You have a great business idea and you just discovered that WordPress can help you build high-quality websites from scratch. Would you go for the DIY approach or choose an expert for the job? Many would choose to hire WordPress developer with the skills required to take up your project. With a large pool of WordPress developers in the world, it is difficult to navigate the hiring process.
The right WordPress developer can change the course of your web project with their skills to utilize available resources in the most efficient way. You may be launching a new site or switching your existing site to WordPress and in every case, you will need skilled developers to do the job. This guide will help you understand the hiring process for bringing a skilled WordPress developer to your team.
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Unraveling the Reasons to Hire a WordPress Developer
The first thought that might come to your mind when conceptualizing a web project is the availability of website builders. You can use the ‘drag-and-drop’ features of website builders to create a website from scratch with preset themes. Why should you hire dedicated WordPress developers when you can do it on your own? When your website grows, you will need more features, specific design elements or better performance. Therefore, you cannot ignore the importance of a WordPress developer in the modern digital landscape.
You can rely on a professional developer to tailor the design of your website in a way that reflects your brand identity. Developers can add new features without relying solely on plugins and scale up your website as your business grows. Experienced developers also ensure that your website design is optimize for mobile devices and search engines. With the intervention of custom WordPress development experts, you can create websites that work seamlessly on all types of devices and are more visible on search engines.
The next prominent advantage of WordPress experts for hire in any region is the assurance of security. Developers can take care of the security best practices, such as cleaning the code, using secure plugins and creating custom login URLs. In addition, you can rely on WordPress development professionals for ongoing maintenance and support services to keep your website running according to your expectations.
Also Read: Safeguarding WordPress Vulnerabilities
How Many Types of WordPress Developers are there?
Hiring professionals for WordPress development is quite difficult as you have to identify the right person for the role. Depending on the requirements of your project, you will have to hire the type of developer who will be the right fit for the project. While looking for expert WordPress developers, you must know that there are five distinct types of WordPress development experts.
The frontend developers work on user interface and design of websites with the help of JavaScript, HTML and CSS. Backend developers are responsible for creating the server-side logic, functionalities and managing database of the website with PHP and MySQL. If you need someone who can do both, then you should hire a full-stack developer.
The other notable types of WordPress development experts you will come across are WordPress theme developers and plugin developers. WordPress theme developers specialize in creating and customizing WordPress themes that you can use for your website. Similarly, WordPress plugin developers help in creating custom plugins that can help you add new features in a website.
What Does a WordPress Developer Do?
Anyone with general knowledge about WordPress would know that creating websites with WordPress doesn’t require coding. However, businesses want to hire WordPress programmers with design skills who can take care of their web projects. As a WordPress developer, you will have to fulfill various responsibilities that require programming skills. For instance, WordPress developer writes the code required to customize core WordPress files.
The WordPress developer is also responsible for testing and debugging the core WordPress software. In addition, developers have to update WordPress websites on a regular basis while working with different stakeholders. Another crucial responsibility of a WordPress developer revolves around creating WordPress themes and plugins according to client requirements.
Curious if your WordPress site is using the right PHP version for best performance and security? Our WordPress PHP Compatibility Guide will help you stay aligned with best practices and avoid technical issues.
Which Skills Should You Look for In a WordPress Developer?
The common thing about every business looking for a WordPress developer is that everyone wants the best professionals. How can you identify a WordPress expert from the crowd of applicants? Recruiters should have a candidate profile that helps them identify the essential skills required from a WordPress developer for their web projects.
You should focus on the core competencies first to identify professionals who are capable of leveraging the capabilities of WordPress.
1. A skilled WordPress developer must be fluent in PHP, WordPress core, JavaScript, HTML and CSS.
2. The wordpress developer should have in-depth understanding and practical experience in building WordPress themes and plugins.
3. The core competencies of WordPress development experts also revolve around skills for ensuring cross-browser compatibility and responsive design.
4. A WordPress developer is expected to know the coding standards and best practices for WordPress development.
Ready to make your hiring process smooth and avoid picking the wrong developer? Our WordPress Developer Checklist gives you a clear, step-by-step framework to evaluate every candidate.
Are Core Competencies Enough for a WordPress Developer?
The core skills required from a WordPress developer showcase only one half of the picture. Recruiters must also look for candidates with additional skills that can bring more value to web projects. Business can hire remote WordPress developers or dedicated in-house experts after checking their capability to go beyond the norm. Candidates who know more than the core skills of a WordPress developer can take care of different aspects of web projects with minimal assistance.
You should look for candidates with experience in version control and performance optimization. On top of it, a WordPress developer who has in-depth understanding of SEO principles can be a valuable asset. The other additional skills that you can look for in a WordPress developer include familiarity with SQL and database management. Candidates with knowledge of working with WordPress REST API and RESTful APIs will definitely elevate the chances of creating better web projects.
