What WordPress services do you offer?

I offer comprehensive WordPress services including custom development, WooCommerce store building, plugin development, theme customisation, speed optimisation, security hardening, maintenance, and migration services.

How much does WordPress development cost in South Africa?

WordPress development costs depend on the scope and complexity of your project. Every website is unique, so I provide custom quotes based on your specific requirements. Contact me for a free consultation and detailed quote.

Do you build custom WordPress plugins?

Yes, I specialise in custom WordPress and WooCommerce plugin development. I build bespoke plugins for payment gateways, shipping methods, inventory management, API integrations, and business-specific functionality.

Can you integrate South African payment gateways?

Absolutely. I have extensive experience integrating South African payment gateways including PayFast, Yoco, Peach Payments, and SnapScan with WooCommerce stores.

Can you help with an existing WooCommerce store?

Yes, I work with existing WooCommerce stores for optimisation, custom development, troubleshooting, migrations, and ongoing maintenance.

Do you offer ongoing WordPress support?

Yes, I offer WordPress maintenance and priority support packages that include regular updates, backups, security monitoring, and guaranteed response times for issue resolution.

What areas do you service?

While based in Cape Town, I work with clients throughout South Africa and internationally. All communication and work can be handled remotely.

How long does it take to build a WooCommerce store?

A basic WooCommerce store typically takes 1-2 weeks, while complex stores with custom functionality, integrations, and advanced features can take 2-4 weeks depending on requirements.

Step-by-Step Guide to Building a Classified Ads Website Using WordPress

By WordPress Experts |January 7, 2025

For many years, developers have explored various methods to generate revenue through WordPress websites. While launching an e-commerce store or engaging in affiliate marketing are common approaches, establishing a classified ads platform presents another viable opportunity.

A classified ads website functions as a digital marketplace where individuals can list items they wish to sell, purchase, or exchange. These listings can encompass a wide range of categories, including second-hand furniture, clothing, vehicles, real estate, and various services such as landscaping or pet care.

This comprehensive guide will demonstrate how to construct a fully functional classified ads website using WordPress, following a systematic approach. Whether you're new to WordPress or have extensive experience, this tutorial will enable you to create an intuitive classified ads platform without requiring advanced technical skills.

Benefits of Creating a Classified Ads Website

A classified ads platform enables users to publish listings for products or services they want to sell. Visitors to your website can then review these listings and contact sellers directly to complete transactions.

Website owners can implement various monetization strategies, such as charging commission fees on completed sales or requiring payment for listing submissions. You can also expand functionality to include job postings similar to those found on freelance marketplaces.

Additionally, you can develop a platform specifically designed to meet the needs of your local community for buying, selling, and service discovery. Focusing on a particular niche, such as sporting goods or vintage clothing, can help attract targeted audiences.

This approach simplifies the process for users to conduct transactions from their homes while increasing website traffic. Overall, establishing a classified ads website represents a practical method for generating online revenue.

Now, let's examine the detailed process for creating a classified ads website. Below is an overview of the steps covered in this tutorial:

Step 1: Select a Website Platform
Step 2: Choose Domain and Hosting Services
Step 3: Install WordPress
Step 4: Select a Suitable Theme
Step 5: Implement a Business Directory Plugin
Step 6: Configure Homepage and Navigation
Step 7: Add Contact Forms
Step 8: Optimize for Search Engines
Additional Step: Implement Website Analytics

Step 1: Select a Website Platform

To begin creating a classified ads website, you must first choose an appropriate website platform.

WordPress is widely recommended for this purpose, as it powers over 43% of websites globally. This platform is free, user-friendly, and highly scalable.

It's important to distinguish between two WordPress variants. WordPress.com functions as a hosted blogging platform, while WordPress.org provides open-source, self-hosted software. For detailed comparisons, many resources discuss the differences between these two options.

For a classified ads website, WordPress.org is necessary because it offers complete customization capabilities and compatibility with specialized plugins. Numerous comprehensive reviews are available that detail WordPress features and capabilities.

After selecting your website platform, you'll need to acquire hosting services and a domain name.

Step 2: Choose Domain and Hosting Services

A domain name serves as your website's address on the internet, such as LocalMarketplace.com or CommunityListings.com. This is what users type into their browsers to access your website.

Web hosting provides the server space where your website files are stored and accessed online. Various hosting providers offer specialized WordPress hosting solutions.

While WordPress software is free, costs begin with domain registration and hosting services. Domain names typically cost approximately $15 annually, while hosting plans generally start around $8 monthly.

For beginners, these expenses might seem substantial. However, many hosting companies provide introductory discounts, often including free domain registration and SSL certificates with hosting packages.

Several reputable hosting providers are officially recommended by WordPress and offer competitive pricing for new websites.

After selecting a hosting provider, you'll typically be directed to a pricing page where you can choose a plan based on your website requirements.

Basic and intermediate plans are commonly selected by new website owners. After making your selection, proceed with the plan activation process.

You'll then be prompted to enter your desired domain name. Choose a name relevant to your niche that is easy to remember, spell, and pronounce. Various online tools can help generate suitable business names if needed.

Enter your preferred domain name and check its availability. If available, select it to continue the setup process.

Add a domain name for the classified ads website

Next, provide your account information, including contact details and business email address. You may encounter optional add-on services during checkout.

Complete the payment process, after which you'll receive confirmation emails with login credentials for your hosting control panel.

This control panel will serve as your primary interface for managing your classified ads website.

Step 3: Install WordPress

After completing your hosting purchase, the next step involves installing WordPress. Many hosting providers automatically install WordPress during account setup.

If you need to create an additional website or install WordPress manually, navigate to the websites section in your hosting dashboard and select the option to add a new site.