So you’re looking for a freelance WordPress programmer… but where do you start? And what should you be looking for? Should you be asking him/her these questions before hiring? I think so. But let’s first look at what kind of freelance WordPress programmers are out there and then answer the 14 questions all WordPress business owners and webmasters should ask.
| Takeaways |
|---|
| It’s important to ask specific questions when hiring a WordPress developer |
| Consider the developer’s experience and portfolio when making a decision |
| Asking about their familiarity with WordPress plugins and themes is crucial |
| Communication skills and work ethic are also important factors to consider |
| Don’t forget to ask about pricing and project timelines |
| Use available resources, such as online job boards and freelancer platforms, to find potential candidates |
1. Does The Programmer Have Experience?
Being able to provide real-life examples of projects you’ve done can go a long way to making your decision easier. Again, it’s worth remembering that no matter how much time and effort a programmer has put into his or her own website, this is not the project that matters. What matters is their experience with WordPress on other people’s projects!
When asking for examples of their work, consider the following questions:
When it comes to choosing a freelance web designer, it’s important to consider their experience and portfolio. As we mentioned in our guide on how to choose a freelance web designer, taking the time to evaluate a designer’s previous work can help you ensure that they have the skills and style you’re looking for.
2. How Many Projects Have They Worked On?
How many years of experience do they have to work with WordPress? It’s one thing to learn WordPress in an academic environment or by reading tutorials. It’s quite another to apply that knowledge in real-life situations. A web developer who has built a career out of building websites will be more prepared to handle surprises (and there are always surprises) than someone who hasn’t had as much hands-on experience.
If possible, ask if you can see some testimonials from previous clients served by the programmer. They say “The best way to know if you’re hiring the right person is if someone else has hired them!”
3. Is The Programmer Only Available For Freelance Jobs?
The best freelance WordPress programmers are the ones who only do WordPress programming. You can find out if a programmer is a full-time freelance or someone with a day job by asking them how many clients they have. If they’ve got quite a few, it’s likely that they’re not doing this on the side and have plenty of time to devote to your project.
If they have only one or two clients and tell you they’re moonlighting while working their day job, it’s probably more accurate to think of them as a hobbyist, which means their level of skill may be much less than that of an expert developer who does this for a living and has plenty of experience under his/her belt.
Also, ask about other projects that the programmer might be working on at the same time as yours. He or she should also be able to give you an estimate of how much time he/she has available each week to work on your project (and remember: not all weeks are created equal).
A good freelancer should also be able to tell you if something will take longer than expected due to family obligations or deadlines from other projects. These are all things you’ll want to know ahead of time so there aren’t any surprises down the road once he/she starts working for you!
As a freelancer, having the right tools can make all the difference in your productivity and success. Our article on web design tools for freelancers outlines some of the top tools available, from design software to project management platforms.
4. Do You Have A List Of References?
Asking your freelancer to provide references is a great way to get a better sense of their work ethic and professionalism, but it’s also important that you know how to vet those references. First off, determine whether the freelancer you’re considering has a list of references they’re willing to give out. If not, ask them for one.
In the case of Daxo, we have worked with over two dozen clients on long-term projects for WordPress development and maintenance. We’re very happy with the results and the feedback we received from our clients, so much so that we are always happy to share this information with potential new customers!
After you’ve received your list of references, it’s time to make contact. You should speak directly with as many people as possible via email or phone call and be sure to ask about their experience working with the freelancer in question. When talking on the phone or via email, don’t forget to ask:
5. How Long Did They Work Together?
When you’re looking to hire a freelance WordPress programmer, it’s important to make sure they have the experience and expertise you need. The best way to do that is by asking them how long they’ve been working together with their clients, and what types of projects they’ve worked on together. If they’ve only worked with people for a short time, or if all of their clients are brand new to the platform, that’s not going to bode well for your project.
But if their clients have been using WordPress for years, and if they’ve worked with them on many different types of projects before, then you can be sure that they know what they’re doing!
