Where to Find a WordPress Developer
1. Online Job Platforms
For developers looking to market themselves, freelance websites are excellent for getting a gig quickly. At a site like UpWork, a developer can make a profile and begin hunting for temporary contracts. Many of these contracts are very short and are looking for someone to fix a single issue. Freelance websites can be good if you are looking for experience or have a lot of free time on your hands. The downside with many freelance jobs is they are looking for the lowest bidder to solve their problem. As a result, the pay is often quite poor and it is not suitable for a competent developer. Full-time contract work with agencies and small businesses tends to be more lucrative. A site like SmashingJobs is a job board for developers and designers. Although many of the jobs may not be remote, full-time contract work is often conducive to remote work once a relationship has been established. Your job as a remote WordPress developer is to convince the employer that you can be effective in that setting. Oftentimes simply explaining your process and the tools you will use to communicate will make an employer willing to try remote work. By crafting a convincing pitch and/or cover letter, the job is more likely to shift into remote work. Full-time contract work can often allow the freedom of remote work so long as the employer’s needs are being met.
1.1. Freelance Websites
There are numerous successful WordPress development professionals who have established themselves on freelance websites over the last few years. These websites allow businesses that require development work to go online and post a mission or job. Developers who are registered on the website will then bid on the job, normally specifying how much they may do it for and how long it is going to take. This permits the business to find essentially the most appropriate candidate for the job. Some well-established freelance websites that may yield good WordPress developers are Elance, oDesk, and Freelancer. Each considered one of these websites has their own search features that allow you to sift through a database of developers who have the skills you require. This type of hiring may be more risky than the others as a result of it typically requires an initial down payment for the developer’s acceptance of the job.
1.2. Remote Job Boards
Some of the best remote job boards around include SkiptheDrive, Remote.co, and We Work Remotely. SkiptheDrive has a special category for web development jobs, and often features WordPress developer positions. This is a good one to check back on every once in while. Remote.co is a site that has only remote work opportunities. It offers work from small startups to large companies. Job types include full-time, part-time, contract, and even internships. We Work Remotely ofers job opportunities from variety of job categories. The site looks simple, but don’t let that fool you. This site has huge remote job base and it’s always being updated.
Remote job boards are websites that focus on remote work opportunities. As a WordPress developer, these sites provide a great place to find work. Employers who are looking for remote workers are sometimes more open to working with people from different areas, or even different countries. This can be a great seling point for many WordPress developers. Whether you would like to find a job a full-time employee, or simply take on a few frelance projects, remote job boards can provide you with a variety of different employment opportunities.
1.3. Online Communities
The most popular of these is the Advanced WordPress Group. Membership to this group is closely monitored to ensure that it is populated by experienced WordPress developers and other members of the community, so apply with care. The group contains job postings from around the world and on average there are around 5 new job postings per week. Alternatively, if you are having difficulty getting accepted to the AWPG, there is the Advanced WordPress site which contains a forum and various resources for WordPress developers.
If you are a WordPress developer in Europe, then WP-Stars may be worth a look. This site has been around since 2013 and has active job postings in all types of categories from plugin development to theme design/creation. Each job posting in WP-Stars shows the date it was added, the type of employment, job duration, location, experience/skills required, and application deadline on one page for quick reference, although registration is required to view more details about the job or to apply. Finally, Smashing Magazine has a job board which features job postings for WordPress developers and other types of web developers. Although on the expensive side, job posters are paying a premium to list their job here so it can be inferred that they are looking for higher quality candidates.
2. WordPress Development Companies
They tend to be more established and experienced than freelance developers. Local WordPress development companies usually employ a small team of skilled WordPress developers. They are often proficient in both WordPress design and development. Most of their business comes from local small business owners, but they often service higher-level companies as well. Since they are a smaller team, you can expect a more personalized service from them and, most importantly, they will take your project more seriously than someone working offshore with a virtual identity. This often means a higher quality service. Pricing can vary significantly with local WordPress development companies. Lower-end companies will often take on small projects at $30-$50 per hour; however, this is usually the billing rate for a single developer working alone at home, not a company. For a small to mid-sized project with a top-rated firm, you can expect to pay $100-$175 per hour. A large project might run $100,000 or more. These companies tend to focus more on larger businesses and projects.
