If you’ve always wanted to create your website, you’ve probably looked into different content management systems, searching for the right one to do the job. WordPress is the most popular among the many platforms available, powering over 450 million websites on the internet.
Of course, while the website builder makes it easy for its users to customize their sites, it’s understandable if you want to hire a developer to help you. Although if you have the time, you can always try to do it yourself with the help of WordPress site builders. A good website is an investment—one that will be able to attract users and revenue. The problem now, though, is how to choose the best WordPress developer.
The developer’s job is to collaborate with you closely to make your vision a reality, so it only fits that you want to hire the best. To help you, we’ve listed five tips when choosing a WordPress developer for your website.
Know Your Needs
You’ll only be able to find the right developer if you have clear goals. For example, what do you want your website to look like? What features and elements should it have? Who is your audience? You have to write down all your specific needs so your WordPress developer knows what they have to do.
Take the time to outline your expectations for your website. If your company or brand has specific colors and fonts, inform your developer beforehand. Indeed, customizing WordPress websites can be easier if you can communicate your vision clearly to them.
Ask For Recommendations
Using trial and error for an investment such as your website is time-consuming and costly. To avoid this, you can always ask for developer recommendations from those you know who have hired people to do WordPress work for them. Not only will it save you time, but you will also have confidence that you will get a reliable developer to collaborate with.
However, if you don’t know anyone who can refer you to the right person, you can look for WordPress websites that you like and try to spot the developer’s name found at the bottom of the site. If that still doesn’t work, you can either seek help from your local community or hire someone from a WordPress development agency to do the job.
Assess Resumes Carefully
You should pay close attention to the resume of all candidates that wish to work with you. They must have a wide array of technical skills, especially WordPress-specific knowledge. Not all developers have the same expertise, so it’s best to have firsthand WordPress experience.
Moreover, they should be proficient in Javascript, CSS, HTML, and PHP to optimize your website to its full potential. Plus, if they have SEO knowledge, even better! You can even contact their old clients or read testimonials and reviews to know how working with them feels.
Conduct an Interview
To get to know candidates better, you should meet with them in person or conduct a video call meeting. By doing so, you can make a real connection with them and get a feel for their communication skills. In addition, interviews will also enable you to see the candidate’s character, helping you judge whether they are the right fit for your company.
During the interview, you should also prepare a set of questions designed to gauge their level of WordPress-related knowledge. As such, if you’re not familiar with WordPress, you should do your research to communicate well with the developer. If someone else in your company is more knowledgeable, you should have them conduct the interview instead.
Make a Good Job Offer
You are not the only brand looking for the best WordPress developers, so you should make a good job offer to help you secure a candidate. To make the position more attractive, offer a competitive wage. Remember, quality comes with a price, so don’t be stingy.
Be open to negotiations and emphasize the benefits of working with you. Furthermore, once you come across the right person for the job, you should offer them the position as soon as possible. The better they are, the more likely they will have more than one job offer, so don’t wait too long if you genuinely want them to be part of the team.
Takeaway
Looking for the best talent to help you with your website can be challenging, especially if you are unfamiliar with how WordPress works. You should be thorough, seeing how much of an investment a website is. Fortunately, searching for the best developer is easier with proper research and following the five tips above. For more information on hiring WordPress developers, please visit ecdevstudio.com.