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WordPress handled by someone who ran enterprise IT for 33 years

Broken sites fixed, slow sites sped up, hacked sites cleaned, and security done right.

This site is the portfolio: 1,100+ articles, custom plugins, hardened security, and infrastructure I built and run myself.

TL;DR: WordPress handled by someone who ran enterprise IT for 33 years, including 20 years as Director of Computer Operations and Technical Services at Trader Joe’s. I fix what’s broken, build what you need, and keep author and business sites fast and secure, the same work behind my own site, thewritingking.com, with its hundreds of pages and custom plugins.

What causes most WordPress problems?

They’re security, performance, or infrastructure problems. A web designer makes a site look good. I know the platform from the inside because I run thewritingking.com on it every day: hundreds of pages, custom configurations, and the kind of problems that come from building real businesses on WordPress. I know where it breaks because I have fixed it.

How is the WordPress service priced?

Rate
$275 / hour
First consultation
Free, 30 minutes
Commitment
None required

The free consultation covers your situation, what needs to happen, and whether I’m the right fit. Work can be a one-time fix or an ongoing arrangement. No lock-in. I document everything, I keep it standard, and it’s yours.

Book a free 30-minute consultation

What WordPress work does Richard Lowe handle?

1

Troubleshooting and fixes

Something broke and you need it fixed. Plugin conflicts, white screens, broken layouts, database errors, email delivery failures, redirect loops. I diagnose the problem and fix it.

2

Performance and speed

Slow sites lose visitors and rank lower. I optimize database queries, caching, image compression, plugin overhead, and hosting configuration to get your load times where they need to be.

3

Security

Hardening, malware removal, backup systems, SSL, and access control. I spent two decades managing PCI compliance and enterprise security at Trader Joe’s under CISSP-credentialed audits, and edited KnowBe4’s Cyberheist training book. Your site gets the same discipline.

4

Custom development

Theme customization, plugin configuration, custom functionality, WooCommerce setup, membership sites, and third-party integrations. If WordPress can do it, I can build it.

5

SEO and site structure

Schema markup, internal linking architecture, URL structure, sitemap configuration, Core Web Vitals, and the technical SEO foundations that determine whether your content can rank.

6

Ongoing maintenance

Updates, backups, monitoring, and the regular maintenance that keeps a site healthy. Problems caught early cost a fraction of problems caught after they break something.

What clients say

View the case studies →

The background behind the work

20 years as Director of Computer Operations and Technical Services at Trader Joe’s, managing technology infrastructure for one of the largest privately held national grocery chains, with 500+ locations. 33 years total in technology including enterprise systems, PCI compliance, network architecture, and disaster recovery. Technical Editor for the 2016 and 2020 editions of KnowBe4’s Cyberheist cybersecurity training book.

I run thewritingking.com, 1,100+ articles with custom SEO infrastructure, multiple integrated services, a fiction library, and serialized content, a WordPress site I built, maintain, and optimize myself.

More: Full Professional Background · Testimonials · Code of Ethics

Richard Lowe, professional ghostwriter

About Richard Lowe

Richard Lowe is a professional ghostwriter and bestselling author. He has authored 113+ books and ghostwritten 54+ more for executives, founders, coaches, and public figures. His clients have used their books to raise over $30 million in venture capital, land a TEDx invitation, and secure deals with traditional publishers. His own book How to Manage a Consulting Project was used as required reading in a course at Purdue University's Krannert School of Management.

His current lead book, The Ghostwriting Advantage, is the comprehensive guide to hiring a ghostwriter. He also authored the bestselling Focus on LinkedIn and the publishing-journey trilogy: Make a Living as a Self-Published Author, Publish Your Book, and Sell Your Books. He served as Technical Editor and Contributing Author on Cyberheist, the cybersecurity book by KnowBe4 founder Stu Sjouwerman. His ongoing series include Enemies of You (nonfiction cultural commentary) and the Victorian fiction series, contemporary reimaginings of classic Victorian science fiction by Jules Verne and H.G. Wells.