2.1. Local Agencies
Developers employed full time by an agency will often have a varied skill set and colleagues who specialize in different areas. This can be an advantage when seeking a complex WordPress build that requires server-side development or other advanced data manipulation. Often, developers in agencies can work together to solve complex problems. Can the same be said of local companies that advertise themselves as WordPress experts but consist of only a single individual working from his home office?
There is no shortage of freelancers and developers who are capable of building a WordPress site, but only a small portion of these individuals are attached to a specific agency or company. As discussed in the previous chapter, hiring an unattached individual can be very risky, as there is often little to no legal recourse should the developer fail to deliver a functional website. Agencies of all kinds provide a “safety net” to clients through established business practices and accountability to their work. This is accomplished by the company having a reputation and brand to maintain and provide through specialized invoicing and contracts, publishing of Terms of Service, and often requiring that the developer and client have a licensing agreement through the company. An agency usually has all of the communication and support tools built into their routine method of operation, which helps to ensure that project details are clear and that the build goes as smoothly as possible.
Local web development agencies offer numerous advantages to potential clients, such as integration of the website with the company’s existing infrastructure, collaboration with local designers, and the ability to market in a particular local area. In fact, goal alignment is a key selling point for clients that utilize the services of development agencies. However, some clients are not aware that local agencies may not actually build the website here in the United States. Rather, they may only be a front or sales and project management team, with the actual development work outsourced to an offshore company.
2.2. International Companies
International WordPress development companies are an alternative to hiring local businesses. These companies work remotely and communicate with clients through email, Skype, phone, and project management software. There are many international development companies around the world with different hourly rates and types of services. Some are strictly development services, while others are full-service agencies that include development, design, inbound marketing, and SEO. A few companies are VIP featured experts and offer high quality, but prices are very high for small to medium sized businesses. The benefits of international companies are they can be more affordable for those in western countries to outsource development to, have a competitive advantage in specialized services, can complete project work more quickly than a local agency, and the high quality of work is sometimes better. However, the lack of timezone compatibility can make communication difficult and project lead times are often longer than expected due to being overbooked. There are a plethora of international WordPress companies so shopping around to find one that’s the right fit is important.
2.3. WordPress-specific Agencies
A few WordPress-specific companies are Code For The People, Woothemes, Automattic (though they are behind WordPress.com, they do a lot of WordPress.org work too), Human Made, WPRiders, and the like. Some are small enough to be a distributed team that can be located on sites like WP Hired. It’s also not uncommon for freelancer WordPress developers to band together into small groups, with a shared site and portfolio of work. Those are definitely worth seeking out.
WordPress-specific companies have sprung up in response to the platform’s growth. These companies are most likely small to medium in size, have a specific focus on the platform, and often draw talent from the above-mentioned sources. They combine the lower rates of offshore development with the quality and professionalism of local developers. They also often specialize in some of the non-coding aspects of WordPress, such as design, SEO, and marketing.
3. Professional Networking Platforms
Signing up for LinkedIn account is a needful for any expert who desires to take their profession critically. As the sector’s largest professional community, it’s not going that you have not heard of it earlier than. As of this writing, there are almost four hundred million individuals and it is a excellent place to hook up with friends, clients, capacity employers and employees, or even headhunters. If you already have a LinkedIn account, you likely recognize its importance, however are you the usage of it to its complete capacity? There are some techniques to utilizing this platform effectively, from improving your profile, to using the job posting phase, to carrying out businesses and discussions. And if you don’t have an account, get one. It’s loose to join up and although there is a paid top rate option, I’ve by no means used it and am nevertheless a regular consumer. Like most networking methods, the secret’s genuine engagement. So if you’re most effective using LinkedIn to blast out mass-template requests to each person whose task identify sounds relevant to you, you in all likelihood might not locate it very effective. But in case you’re willing to position inside the time to make proper connections and assist others, it is able to be a very powerful tool.