6. What Is Your Hourly Rate And What Are My Project Options?
How much do you charge? And how do I pay? Many freelance programmers charge by the hour while others may have set rates for projects or pages. Get an idea of how long your project will take and ask for a detailed estimate. Some coders offer discounts for prepayments. Establishing payment terms is vital if you choose to hire them. Do they accept credit cards, checks, or cash? PayPal or Venmo?
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7. Are You Proficient In All Versions Of WordPress?
Your chosen programmer should be able to answer this question for you. After all, WordPress is probably the most popular CMS out there, and as a web designer, it’s likely that he or she will have worked with different versions of it. They should be able to tell you about the differences between each version: what changes were made and how their approach changes with each one.
8. How Much Do You Charge Per Page?
The cost of the page will depend on your needs and the complexity of your page. For example, something like a “contact us” page is usually built within an hour or less, while landing pages with forms and features might take as much as 10 hours to build.
It’s also cheaper to build a new page from scratch than it is to modify an existing one. If you want to make changes to an existing template, you’ll have to work around the current structure, which can be time-consuming. Additionally, you may notice that some of the previous design elements are now outdated and unwelcome: changing them will require additional time.
9. What Happens If I Have An Emergency With My Website?
Having an emergency with your site is a nightmare scenario for any business. As such, you need to know how a programmer will respond to any potential emergencies that may come up.
During what hours are they available? Asking this question will let you know if someone is available to help you at all hours of the day, or just during normal business hours. If it’s the latter, then you’ll want to find someone else who can be on call for emergencies, especially if your site gets high traffic and the last thing you want is downtime during peak periods when people are visiting your site most. The last thing you want is downtime during peak periods when people are visiting your site most.
Is there an emergency line I can call? If something goes wrong with your website, it’s important to have someone who will answer immediately and take care of the problem right away. Make sure that they have a dedicated support line so they can get back to work ASAP after handling any issues!
10. Do They Have Experience With Your Specific Project?
If you’re looking for someone who can build a website from scratch, ask them about their programming background and what sites they’ve built before. If you’re working with an existing site, ask if they’ve worked on anything similar in the past. If the answer is yes, ask for some examples that demonstrate what you can expect from them in terms of quality and timeline.
If you’re considering starting a freelance web design business, it’s important to carefully consider the various factors that can impact your success. Our article on things to consider when starting a web design freelance business offers insights on everything from setting rates to building a portfolio.
11. What Do They Think About Code Quality?
It’s important to find someone who has strong opinions about code quality because it affects everything from performance to security and reliability. Ask them what they think about standards like “buzzword compliance” (a term used in this article) versus best practices in general and make sure those opinions align with yours!
12. Who Owns The Rights To The Code
There are many different ways to go about licensing your work, and it’s important to know what kind of contract you’re signing. You can license your work under a custom contract, a standard Creative Commons license, or even as open-source software each one comes with its own set of benefits and drawbacks.
Make sure you understand what kind of license is being used by hiring companies before you sign anything!
13. Who Handles Updates, Such As Updates To Plugins And WordPress Core Files?
Make sure you ask your WordPress programmer whether they will handle updates to plugins and core files. WordPress updates are released frequently, as well as plugin and theme updates. Updates can break functionality if they aren’t tested before being applied to a live site.
It’s always important to test any major updates or changes on a staging site before applying them to a live site. It’s important that your WordPress programmer understands the importance of testing website changes before making them live, both for security and stability reasons.
14. How Long Does It Take To Complete A Project Or Update?
When it comes to how long it takes for a freelance programmer to complete a project or update, you want to ask them how long their average client takes. If they say that the average client takes two months, then it’s likely that they will take that long as well. You should also ask if they have any set time frames they work within when they are working on other projects and updates.
For businesses of all sizes, hiring a freelance web designer can be an excellent way to access the skills and expertise needed to create a great website. In our article on why hiring a freelance web designer may help you, we explore some of the key benefits of working with a freelancer, from cost savings to more personalized attention.
