play, are the quality of work, and accessibility of communications, so it’s not always price-based that matters most.
The ‘problem’ we, as professionals, now face – and I use that term loosely, is that you have emerging economies such as India / Pakistan, and the Philippines, who have entered this area of work, and are charging ridiculously low rates, and they ARE getting the work. In some ways, this has ‘forced’ some WordPress Professionals to lower their rates, to get any work at all.
This is where your Branding comes into play – and has the ability to benefit you so much more than someone operating in one of the BRIC economies.
Some people with a little entrepreneurial flare have embraced this, and actually build their brand, based on pushing out cheap websites – using people in BRIC economies to build these cheap websites. The issue I have with using these operators, is that people have been left with ‘broken’ websites, that these operators refuse to repair. People like me are left to pick up the pieces and fix websites that are just horribly written, and most need to be built again, from scratch. These operators will take your money and run.
This is part of the reason why I tell people up-front, that I am not cheap – but I get the job done, and will provide assistance free-of-charge, if there’s an issue. Not one customer of mine has ever had to say a bad word against me – because I do whatever it takes to do the job. I don’t leave people in the lurch if there’s an issue.
My name is my brand. I’ve said it before, and will continue to say it.
The option you have is simple – Pay the going rate (based on experience and quality) in the country you live, or pay the penalty through a dud WordPress Website.
We all have choices. Sometimes we make choices based on what we can afford, I get that. But, given the fact that more and more WordPress Websites are used for business, I ask you this very simple question;
What value do you place on your business, your brand, your future?
I often ask people to think very carefully about who they trust with their websites. The consequences can be pretty scary.
In Australia, for example, we have plenty of laws that basically make you liable for security breaches – be it, insurance-wise, or criminally. I for one, work within these laws, because I know that I ‘could’ face charges of not securing your data, whereas, if you (for example) were to have a website built by someone from a BRIC economy, they would be untouchable, whereas you would be completely liable.
I think it’s a very serious subject, that needs greater transparency regarding liability.
Just think about your choices. It could mean the difference between owning your home, or losing it – and going to jail.
Whatever you choose, make it the right one.
As always, I’d appreciate a share or seven, and please feel free to contact me for any information about this post or any other subject I’ve written about.
EDIT – I’ve been asked by a few people where I get my images for websites that I build. If you’re in need of images for a new website, or if you’re updating a website, visit websites such as Pixabay or Unsplash – AVOID using images you ‘just like’, it’s illegal unless the image has been labelled for reuse.
Finding your own images can save you hundreds of dollars off a build.
