Custom WordPress Websites for UK Small Businesses
No templates. No bloat. Clean, resilient builds that convert.
Refined →
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Trusted by education, property and creative brands across UK & Europe
Lean Performance
90+ Lighthouse, server-optimised builds that load fast and stay fast.
See the Performance ROI
- A lightweight, custom build loads 40–70% faster than a theme-based site.
- Faster pages keep visitors engaged longer and improve
- Core Web Vitals, which helps search ranking.
Most of my clients see a measurable lift in conversions within weeks of launch.
Easy Editing
ACF-driven content blocks — intuitive, unbreakable, future-proof.
Why It Saves You Time
- Each page section is powered by ACF fields—structured so anyone on your team can update content without breaking design.
- You’ll spend minutes, not hours, updating text or swapping images.
- Less dependency on developers means lower ongoing costs and faster publishing.
Future Ready
Divi 5 core, modern WP stack, no legacy clutter.
Long-Term Value
- Built with Divi 5, clean PHP, and WordPress best practices, your site stays compatible for years.
- No outdated plugins or surprise rebuilds — updates stay smooth and predictable.
- Clean, modular code keeps your site secure, easy to maintain, and ready to grow with your business.
The Art of Building It Right
Every website I build is a balance between clarity and emotion —
crafted to look beautiful, load fast, and feel effortless to use.
It’s where design and engineering meet, turning clean architecture into an experience that feels human.
Selected Projects
ReTeach.org.uk
ERA API integration + gated learning content
Migration of a large educational platform into a modern WordPress environment with user-role-based access.
The result is a secure, scalable system where teachers and students can explore curated resources with ease.
ThamesResidential .com
custom calculator + SEO-ready property search
A bespoke WordPress build for a London luxury property brand, focused on clarity, performance, and user flow.
The custom stamp-duty calculator and refined search architecture make property browsing effortless and fast.
GeorgieEats.co.uk
recipe blog restyle + refined CSS for cleaner, pages
A visual and technical refresh improving readability, spacing, and mobile performance.
The new layout keeps the blog consistent, intuitive, and visually appealing across all devices.
About me
The person behind The WP Specialist
I’m Matei Muntiu — a WordPress designer & developer helping small businesses and creatives build fast, fully custom sites.
Every project starts with understanding your story and ends with a website that feels crafted for you, not from a template.
Custom WordPress Builds
From wireframe to launch, 100 % custom.
Migrations to WP
Move from Wix, Squarespace or Webflow without SEO loss.
Care & Improvements
Audits, speed optimisation, feature add-ons.
eCommerce & Memberships
WooCommerce, subscriptions, protected content.
Process Timeline
1. Discovery
(45–60 min)
goals & success metrics.
Every project starts with a conversation — understanding your goals, audience, and what success looks like for you.
This clarity shapes every technical and design decision that follows.
2. UX & Content Map
structure & SEO basics.
We map your pages and user journeys to make navigation intuitive and search-friendly from day one.
This ensures every click feels natural and every word has purpose.
3. Design System
tokens + motion rules.
I create a unified design language — typography, colours, spacing, and motion — built into reusable Divi presets.
This keeps your site consistent, flexible, and easy to evolve.
4. Build & QA
Divi 5 + ACF, performance first.
The site comes to life through clean, modular code and custom ACF fields for safe content editing.
Every element is tested for responsiveness, accessibility, and speed before launch.
5. Launch & Care
handover, training, backups.
Once live, I walk you through updates, backups, and best practices for keeping your site healthy.
Post-launch care ensures stability, performance, and peace of mind.
Performance & SEO Results
Page Speed (LCP)
Largest Contentful Paint on 4G
Measured across recent launches — faster than 90% of typical WordPress sites.
Accessibility
Accessibility Score (WCAG 2.1 AA)
Clean code and semantic structure ensure inclusivity and easy navigation.
Technical SEO
SEO Health & Schema Coverage
Validated JSON-LD, clean sitemaps, and search-friendly markup built in.
From Idea to Impact
Matei did a great job migrating our entire website from scratch. Hiring him for this project was a great experience. He is a very technically capable developer who delivered beyond our expectations. When faced with new requirements, his proficiency and flexibility were key; he successfully executed complex features he hadn’t tackled previously. Furthermore, his professional conduct was excellent: his reliability and communication – always clear, fast, and proactive – made the whole project easy. The finished product speaks for itself: the design is clean, easy to use, and operates great. We wholeheartedly recommend Matei to any team seeking skilled web development talent.
