This blog post will break down what types of knowledge, skills, and experience are necessary for someone to be able to hire a WordPress developer. It will also provide tips on how much they should expect their developer’s salary to be for them to leave with money in their pockets and be happy about the work they did.
Hiring a WordPress Developer
The first question you should ask yourself before trying to hire someone is whether or not you need a developer in the first place. WordPress is a simple, user-friendly platform that gives you complete control over your site’s design and layout. There are plenty of free tutorials on the web for WordPress beginners that let you learn as you go. Why does it make sense to hire a developer? When it comes to hiring someone for your project, asking “why?” is important because each project is unique and requires different skill sets, languages, and technologies.
Before WordPress came into existence, HTML, CSS, and PHP were the only tools available for creating websites. With the launch of WordPress, developers were no longer limited to these three languages. In short, WordPress has become a platform that lets you do anything. And with that, any serious project should involve some form of coding.
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What is your basic knowledge of HTML and CSS?
Your developer should know at least the basics for both HTML and CSS. Suppose a developer lacks experience with either or both. In that case, you may find yourself in a difficult situation where their code does not work as intended when trying to make changes or show examples during development.
HTML and CSS
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What kind of experience do you have with WordPress?
WordPress is not just a platform for creating blogs and websites. But it’s also an operating system packed with powerful functions. To be able to work with WordPress as a developer, you should have some sort of knowledge or experience related to it. That’s why understanding the basics surrounding what WordPress entails is crucial. What makes it unique? What makes it complex? Why do you need to use themes and plugins in your development project? These basic questions will help narrow down the pool of potential developers and get you started on finding someone that suits your needs.
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Do you specialize in WordPress?
WordPress developers are not the same as web designers; they are different. WordPress developers are more than capable of constructing beautiful, functional, and engaging websites. They use design principles to create clean and simple websites that can be used by businesses and individuals alike. But when it comes to other platforms like Drupal or Joomla, you will find that the developer’s knowledge is limited. The same goes for themes and plugins. A good WordPress developer can create new plugins and themes, but they’re not always very good at designing them. When looking for a WordPress developer, make sure you inquire about their experience working with different systems like this one.
WordPress Development
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What are your biggest projects/successes?
To get a clear idea about the effectiveness of your developer’s skills, ask them to tell you about the biggest project they have ever worked on and what kind of problems they encountered. For example, a couple of years ago, I worked with an e-commerce website that was using WordPress as its CMS, and they were experiencing server issues with their store. After some research, I found out that the developers used one theme for all pages instead of having a different theme for each page which caused the issue.
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How do you test your code?
WordPress developers should make sure to test their code before it goes live on any site or production server. There are a couple of ways they can test their code, like using the debug bar; however, they should also make sure to test their code in other environments such as staging and local.
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What’s your favorite WordPress theme or plugin?
Asking this question will help narrow down the pool of potential developers based on the kind of work they have done in the past. Also, if you like their style and ideas, it will help you understand where your project stands with them. If a developer is willing to share what their favorite themes and plugins are, then that is usually a good sign because it means that they understand what user-friendly designs and simple-to-navigate interfaces are.
SEO and marketing
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How much experience do you have with SEO and marketing?
WordPress developers should know how to optimize and market their websites, especially if they are using them for an e-commerce website. A good developer will also be able to find ways to optimize your site with the use of plugins and other resources that will help you get more exposure online.
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Do you have a portfolio? If so, why should I choose you for my project?
This is one of the most important questions you can ask a potential developer because it gives you an idea of what kind of work they have done and what quality they deliver. If a developer does not have a portfolio, that may be a reason to pause and reconsider your options.
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What language do you prefer to work with?
This is an important question because some developers tend to specialize or have more experience with particular languages such as PHP, HTML, CSS, etc. If you are looking for someone that has experience working with WordPress, then make sure they understand the core functions of the platform and know-how to modify them when needed.
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Do you work on a contract basis or per hour?
When it comes to hiring a contractor or freelancer, you must understand how they charge for their services so you can make sure not to get overcharged in the end. It’s best to hire a contractor that has a firm price in mind per project, and you can always negotiate the cost of the job if needed.
freelancer
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How much experience do you have with PHP and WordPress?
This question is a bit more complicated because it is not just about their specific experience in working with WordPress, as that may change depending on what type of project they’re working on. However, they should have some kind of understanding when it comes to PHP and how to modify WordPress code so that it will work properly.
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How familiar are you with the WordPress Codex?
Codex is a helpful resource when it comes to learning and understanding how to work with WordPress or just a specific function that you need help with. If your potential developer does not take the time to look up and understand the Codex, then that usually means they’re not very concerned about learning new functions or modifying existing ones unless they must do so to complete your project.
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What’s your approach to testing and launching?
Web developers need to make sure that any changes and updates are tested before being launched. Some developers will launch their site. And then work on getting bugs fixed and other smaller issues after it is life. While this may work sometimes, it’s best to get the site thoroughly tested before going live. Especially if you’re using it for a client whom you need to get their approval on the changes.
WordPress websites
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What is your experience in maintaining WordPress websites?
In this question, they will probably talk about their checkups to ensure that their sites are running smoothly and efficiently. If the developer is not familiar with checking up on plugins, themes, core functions, or maintenance, that may be a red flag for you to look further into other developers.
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Since this is a long-term relationship, how do you explain your communication and accountability?
This question may seem obvious, but all too often. I see people hiring a developer-only to get frustrated by their lack of communication or simply not doing what they were hired for. Make sure to ask how often they will be available. And what types of tools you can use to get in contact with them.
