Microsoft Releases IndexNow Plugin for WordPress Websites

If your site is being built or managed by a WordPress development company, it could be worth asking them to explore the possibility of embedding it into your website. And, if you’re still in the early stages of planning to hire a WordPress developer, we have some other information and tips to consider too.

The plugin is now available to users via the WordPress plugin directory. IndexNow uses an API that notifies various search engines of URLs of WordPress pages on which changes have been made. That gives them the prompt they need to crawl these pages. Instead of waiting for search engines to carry out an exploratory crawl of your web pages to see whether anything’s changed, website owners can now deliver a clear signal that content has been refreshed. This means search engines will prioritise crawl for these URLs, meaning search engines will always have the latest versions of updated sites as their focus.

Historically, the biggest problem for website owners is that search engines couldn’t automatically recognise when changes had been made, so it might take days or even weeks to register improved content. That, for many site owners, meant the loss of potential traffic, customers, and sales.

The new plugin also helps herald the move towards a more open internet. By notifying one search engine that you’ve made changes to your website, all other search engines will be informed at the same time. According to Microsoft, many large websites have already adopted the Bing Webmaster URL submission API and are planning to migrate to the new tool, IndexNow.

What benefits does a WordPress developer give you?

You may have some basic knowledge about creating websites, but there is a lot more to it than just throwing up a few pages of information if you want one of your main marketing assets to give you the results you expect.

Professional website developers can help ensure your website is effective as possible by implementing marketing experiments, adding new features to your website, maintaining it so it works responsively and looks good, and installing the right security measures to keep it safe from attacks.

If you are thinking of investing in a website developer, then you need to make sure you hire one that’s suited to your systems, requirements, and processes. Here are some things to keep in mind when looking for a partner WordPress website development company.

1. They should provide a thorough and detailed master plan

You want your website up and running quickly, and there’s no surprise there. But your developer shouldn’t just jump straight into coding and start creating your website just as soon as you’ve commissioned a new site. That can be counterproductive.

A good web developer will ask plenty of questions with the aim of understanding your business better. They will then devise a plan that results not only in a new website, but one that is designed to help your business grow over the longer term.

Ask them what their plans are for your site and what results you can expect to see. Don’t be afraid to correct them if you think they’ve misunderstood any elements of your business and its goals. Building a website should be a collaborative effort between you and your developer, and because you will be the owner of it in future, it’s perfectly acceptable – if not essential – that you let them know what you really need.

2. The team should be composed of different specialists

Developing a high-quality website is a difficult, complex task. You will need a developer who can code, someone to test the website for any flaws, a business analyst that has the ability to ensure the developer understands what is needed, and a customer success manager who will oversee the whole development process.

Having a team composed of at least these members will give you peace of mind that the project will be organised and comprehensive, and will (barring any mishaps) be delivered according to the schedule you’ve agreed.

3. They should be able to test the website properly

As mentioned, one member of the team working on your website should be a professional web tester. This role is just as significant as any of the others because you need to be sure that your website functions as expected in different web browsers. They will also pick up on any bugs that may have escaped previous notice so that the development team can fix them ASAP.

4. Ask how many projects they have worked on and with what results

You will often find examples of your developers’ work featured on their website. Don’t just read the blurb – navigate to the actual website to give you a feel for how your website could look and function.

Check for testimonials from past clients on their website or on LinkedIn, for instance. Carrying out extra research like this before making your final decision could provide you with the evidence you need that you are hiring the best WordPress development company for your website.

Additionally, ask how many projects they have completed, and particularly consider them if they have carried out projects similar to what you have in mind or for businesses of your type and size. If they have, then this means they already have a good starting point and will hopefully be able to fast-track your website.

Some web developers also specialise in certain niches, so those are also worth considering if you can find one familiar with your industry or the way you work.

5. Go the extra mile and talk to some of their clients

If you can, talk to some of their previous clients to give you insight into what to expect if you work with them. In this phase, you are looking at whether your workflow and processes match with theirs.

This is not just a useful measure of how smooth progress on your new website will be. You can also gauge how much input you’ll have into the development process.

Ask any previous clients you talk to about the developer’s attitude and character. Find out how they resolved particular problems that arose during the process and how high the overall quality of the service and output was.

6. Check their processes

Just as you would with any other professional you hire to help your business, you’ll want to know how they carry out their website building processes. Secrecy has no place in the business world, so if one company seems reluctant to share information on this, then it’s probably wise to steer clear.

The company should not only be open, but they should also be proud of their processes. Good processes are a result of hard work and passion. Ask the development company if they can talk you through how they work. If they are more than willing to do so, then you may be close to finding the right partner for your website project.

7. Are they always on time for meetings?

This is a tell-tale sign of how much they value other people’s time. Everyone has the same amount of time every day, and true professionals make the most of that limited resource.

If they’re on time for the little things like attending meetings with you, then chances are they’ll also be on schedule when it comes to your deliverables.

8. Do they communicate well?

But you won’t be able to meet in person every time. Sometimes, you’ll communicate through email exchanges. You want to be sure that the information and answers they provide to your questions in writing are clear and understandable. This is something else you can test when you’re making your initial enquiries into a prospective developer to work with.

Hire the Best WordPress Developers

WordPress developer services are critical for scaling up businesses, which makes it all the more important that you get one that suits your business model. It is no different to hiring an employee to work internally in any area of your company’s business.

Here at WordPress Web Development Company London, we ensure that our clients always get what they expect. We have high standards which we uphold for ourselves to make sure we can provide an attractive, engaging, fully functional website for each of our clients.

Our team is composed of professionals skilled in different specialities. We work together on every project as well as collaborating closely with our clients, so you’ll know you have had a hand in the actual development.

We at wordpresswebdev.co.uk are always happy to answer any questions about how we work and with what results. Don’t hesitate to give us a call today.