You have your WordPress site set up. You want to improve it, maybe add a custom theme or plugin. Or maybe you have run into problems and need someone with more experience to troubleshoot for you. Whatever the case, you have a task that is beyond your skill level.

What do you do? You hire a WordPress developer.

The challenge becomes finding the right developer. Where do you begin? This article will provide a practical, step-by-step guide on how to hire a WordPress developer who aligns with your project’s needs and delivers exceptional results.

Reasons Why You Might Need a WordPress Developer

WordPress is easy to start with. But when you want to do more, it quickly becomes a challenge for beginners. Here are some common starting challenges that lead business owners to seek out a WordPress developer.

Custom Feature Development: Adding unique functionalities that are not covered by plugins, such as bespoke integrations, membership features, specific calculators

Performance Optimization: Advanced speed improvements beyond basic caching, such as database optimization, or code refactoring

Complex Integrations: Connecting WordPress with Customer Resource Management (CRM) or Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, marketing automation tools, or third-party application programming interfaces (APIs)

Security Hardening and Malware Removal: Expert-level WordPress security implementations or recovery from breaches

Custom Theme/Plugin Development: Building from scratch or heavily customizing an existing theme or plugin

Scalability Issues: Preparing and optimizing a site for high traffic

Advanced Troubleshooting: Help with diagnosing and fixing persistent, complex WordPress problems

Before Beginning Your Search: Defining Your Project Needs

Preparation before setting about finding a WordPress developer is key. You need to have a good idea of exactly what your needs are.

Define Your Project Scope

Exactly what kind of work are you looking to have done? Have a clear understanding of what you need. The more specific and detailed you are, the better.

Break down large, multi-step projects into smaller tasks to understand your WordPress project scope. Create a clear brief or Request for Proposal (RFP).

Set Your Budget

Do some research on the average costs for WordPress developers, whether it is hourly, project-based, or involves a retainer.

You don’t want to pay too much, but you need to be realistic about the costs involved with quality work. Also, factor in potential revisions or ongoing maintenance as additional costs.

Determine Your Timeline

It helps to establish clear deadlines for milestones and project completion ahead of time, as best you can. It is good to communicate urgency, but also allow for realistic development time.

Identify Skills Requirements

Do you require a specialized WordPress skill? Do you need frontend (design or UX/UI) or backend (database, server, API) skills, or do you need full-stack?

Some developers also specialize in specific plugins or themes, such as WooCommerce or Elementor. Have an idea of exactly what kind of expertise you need for your project.

Where to Find Qualified WordPress Developers

Business owners have several forums for finding WordPress developers.

Freelance Platforms: Sites like Upwork, Fiverr, and Toptal provide a large pool of talent and easy vetting tools to navigate with. But the quality of developers can vary and there is intense competition for top talent.

WordPress Agencies: WordPress development agencies offer access to full-service support, team expertise, and project management oversight, though this level of service typically comes at a higher cost..

Professional Networks and Referrals: LinkedIn, industry events, and word-of-mouth can give you trusted recommendations. The downside is that you may have a limited pool of talent to choose from.

Specialized Job Boards: WordPress-specific job boards can connect you with targeted candidates. The downside here is a smaller reach of potential candidates.

WordPress Community Forums and Meetups: WordPress.org forums and local meetups can provide access to a passionate community of WordPress experts that can potentially be a good fit. The drawback here is that it’s a less formal process that requires more trust.

What to Look for in a WordPress Developer

As you interview and meet with potential candidates, make sure you are vetting them by focusing on a few key attributes.

Technical Skills: WordPress developers should have proficiency in Hypertext Preprocessor (PHP), JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. They should possess a deep understanding of WordPress core, themes, and plugins.

You also want to ask about experience with specific tools or frameworks including Representational State Transfer (REST) API, Gutenberg, and Advanced Custom Fields (ACF).

Portfolio and Case Studies: Be sure to review with them past projects that are relevant to your needs. Look for attention to detail, clean code (if accessible), and successful outcomes.

Communication and Professionalism: You want to work with a developer that is responsive, has clarity of what’s being asked, and can explain technical concepts in a simple manner. You should also probe into their reliability, adherence to deadlines, and ability to proactively problem solve.

Problem-Solving and Adaptability: The developer you hire should be able to think critically and propose effective solutions. They should also be flexible enough to adapt to changing project requirements as well.

Understanding SEO Best Practices: Good developers will possess a knowledge of how development impacts site speed, mobile-friendliness, and crawlability. They should understand how development choices impact SEO..

The Hiring Process: From Vetting to Onboarding

The actual hiring process itself should include some important steps along the way.

Initial Screening: Be sure to review applications fully and narrow down the list of candidates.

Interviews: This is an opportunity to ask specific questions about experience, problem-solving, and communication style.

Technical Assessment (optional but recommended): If you can arrange, have the candidates complete a small test project or code review.

Reference Checks: Take the time to speak to previous clients.

Clear Contract: Define the scope of work, deliverables, payment terms, and guidance on intellectual property in your contract.

Onboarding: When incorporating your WordPress developer into your business organization, provide clear access to systems and files, a project brief, and engage in regular check-ins on the progress of the project.

WordPress Developer: A Strategic Investment

Connecting with a quality and experienced WordPress developer can be challenging. Be sure to go into the hiring process with a clear plan, do a thorough search, and carefully vet the final candidate.

Hiring the right WordPress developer is a strategic investment that can significantly impact your website’s performance and business growth. Carefully reviewing and applying the steps in this article will help you find a developer who can bring your WordPress vision to life.

Pressable Keeps It Simple for WordPress Developers

Pressable offers managed WordPress hosting with developers in mind. Your new hire can get started quickly with our streamlined workflows, powerful performance, and robust security features. Your site’s page loads are optimized to deliver an efficient and consistent experience to your visitors. We give you the technical confidence you need to hand off development on your site to a new WordPress developer.

Pressable—part of the Automattic family that also includes WordPress.com, WordPress VIP, and WooCommerce—is staffed by experts with the skills and knowledge to effectively manage your WordPress site. If you’re thinking about switching to managed WordPress hosting, schedule a demo to see how Pressable can support your continued optimization and growth.