Hiring a high-quality WordPress developer can feel overwhelming. By ‘high-quality,’ we mean dependable and knowledgeable, with a history of achievements and a portfolio of clients to prove it. Choosing someone less qualified could result in serious issues like website outages, security risks, and higher expenses – something we all want to avoid.
However, with the right developer, the benefits are huge. Their efficiency, innovation, and solutions help drive business growth, which is why, at Codeable, we connect you with vetted, efficient, innovative, and high-caliber developers to help you drive business growth.
Hiring a WordPress developer is important if you lack the skills to independently create, extend, and troubleshoot a website. This article will help you make the hiring process smoother and ensure you work with a skilled professional!
How to write a project brief to hire the right WordPress developer
Writing a project brief that resonates with high-quality WordPress developers can help hire the right developer for the job. Here are some tips to create an effective brief:
- Clear project description: Begin by summarizing the project, including the type of website (e.g., eCommerce, blog, corporate) and its main objectives. Aim to convey what you need clearly, providing developers with a solid understanding of your goal.
- Detailed requirements: Define specifics such as desired features, essential plugins, theme development, and any custom development needed. If relevant, itemize functionalities like membership capabilities or multilingual support.
- Design preferences: Include visual references or links to websites you like, and note the specifics to give developers a sense of your style and aesthetic.
- Timeline: Provide a realistic timeline for the project, including milestones and the final delivery date, and be upfront about them.
- Budget constraints: To ensure that the developers you want to hire are comfortable with your budget response, make sure you outline the budget range for your project and lay it out clearly.
- Compatibility and performance: Highlight specific requirements, such as browsers to supportt, and page load speed expectations.
- Maintenance and support: Make it clear if you require ongoing support post-launch. This could influence whether you attract freelancers or agencies more suited for long-term partnerships.
- Experience and portfolio: To ensure you hire skillful WordPress developers, ask them to provide a portfolio with examples of similar projects completed and request testimonials or client references.
- Communication and updates: Specify your preferred communication method and frequency of updates to ensure candidates are on board with this aspect of your workflow.
- Call to action: Encourage developers to ask questions and provide a brief outline of how they would tackle the project. This way, you get an understanding of their approach to your project while also having a chance to connect with them.
Template for an effective project brief
Here’s a template for a project brief that you can use to hire a WordPress developer:
Project brief: Summarize the main task of the project.
Project overview: Clearly lay out the details about the project, its requirements, and design preferences. Clearly lay out your expectations and measurements for success.
Timeline: Include the project’s start date and deadline. You can also break the project into small tasks and set different deadlines for each.
Budget: Set a budget range you are willing to spend for this project
Other notes: You can use this section to specify other expectations, such as setting regular meetings to follow up on the process, requiring periodical status reports and analyses, etc.
Finding and evaluating potential WordPress developers
When it comes to hiring the right WordPress developer, two primary avenues come to mind: online platforms and referrals.
Online platforms
Online platforms offer a vast pool of talent and can be an excellent starting point for finding WordPress developers. Here’s a more detailed look at some popular platforms:
1. Codeable
Codeable is a platform dedicated specifically to WordPress development services, focusing exclusively on connecting clients with highly skilled WordPress developers specializing in website design, development, and optimization.
Codeable stands out with its rigorous vetting process for developers. Each developer undergoes a comprehensive screening process to ensure they possess the necessary expertise and experience in WordPress development. The platform also offers transparent pricing, with clients receiving detailed quotes and cost breakdowns for their projects upfront.
Codeable shows an average 4.95/5 score on project rating and 96% client return rate.
2. Upwork
As a large freelancer marketplace, Upwork emphasizes long-term relationships between clients and freelancers. The platform offers tools for project management, time tracking, and communication, which are great for collaboration between parties. Upwork also provides a range of payment options, including hourly rates and fixed-price contracts, giving clients flexibility in managing their budgets.
However, Upwork has experienced speculation about reviews on the platform not being trustworthy – with some reviews suggesting people are buying positive five-star ratings.