Final Thought
There are a lot of factors that contribute to how long an update will take, including how often you update (more frequent updates lead to a longer schedule), how many other designers/developers are working on your team, and the type of plugin/extension is implemented.
The good news is that most programmers have standard packages they offer, which should at least give you some idea of how long your website updates will take. I think it’s safe to say that most freelance programmers have to set aside time for their other clients and jobs, so it might make sense to work in remote mode if you’re not in a big rush.
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources that can help you hire the right WordPress developer for your project:
Questions to Ask a WordPress Developer You Want to Hire: This article from Torque Magazine offers 12 key questions to ask when interviewing a WordPress developer, covering everything from experience to project management skills.
Key Questions You Should Ask Before Hire a WordPress Developer: This guide from Krishaweb provides a comprehensive list of questions to ask before hiring a WordPress developer, including technical questions, communication questions, and project management questions.
30 Interview Questions WordPress Developers Need to Know: Authentic Jobs offers this list of 30 interview questions to help you assess the skills and knowledge of a WordPress developer, covering topics such as theme development, security, and performance optimization.
FAQs
What should I look for in a WordPress developer’s portfolio?
When evaluating a WordPress developer’s portfolio, look for examples of sites that are similar to what you want to create. Pay attention to the design, functionality, and user experience of each site, and ask the developer about their role in each project.
How important is experience with WordPress plugins and themes?
Experience with WordPress plugins and themes can be a valuable asset for a developer, as it allows them to customize your site and add new features more efficiently. However, it’s also important to look for a developer with strong coding skills and an understanding of best practices for WordPress development.
What should I ask a WordPress developer about their experience with website speed and performance?
Website speed and performance are critical factors for user experience and search engine rankings. When interviewing a WordPress developer, ask about their experience with optimizing site speed and performance, and what strategies they use to ensure fast loading times.
How can I ensure that my WordPress developer is knowledgeable about website security?
WordPress sites are vulnerable to hacking and other security threats, so it’s important to hire a developer with a strong understanding of website security best practices. Ask about their experience with security plugins, firewalls, and other tools, and make sure they’re familiar with common security vulnerabilities and how to prevent them.
How should I evaluate a WordPress developer’s communication skills?
Effective communication is crucial for any successful web development project. During the hiring process, pay attention to how the developer communicates with you, both in writing and verbally. Ask about their preferred methods of communication and how often they’ll provide updates on the project.
What Is Your Experience With WordPress?
The best way to find out if someone knows what they’re doing is to ask them to share some of their work. If they’re willing to show you a few examples that they’ve done in the past, that’s a great sign. If they don’t have any online portfolio or examples, it’s fine to ask for references from past clients.
How Long Have You Been Working With WordPress?
Obviously, the longer they’ve been working with WordPress, the more experience they’ll have. But don’t discount someone just because they don’t have years of experience under their belt. If you like their work and they get along well with you during the interview, then give them a fair chance.
What’s Your Best/Worst Experience Using WordPress?
This question will help you understand how he or she thinks about using WordPress. For example, if you ask this question and receive an answer like “I can create any type of website with WordPress without having to write any custom code,” then that may not be a good sign because it shows that they have a limited understanding of how to use WordPress effectively. On the other hand, if someone says “The best
How Long Does It Take To Learn WordPress?
Writing for WordPress is much like writing any other type of content. You don’t need to be an expert in anything, but you should have a basic understanding of how the content is organized, what types of things are possible with WordPress, and what types of things are not.
You should also understand how search engines work and are able to write content that is easily found by search engines. Writing for WordPress doesn’t mean you have to be an expert on every topic, but you do need to understand how the site works so that you can write content that will be found by the right people.
What Tools Do You Use To Build Websites/Apps?
This is an important question because it will show you how big of an investment your programmer has made in their career. If they have invested in learning new technologies, this will mean they’re likely able to adapt quickly if something new comes along.
It also shows that they are motivated enough by their craft to keep themselves up-to-date on the latest trends.
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.
