As of January 2025, 43.6% of all websites in existence are using WordPress.

594,645 of those sites are in Australia, and you’re one of them.

You’ve been fumbling around with your WordPress site in-house for a while now, and you’ve decided enough is enough. It’s time to get some help so you can focus on the rest of your business.

Maybe you need someone to keep your site fresh with image swaps, copy tweaks and page additions. Maybe your site is slow to load, down all the time, or not secure.

Maybe it’s completely out of whack, and every time you go in to make edits you’re walking on eggshells, holding your breath hoping you don’t break the layout. (Been there, done that.)

Whatever your issue, you could use a hand.

We’re Crescospec, a growth-driven digital agency out of Alexandria specialising in WordPress design and website management,  and we’re here to answer your questions.

Let’s get right to it.

You have 4 options for getting WordPress support in Australia. You can hire your host, hire a freelancer, use online resources, or hire an agency. 

Jump to one of them:

1. Use Your Hosting Provider
2. Hire A Freelancer
3. Use Free Online Resources
4. Hire An Agency

1. Use Your Hosting Provider

 Convenient and affordable, but limited in scope

Many hosting providers will offer web design, maintenance, and support services in addition to their hosting.

For example, if you’re on GoDaddy‘s Managed WordPress hosting plan, they offer design and maintenance services on a project basis or through ongoing monthly plans.

If you’re on HostGator, they offer something similar, which you can learn about here.

Bluehost offers WordPress support and design under their Pro Design Live service. (Fun fact – Cybernews voted them the #1 best hosting in Australia in 2024)

We also checked Australian hosting company Crazy Domains, and while they have a how-to guide on finding WordPress support, they don’t seem to provide it directly as a service. Instead they focus solely on domains and hosting.

So most of the larger hosting providers also offer support, but not all of them. If you’re using a provider that we didn’t mention, just reach out to their customer support line to see if they can give you a hand with your WordPress site.

Pros

• Convenience – Since you already have an account with your hosting provider, getting support from them won’t require finding a new vendor, setting up a new account, or sharing additional website credentials.
• Streamlined workflow – Many hosting providers are large global companies. They have streamlined and user-friendly processes that serve to simplify your website operations.
• Affordability – Billed either hourly or as monthly plans, hosting companies typically offer competitive pricing.

Cons

• Less personalised services – Since hosting providers operate at scale, you’ll probably be working with call centers and general support emails. If you do get a dedicated manager, you’ll be one of many others under that employee’s management, and may not receive the level of personalisation that you require.
• Cookie-Cutter solutions – The WordPress support and design services of hosting providers tend to be a bit less custom. When purchasing WordPress support from your hosting provider, you’re more likely to see generic design templates, surface-level fixes, and “one size fits all” solutions to problems requiring more than that.

The Bottom Line

Getting WordPress support from your hosting provider is a convenient and cost-effective solution for obtaining WordPress support, either on a project or ongoing basis. However, the lack of personalisation and overall depth of services they offer may fall short of meeting the needs of your growing business.

  Jump to another WordPress support option:

• Hire A Freelancer
• Use Free Online Resources
• Hire An Agency

2. Hire A Freelancer

 Specialised and flexible, but dependent on who you hire

For a more personal touch and enhanced specialisation, you can hire a freelancer for help with your WordPress website.

There are a handful of online platforms that connect businesses with freelancers. Here are the best ones for finding a WordPress freelancer in Australia:

• Upwork – A global platform connecting clients with freelancers. Here’s their page to get started on: Upwork.com/hire/au
• Freelancer – An Australia-founded platform offering a wide range of freelance services. Here’s their homepage: Freelancer.com.au
• Airtasker – An Australian marketplace focusing on local tasks and services including WordPress support. Here’s the page to look at first for them: airtasker.com/au/services/web-design

In addition to those popular online platforms, you can ask around to find a freelancer. As with most services, the best way to find an effective provider is through a referral from a trusted connection. So be sure to check with friends, family, and professional connections to see if they’ve used a provider that they’d suggest.

Pros

• Specialisation – WordPress support and development freelancers often have a depth of experience in the field. They’ve dedicated their career to working with websites just like yours, and their success depends on ensuring your satisfaction.
• Personalisation – With a freelancer, you’re working directly with the person implementing your services. They’ll typically have less clients, meaning you get more care, attention, and personalised services.

Cons

• Hit or miss – The value provided by any given freelancer will vary greatly, and your satisfaction will be based entirely on who you select. You could get a provider that knocks it out of the park, or you could get burned. This adds an element of risk, and takes up more of your time during the research / vetting phase of hiring.
• Reduced bandwidth –  Since freelancers are typically just one person (or a very small team of people), they may lack the bandwidth to deliver quick turnaround times, or the resources required for complex needs.

The Bottom Line

Hiring a freelancer is an excellent solution for getting personalised WordPress support from a dedicated expert. You’ll be working one-on-one with the same person doing the work, which enhances the opportunity for you to get what you want. However, they may lack the resources to meet complex needs. In addition, the level of satisfaction they deliver for your business hinges entirely upon who you hire. It’s important to do your research to find an effective provider, and start small with them to test the waters.