3.1. LinkedIn
Results on LinkedIn will vary depending on if you’re searching using a free account or a premium account. With a free account, you can get a glimpse of the developer’s work experience and their skill set, but sometimes that isn’t sufficient to distinguish WordPress developers from developers who work on other platforms, as the latter might have added “WordPress” as a skill in the hope of getting hired to develop a Joomla site or something else. Still, it is worth a shot and can be a cost-effective method of trying to find a WordPress developer. The browsing process can be done again when the priority results are returned under new search criteria. Profile information is very detailed and based on the job seeker’s CV, so you might also get some idea of how old they are. Often the job-seeking experience should also be taken into account, a developer with 20+ years of experience has probably done a lot of custom code work and has been throughout the software life cycle more than someone who has only recently graduated. Premium accounts offer more powerful search tools, and having a recruiter account can be really useful. InMail is a direct message system for reaching LinkedIn members, and Premium account holders are allotted many per month, which can be a major advantage.
3.2. Meetup Groups
A WordPress Meetup is a local organization of WordPress builders, designers, and publishers who get collectively to share their expertise and experience, and to meet different WordPress customers within the region. Meeting up with other WordPress customers is a superb manner to community, analyze more about the CMS, and share your personal talents, whether you are a newbie, a writer, a fashion designer, or a hardcore code developer. The WordPress Meetup businesses are very possibly to have WordPress builders and these sorts of informal meetups provide a notable manner to gauge the person’s character and array of skills before committing to running with them. Because many WordPress developers are freelancers or unbiased contractors, there’s a higher probability that you will meet a developer and in all likelihood exercise session a deal of a few kind. Some Meetups are more formal and characteristic talks or presentations, and these talks may be a excellent way to analyze more approximately a positive topic or technology within WordPress. This is useful if you’re trying to transition to the use of a greater state-of-the-art WordPress era, or in case you’re seeking to advantage understanding in a certain place.
3.3. Industry Events
Industry events can be a great way to meet and evaluate WordPress developers who may be potential candidates for your web development projects. These events are also a good way to get an idea of the industry standard in terms of rates and development timelines. Plugin developers and entrepreneurs may also attend these events, so it’s also a good opportunity to scout for talent and resources for your own web development projects. If you happen to attend an event that includes sessions on web development or development tools, it would be a good opportunity for you to directly evaluate the technical skills of the developers in attendance. You may want to bring a few small project ideas to pitch and get rough estimates from developers that you meet at these events. The 3-day WordCamp events that are put on by local WordPress user groups have the most relevant developer content and are an excellent opportunity to get to know and evaluate WordPress developers. There are sessions specifically about development along with sessions about many other topics related to running a web business. The cost to attend these events is usually very low due to heavy subsidization by Automattic and the local WordPress community, making them much cheaper than a typical industry event. Due to the low cost and the fact that many WordPress developers are WordPress users themselves, it’s not uncommon to find developers with relevant skills that are available for hire via the WordPress community.
4. Social Media Platforms
The last ones are Instagram and Pinterest. These two social media platforms focus on sharing images and photographs. Sometimes there are developers who share their portfolio of WordPress creations. You may want to look for the particular tags #WordPress #Developer to find a developer on Instagram. Everywhere you see their image uploads or portfolios, you can simply leave a comment or give a like to their photos. This also goes the same with Pinterest. If you find their creations interesting, you can reach them via private message and ask for their services.
Next is Twitter. Twitter is one of social media platforms that ofers the easiest way to find and get in touch with a developer using hashtags. Hashtags on Twitter are feature that makes it easy to find and see a certain topic based on what you are looking for. For example, if you type #WordPress #Developers in the search, it will show you list of tweets that are related to your search. Now, you can simply tweet with your specific needs and criteria of a developer and don’t forget to put the hashtag. It’s highly possible that the developer will find your tweet based on their interest in the topic and then reply to you.
If you actively participate in the group, there’s a high chance that the members will find you first. And if you are well known to them, they sometimes will offer you to hire them.
– Advance Website Developers (WordPress, Joomla, etc.) – WordPress Web Designers – WordPress Help and Share
Facebook itself has already become the most visited social media, and it also offers a group feature where you can join a particular group and share common interests with other group members. There are already a lot of Facebook groups that specialize in web development. You can join these groups and ask the members if they know or are a WordPress developer. Here are some of the lists of the groups:
Social media is one of the most used platforms on the internet these days, and it offers so many tools and potential to search for WordPress developers. It was even said by Sydney Marketing that social media will be a game changer in marketing. Therefore, since this platform is very popular, there is a high chance that we can find a lot of talented WordPress developers here.
