If you run an online business with WordPress, you already know that the content management system (CMS) is highly user-friendly. Still, you might prefer to outsource some of the more technical aspects of building or running a WordPress website. In that case, you may be wondering how to hire a WordPress contractor.
There are different types of WordPress contractors who can help you with your online business. For instance, if you want to build a complete custom site from scratch, you can easily hire a developer. Or, if you just want someone to spruce up and customize a pre-existing WordPress theme, you might need a web designer instead.
In this post, we’ll start by discussing some of the different types of WordPress contractors. Then, we’ll share five factors that you should consider when looking for one. Finally, we’ll tell you the best place to hire a WordPress contractor. Let’s get to it!
What is a WordPress contractor?
You might be wondering: what is a WordPress contractor? Simply put, it’s a WordPress professional you hire on a short-term basis.
There are several different types of WordPress contractors that you can hire, including:
- Web designers. A WordPress designer can help you with the appearance of your site. For instance, they might be able to customize your existing theme to better match your brand. Not all WordPress web designers know how to work directly with code. But, they’ll likely be comfortable using WordPress’ native editing tools, like the block editor and the Site Editor.
- Web developers. A technically skilled WordPress programmer will likely be fluent in the most common coding languages the CMS is built on. That includes PHP, JavaScript, HTML, CSS, and more. They differ from WordPress web designers because they mainly work on the functionality of your site. For example, they can build custom plugins or integrate your site with third-party platforms.
- Security experts. WordPress is designed to be secure, but its popularity makes it a target for hackers. So, you may need a WordPress security professional to manage security features like plugins, firewalls, SSL certificates, and more. Additionally, a WordPress security expert may be able to help you troubleshoot issues and remove malware from your site.
- Maintenance professionals. Every WordPress site requires ongoing maintenance. For instance, you’ll need to ensure all plugins, themes, and core software are up-to-date. A maintenance expert can manage updates as well as other routine tasks like backup generation.
In addition to the above, you might also find WordPress experts who specialize in search engine optimization (SEO), WooCommerce stores, or even WordPress blogging.
Hiring a WordPress contractor: freelancer vs agency
Since contractors aren’t permanent employees, they can be hired in two ways – as freelancers or via a WordPress agency. If you opt for the freelancer route, you can use a marketplace like Upwork or Fiverr:
Or, if you’re not comfortable vetting WordPress freelancers on your own, you could try a platform like Codeable:
On the other hand, you can always choose to hire WordPress contractors via an agency. In most cases, this is a safer option than hiring freelancers.
When you contract a WordPress agency for your project, you won’t be dependent on just one person (who may have limited knowledge or skills). Instead, you’ll be able to count on the expertise of an entire team.
What’s more, if you opt for a top-quality agency, they’ll likely provide you with a project manager and an onboarding process. This can help you define the scope and objectives of your project right from the get-go.
It’s important to note that hiring a WordPress contractor through a WordPress agency may seem more expensive upfront. However, it can end up saving you money in the long run.
That’s because many freelancers charge by the hour. If they don’t get something right the first time, you could end up hiring another professional for damage control.
5 Factors to consider when hiring a WordPress contractor
Now let’s go over five factors that you should consider when you’re trying to hire a WordPress contractor.
1. Specialty
First and foremost, you’ll want to consider the specialty that you’re looking for in a contractor. In other words, you’ll need to have a sense of what type of WordPress contractor can complete your project.
Therefore, start by assessing what you want for your site. You may want to ask yourself the following questions:
- Do I need custom functionality?
- Do I want to customize the appearance of my site?
- Do I need a completely bespoke theme?
- Do I need a one-of-a-kind plugin?
- Do I need help with security or maintenance?
Based on your answers, you should be able to decide whether you need a WordPress web designer, developer, security expert, or something different.
Remember, you don’t need to know the exact scope and requirements of your WordPress project to make this assessment. You just need to have a general idea of what you’ll want to do.
If you end up hiring a quality WordPress contractor, they should be able to help you refine (or expand) the scope and objectives of your project.
2. Experience
Since WordPress is such a widely used CMS, you’ll likely be able to pick from thousands of contractors. However, it’s important to properly vet them in terms of experience.
If you’re hiring a WordPress contractor through a freelancer marketplace like Upwork, make sure to check the age of the profile. This can give you an idea of how long the contractor has been on the go.
You’ll also want to carefully consider the experience section of the profile to find out what type of work they’ve previously completed. If a freelancer doesn’t have a portfolio of work, this may indicate they haven’t worked on any projects yet.
Meanwhile, if you want to hire a WordPress contractor via an agency, you’ll want to check out the client testimonials and portfolio.
3. Payment options
When you’re searching for a WordPress contractor, budget will likely be a big factor. Therefore, you’ll want to consider the payment options they provide.
The most common options are either hourly or by project. If you want to avoid unexpected costs, the best route is a contractor (or agency) that can provide you with a quote beforehand.
Otherwise, you could end up incurring unexpected costs due to a slow freelancer or a snowballing project.
4. Communication
You’ll also want to ensure that you can easily get in touch with your WordPress contractor. Otherwise, this could become a bottleneck for your project. In the worst-case scenario, it could lead to the contractor carrying out design or feature adjustments incorrectly or inefficiently.
With this in mind, you’ll want to consider customer reviews when vetting freelancers.
Meanwhile, if you decide to go with a WordPress agency, you likely won’t have to worry about communication, as they should provide you with a project manager. This person will act as a liaison between you and the design or development team, and ensure quick and efficient communication.
5. Revisions
Ideally, you’ll want your WordPress contractor to get your project done right the first time. However, this won’t always be the case.
With this in mind, it’s important to consider the policy on project revisions before hiring a contractor. Agencies will likely have a revision period built into the process, but this might not be true for freelancers.
Where to hire a quality WordPress contractor
If you’re ready to hire a quality WordPress contractor, you might want to consider Freshy:
Freshy is a top-rated WordPress agency that offers the following services:
- WordPress design and development
- WordPress maintenance and support
- WordPress search engine optimization (SEO)
- Dedicated WordPress retained services
And more!
No matter what type of WordPress project you have in mind, we have you covered. Even better, when you hire WordPress contractors with Freshy, you’ll get your own project manager to facilitate a streamlined onboarding process.
This way, you can explain your aims and expectations for the project. Then, while Freshy experts are completing your project, you can get in touch with this person (at any time) regarding any questions or concerns you might have.
You may want to check out Freshy’s extensive portfolio, to see what the team is capable of. Since every Freshy project is unique, you’ll need to get a custom quote for pricing information. This is ideal since it can help you avoid any unexpected costs.
Conclusion
There are many reasons you may need to hire a WordPress contractor. For instance, you might want a developer who can build you a custom theme. Or, you might like a designer to optimize one of your landing pages.
Regardless of your needs, it’s best to consider some key factors before hiring a contractor. First of all, you’ll need to determine whether you need a designer, developer, or other type of specialist. After that, you’ll want to consider things like the contractor’s specialty, level of experience, payment options, communication style, and more.
Are you ready to hire a WordPress contractor for your project? With Freshy, you’ll get your own dedicated project manager and an entire team behind you. Get in touch for a free quote today!
Image credit: Pexels
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