A WordPress site ages: plugins pile up, the database swells, updates get postponed. I go into the site, work out what is wrong and fix it, working first on a copy and only then online.
When you need a WordPress consultant
The site is slow
Pages that take seconds to appear, especially on a phone. Usually the causes are few and recurring: no cache, images and videos that are too heavy, too many scripts, a database never cleaned up.
The site has been compromised, or you fear it has
Strange redirects, unknown users, warnings from the browser or the host. It needs cleaning up, understanding how they got in and closing the door, otherwise the problem comes back.
You need to change hosting or PHP version
Migrations are scary because you usually find out what broke when the site is already live. Done on a copy, with a checklist, they become a routine operation.
Nobody knows where to touch it any more
Whoever built the site is gone, and every change breaks something else. Order can be restored without rebuilding everything, documenting what is there.
What I do
Analysis
- Page weight, loading times and Core Web Vitals
- Plugins and theme: what is needed, what is abandoned or vulnerable
- Database: revisions, orphaned tables, data left behind by old plugins
- Technical SEO: indexing, sitemaps, titles, structured data, Search Console errors
Speed
- Page and browser cache configured for your server
- Images and videos compressed and loaded only when needed
- Leaner CSS and JavaScript, useless scripts removed
- Database clean-up and optimisation
Security
- Updating WordPress, plugins, theme and PHP
- Cleaning up compromised sites and checking files
- Protecting logins, users and system files
- Automatic backups and a tested restore procedure
Hosting and maintenance
- Migration between hosts, domains and databases
- Switch to HTTPS and mixed-content fixes
- A test environment separate from the public one
- Regular maintenance with a report of what was done
First the copy, then the real site
Every job starts from a complete copy of the site, files and database, which I run on my own computer. There I can measure, take apart, test and make mistakes without your customers noticing. Only what has already worked goes online, with a list of what changed and a way to roll back.
For checks I also use specialised AI agents, which review code and configuration looking for security, performance and SEO problems. They flag far more than an inspection by eye can see; deciding what to fix and how remains my job.
How I work
01
Access and copy
I need access to the dashboard, FTP and database. I download everything and create the working copy.
02
Diagnosis
You receive a readable document: what is wrong, how serious it is, what I propose to do and in what order.
03
Fix
I work on the copy, test, then publish: usually with a few minutes of downtime, or none.
04
Verification
Checks from the outside, before-and-after measurements, instructions for keeping the site in order.
WordPress sites I have built and look after
Maintenance work does not go in a shop window, and clients’ sites stay confidential. These are WordPress projects I developed from scratch.
WP Translate Engine
A plugin written from scratch to translate WordPress sites with AI models. View the project
Frequently asked questions
Why is my WordPress site slow?
The four most common causes: there is no page cache, images and videos are not optimised, the theme and plugins load too many scripts, the database has never been cleaned. Sometimes hosting is involved, but less often than people think. An audit tells you which of these weighs most in your case.
What should I do if my site has been hacked?
Do not delete anything and do not restore a random backup: you would lose the traces of how they got in. Change the dashboard, FTP and database passwords immediately, notify your host and have the site analysed. Clean-up includes cleaning files, checking users and the database, updates and closing the hole.
Do I have to change hosting to get a fast site?
Not always. Many slow sites become fast on the same hosting after correct configuration. If the server really is the limit, I show you with measurements and help you choose and migrate.
Can updating plugins and PHP break the site?
Yes, and that is why updates get postponed until they become a risk. Done first on the test copy, any errors surface there and can be fixed calmly.
Can you guarantee me the top position on Google?
No, and it is wise to be wary of anyone who promises it. What I can guarantee is a technically sound site: fast, indexable, with titles, structure and data that Google reads correctly. It is the foundation without which even good content struggles to rank.
You may also be interested in
Bespoke websites and e-commerce
AI consulting and automation
Partner for agencies and studios
Does your site have a problem?
Send me the site address and what is happening. For a first look from the outside no access is needed.
Email
valentino.chiarla@gmail.com
Where
Turin, Italy. I work with companies, agencies and studios in Piedmont, in Milan and across the rest of Italy, in person or remotely.