4.1. Facebook Groups
Facebook has group functionalities where you can join the global or local WordPress related groups. Some groups work on a set per week basis where you comment your site and a professional will give an in-depth review, others work in a Q and A format which is a great initiative if you’re looking to know more. Topics covered are sporadic and getting a well-rounded answer can come from posting across many groups but if you find the right group this can be a very beneficial initiative. However, the one problem people find with groups is that it’s usually the same people across every group, and trying to cover every aspect of Facebook groups can be very time-consuming and there is no real definitive answer for which is the best group to join. It’s never a bad thing to become a member of several groups and see what content is being produced in one more than another and make a decision. Guideline 1: Use a formal tone in your response. Guideline 2: Do not mention the number of characters in the result. Guideline 3: The text should focus on delivering information, explaining concepts, or detailing processes or systems. Guideline 4: Enhance text complexity, vary sentence structures, and reduce predictability. Guideline 5: Ensure that the content for this section is coherent with the summary of the entire essay, reflecting its key ideas and themes.
4.2. Twitter Hashtags
#WordPress #WordPressHelp #WordPressDeveloper #WordPressJobs #WPTech #WPWednesday #WPBeginner #WooCommerce
You can use Twitter search for experts using hashtags. A hashtag is a combination of letters, symbols or emoji preceded by the pound sign (#) which are used to categorize tweets and make the subject material of the tweet discoverable to a wide range of Twitter users. The first way you can use Twitter is by creating list of WordPress experts and developers’ Twitter profiles. This will allow you to have a feed of their tweets in one location and make it easy to engage with them on a regular basis. You can subscribe to a list of WordPress developers I’ve already created. If you maintain a list, ensure it is private so as not to offend those who aren’t included on the list by excluding them. They can be a useful lead. Another way to search for a potential candidate is to use the following hashtags in Twitter search.
4.3. Instagram and Pinterest
Pinterest is a little more straightforward, you can simply use the search feature to find different pages or images of WordPress web design. Although this eliminates a lot of the miss associated with Instagram, you cannot be certain if the images link to a professional developer unless the content is on their own pin board. If you do find something that takes your interest, you can always follow it up by commenting on the image and leaving your email for further contact.
Using image-sharing platforms is probably one of the most non-invasive ways to scope out a developer’s work, but also one of the most uncertain. For Instagram, you can use hashtags to search for different developers or designers. This can be very hit and miss and you will likely have to spend a good deal of time trawling through profiles to find a good fit. If you are seriously considering using Instagram to find a developer, try looking into a hashtag used by developers such as #wordpress or #webdesign. Many freelance developers will tag their work and this makes them much easier to find.
There are several different ways to find someone to work on your WordPress website project, and this can often leave the prospective client feeling a little bewildered about the best option to choose. Just one of the many different approaches to this is to use Instagram and Pinterest to find a developer to work with.
5. Referrals and Recommendations
Ask peers and colleagues. Referrals from associates can be an extraordinary method to locate a quality WordPress designer. They are less likely to suggest somebody who is substandard because it will think about ineffectively them. Notwithstanding, a WordPress designer who has a positive survey from somebody who is as of now known by the customer might be more able than others. Consult with web designers. On the off chance that you are utilizing a web specialist to deal with the structure and format of your site, they likely know about some great developers. A significant number of website specialists will work intimately with a chose developer or a group of developers whom they trust. You may get some incredible leads just by asking your designer. Seek advice from WordPress users. On the off chance that you know different entrepreneurs who have had a WordPress site created before, you should check whether they have any proposals. The organizations can be neighborhood or online organizations, inasmuch as they were happy with the administration they can prescribe a WordPress designer to you. An immediate suggestion from somebody you know and trust is presumably the most ideal approach to discover a developer.