Before becoming a full-time ghostwriter, Richard spent 33 years in enterprise technology, including 20 years as Director of Computer Operations at Trader Joe's, where he managed infrastructure across 400+ stores. He hosts three interview podcasts: Leaders and Their Stories, Author Talks, and Conversations With Influencers, and has appeared as a guest on 100+ podcasts including The Chris Voss Show.

Want to explore all my ghostwriting insights? Visit the Ultimate Ghostwriting hub.

Based in Clearwater, Florida, serving Tampa, St. Petersburg, Palm Harbor, Largo, Safety Harbor, Pinellas and Polk counties, all of Florida, and authors everywhere remotely.

Is hiring WordPress help worth it?

Hiring WordPress help comes with its own trust problems.

What are Richard Lowe’s WordPress qualifications?
This site is the portfolio: custom plugins, 90+ PageSpeed scores, hardened security, and a publishing operation running on infrastructure I built. Behind it sit 33 years of enterprise IT including security and operations at scale. Ask technical questions on the call; the answers won’t be scripted. Read: the professional background »
Should I hire a cheap WordPress developer from a freelance site?
For simple tasks, do exactly that. The gap shows when security, performance, and recovery matter: the cheap fix that opens a vulnerability costs more than the professional job. I have cleaned up enough hacked sites to say that with a straight face. Read: security lessons »
Does Richard Lowe’s WordPress service lock you in?
No. Everything is documented, standard, and yours: your hosting, your accounts, your admin access. I build the work so any competent professional can maintain it, including you. Dependency is a vendor strategy.
Is $275 an hour worth it for WordPress work?
When the work is security, performance, or recovery, yes. A cheap fix that opens a vulnerability or a slow site that bleeds visitors costs far more than the professional job. You’re paying for 33 years of enterprise IT judgment applied to your site, and there’s no lock-in or ongoing commitment. Read: the boring security work that keeps you safe »
Can a badly built WordPress site be fixed?
Yes. Cleaning up hacked, broken, or badly built WordPress sites is common work. I come out of enterprise security and operations, so I fix problems at the root instead of patching over them until they resurface next month. Read: what gets attacked first »
How do I avoid WordPress developer scams?
You shouldn’t take my word for it; verify what can’t be faked. I have 33 years of public technology history, a checkable professional record, named case studies, and a live site you can inspect yourself. Ask the technical questions a pretender can’t answer. Read: how to vet a professional »

The practical questions

Cost, scope, and what the service covers.

What WordPress services does Richard Lowe offer?
Setup, security hardening, maintenance, backups, performance optimization, custom development, technical SEO, and fixing sites that are slow, broken, or hacked. The background is 33 years in enterprise technology, so the work goes deeper than a typical web designer.
Why hire an IT professional for WordPress?
Most WordPress problems are really security, performance, or infrastructure problems. I ran enterprise computer operations, so I handle those at the root instead of patching over them.
Can a hacked WordPress site be cleaned up?
Yes. Cleaning up hacked, broken, or badly built WordPress sites is common work. With 33 years in enterprise technology, security and infrastructure problems get handled at the root.
How much do WordPress services cost?
The rate is $275 per hour, with a free 30-minute initial consultation and no commitment required. Work can be a one-time fix or an ongoing maintenance arrangement, and there’s no lock-in.
Does Richard Lowe offer ongoing WordPress maintenance?
Yes. Maintenance covers updates, backups, security monitoring, and keeping the site fast and stable so you aren’t dealing with problems yourself. It can be one-time cleanup or an ongoing arrangement.
Does Richard Lowe build new WordPress sites?
Yes. The service covers new site setup as well as fixing, securing, and maintaining sites that already exist.

Go deeper

Start with a free consultation

Tell me what is broken, slow, or worrying you. Thirty minutes, no commitment. I’ll tell you what needs to happen and whether I’m the right fit.

Book a free 30-minute consultation

Categories and tags
CategoriesTechnology