Content writing and management are gaining tremendous popularity these days. Due to this marvelous growth, platforms for content management are also on a boom.
Sidelining other projects, WordPress is undoubtedly superseding its counterparts due to obvious reasons. Currently, more than 40% of websites are powered by WordPress, the fastest of all content management hosts.
Various website builders provide you the ease of work and customized websites but it’s not the case with WordPress. One needs to have knowledge of coding who is willing to create his website in a certain way not provided by WordPress.
If he is a novice in this, then he shall seek the help of dedicated WordPress web developers. Before pursuing, one shall know how to hire dedicated WordPress developers. Go ahead to help yourself find a WordPress programmer.
1. Check the Requirement
You first need to know if you actually require an expert WordPress developer. If you are just a startup and require a simple website, the free features of WordPress.com are sufficient to meet your needs but if you are a huge business, don’t have the skills and time for designing your new website, unable to customize any WordPress theme, you need to get in touch with WordPress developers for this work.
Experimenting with your website’s critical features may pose you in trouble by leaving you with poor user experience and downtime. Saving just a few pennies may cost you big by harming your brand and consuming most of your time. It’s not a hard row to hoe to hire a dedicated WordPress programmer. You can also easily grant them your website’s code due to its open-source nature.
2. High-Quality Research
How to hire a WordPress developer is an important question to consider. The world is full of WordPress developers and freelancers doing all kinds of jobs located globally, selecting the best and apt for you is the trick. You need to explore and research well. Everyone is not specialized in every area of WordPress development. Take a look at the business requirements you have so that you can pick the most suitable WordPress developer.
Do the proper screenings of the shortlisted ones with the requisite qualifications. You can go through the proper vetting process if you want. WordPress is also a huge package covering various aspects like some have expert enterprise-level developers, others may have well-qualified e-commerce developers. You can be guided with some services which rank their WordPress freelancers. Take a sneak peek at the quality of the WordPress programmer’s portfolio too.
3. Check the expertise level
As aforementioned, there is a varied range of WordPress functionalities, such as creating a new WordPress website or an eCommerce store, improving the designing or visuals of an existing site, adding any extra feature or function to the current website, adding a customized theme or developing any template, requiring customized plugin development, making any technical improvements, improving web security, rebuilding the entire SEO strategy, etc. Check the function you require and find WordPress developers accordingly.
Certain functionalities can be performed using the free version of WordPress but various functions are performed best using the services of WordPress web developers. Some of these include UI/UX Optimization, Advanced SEO, Multimedia support, eCommerce/WooCommerce functionality, Creating and editing complex forms, CRM integrations/plugin development, WordPress template/theme development, etc. These are the functions that require intense knowledge about coding, plugins, web designing, WordPress development, and programming languages.
4. Consider the size of your pocket
Budget is a very important consideration in every field. You need to look after the cost of your project before hiring anyone as it certainly adds up to the overall project cost, of course. The cost of the project depends on various factors like size of the web development project, how complex it is, experience required by the coder, skills possessed by him, flexible or stringent deadlines, the extent of customization required in WordPress themes or plugins, full-time or part-time work required, and many more.
You need to work out the points you are willing to add to your project and do a valid cost-benefit analysis. You certainly can’t get a whole new flawless WordPress website for dollars in hundreds. If your requirement is just improving a few sections of the WordPress website, hire WordPress developers for a few bucks for performing that particular task. If it’s a whole new website, it’s worth hiring a professional by paying a wholesome amount.
It’s always worth it to an experienced WordPress developer; you may have to pay a little higher for the same though. Instead of cutting down the cost by hiring a novice, it’s better to work on the most crucial features which you require the most. Don’t over-pressurize the web developers with the work, as this would also add to the cost.
5. Require effective communication
Effective communication doesn’t mean being available 24*7 but you need at least someone who is committed to his work, understands your concern, and tries to handle your issue timely. WordPress web developers must be expressive and able to communicate properly the issues and ways to handle the same. There must be a lack of ambiguity for a consistent and long-term relationship. That WordPress developer is good who not only codes well but also makes a non-technical person understand the same.
All the WordPress jobs are not short and quick, some may take even months to complete. In such cases, the developer must communicate all the crucial things like expected time of completion, estimated cost, the proper breakup of the whole process, etc. Good communication is required not only vertically but also horizontally, i.e., he must communicate well with his team members too, like the project manager and web designer.
6. Terms and conditions of the contract
After all, what matters is the type of contract you want to establish with the web developer. Decide the duration of the projects for which you hire a WordPress coder, as in if you want the web developer for a particular project or you want him for the upcoming projects as well. You may look for hiring an in-house developer on a long-term basis. He may help you in maintaining and running your website and also cost you lesser when compared to someone you hire for every small issue. Also, mention the payment terms in the contract clearly.
7. Try developers locally with development bootcamps
Development bootcamps are sort of intense courses that are planned to provide professional skills practically within a certain period. Its website features a special icon for contacting business organizations in regard to hiring students or freelancers. Numerous students are available and willing to work full-time and/or part-time that helps them in building their portfolio and sharpening their skills in the practical world. Hiring web developers this way helps the companies in getting fresh talent that too at the minimum cost.
8. Search via local network and meetups
Numerous websites organize local meetings for professionals, semi-professionals, and enthusiasts of different categories. Some are free while the others are paid. Sign-up and search for the technical category of your area. Choose the category related to WordPress, contact the organizer, and convey your motive for joining the meetup. If allowed, discuss your job opportunity and it can benefit the joiners; and if not, request them to set aside some time for networking. You can give your business cards to the attendees and ask them to contact you if it sounds helpful to them.
9. Consider local universities, advertisements, and Google results
Nowadays, various universities and colleges have web development departments which can turn out to be useful for you. Contact the dean or professors first, make them understand your requirement, and ask them if they can help you in any way.
Advertisements might be a traditional way of letting people know about your work but there are certain modifications in the ways of advertisement. The gig is quite popular these days; you can post your job requirement there, whether it’s short-term, part-time, or full-time. If you want to go informal, Craigslist is the best way to promote your work where you can elaborate your requirements of WordPress developer. You can also look for web design firms providing local talent.
Conclusion
WordPress is seen as a tempting project that can make your business reach heights. If your work requires ample creativity, intense coding, and technicality, you should hire a dedicated WordPress developer without giving any second thought. Prepare a blueprint of your whole project in advance so that you can get to know the requisite features and design, the estimated cost involved, and the proficiency and skills required for the project. This would help in shortlisting and selecting the profiles of the web developers.
Considering the time zone and area is also very crucial, especially if you are looking for someone working in-house or full-time. In such cases, adding the filter of the geographical area is as important as any other factor. You can also try a web developer on a Paid Test Project if you are in a dilemma regarding someone. It’s always better to test on a small project rather than spoil something big.