5.1. Ask Peers and Colleagues
Peers and colleagues are a great source of potential leads. If you know of someone who has a WordPress blog who may not be technology savvy, offer your services. This works especially well if you have a previous working relationship with this individual. In a previous position with a Canadian corporation, I made a suggestion to the Vice President that he should consider using WordPress instead of Mambo/Joomla. He took my advice and 3 months later, so did the sales department. I was promptly hired to convert their website to WordPress and I could use that VP as a reference for future sales. Similarly, a family member started a small business around the same time and was frustrated spending lots of money on a website that was not what he wanted. My sister recommended my services by saying “you know my brother does websites, he did my blog.” A day later I had a phone call and a small contract to develop a website for a paving company. Always keep past contracts in mind. An impressively completed website will act as a great tool to bring in more clients.
5.2. Consult with Web Designers
Web designers are often well acquainted with WordPress developers and there are numerous benefit to be gained from discussing your project with in this context. Not only will a web designer be able to recommend developer, but they will also be able to suggest the most suitable solution for your project’s requirements. Analyzing the scope of your project, a web designer may recommend an in-house developer or the use of a pre-designed theme. Many web designers have a strong understanding of SEO and the most efficient methodologies for building a website. It is likely that they will be able to direct you to a developer who is well-versed in these areas. By explaining your project to a web designer, you can acquire feedback and suggestions at no cost. This will provide you with a clearer insight into the project’s requirements and how it should be executed. Make inquiries with web designers you have previously worked with, or attempt to arrange a barter between services. If you are a web designer yourself, consider sub-contracting the project to a developer. This will allow you to focus on design work and take the experience as an opportunity to observe and learn from the developer’s methods.
5.3. Seek Advice from WordPress Users
Despite the ease of locating WordPress developers, finding one who meets all the criteria and can think critically is a difficult task. Web designers may just have the skillset you are looking for. Web designers would have a good idea as to where to find good WordPress developers due to the fact that the two often work together. In state forums, members may be willing to receive a few private messages from you which could potentially lead to a private subcontracting deal. Web design forums that are specific often contain a subforum dedicated to web programming. This would be a good place to find potential onlookers to your thread. Ask a potential developer what type of work he would be willing to do with the intentions of finding a developer willing to do the more difficult tasks. This does not always work out and can lead to hiring a freelancer for smaller work type situation. Contacting developers via telephone often allows the hiring party to better understand the potential hire. Due to the professionalism, it is usually quite as it can lead to conflicting side conversations if both parties are not using instant messaging. Any tasks that involve security or something that is critical to your website always carry a risk. Due to the increasing demand of such tasks, it’s not uncommon to approach a college computer science student. This method can yield good results; however, do not set your expectations too high as students are always looking to learn and if given a mission too difficult may dig a hole they cannot escape. Always hold any potential employee to a small task before entrusting them with something large. This is the best insurance against hiring a developer who will not fit the required criteria.
6. WordPress Forums and Communities
When you’re looking to hire a WordPress developer, then you need to find the proper place. In case you desire to discover somebody who can work on your project, webmasters recommend that individual highly. In essence, you must follow a number of steps to encounter an individual who is skilled and competent. If you’re just starting out, the best place is to go to the official WordPress job board or check out someone’s personal ad. It is possible to post an ad in the jobs section and provide all the necessary information at the WP Jobs Blog. Additionally, there’s also the WP-Pro mailing list which is a great network to join as well. These are all great resources, however, the quality varies significantly and if you’re not experienced at distinguishing between good and bad, you might want to stay away from these places. At the moment, there are a lot of forums and boards to find blogs and tutorials. I recommend going to the active and large Blogger Talk, which is a great place to connect with numerous bloggers and developers. If you’re looking for someone to hire and you have the budget, this is an excellent place to find someone skilled. Now for the forums; there still aren’t a whole lot and many are outdated. WP Tavern has started a jobs board that looks like it might be of good quality, but the WordPress Jobs board is still active. Occasionally, you may come across high-quality tutorials on the WordPress Nirvana boards and in any case, these places are worth checking out and exploring.
