Posted on

How to White Label WordPress Development for Digital Agencies (8 Tips)

Are you a digital agency owner looking for a white-label WordPress development service?

Running an agency and managing your clients is tough work. That’s why many agency owners choose to work with white-label partners for their WordPress website projects.

Since we have plenty of WordPress experience, we’ve put together this guide to help you white-label your WordPress development.

In this article, we’ll share some easy tips on how to white-label your WordPress development services.

How to White Label WordPress Development for Digital Agencies

What Is White-Label WordPress Development?

White-label WordPress development allows digital marketing agencies to offer WordPress websites to their clients under their own brand name. This means the client won’t know the website was built by someone else.

White-label WordPress development works by hiring a third-party WordPress freelance developer or agency like Seahawk Media.

Once you have received your client’s project description, you can pass that information to the white-label partner. They’ll build the WordPress website and handle the technical work while you manage the client relationship and present the finished product as your own.

What Are the Benefits of White-Label WordPress Development?

White-label WordPress development offers several advantages for digital agencies and freelancers:

  • Create a smooth client experience – Ensure brand consistency and build client trust by using your own brand design and logo throughout the website development process.
  • Save up on WordPress development costs – Building an in-house development team can be expensive. White-label services are often more cost-effective, allowing you to keep your overhead low and potentially increase your profit margins on WordPress projects.
  • Expand your services – By offering white-label WordPress development, you can add website creation to your service list without hiring your own developers. This helps you attract new clients looking for complete digital marketing solutions.
  • Focus on scalability – When you partner with a white-label WordPress agency, you can easily take on more projects and increase sales without worrying about the actual development work and staffing limitations.
  • Let WordPress experts do the job – Benefit from the experience of a team specializing in WordPress development. They can handle complex tasks and ensure your clients’ websites are built to the highest standards.

Now that we have covered the basics, let’s go over some expert tips on white-labeling WordPress web development services for agency owners. Feel free to use the quick links below to skip to your desired section:

  1. Decide What Web Development Work to Outsource
  2. Research Potential WordPress Development Partners
  3. Secure Your Partnership with a Solid Contract
  4. Promote Your WordPress Development Services
  5. Gather a Detailed Project Description from Clients
  6. Keep Your Client and Partner in the Loop
  7. Collect Client Feedback and Keep Improving
  8. Cross-Sell Other Services to Increase Revenue

    1. Decide What Web Development Work to Outsource

    Before you set out to find a WordPress development agency, you should figure out what kind of projects your target audience or existing clients most likely need.

    That way, you can decide which specific expertise to look for when choosing an agency to work with. You will want to work with partners who have the right skills and experience for your client’s needs.

    Perhaps the agency specializes in website development. This includes everything from website design and user experience (UX) to front-end and back-end development. This option is ideal for clients who need to create a new website from scratch.

    Does your client have a WordPress site already and is looking to add custom functionality to it? Maybe you can outsource a custom WordPress theme or plugin development to a third party.

    If your client wants to build an online store, you can outsource the setup of WooCommerce, a popular eCommerce plugin for WordPress.

    The white-label development team can help with creating your client’s website, setting up the payment gateways, adding the products, and so on.

    You may also want to think long-term and offer ongoing support after the website’s launch. This may include WordPress support and maintenance services like regular updates, security patches, and troubleshooting assistance.

    2. Research Potential WordPress Development Partners

    Now that you have an idea of what development work to outsource, you can start looking for the right WordPress agency to work with you.

    There are so many options on the market. But if you want trusted recommendations, then you can check out our list of the best WordPress development agencies.

    We’ve thoroughly reviewed and even worked with some of the companies listed there. So don’t hesitate to go over to their website and say hi!