3. Fiverr
Fiverr offers various digital services, including graphic design, writing, and programming. The platform gained popularity for its affordable services, with prices often starting at $5 per task (hence the name!). However, it is worth noting that Fiverr has faced criticism for the quality of work, the presence of scanners, and inconsistent pricing. Freelancers on Fiverr may have varying experience and expertise, making it challenging for clients to identify high-quality candidates.
4. LinkedIn
As a professional networking site with robust search features, LinkedIn allows you to use filters to find WordPress developers in your area or with specific skills. You can review profiles, recommendations, and endorsements to verify a developer’s professional background and experience.
5. WordPress.org Jobs Board
This is the official job board for WordPress-related positions. It’s frequented by WordPress professionals looking for work, and you can post job listings or browse developer profiles. This platform attracts all developers who are actively engaged in the WordPress community.
6. Toptal
Toptal is another platform to find WordPress developers. It is often preferred for complex WordPress projects and is known for its relatively high prices.
and reputation. Continuous evaluations and modifications are also green flags, as it is important to conform to web standards and user habits, keeping your website up-to-date and efficient in the long run.
Referrals
Word of mouth is a powerful means of finding WordPress developers. Personal recommendations from trusted sources can lead you to skilled professionals who may not be actively promoting themselves on online platforms.
You can scope out referrals effectively by:
- Tapping into your network: Start by reaching out to your professional and personal network. Ask for recommendations from colleagues, friends, or acquaintances who have had positive experiences with previously hired WordPress developers.
- Participating in online communities: Engage with WordPress-related online communities, such as forums, Facebook groups, or LinkedIn groups. These communities often have members who can provide valuable referrals.
- Attending WordPress meetups and events: Attend local WordPress meetups and conferences. These gatherings are great opportunities to meet developers in person and gather referrals from fellow WordPress enthusiasts.
- Verifying credentials: Even when you receive a referral, it’s essential to conduct due diligence. Check the developer’s portfolios, review their work, and ensure they align with your project’s requirements.
The hiring process
Hiring the right WordPress developer for your project is an important decision that can impact the success of your site. Here are some points to keep in mind while choosing a developer for your project:
Key skills to look for in a WordPress developer
High-quality WordPress developers have a diverse skill set that allows them to tackle any project. A single developer won’t necessarily have all the desired skills to fulfill a project, as most decide to specialize in one area. These areas include:
1. A deep understanding of WordPress’ core features
High-quality developers stay current with the latest WordPress versions and are well-versed in the platform’s architecture, including the WordPress loop, template hierarchy, and hooks (actions and filters). A proficient WordPress developer should be able to use the Gutenberg editor to create custom blocks and templates proficiently and have experience with WordPress Multisite, WP-CLI, and the WordPress REST API for more advanced projects. Our vetted developers at Codeable are experts with a comprehensive understanding of WordPress and can leverage their full potential to build powerful, scalable websites.
2. Extensive expertise in web development technologies
This element is essential for creating fully functioning and aesthetic websites. Ensure the WordPress developer you hire has previous successful work experience in their area.
Our developers at Codeable are experts in HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript (including jQuery, React, and other popular frameworks), and responsive design principles to ensure your website is engaging and responsive.
3. An exhaustive knowledge of PHP and MySQL
PHP and MySQL knowledge is crucial for back-end development and database management. Skilled developers can build custom plugins, incorporate third-party APIs, and enhance website performance.
4. A focus on security
A skilled WordPress developer will be an expert in security and know how to perform such as audits, protect against threats, use security plugins, and apply measures to keep your website safe.
5. Expertise in performance optimization
Hire WordPress developers who excel in using techniques like caching, Content Delivery Networks (CDNs), and speed optimizations. At Codeable, our developers are experienced in fine-tuning websites to provide an excellent user experience.
6. A comprehensive understanding of SEO techniques
SEO optimization is not something website owners can overlook. A good developer should know about essential SEO best practices, such as semantic markup and performance optimizations, to enhance search rankings. At Codeable, developers integrate SEO into their development process, driving organic traffic to your site.
