How to Hire a WordPress Developer

Do you want to take your WordPress website up a notch? If your current website needs a unique design or custom functionality, it might be time to consider hiring a WordPress web developer.

The top WordPress developers have spent years learning and researching everything there is to know about WordPress, allowing them to develop outstanding, customized websites for their clients. If you’re thinking about hiring a WordPress developer, but aren’t sure how to get started, check out these four easy tips to get the ball rolling.

How to Find a WordPress Developer

Regardless of who you choose, it’s extremely important to communicate exactly what you are looking for regarding the functionality and design of your website. Make sure you know what developers need from you before you start talking with them.

Ask for Recommendations from Colleagues

If you want a trustworthy and reliable developer without scouring the internet, you should ask for referrals from your colleagues. They will have personal experience working with the developer and can guide you through the process.

Reach out to friends, family, and colleagues through email or social media to get a personal recommendation to a WordPress developer.

Use the Developer Who Designed Your Favorite Website

Another way to hire a web developer for your WordPress site is to find out who designed your favorite sites. Most websites have a link in the footer that gives credit to the developer or design that leads to their website. Just contact them through their website to get started.

If you can’t find a link, try contacting the website directly and asking them to put you in touch with their developer. If their site is built with WordPress, you might be able to find the designer info by using whatwpthemeisthat.com.

Check Freelance Websites

Another way to find a WordPress developer is by going through job boards on freelancer websites. There are dozens of job websites that are dedicated to freelancing, so the options can be overwhelming. Try searching for freelancers or posting a job on mega-sites Upwork or Freelancer to begin your search.

Then, search for and hone in on sites that are exclusively meant for web developers. Once you’ve found a reputable site to use, you should carefully go through user profiles & advertisements and look for the perfect candidate for you. Be prepared to thoroughly interview prospective developers, look carefully at their portfolios, and look at their references for any positive or negative reviews.

Utilize a Development Agency

If these other options don’t work out for you, you may want to consider hiring a development agency to work with you. Keep in mind that development agencies are more expensive because they bring on multiple people to work on your project.

These agencies are filled with extremely talented, professional WordPress designers and can do anything from custom website design to developing scalable plugins. For more information on agency and freelancer pricing differences, check out our guide and infographic on how much does a website cost.

How to Choose a WordPress Developer

Choosing a WordPress developer is all about comfort. You need to be comfortable and confident in the developer’s ability to communicate, design, and manage the project.

Communication

No matter which route you choose, make sure that you can clearly communicate with your developer. They should be able to discuss the project with you in your language, respond in a timely manner, and be able to explain in clear terms what they plan to do.

If you have trouble understanding your developer before the project even begins, it’s a good indicator that they might not be a good fit for the job.

Portfolio

You have a vision for your website and maybe some examples. Scour the portfolio of your potential developer and verify that their work is similar to your vision. If they don’t have anything like what you envisioned, it may mean that they can’t deliver it.

It’s a lot like shopping. If you go out looking to buy a new laptop, you don’t buy one from the store that sells chandeliers.

On top of that, ask the developer to explain what they did with the project. How long did it take? What technology did they use? Shine a light on their portfolio and see if they can hold up to a bit of questioning.

Reviews

Much like a recommendation, reviews can be very helpful in determining the quality of a developer. Naturally, they can be subjective and at times irrational, but reviews are great evidence if a developer is good with client and project management.

Think about reviews you’ve left in the past. For the most part you want to be truthful in relaying information about the service/product, but sometimes circumstances may not always lead to the best review. Always read reviews with care.

You can even go so far as contacting their past client to discuss their experience. They would be the best source for understanding how the developer operates.

Final Thoughts

There are thousands of people out there claiming to be WordPress developers. Make sure to invest some time thoroughly researching your developer before you finalize your decision.

Whether you find them through colleagues, job sites, or directly from an agency, make sure to talk with the developer before starting a project, check out their portfolio, and read their reviews and testimonials. It will be worth the time to pick the right developer the first time.