    When finding the right WordPress development partner, you should look for these elements:

    • List of WordPress services and if they suit your business needs.
    • Years of experience in WordPress development.
    • Portfolio and/or client case studies to see if they have worked on projects with your specific needs.
    • Any explanation about their WordPress development process for white-labeling. If there’s nothing, you can always contact them.
    • Any experience with specific types of WordPress plugins or themes. For example, some clients may want to use a page builder like SeedProd to make it easier to update their content.
    • Any mention of security and data protection practices to ensure your client’s website is safe and protected.
    • Pricing for white-labeling services.
    • Client testimonials on review platforms or social media. It’s also good to check how they respond to negative reviews.

    If you’re looking for a top-notch WordPress development agency, then look no further than Seahawk Media. This white-label WordPress company has worked with 1000+ businesses, including big-name brands like DreamHost, GoDaddy, and Alibaba Cloud.

    That being said, there services are available for businesses of all sizes. You can hire them for white-label web design, SEO content, WordPress migration, and more.

    You can learn more about the company in our full Seahawk review.

    Seahawk Media's white label services

    If you’re looking to work with a freelancer instead of a white-label agency, Codeable is a great place to start.

    Lots of WordPress agencies use Codeable to find skilled web developers who can deliver high-quality work and meet their client’s needs, all while keeping their own branding.

    Codeable's homepage

    3. Secure Your Partnership with a Solid Contract

    If you have contacted a WordPress development company and they are interested in working with you, you can now prepare a contract for them.

    A well-defined contract protects both you and your white-label development partner. It clarifies key details like project scope, timelines, deliverables, payment structures, and communication protocols.

    Having everything documented upfront minimizes misunderstandings and ensures everyone is on the same page.

    If you want, you can even create a contract agreement form on your agency website and have the third party sign it there.

    WPForms signature field example

    Here are some elements you should include in the contract:

    • Project scope – Clearly define the specific website development tasks to be outsourced. Include details like features and any design elements covered by the agreement.
    • Deliverables and timelines – Outline the expected deliverables (such as website mockups or completed custom plugins) and establish clear deadlines for each project stage.
    • Payment schedule – Specify the payment terms, including the total project cost, payment milestones, and payment methods.
    • Revisions and approvals – Define the revision process for design concepts and website development phases. Determine how many revisions are included and who has final approval authority.
    • Confidentiality and intellectual property – Include clauses protecting your client’s confidential information and intellectual property rights.
    • White-labeling procedures – Specify how the white-labeling will be implemented. This might include details on removing the development agency’s branding and replacing it with your own.
    • Warranties and guarantees – Outline any warranties the development company offers regarding the quality of their work and website functionality.
    • Termination clause – Include a clause outlining the conditions under which either party can terminate the contract.
    • Dispute resolution – Define a process for resolving any potential disagreements that may arise during the project.

    Before finalizing the contract, ensure both you and the development partner have thoroughly reviewed the document. Ask any clarifying questions and ensure all terms are fully understood.

    Once satisfied, sign the contract to officially establish your white-label WordPress development partnership.

    Note: This does not constitute legal advice, and we are not legal professionals. We recommend discussing any contracts with your attorney or legal team before proceeding into any contractual agreement.

    4. Promote Your WordPress Development Services

    Now that you have a white-label partner, you can start offering your WordPress development services to potential and existing clients.

    One way to do this is by adding WordPress development to the services section of your website.

    There, make sure to clearly outline the benefits of the service. For example, if you work with Seahawk Media, then you can mention how you can get a mobile-optimized website affordably and quickly (thanks to Seahawk’s QuickSite service).

    Example of a services section about WordPress development

    Also, mention the specific services you offer, such as full website creation, custom theme development, and/or WordPress maintenance.

    You can also create a landing page that dives deeper into your WordPress development services. You can optimize it for relevant keywords related to WordPress development and even use it as a landing page for search ads.

    On the page, you can add a handy request-a-quote form to generate leads and make it easier for users to reach out to you.

    Website design request form template by WPForms

    If you have a social media presence, then you can announce your new WordPress development services on relevant platforms. LinkedIn is great for attracting businesses that need to make a custom website.

    For step-by-step guidance, we’ve created an ultimate guide on how to do lead generation like a pro. This tutorial can give you the tips and tools to convert visitors into leads and, eventually, your next clients.

