Freelance web developer
Hampshire, Wiltshire and UK-wide
WORDPRESS
WEBSITES
Expert in all things WordPress. Whether it is a new website build, helping you with an existing website, or maintenance and support.
NEW WEBSITES.
WHAT’S INCLUDED?
Get the lowdown on what you can expect from websites that I build for you.
OUTSOURCE YOUR
WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT
Find out what the benefits are of outsourcing work to a freelance web developer.
Welcome
Building websites has been the focus of my career over many, many years. And it is something that I have never lost my passion for. A well executed web build, a cute bit of CSS or a bespoke WordPress plugin, these are the things that I love to do.
There are two types of clients that I build websites for.
Design / Marketing agencies
These clients outsource development work to me because they are unable to build websites in-house, or need some extra help. Typically supplying me with the designs that they have done themselves. This is a collaborative arrangement where I operate as a sub-contractor.
Businesses
I also supply my services direct to businesses in the UK. Either taking on just the production of a website, or the whole job including design and project management.
A dedication to providing great service
When you hire a freelancer you don’t just need good execution, you also need good service.
I’ve been approached on many occasions by businesses who have been let down by people they have hired. AWOL developers, abandoned projects, poor levels of communications and unclear costs being just some of the reasons why.
When you hire me, my promise to you is to deliver a responsive, reliable service. With effective, clear communication at every stage of a project.
INDEX
- WordPress websites
- Ecommerce websites
- Outsourcing partnerships
- Website support plans
- Rate card
- Contact me
LOCATION
I am based in the village of West Wellow, on the Hampshire / Wiltshire border, near Romsey.
WordPress website development
WordPress has been a leading platform for website development for many years, and it continues to be the one I reach for when building sites.
The flexibility of the WordPress
platform is hard to beat, and is why it powers more than 43% of all websites (source: W3Techs – October 2025).
I have personally built hundreds of websites on it because, for my clients, creating something bespoke is very important.
This doesn’t mean just downloading a pre-made Theme and throwing in some content (which is what you may get with some website producers – you get what you pay for right?).
No, I take a lot of pride in doing things well, and doing things right, and that means hand-crafting websites to very high standards.
Structure, performance, security, and ease of maintenance are all aspects of the attention to detail that I put into the websites that I build for my clients.
So, if you are comparing costs from multiple suppliers make sure you understand what you will be getting both from a technical and a service standpoint.
What’s included?
This is what you can expect if you hire me to build a WordPress website for you.
Analyse, assess and solve
I will work with you during the quotation phase to fully assess the website requirements and scope out the job as a whole. This may include evaluating technical solutions to complex functional requirements. This is a critical phase in understanding time and costs for the project.
Creative design
If you are supplying design work yourself then I will collaborate with your designers to achieve the best outcomes when it comes to the build. But if you are using my design service then I will work with you to understand the brand, product and service and produce a bespoke design for your new website.
Website production
Your website will be custom built to a very high standard. This will include installation of all the relevant software, and also the HTML, CSS, Javascript and Php coding. Plus work to ensure your website is responsive to different screen sizes, and that the site is optimised for fast loading times.
What is the Gutenberg Editor?
Introduced in 2018 the WordPress Gutenberg editor is now the default page editing tool. It introduced the concept of ‘Blocks’ where each element on the page is a Block such as a paragraph or an image. Layout is also managed by Blocks such as the Columns and Group Block. It delivers a very flexible system for website developers and editors.
Some developers like to replace the Gutenberg editor with third party editing tools, but that’s not how I roll. I think this just adds extra, and unnecessary, bloat to WordPress.
I also like to go the extra mile and ensure that the editing screen mirrors the live page as closely as possible. This makes for a better, more intuitive, editing experience for site owners.
Enhanced security
In my experience WordPress is robust from a security perspective, as long as the developer follows best practice. But I like to go further and always add extra security as standard. Firewall, brute-force attack prevention and file protection are just some of the additional measures that I use to harden websites against attack.
Aftercare
Once your website is live I provide 6 months of support free of charge. Ensuring that your site is off to the best start and in good health. Beyond this you have the option to purchase a website support plan, on an annual basis, for £160 per year. For further information visit my website support plans page.
Interested in getting a quote?
It’s free to do so
Ecommerce website development
Are you new to selling online, and looking for help to get started? Or perhaps you have been running an ecommerce store for a while now and are unhappy with your current software?
With a focus on small-to-medium sized businesses, and solo entrepreneurs, I provide ecommerce website development services through a choice of two software platforms.
The first option is WordPress + WooCommerce (the premier ecommerce plugin for WordPress).
And the second option is Shopify, the popular hosted ecommerce solution.
I can help you choose the right solution for you, explain the cost considerations of owning an online store, and get you up and running selling your products quickly and effectively.
WooCommerce
WooCommerce is an addon for WordPress, so for WordPress developers like myself it is a great solution for integrating ecommerce functionality into websites that are built on WordPress.
Whether you are just selling one product, or a whole catalogue of products, it’s a platform that can adapt to your needs.