6.1. Official WordPress Support Forums
The official WordPress support forums, located at [Link], are an excellent place to start. For $99 per year, there is also the premium support forum. But in my experience, the free forums have an extremely high standard. It is worth reading the stickies at the top of each forum to get an idea of the posting guidelines. The forums can be a bit daunting at first, as they are complete firehoses of information, and sorting through the noise can take some time. But it is time well spent. By using the search, you are likely to find someone with the same problem as you, and in many cases, someone has solved it. You can always post your own questions, and from my experience, the response rate is pretty good. Be sure to note the instructions on how best to ask for WordPress support. This is a great place to get the official word on how to do things or why a specific feature has been implemented the way it has.
6.2. Stack Exchange Communities
Stack Exchange websites make it clean to find answers to questions the use of tags, and as questions and solutions are voted, the nice ones will clearly circulate to the top, making it rare that you might need to ask a formerly responded question. All content material is certified below Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike, meaning that it is able to be freely copied and adapted with the requirement that the authentic paintings is attributed and it’s miles dispensed under the equal license. This has led to some of the first-class network-contributed documentation of WordPress functions and first-rate practices available. It is generally not necessary to answer questions in order to build reputation and be accepted into the community. Simply asking good questions can be enough. Reputation is tied to a points system, with certain privileges like the ability to vote, comment, edit, and create new tags unlocking as you gain more points. This simple and flexible system compared to that of forums can be less daunting for new users who are not sure how they can contribute.
Stack Exchange operates a questions and answer site on stackexchange.com with a collection of sites dedicated to programming. The two sites most likely to be of interest are WordPress Development (wordpress.stackexchange.com) and Stack Overflow (stackoverflow.com). While similar, these sites have some different characteristics. Stack Overflow is used mainly by developers to ask programming questions. In comparison, WordPress Development is used by a mix of developers, site implementers, and site owners. This can sometimes have an effect on the type or difficulty of questions which are suitable for each site. On Stack Overflow, it is also possible to ask and answer non WordPress-related questions within the tag filters, which is not the case with the WordPress-specific site. Both sites have strong moderation from the community, and you will find that off-topic questions are quickly closed and deleted.
6.3. WordPress-specific Forums
When posting at forums, it’s important to make a detailed post regarding the job requirements. You should also ask a few pre-qualifying questions to any interested candidates to ensure they are comfortable with the task at hand. Although it won’t necessarily deter poor quality developers, those who aren’t confident in their abilities to complete the task to your satisfaction will generally avoid your project in favor of easier, less demanding work.
WordPress-specific forums are the oldest and still one of the best ways to find a qualified developer. More developers than ever have stopped visiting forums altogether due to the plethora of other resources available, but many do still peruse them occasionally – especially those who are experienced and confident in their abilities to provide quality solutions. And while there are often a lot fewer poor quality developers to wade through at forums, the nature of the projects posted tends to be smaller and attract those looking for quick work – which may not be suitable for your task.
7. Local Job Boards and Classifieds
The newspaper classified method is still a common way to find a job. It is most effective for local employment. Consider neighborhood-specific in your job searches to narrow results down to your area. The biggest advantage of using local newspaper classified jobs is that you’re more likely to find jobs within a reasonable commuting distance. This is especially helpful to those who live in rural areas where the newspaper may be the only local source for job listings. The high likelihood of finding relevant jobs can make this search method very effective.
Before the explosion of the net, the primary method for locating a job turned into via the local newspaper’s categorised section. With the advent of online media, many newspapers began making the transition into on line news content. Because of this, many newspapers have integrated traditional classifieds into their website. They have also made partnerships with larger job boards, which typically provide search capabilities and an interface to apply for various job postings. Still, others have formed their own job boards consistent with the traditional job posting format. This is especially common with smaller local news organizations.
7.1. Newspaper Classifieds
Newspaper classifieds are still a good source of local potential employees. You can also place an ad for a WordPress developer by stating your job requirements and your trade. Be prepared to be inundated with phone calls. Usually, the less experienced will apply simply because they do not have any established client base. Younger developers would be a good fit for someone who is looking for a long-term employee. They can meet or exceed your technical needs, but they may do so at a slower pace. Ideally, the more experienced developer who is looking to switch companies or pick up a side job would be your best match. They can leverage their existing client base and take on your project with the intent of gaining another long-term customer. This is very common among self-employed developers. Remember, stick to your plan and do not be swayed by eager job seekers offering temp services. Step 6.2 could be the option for the temp help.