    5. Gather a Detailed Project Description from Clients

    Have you secured a client for your WordPress development service? Great! Your next step is to get as much information as possible about their project so that your white-label partner can start working on it.

    A thorough project description ensures the development team has a clear understanding of the client’s vision. This includes details like the project’s goals, timeline, target audience, desired functionality, client’s brand identity, website inspiration, and so on.

    For this step, we recommend setting up a call with your client rather than just asking for a written document. This allows for a more in-depth discussion about their project needs and fosters a stronger relationship from the get-go.

    You can install a WordPress appointment booking form plugin like WPForms to let clients easily book a meeting with you. This feature makes the scheduling process much easier and eliminates any back-and-forth emails.

    WPForms appointment booking form template

    Additionally, if you don’t have video chat software yet, then we recommend using RingCentral.

    With features like screen sharing, video call scheduling, and meeting recording, RingCentral is one of the best video chat tools for small businesses.

    Hosting webinars using RingCentral

    Alternatively, you can use a free option like Google Meet or Zoom to communicate with your client.

    6. Keep Your Client and Partner in the Loop

    Once your white-label partner is on board the project, you should regularly communicate with the development team and your client. The goal is to make sure everyone knows what’s going on with the project.

    When working with your partner, we recommend using a project management tool like Asana to keep track of tasks, deadlines, and files. This way, everyone can see what needs to be done and who’s working on what.

    Asana project management software

    You can also create a Trello-like Kanban board on the WordPress dashboard of your client’s website to keep everything in the same place.

    Additionally, schedule regular meetings with your white-label partner to chat about the project. This is a chance to discuss any problems and make sure everything is going smoothly.

    When the project is almost done, you should check the website for quality standards and common WordPress errors. The website should look good and work great when presented to your client.

    As for your clients, you can do weekly or bi-weekly check-ins via email to give them updates on how things are going. Feel free to schedule calls with them to answer their questions and make sure they’re happy with the progress.

    7. Collect Client Feedback and Keep Improving

    Gathering client feedback about your white-label WordPress development experience can be incredibly helpful. They can help you find ways to improve your service, like making communication smoother or getting websites done even faster.

    If your clients love your work, you can ask them for positive reviews to put on your website. This can convince other people to do business with you, too. Social proof is very powerful for converting users into clients.

    Here’s an example of a good customer review section on Seahawk Media’s website:

    Seahawk Media's client reviews

    One way to find out your clients’ thoughts is with the WPForms plugin. This plugin makes it easy to add a short and simple feedback form to your agency website.

    We also suggest scheduling a follow-up call with your client to discuss the project and get their honest feedback. This allows for a more in-depth conversation about their experience.

    8. Cross-Sell Other Services to Increase Revenue

    Perhaps your client’s project is done and their WordPress site is published. To create a long-term relationship with them, you can offer them your other existing services to help them succeed.

    The more you help your clients, the happier they’ll be, and the longer they’ll stick with you.

    For example, maybe they’re happy with the web design, but their content isn’t ranking on Google’s search engine results pages. This is a great chance to offer them your search engine optimization (SEO) and content marketing services.

    You can also check in with the client after some time to see what problems might have occurred after the website launch. If the website is too slow, then you can offer a special speed optimization package to make it load faster.

    Or, perform a user experience audit if their visitors have been bouncing off of their site much more than usual.

    Additionally, you can help your client reach more people through other digital marketing channels like social media or newsletters.

    Alternative Ways to White-Label WordPress Development

    Perhaps you’re a small WordPress agency or freelancer who can build the website yourself but want more control over your branding. If so, then you may not need a full-blown development agency for white-labeling.

    Instead, you can use WordPress plugins that offer white-labeling features. This means you can replace the plugin developer’s branding with your own and create a consistent brand experience for your clients.

    One example is to use the White Label CMS plugin to white-label your client’s WordPress admin dashboard.