The core software is free, however it should be noted that users must purchase additional paid add-ons for advanced features like subscriptions, advanced shipping, or product filters, as this is how the development of the WooCommerce software is funded.
Shopify
Shopify is an all-in-one e-commerce platform that provides tools for businesses to sell online, or in person. And is one of the leading ecommerce platforms
It’s a ‘hosted’ solution, so Shopify provide the servers as well as the software. So no need for separate hosting arrangements.
A great standalone solution for anyone wanting to run an online store. And it can scale as your business grows.
A range of free and premium templates provides the means to get you up and running quickly.
I am a registered partner of Shopify
New to selling online? These are some of the key considerations.
Photography
Having good quality photographs of your products on your website can be critical to boosting sales.
You may already have photos that you can re-purpose for your website, or you may need to book a photographer to take some new photos.
Payment processing
In order to take credit card payments on your website you will need an account with a payment service provider.
Payment service providers charge a transaction fee, with rates typically between 1.5% and 2%. So you’ll need to factor these service costs into your online pricing.
Fulfilment
How will you fulfil your online orders?
Packaging, delivery and returns are all important considerations that you will need to plan for.
Discuss your delivery requirements with courier companies to understand your options and the potential costs.
International orders
If you are selling your products to customers based in other countries then you’ll need to be aware of how to comply with their tax rules and import duties.
You should consult a tax expert to understand how this applies to your specific business.
Interested in getting a quote?
It’s free to do so
Outsourcing partnerships
Whether it is a one-time website build, or a longer term outsourcing partnership, I can help you build websites for your clients.
Are you a design or marketing agency looking for a developer to help you build websites for your clients?
In a collaborative partnership we work together to deliver your clients with great websites and a great service. You supply the designs, and I take care of the website build, deployment, and ongoing technical support if required.
If you are a small agency, or freelance designer or marketing professional, then you may not have a website developer in-house.
By teaming up with me this would enable you to add services to your business that you might not be able to without hiring a full-time employee. An arrangement that benefits both of us.
If you are an agency that already has an in-house development team, it can be useful to have a trusted freelance developer that you can turn to when your business gets very busy.
Outsourcing some website builds can take the pressure off your team, and importantly help you meet your clients’ deadlines.
How does website outsourcing work?
- 1
You provide me with a website brief
Ideally this should include a sitemap and the functional requirements for the website. If you are not sure what questions to ask your client then I can help you with this. - 2
I provide you with a written quotation
I will analyse the project requirements, determine solutions where required, and provide you with a quote for the work. - 3
You make a booking by paying a deposit
If you are happy to proceed with my quote then you pay the deposit to secure a booking in my schedule. - 4
You supply the designs and content
Prior to the scheduled start date for the build of the website, you supply all of the digital assets to me. - 5
Production of the website takes place
The website will be built on my server and, once ready, I will provide you with access. - 6
You review the website and make amends
During the review phase you will work with your client to make any final amendments. - 7
The website is published
Once sign-off is received, the website is migrated to the client’s server and made live.
What qualities to look for in a freelance web developer when outsourcing work
Levels of professionalism and service that match your own
Freelancers are an extension of your business, and as such you need to be comfortable that they are going to act in a manner that is professional and reflects your own service levels to your clients. This is especially important if you need them to engage in direct communication with your client during a project.Strong, relevant experience
A freelance web developer needs to have a wide range of skills and experience. Not only the right technical skillset but also experience assessing and managing projects, dealing with issues that arise, and an ability to think outside of the box at times.A genuine, personal connection
Good business relationships come from good personal relationships. Meet your freelance web developer in real life if you can, or at least via a video call, and get a feel for the person and whether you will be comfortable working closely with them.Problem solving skills
Problem solving isn’t just about fixing bugs, it’s about anticipating potential issues and hurdles at an early stage. And if your website project has complex technical requirements, you’ll need your developer to be able to recommend suitable solutions to you.Clear, reliable pricing
You need to be able to give your client clear pricing, and for the costs provided not to change (except where the website requirements change). This is an essential aspect of any outsourcing business relationship.A proactive approach
A good freelance web developer will be proactive on the job. This might be identifying ways to improve on the original designs, or add value to them. It might be identifying and flagging up missing content. Or it could be spotting potential problems before they arise and having solutions planned in advance.Interested in working together?
Contact me for a chat
My rate card
My rate is variable depending on the type of work required.
It ranges from £35 – £43 per hour (£262 – £322 per day).
I am not registered for VAT.
The total cost of a website build is determined by the specific requirements that you have, and the scale and scope of the work needed to produce your website. Simply get in touch and let me know what you are looking for and I will provide you with a quote.
Contact me
Telephone: 07539 228460
Email: hello@garycottington.co.uk
You can contact me any day between 8:30am and 7pm.
It’s free to get a quote.
When you contact me I will ask you a few questions to find out the details of your requirements so that I can understand the scale and scope of the work needed.
Please note that I do not do speculative/free pitch work and will never provide designs or prototypes as part of a quotation.