9 Considerations When Hiring a WordPress Developer

In fact, finding a WordPress developer or designer can be downright tricky. 

Before hiring one, there are so many factors to consider, whether you are planning to outsource, hire a freelancer, or hire someone from a different country. You have to be cautious and do some research because finding the right WordPress developer for your project is critical.

In this article, we will talk about the nine most important things to consider when hiring a developer for your projects.

1. Figure out your needs

Before you start your hunt for the right WordPress developer, the first step you should take is to find out what you need. This step is going to impact how your site looks and operates. So take time to create an outline of your needs by considering questions including:

• What is your site’s purpose?
• What type of site do you need? For instance, do you plan to create an e-commerce website or an educational website? 
• What features do you wish to add to your site?
• Would you prefer a custom theme, or like to buy a pre-built SEO-friendly WordPress theme?
• Do you want a responsive website?

Try to create a specific outline so that you will be able to communicate your needs better when you find your WordPress developer. 

2. Search for your WordPress developer in the right places

Yes, you will find plenty of WordPress developers if you visit job portals or freelance platforms. However, it is best to look for the right hire on niche job boards and online communities designed exclusively for WordPress developers. 

 Niche job boards usually have more experienced candidates. You can start looking at places like WP Hired, GitHub, and the official WordPress job board. Or go to a site that offers WordPress performance optimization services.  

Also, it is a good idea to post your clear job description to let candidates come to you instead of you seeking them. It will save you plenty of time. 

3. WordPress-specific experience

Experience is a vital factor that your WordPress developer needs to possess. The developer should have experience in WordPress design and should also be able to show an impressive portfolio that shows he/she has worked in your specific field. 

Though the years of experience are essential, even new developers with talent have outstanding portfolios to show their clients. Also, ask for references. You will come to know your developers better.

4. Analyze the fundamental elements

While interviewing your prospective WordPress developer, you should analyze the fundamental elements such as:

• Whether the developer is able to answer your queries suitably?
• Will the developer provide status updates?
• Is the developer able to explain the points in such a way that you are able to understand quickly?
• Can the developer communicate in your preferred language?

5. Best practices

Try to understand what best practices each of your potential developers follows while developing a WordPress website. These principles are going to guide them while they work on your project. 

Understand that different developers will implement different best practices as they work on your project. Inquiring about their best practices will let you know the developers better and their workings. 

In the end, you should be able to understand your prospective developer’s workflow and how they will approach your assignment, as well as their authority over WordPress.

6. Cost and affordability

If you are customizing your site, the cost is going to build up rather quickly. But some WordPress developers will charge you more than others for the same work done, especially if they are highly experienced. You want a professional who will give you your desired results without spending a fortune.

But at the same time, be wary of scammers. When it comes to affordability, it is a relative concept. You should not only consider the cheap factor but analyze the total project cost as compared to an hourly rate.

7. Culture fit

Even though you may be hiring your developer for only one time, you still have to consider culture fit. 

Your prospect is going to work closely with your team members throughout the project. So, it is crucial to think about how they will get along.

This issue is especially vital with a WordPress developer as the process of developing WordPress requires creative matters. Your prospect should understand how your company handles work.

8. Code review

Reviewing the code is crucial to analyze the quality of work your developer has done. Go to a third party and let them check the code and review it depending on logic errors, complete execution of cases, the number of tests carried out, security, and performance issues. It will give you a good idea of the developer’s performance. You can ask for revisions if required.

9. Ongoing help

After the design is complete, you will have numerous questions to ask your developer concerning the website use, performance, or how to make necessary changes.

Though WordPress is user-friendly, you want a developer who is willing to provide support for your ongoing project. Your prospective developers can charge for support services as part of their project proposal, or they can ask you for an hourly rate for the added services.

Also, consider the quality of the support services they provide. They should be able to commit to the time frame you specify to reply to questions.

Wrap-Up

If you own a WordPress website, one of the most important decisions you’ll make is who to hire as your WordPress developer. Thanks to the popularity of the CMS and its ease of use, WordPress has become increasingly widespread throughout the Internet, with thousands upon thousands of blogs powered by this free and flexible software. 

However, not all developers who say they are proficient in WordPress are actually as skilled as they claim. A lot goes into hiring a developer for your business, and we have covered a few vital points to consider above. 

Follow these tips to hire the most suitable WordPress developer who aligns with your requirements and kickstart your WordPress project today. 

Author Bio:

Lucy is a creative content writer and strategist at Marketing Digest. She specializes in writing about digital marketing, technology, entrepreneurship, and education. When she is not writing or editing, she spends time reading books, cooking and traveling.