    Admin bar branding preview

    Another way is to use a reseller WordPress hosting plan like SiteGround’s. This type of service lets you purchase a hosting plan and resell it to your clients under your own brand.

    This gives you more control over the hosting environment and lets you offer website development and hosting as a bundled service.

    SiteGround Reseller

    What Is the Best White-Label WordPress Development Service for Digital Agencies?

    Based on our experience, Seahawk Media is the best white-label WordPress development service for digital agencies.

    With a large team of WordPress experts, Seahawk Media can handle various WordPress-related tasks. Their range of services includes website design, ongoing maintenance, hacked site repair, eCommerce, and so much more.

    If you’re interested, you can schedule a free consultation with the Seahawk team.

    Another recommended option is Codeable. They run a WordPress freelancer platform, making them ideal for agencies wanting to support their client’s projects under their own brand.

    We hope this article helped you learn how to white-label WordPress development for digital agencies. You may also be interested in our expert pick of the best WordPress hosting providers and our guide on how to manage multiple WordPress sites from one dashboard.

    If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

    The post How to White Label WordPress Development for Digital Agencies (8 Tips) first appeared on WPBeginner.

    Posted on

    Customizing WordPress User Roles With Branda

    Human beings may be created equal, but admin users–not so much. Some admins know their roles and stick to them, while others behave like over-stimulated children in a toy store, touching everything in sight until something breaks.

    In this post, we’ll show you how to use Branda, WPMU DEV’s ultimate white label branding plugin, to customize the default WordPress user role system and put the expensive toys out of reach of your more accident-prone users.

    More specifically we’ll be covering:

    • Understanding user roles and capabilities
    • Customizing WordPress user roles with the Branda white label plugin
    • Creating custom menus for each role
    • Why give users the power to white label WordPress

    Let’s get to it…

    Understanding User Roles and Capabilities

    Does the person who delivers your mail have a set of keys to your house? Is it OK if the plumber tinkers with the electrical system when he gets tired of repairing the kitchen sink?

    The answer in both cases is likely no.

    The postman doesn’t need your house key to perform that job, and the plumber should leave electricity to the electrician.

    Likewise, it’s a mistake to view user roles as job titles or see them as a hierarchy in which some roles are superior to others.

    User roles should be defined by the degree of access required to accomplish a given task or set of tasks.

    WordPress User Roles And Capabilities – Good Practices

    Good user role policies should:

    • Help secure your WordPress site by ensuring users don’t have access to things they shouldn’t.
    • Improve workflow by limiting access to unnecessary and distracting features, while funneling users to their assigned tasks.

    A capability is a permission to perform one or more types of tasks. Each user of a WordPress site might have some permissions, but not others, depending on their role.

    For example, users who have the Author role usually have permission to edit their own posts (the “edit_posts” capability), but not permission to edit other users’ posts (the “edit_others_posts” capability).

    WordPress comes with six pre-defined user roles that provide access to various areas of the site:

    • Super Admin – a user with access to the site network administration features and all other capabilities.
    • Administrator – a user who has access to all the administration features within a single site.
    • Editor – a user who can publish and manage posts including the posts of other users.
    • Author  – a user who can publish and manage their own posts.
    • Contributor – a user who can write and manage their own posts but cannot publish them.
    • Subscriber – a user who can only manage their profile.

    WordPress also provides over fifty capabilities in its role-based access system. Plugins can modify this system.

    Practices To Avoid

    It’s a mistake to give users access to features they don’t currently require.

    For example, you might not want a contributing writer to be able to install plugins. Or you may want contributors to be able to upload files but not edit them.

    The goal, then, is to give everyone the access they need and nothing more. WordPress user roles and capabilities give you this option.

    As you’ll soon see, removing distracting features from menus is another way to control who can and can’t do things on your site.

    This is not something that WordPress lets you do by default, but you can do it by editing code or using plugins.