  Jump to another WordPress support option:

• Use Your Hosting Provider 
  
• Use Free Online Resources
• Hire An Agency

3. Use Free Online Resources

 Full control with no fees, but could cost more in the long run

You’re here because you need to contract out some help with your WordPress site. But before we get into our favorite solution for effective WordPress support, let’s briefly cover the wealth of free information and resources to help you tackle it in-house.

Start by bookmarking the page for Official WordPress Documentation. This includes basic and advanced troubleshooting and guides from the horse’s mouth.

You can also leverage support forums, such as the official forum for WordPress as well as r/Wordpress on Reddit. There, you can browse topics to see if anyone else has encountered the same issues as you, and if not, post a new question yourself.

Last, there’s plenty of free information through blogs and online articles. Enter what you want to learn about onto a search engine and see what the world wide web has to offer. Some of the reputable publications in the WordPress space include WordPress.com, WP Engine, HubSpot, and WPBeginner.

Pros

• More control – With in-house WordPress management, you’re in charge. When you or a direct employee are handling the website, there’s more control and less waiting around.
• Manage costs – The main and most obvious reason – you’re not investing any additional money with a contractor.

Cons

• Inefficiency – If you’re a small business, we get it – You wear many hats. But the time wasted trying to figure things out willy-nilly could end up costing you quite a bit more than hiring a professional.
• Increased risk – Your website is an incredibly valuable asset. Dedicated professionals follow best practices to mitigate risk and futureproof your website.

The Bottom Line

In-house website management can work for businesses that have the bandwidth and competencies to navigate their WordPress website. It has the potential to enhance control and flexibility while managing costs. However, those without the time or expertise should seriously consider contracting the work out, even on a limited budget. The cost of wasted time and stress is likely to end up costing more.

  Jump to another WordPress support option:

• Use Your Hosting Provider 
• Hire A Freelancer
  
• Hire An Agency

4. Hire An Agency

 Robust digital solutions for growing your business

Hiring an agency to help you out with your WordPress website is going to be the most comprehensive, scalable solution.

Agencies have the expertise and bandwidth to handle a vast set of needs related to your website. In addition to basic help and support, they can handle advanced development needs, enhance your brand, and even implement growth-driven solutions through search engine optimisation and advertising.

Agencies offering WordPress support typically structure their services under monthly maintenance and management plans.

These services can include all or some of the following:

• Design and development work, typically for a set number of hours each month
• Site security and uptime monitoring
• Website hosting and regular backups
• One on one support and training
• Troubleshooting and fixing website issues

Agency WordPress management services often go beyond surface level one-off projects, and focus more on comprehensive solutions for managing, maintaining, and enhancing websites. 

As with freelancers, the efficacy of an agency depends on who you hire. So once again, you’ll need to properly vet providers and seek referrals to find one that you’re happy with.

Pros

• Increased bandwidth – Agencies have teams of WordPress specialists to handle every element related to your website. They can implement advanced solutions for complex problems, and offer additional services geared toward not just managing your website, but growing your business.
• Streamlined services – Many agencies integrate easy-to-use platforms and dashboards to streamline processes and maximise efficiency. 

Cons

• Varying quality – As with hiring a freelancer, there are effective agencies and ineffective ones. You’ll need to stay on your toes to find a good one by seeking referrals and vetting their reviews.
• Sometimes more expensive – The added benefit of having a team of highly functioning industry experts at your disposal can come with its price. Depending on the level of services you opt for, you may be looking at a higher price tag than with hiring a freelancer or hosting company.

The Bottom Line

Web design and support agencies offer the most comprehensive services for meeting the ongoing digital needs of your business. They can keep your site looking and performing its best, implement advanced solutions to complex problems, and take things a step further through brand enhancement and online growth. 

If you’re looking for an extension of your team that can handle your WordPress site’s ongoing needs with ease, deliver peace of mind, and grow your business, you should hire an agency.

  Jump to another WordPress support option:

• Use Your Hosting Provider 
• Hire A Freelancer
  
• Use Free Online Resources

WordPress Support: 4 Options, 1 Clear Winner

When it comes to getting some help with your Australia-based SME’s WordPress site, you have 4 options. You can (1) use your hosting provider, (2) contract it out to a freelancer, (3) use online resources and keep it in-house, or (4) hire an agency.

Hiring your hosting provider can be a simple and cost-effective solution for your managing site’s ongoing needs, but may fail to provide the level of customisation or depth of services that you expect.

Hiring a freelancer will add an element of personalisation and expertise. They’ll provide more catered services than you’d get from a call center at a hosting company. However, they may not have the resources to service complex needs. In addition, the value that they offer can vary greatly depending on who you hire.

Third, if you think you’ve got what it takes to keep it in-house, be sure to leverage the wealth of free resources available to WordPress users. If you wear multiple hats and find managing your WP website to be taking up too much of your time, you should consider 1 of the 3 other options presented in this article.

And last but certainly not least, if you’re serious about growing your business, you should enter into a strategic partnership with a digital agency that specialises in WordPress. They’re equipped to handle the unique digital needs of your growing business, and investing in a good one could be the best decision you’ve made all quarter.

If you’re ready to get serious about your digital footprint, start by giving us a shot. We’re Crescospec, an Australia-based team of WordPress designers, developers, and strategists who are passionate about paving the way.

Sound good? Keep scrolling.