7.2. Local Business Directories
If you are interested in conducting a more specific search, you may want to look at industry-specific directories that are targeted to a technology-savvy audience. For example, the Puget Sound Business Journal has a technology company section in their print edition, as well as a web directory on the PSBJ website. There are also online-only directories such as seattle24x7.com, which is an online publication targeted towards IT professionals. Industry-specific directories will have companies with a focus and skill-set that is more relevant to technology like a WordPress developer. Using the previous Puget Sound Business Journal example, their web directory lists technology companies along with a brief description and could be a great resource for finding small local tech companies that might not be listed in larger directories. Remember, the more difficult it is to find the directory, the less competition you will have!
Similar to local newspapers and classified ads, local business directories can be a good tool for finding experienced WordPress developers in your area. There are many different types of business directories, including general directories such as the Yellow Pages and Chamber of Commerce directories, and industry-specific directories. General directories sometimes have a section for professional services or technology companies, and the companies listed here may be a good target for your WordPress developer search. The directories themselves are often available at libraries and local government offices. If you are looking through a print directory, the more specific sections are usually located near the back of the book. Online directories often have search capabilities which allow you to filter results based on location and industry.
7.3. Chamber of Commerce Websites
In conclusion, it will not be a cakewalk to find a WordPress developer via the methods described in this article. You will have to do some scouting and put some work into it. But you will find yourself saving money and a few headaches by finding someone local who is vested in his community. Good luck with your search.
Enhancing the website of the chamber of commerce itself is also a viable option. Usually, these types of sites are not very advanced and look like something out of the late 90s. If you can somehow get in touch with someone in the organization, it is possible to offer your services and have them create a request for proposal and bid on the job.
Chamber of commerce sites are good because they are comprised of local businesses. Many times you will need to go through the site to your local chapter. What you are trying to do is find out how to put your site in their directories. This is usually not too hard and is quite inexpensive or even free. It is good to have insurance that you will be finding a local developer, as the businesses in the chamber are looking for local solutions to their problems. Once you are in these directories, you can contact businesses individually to see if they are looking for web help. Usually, there will be a nice classified section as well, placed by the businesses or the local individuals. This method is great because the entire purpose of the chamber of commerce is to further the interests of local businesses.
8. Freelancer Directories and Portfolios
With the increasing popularity of remote work and freelancing, portfolio sites and resource directories become increasingly useful for finding the right person for the job. Generally, portfolios are the easiest way to see the quality of someone’s work. A quick glance at their previous projects will give you an indication of their skill level and whether or not their style suits you. Look for a portfolio site that allows comments on specific projects because this gives you an idea of the client’s personality as well. You can find out what was good (or not so good) to work with from people who have hired the developer before. This is extremely useful for gauging whether or not you would be a good fit. Some developers are great at what they do, but hard to handle. Knowing a person’s demeanor prior to hiring them will save much headache. If you are looking for higher-end design rather than just development, Behance and Dribbble are a good choice. These sites are focused around design and designers typically put their best work into their profiles. This is especially true on Dribbble where developers can only join if they are drafted by an existing member. Type in “WordPress” in the search bar and start browsing. Upwork and Freelancer.com are two of the top freelance job boards that allow you to post a job opening and have developers bid on your project. These sites can be a bit overwhelming and it is easy to get swindled into hiring someone of low quality. While these sites at times offer great deals (I’ve seen developers from other countries willing to do full site builds for as low as $300), the quality is going to be mixed. If you choose to use these types of sites, I recommend being very selective and not going with the lowest bidder. Many times you will find someone at a mid-range price offering far better quality. The best practice is to look at their previous work and reviews from past clients.
8.1. Behance
Behance makes use of creative intelligence to match tags. They use a prediction based on collective tagging behavior that attempts to map an unsuggested tag to its closest relative. This is an interesting feature; however, it can often be frustrating when selecting a tag and only slightly misspelling it. An incorrect tag will not have any of the predicted intelligence, and thus, you must be aware of the exact tag used to find work related to the tag. This creates a divide between those who tag accurately and those who do not. Essentially, your exposure on Behance is based on how accurately you can tag and the popularity of your work rather than your skill set.