Questions to ask a WordPress developer during the interview
Ideally, you want to conduct structured interviews where you can develop a standardized set of questions for all candidates. This ensures consistency in evaluating candidates and comparing their responses objectively.
You can include a mix of:
1. Behavioral questions
This technique focuses on past behavior as a predictor of future performance. Ask candidates to provide specific examples from their previous work experiences. Use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method to structure their responses.
Example question: “Can you describe a time when you faced a challenging project deadline? What steps did you take to meet the deadline, and what was the outcome?”
2. Situational questions
Present candidates with hypothetical situations they might encounter in the role they’re applying for. This technique assesses their problem-solving skills and how they would handle specific job-related challenges.
Example question: “Imagine you discover a critical bug on a live website. What would be your immediate actions, and how would you communicate this issue to me?”
3. Competency-based questions
Focus on specific skills or competencies required for the job. Create a list of key competencies and ask questions that target each one.
Example question (for a project manager): “Can you provide an example of a successful project you managed from initiation to completion? How did you ensure it stayed on track and met all project goals?”
Here are a few more example questions to ask during the interview:
- Can you describe your experience with WordPress and any notable projects you’ve worked on?
- How do you handle tight deadlines and unexpected challenges in a project?
- What is your preferred method of communication and project management?
- Can you provide an estimate of the project timeline and cost?
- What steps do you take to ensure the security and performance of a WordPress website?
Remember that the interview process is a two-way street. Encourage candidates to ask questions about your project, expectations, and team dynamics. This open dialogue ensures that both you and the candidate can make an informed decision about moving forward with the collaboration.
Red flags to watch out for when hiring a WordPress developer
Here are a few red flags to watch out for and why:
| Interview red flags | What this red flag indicates |
|---|---|
| Lack of portfolio or work examples | Inexperience or inability to showcase skills |
| Reluctance to provide references | Poor past performance or lack of experience |
| Unusually low rates | Inexperience or low-quality work |
| Inability to talk about technical concepts | Lack of knowledge |
| Overconfidence or promising unrealistic results | Lack of practical knowledge or poor project management skills |
Expert tips for hiring a WordPress developer
Here’s what industry veterans recommend to ensure you make the best choice and set your project up for success.
1. Protecting your IP with remote WordPress developers
Protecting your intellectual property should be a priority when hiring a remote WordPress developer.
Have the developer sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) to prevent them from sharing sensitive project information. Secondly, your contract should include a work-for-hire clause stipulating that any work created during the project belongs to you, not the developer. This ensures you retain ownership of the final product and any custom code developed for your project.
Carefully manage access. Provide developers access only to the resources they need for their tasks using role-based access control in your development and staging environments. Use encrypted communication channels for sharing sensitive information, and avoid sending passwords or access keys via email.
Finally, consider using a staging environment for development and testing, moving only approved code to the live site so you can review and approve work before it goes public.
2. Estimating the cost and timeline for a WordPress project
To estimate the timeline and the cost for your project, start by creating a comprehensive project brief outlining all features and functionalities. The more detailed your requirements, the more accurate the estimate.
Consider breaking down the project into smaller tasks. Factor in additional time and cost for challenges. Include time for revisions and client feedback in your timeline, as this can impact the project duration.
Differentiate between must-have and nice-to-have features. Prioritizing essential features can help phase the project if budget or time constraints arise. Factor in ongoing costs like hosting, domain registration, premium plugins, and maintenance and updates.
Adding a buffer of 10-20% to your time and cost estimates can help account for unforeseen challenges or changes in project scope. It’s better to overestimate slightly than to run over budget or miss deadlines.
Codeable’s vetting process: Ensuring quality developers
Now you know where to find developers, what to look for, and how to decide on a developer that’s the best fit for your project. However, even with this knowledge, it is very likely for you to spend hours going through countless applications that don’t have enough qualifications.
Codeable is the only platform that can shorten this process. Its vetting system guarantees you work with nothing less than the cream of the crop, Ensuring each application you receive is worthy of your attention. Don’t let the search for top-tier talent hinder your project’s progress. Take the first step towards your project goals by starting your first task on Codeable today, and get matched with the best developers out there!
