Finding a professional and skilled WordPress developer is a daunting, grueling, and lengthy task. You can gain access to hundreds of platforms with so many developers, each one of them competing for a few available jobs.
Unfortunately, most of these developers are not good enough to meet some project requirements. In addition, some of these platforms do not vet the developers, leaving project owners with the task of eliminating the weak developers.
If you have a WordPress project, you have an option to hire a developer or DIY. However, not everyone has the technical knowledge to work on their projects. This forces them with no choice but to look for help. But do you know how to go about this process?
- Hiring Talented WordPress Developers
- When To Look For a WordPress Developer?
- 4 Top Tips Before Hiring a WordPress Developer
- Checking If a WordPress Developer is a Cheat
- Finding Qualified WordPress Developers
Hiring Talented WordPress Developers
The first step to a successful WordPress project is hiring the right talent. This is a process that requires time and knowledge.
In addition, technology advancements and the changing nature of customer preferences mean that you will constantly change your WordPress projects. After getting the right talent, you need to try as much as you can to keep them.
One way of doing that is by using retention tools for employees. Even though talent retention might sound simple, you need the right tools to do it well.
These tools help with work-life balance, bonuses, salaries, and things like mental health, team bonding, and emotional safety, among others.
When To Look For a WordPress Developer?
If you do not have the technical skills or time to work on your WordPress projects, you can look for a developer to help you with several things.
Customizing the website to meet your requirements
Most people buy a WordPress theme when they have a new project. However, a bigger percentage of them cannot customize it.
WordPress developers understand the programming languages used when creating these themes and their plugins. You can hire them to customize the theme to ensure that it meets your requirements.
If you have not bought a theme, then these developers can build a WordPress website for you from scratch.
Optimizing your website for SEO
Most people use on-page techniques when optimizing their websites for SEO. This might include things like targeted keywords on their content. Others focus on guest posting.
However, those looking for specialized SEO techniques hire a WordPress developer to optimize their websites’ structured data and site architecture. This makes it easy for search engine bots to access and read their websites’ content.
Improving the user experience of the website
User experience is one of the most important things when developing a website. You need to make sure that your website visitors can easily get what they want.
A WordPress developer can eliminate any bottlenecks that affect the user experience of your website. This is important in converting website visitors into customers.
Improving the website’s security
Some people thrive on stealing customers’ information from vulnerable websites. This is very common with small to medium businesses.
If you are running a WordPress website, you need to ensure that every loophole is eliminated. Competent developers understand WordPress security best practices and can protect your website and help your business avoid becoming a victim.
4 Top Tips Before Hiring a WordPress Developer
Here are a few tips to follow when hiring a WordPress developer.
#1. Check samples of previous work, reviews, and ratings
If you are hiring from a platform, check the reviews and ratings of a candidate’s previous work. In addition, you should look at the projects they have already worked on, the total number of projects they have, and their online code to see their coding standards.
Developers with a solid web portfolio can work on high-quality WordPress projects. These developers have delivered for other clients and can do the same for you. If they have code repositories, ensure that you have reviewed their code.
#2. Do not fall for cheap developers
Every good developer wants to make money while at the same time helping you make money through your website or application. You should, therefore, make sure that you do not fall for cheap developers.
This is because you will get a project that matches the amount of money you have paid most of the time. If you get a cheap developer, you might get a website that costs you money instead of making it.
You might even be forced to re-do the entire project from scratch, which can cost you a lot of money.
#3. Offer a paid test
When looking at the ratings, reviews, and previous candidates’ projects, you can choose to conduct a WordPress developer test. However, this is not enough. Offering a paid trial will let you know everything about a developer and how they approach a job.
If something goes wrong at this stage, do not feel like you have lost money. The truth is that you will have saved yourself from a failing long-term project. If things work out, then this means that the entire project will be successful.
#4. Communication is important
Even though you will not find a developer who is always available, you need one who can communicate on time. You also want a developer who tells you how and when you can reach them if you have questions.
If the developer has problems with communication even when starting the project, consider terminating it. Clear communication is essential for a good and long-term relationship with your developer.
Checking If a WordPress Developer is a Cheat
As discussed above, you should not hire a WordPress developer without checking what they have worked on. It would help if you also looked at their ratings and reviews on the platforms they work with.
In addition, consider testing them to check their competence. This might include a paid or non-paid test. If they pass your tests, consider the other tips discussed above to eliminate those who do not meet your requirements.
Finding Qualified WordPress Developers
There are different ways of finding WordPress developers. The most common is posting a job description on a job board and vetting the applicants. However, this is not the best way.
Today, there are platforms for WordPress developers that allow them to share their portfolios for employers to see. Here, you can see what a developer has worked on, their ratings, reviews, skills, and an estimate of how they charge.
Some of these platforms include:
- Codeable;
- Smashing Jobs;
- WordPress Jobs;
- Stack Overflow Careers;
- Toptal;
- ClickWP;
- WPhired.
Several platforms allow you to share your project details for developers to see and apply. That way, you can choose the developer who meets your requirements.
In conclusion, even though getting a qualified WordPress developer is not a mean task, following these guidelines will help you. This way, you can be assured of getting a developer who meets your requirements and those of your business.