While technical skills are a must-have for WordPress developers, it is impossible to ignore the importance of business acumen and soft skills. Any WordPress developer with business acumen can understand the vision and goals of a web project. In addition, they also need soft skills like communication and time management to work in a team and deliver their best performance.
Unsure if your WordPress site meets accessibility standards for all users? Explore our article on how to improve WordPress web accessibility and ensure your site is usable by everyone.
Which Hiring Model Should You Choose?
Diving straight into the hiring process without choosing a hiring option can lead recruiters into many roadblocks in future. Business owners and hiring managers must know the strengths and setbacks of each hiring model to figure out the ideal option for their web project. You can hire freelance developers or opt for an in-house developer and capitalize on different advantages. For instance, freelance developers are the best picks for web projects of small companies or startups. Freelance developers can work on tight budgets and serve as the most efficient assets for one-time web development projects.
The freelance hiring model may seem appealing due to the lower costs than hiring a dedicated in-house developer. However, many people don’t pay attention to the limitations that come with freelance developers. It is difficult to manage freelancers as they may be working with multiple clients and could not deliver your project on time. The alternative to a WordPress freelancer is an in-house developer who will work in your office. In-house developers understand your business goals and customer expectations more closely, which helps them create effective products.
You may have assumed that an in-house WordPress developer will be the ideal choice for your next web project. The problem with in-house developers is the cost and time required to welcome them into your team. Apart from the costs of salary and infrastructure, you will have to bear the burden of time required for onboarding an in-house developer.
Interestingly, you can find a solution to this setback in professional WordPress development agencies. Professional agencies offer access to a team of developers with full-stack development expertise and the assurance of project management. With a professional agency, you don’t have to worry about overheads or continuous maintenance and support.
Looking to scale your web project without long-term commitments? Check out our guide to hire a freelance full-stack developer and discover how to find skilled freelancers who meet your needs.
What are the Costs of Hiring WordPress Developers?
The type of hiring model you choose to hire expert WordPress developers for your web project will have a significant impact on the hiring costs. On top of it, you must also consider the location and experience of the developer to determine the hiring costs. It is also important to note that businesses can choose between hourly pricing and fixed pricing for different hiring models. For instance, a freelancer will charge around $20 to $100 per hour for their services or take a salary of $65,000 to $70,000 per year for different projects.
The location where a WordPress developer will work also has a significant influence on the hiring costs. The average WordPress developer salary in the United States varies between $42,000 and $103,000. On the other hand, the salary of a WordPress developer in Australia can be somewhere between $91,000 and $179,000. It is also important to note that the salary of WordPress developers may vary with changes in demand for talent and complexity of projects. Awareness of salary ranges can help you ensure that you make the right offers to skilled candidates.
Must Read: WordPress vs Drupal Guide
Roadmap for Hiring an Expert WordPress Developer
Once you know what you are looking for, the search for a skilled WordPress developer becomes a lot easier. You can follow a few simple steps to establish a solid hiring process for WordPress development projects.
1. Know Your Business Goals
The first step in the hiring process involves understanding that you are not listing WordPress jobs to follow a trend. You must identify the problems you want to solve with the help of a WordPress developer. Understanding your problems and business goals will help you identify developers with the skills required to solve them.
2. Establish a Clear Budget
Another area where you should be very clear while hiring WordPress development experts is the budget. As a matter of fact, your budget will determine the type of hiring model that will suit your project. The important factors that help you define a budget for web projects include the scope of the project and its complexity. On top of it, the experience of developers will also come into play as you will have to pay more to senior developers.
3. Rigorous Testing and Interview Process
The most common mistake recruiters make while hiring a WordPress developer is the lack of attention to the testing and interview process. You should use different types of tests to evaluate the proficiency of candidates in PHP, HTML, JavaScript and SQL. The best way to test the technical proficiency of candidates involves providing hands-on assignments. Furthermore, the interview process should be more sophisticated with questions to evaluate the business knowledge and soft skills of candidates.
4. Finalize the Hiring Process
After identifying the right candidate for your WordPress project, you can complete the hiring process. It is important to create verified contracts that include comprehensive details about the project scope, terms of payment and timeline of the project. The hiring contract must also specify the clauses of confidentiality, ownership rights and terms of contract termination. With both parties agreeing to the contract, you can finalize the hiring process and welcome the developer into your team.
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Final Thoughts
The benefits of working with a professional WordPress developer can elevate your web project. You can hire offshore WordPress developers or choose an in-house developer for your team, depending on your requirements. However, the process to choose the ideal candidate for WordPress development projects remains the same in almost every case.
Mindpath is a trusted WordPress development company that has been helping businesses discover new solutions to a better digital presence. Our experience in working on different types of WordPress development projects has empowered us with the skills and confidence to deliver the best results. We offer WordPress development services tailored to the needs and vision of each business, thereby ensuring that you get desired outcomes from your web projects. Consult with us and make the most of WordPress for web development projects now.