    As every site is a little different, here are some things to think about when assigning user roles:

    • Give each user only the level of access they need. This is key for security, so no one can make unapproved changes to configuration settings or accidentally delete content.
    • Keep the number of top-level user roles limited. A solid rule of thumb is to stick with one administrator and a few trusted editors. The ‘Author’ role can be assigned to regular content creators who have proven themselves and new or one-time writers can simply be given the role of ‘Contributor’.
    • When in doubt, too few permissions are better than too many. It’s very common for sites with multiple backend users to occasionally need someone to step in and help in an area they normally don’t access. WordPress and Branda both make it easy to modify user roles, so giving someone additional authority on a temporary basis is better than giving someone access to functions they may only need once or twice a month.

    Customizing WordPress User Roles With Branda

    Branding isn’t branding if it’s not custom and consistent.

    The problem is, applying custom branding and ensuring consistency when replicating the brand for other purposes is a challenge – especially if multiple sites are involved.

    This is where our white labelling plugin can help you, so allow me to introduce you to Branda and tell you a little about her background.

    Over a period of several years, WPMU DEV developed plugins to improve admin’s ability to rebrand sites, modify user roles and customize system emails.

    In early 2019, our developers began merging those plugins into one super-powerful plugin named Branda.

    My, how she has grown, currently boasting more than 480,000 downloads and just over 40,000 active installs.

    Branda - Ultimate WordPress white label branding plugin!
    Branda was only born in February 2019, but grew up fast!

    Branda includes over 30 modules for fully rebranding the WordPress admin area in places your theme can’t – including allowing site admins to customize the features and tools various users can access.

    The nuts and bolts of customizing any of Branda’s features, including user roles, are the same for both single sites and multisite networks.

    There are differences in the scope of user permissions (as we’ll soon discuss) but other than that, this quick guide works for both single and multisite installations.

    How To Control Who Can Modify Branda Settings and Who Cannot

    It doesn’t make sense to configure custom user roles and then not secure the plugin that governs these rules.

    So the first thing to do is decide which roles should and should not have access to Branda, then configure user permissions accordingly.

    Multisite Super Admins have the option to control all of Branda’s features for the entire network or to delegate control to subsites – allowing each to have its own custom roles, branding, system emails, help content, and more.

    First, we’ll cover how to enable or disable subsite controls, and then we’ll get into the nuts and bolts of customizing user roles.

    If you’re not managing a multisite network, just ignore the section below and go to the ‘Customizing User Roles’ section down further.

    How to Enable or Disable Subsite Controls

    Once Branda is installed and activated on your multisite network, open the Settings tab and click Permissions.

    Locate Subsite Controls and note that there are three options: None, All and Custom.

    Branda subsite controls off
    Network Admin > Branda > Settings > Permissions > Subsite Controls

    With None selected, all of Branda’s features for the entire network are controlled by the Super Admin.

    In fact, Branda will not even appear in the subsite admin menu.

    With All selected, a Branda tab is added to the subsite admin menu and all of the plugin’s settings can be configured for each site individually.

    Branda permission settings screen
    Network Admin > Branda > Settings > Permissions > Subsite Controls

    The Custom tab allows Super Admins to maintain control of some settings while passing control of others to the subsites.

    Selecting Custom reveals tabs for Branda’s six main modules and each tab contains a menu of that module’s features.

    Super Admins can delegate control of entire modules or select specific features within a module to delegate while retaining control of others.

    Screengrab of Branda's Custom permissions settings.
    Custom permissions allow Super Admins to control Branda for an entire network or delegate control to the subsites.

    Customizing User Roles

    Make sure that Branda is installed on the WordPress site or Multisite network you want to customize or give other users access to.

    Branda WordPress white label plugin dashboard.
    This WordPress site’s looking good already!

    Next, from your WordPress menu, select Branda > Settings.

    Branda settings menu.
    Click on Settings …

    This brings you to the plugin’s Settings screen.

    Branda settings screen.
    This is where the magic happens.

    Click on the Permissions tab to configure which users and user roles can access and configure Branda’s settings.

    Click on the Permissions tab.

    Select the user roles you want to give permissions for branding and customizing the site. Note that permissions cannot be removed for administrators.