I am very satisfied about the collaboration with Matei. He is a serious person and procreative. He successfully completed the tasks with professionalism and good quality. I will be very happy and grateful to work with him anytime.
Working with Matei was a pleasure! Communication was clear and easy throughout the process, and he made valuable updates to my website in just a few days. He also resolved a few background issues I’d been struggling with for a while. I’m really happy with the results and would definitely hire him again for future projects.
He is a really good worker and nice person. Loyal
Pricing Ranges
Every project is quoted individually, but to guide your planning:
Starter Package
from- Small businesses or personal brands needing a professional, fast website.
- ✓ 5–7 custom sections built in Divi 5 (no templates)
- ✓ Mobile-first responsive layout
- ✓ ACF fields for easy content editing
- ✓ Core SEO setup (titles, metadata, sitemaps)
- ✓ Speed optimization + security setup
- ✓ Basic launch support + short training session
Business Package
from- Growing businesses that need a full-scale, content-driven website.
- ✓ 8–12 custom pages designed and built from scratch
- ✓ Blog integration with category templates
- ✓ On-page SEO optimization (schema, internal links, OpenGraph tags)
- ✓ Enhanced animations, scroll and hover effects
- ✓ Performance and accessibility testing
- ✓ 1-month post-launch care + backup configuration
Complex / Bespoke Package
- Projects requiring advanced functionality or integrations
- ✓ Memberships, gated content, or role-based access
- ✓ Custom plugins or API integrations (e.g., education, property, booking systems)
- ✓ Dynamic data models with ACF & CPTs
- ✓ Multi-language or multi-site setup
- ✓ Full documentation + handover training
- ✓ Ongoing support & maintenance options available
All packages include: ✅ Custom responsive design ✅ SEO-ready build ✅ Training & full ownership rights
Maintenance & Care
from £450 / year
For clients who want peace of mind, ongoing updates, and reliable support.
- Monthly WordPress core, theme, and plugin updates (tested before applying)
- Weekly backups + rollback plan
- Uptime and security monitoring
- Minor content or styling edits (up to 1 hour / month)
- Quarterly performance + SEO health check
- Priority email support within 24 hours
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a custom WordPress website cost?
It depends on your needs. Most projects fall between £800 and £5,000, depending on complexity, number of pages, and functionality. I’m happy to provide a free consultation and custom quote.
Will I be able to update my own content?
Absolutely. I build your site so you can easily edit text, images, blog posts, and products without needing a developer. You’ll also receive documentation or training if needed.
Do you offer support after the site is live?
Yes. I can provide post-launch support, ongoing maintenance, or hand off your site fully with guidance. You choose what works best for you.
Can you migrate my existing website to WordPress?
Yes. I handle smooth, SEO-safe migrations from Wix, Squarespace, static HTML, or older WordPress setups—with zero downtime and all content preserved.
Do you offer e-commerce or multilingual websites?
Yes. I build online stores using WooCommerce and multilingual sites using tools like WPML or Polylang. We’ll choose the right setup for your business goals.
What’s the typical turnaround time?
Most projects take 2–6 weeks, depending on scope and content readiness. I’ll always provide a clear timeline up front.
I don’t know what I need. Can you still help?
Definitely. I’m happy to guide you through the options and help define what your business needs most. Let’s figure it out together—no pressure.
Do you work UK-wide?
Yes — I work with clients all across the UK, from local small businesses to nationwide organisations. Most projects are managed online, which means location isn’t a barrier. I can also arrange video calls to discuss your project in detail wherever you are based.
What’s included in SEO setup?
My SEO setup covers the essentials to help your website get found by the right audience — both on traditional search engines and within AI-driven discovery tools. This includes:
- Implementing AI-Optimized SEO (AIO) practices so your site is understood and cited by AI assistants
- Optimising page titles and meta descriptions
- Setting up clean, keyword-friendly URLs
- Adding alt text to images
- Configuring heading structure for readability and search engines
- Integrating Google Search Console and Google Analytics
- Adding structured data and schema markup for better rich-result and AI visibility
Choose how you’d like to connect
Fill out the form to outline your project — or book a call for a live walkthrough.
Let’s map your build in 48 hours
Send your goals & timeline — I’ll reply with a scoped plan