    Just one of the many features of Branda that truly ticks all the boxes.

    You can also give access to specific users by clicking on the ‘Add User’ button and typing in their username. Remember to click the ‘Save’ button to update your settings.

    Branda’s new user role features are now available, so your clients no longer have to wait until their faces turn blue to customize their WordPress admin.

    Anyone you’ve given access to Branda’s features can now customize WordPress admin areas.

    Branda user access.
    Give your users access to Branda’s WordPress customization features.

    How to Customize the Admin Area by User Role

    Depending on how you have set up your permission settings for different user roles, users can customize the admin bar with their logo, control the visibility of menu items, add custom menu items, or reorder existing items.

    For example, you can allow different users to customize their Admin Bar based on their role.

    This allows users to do things like add, hide, and reorder menu items and add their own custom menu items to the toolbar.

    In the Branda Pro menu, select Admin Area > Admin Bar > Toolbar Visibility, then choose which user roles can display the Admin Toolbar on the front-end of their sites.

    Branda Admin Bar Toolbar Visibility settings screen.
    Select which user roles can show the Admin toolbar on the front-end.

    You can also customize the Admin Menu by user role or by custom user.

    This allows users with permissions to enable the Link Manager feature, remove the “Dashboard” link from the admin panel for users without a site (in WordPress Multisite), display helpful tips, promotions, or announcements in their admin panels, and remove the “permalinks” menu item.

    Go to the Branda Pro menu, select Admin Area > Admin Menu > Custom Admin Menu, then toggle the options on the screen on or off to enable or disable different features.

    Branda Admin Menu settings screen
    Allow different user roles to customize your WordPress Admin Menu.

    Why Give Users The Power To White Label WordPress?

    If you’re in the business of building or managing websites for others, it kind of makes sense to white label WordPress client sites.

    Many website owners don’t know or care about WordPress, so white labeling is a great opportunity to customize sites according to clients’ needs and capabilities.

    As an added bonus, it also presents them with a more professional image of your business.

    But why would you want to give someone else the ability to customize and brand a WordPress site that you have built and or manage?

    Well, here are some examples:

    • If you run a WordPress multisite network as a Super Admin (e.g. for a new web design business, WordPress hosting business, an eCommerce marketplace, or an organization with different departments), you can let other site admins and users customize their sites.
    • If you run a single WordPress site for a client and provide mostly technical support or maintenance, you can set up a separate admin account for your client and customize their admin account while leaving yours untouched. The same thing goes for customizing user roles like editors, members, etc. This also applies if your client wants someone else to manage their site who knows how to use WordPress but doesn’t want to look after the technical side.
    • Some users just need to accessorize. They accessorize and personalize their phone, their car, their home… why not also allow them to customize the backend of the website they work in?

    Branda’s branding abilities give users the flexibility to make WordPress their own.

    Thank You To Everyone Who Requested Branda’s New Features

    Hopefully, you can see from the above how the ability to customize areas of WordPress based on user roles can benefit developers and users.

    We want to thank WPMU DEV members like Teddy, Pedro, Dominique, Charlie, Jonathan, and Chris for requesting new features that allow Branda to:

    • Hide/show and fully customize WordPress admin menu items based on user roles.
    • Create a different menu for different user roles.
    • Add custom admin menu items.
    • Reorder admin menu items and subitems.
    • White label any menu item.
    • Do all of the above on a multisite installation.

    Also, thank you Ani, Hassan, and Ivan from Branda’s development team!

    To discover what new features are in store for Branda (and all of our other super plugins), check out our Roadmap.

    Unlock All Of Branda’s Stylish Features

    If you’re ready to unleash the full power of WordPress white label branding with the best WordPress white label branding plugin available, why not give our free 30-day WPMU DEV trial membership a try?

    This way you can download Branda and customize your WordPress site to your heart’s content with no risk or obligation.

    Go through our how to white label WordPress tutorials and detailed user documentation and if you decide to cancel at any time, you can keep using Branda as our gift.