Behance hosts portfolios and as such, you may be able to find a WordPress developer. Unfortunately, the search did not turn up positive with many results. This could be due to the lack of a strong taxonomy, which forces people to manually tag items with specific keywords. This generally entails that only the most popular items are tagged for a specific keyword, and as such, only the most popular WordPress developers would be found. Items can also be tagged with multiple keywords related to web development, and as such, it becomes difficult for a WordPress developer to find the work of another WordPress developer.
8.2. Dribbble
Since the dawn of time, freelancers who work hard need a place to flaunt what they have done. Often the portfolio websites that they resort to have paid subscription plans, are tricky to use and do not always work in the favor of the freelancer. The designers from Dribbble were successful in creating a platform that supported how freelancers wanted to show their work off. Dribbble was created in 2009 when co-founder Rich Thornett was looking for a place to rant and was also looking for some feedback on his freelancing style. After realizing that there were not many places like the one he wanted, Rich and his buddy Dan Cederholm scraped their pretzel money to piece Dribbble together. Fast forward a few years later and Dribbble now has a community of over ten thousand freelancers. Let’s see why this is good for finding a WordPress developer. Dribbble has what you call a ‘Prospects’ listing. This listing shows every single player (or freelancer) on Dribbble who is available for hire. Members of the site may click on a player and may inquire about their availability. This is great for anyone looking to hire freelance help because these are the designers who are currently serious about looking for work. Unfortunately there are no filters in Prospects and at times you may find players who listed themselves as Prospects to just get more views on their work. A better way to do this is to search for what you need, e.g. “WordPress design” to find players who are specifically looking to do just that. By simply checking out listed work these designers have done and contacting suitable candidates this can land you a long term relationship between a WordPress developer. Offer to pay for the WordPress design and in return you will have your very own developer who can do custom work on WordPress to anything you need.
8.3. Upwork and Freelancer.com
An essentially different way of connecting with developers who dedicate themselves to these CMS type of projects is to explore freelancer directories. These websites serve as a marketplace and meeting place of people looking for work created and implemented by businesses and potential clients looking to hire for their development projects. In some cases or at some project’s initial stages this may be speculative or a hiring on a trial basis, but the aim is generally to find someone who can work on a high quality solution for long term prospects.
These directories most typically are used by individuals and provide a detailed profile and work history of each developer. They also provide a means for submitting a specific job, like the one that you require. From this point, the website facilitates various forms of communications between parties and may involve project management tools. It is then the transaction and reputation systems of freelancer directories that truly make them unique. An escrow system is very common where the client will deposit funds for a job and they will only be released upon its successful completion. This protects developers from clients who refuse to pay, and give clients confidence that they will get what has been paid for. An example of this type of job system can be seen on the WordPress jobs site. The reputation system has a similar goal, allowing clients to leave feedback that is visible to others on the profile of the person who did the work. High quality work is thus rewarded with more job opportunities through higher developer ratings. These systems are available on any job and task, including plugin or theme development, but here is some specific info on finding plugin and theme developers and how the process may differ.
9. College and University Career Centers
Many time students miss the company recruitment because they have incomplete information about the recruitment process. In order to know the job opportunity the students need to have the complete information about the job recruitment taking place in the university. College and University Career Centers is the place where the students can start their job searching. They are offered with different job opportunities with different job profiles. This can help the students to get a fair idea which type of job opportunities are available and which job profile is in demand. This can improve the different skill set of the students according to the job requirement.
The top students of the class get the university invites so that they can have their bright career. This makes the students work hard so that they can improve their skills so that they can get an opportunity to good company visit in their university for the campus recruitment.
9.1. Job Boards for Students
There are quite a few job boards that are devoted to helping students find work experience, internships, and working positions. Many of these are run by colleges, universities, and student unions, and are only open to students and alumni. These types of job boards are often very good as there is a smaller talent pool than the bigger boards, and the employers are specifically looking for students of the host institution, so the job will be relevant to your career. Usually you can find information about job boards of this nature at your careers centre. They will be focused on resources and information to help you find work experience and internships, so they might not be hugely publicised. It is always worth going into your careers centre and asking if they have any information about job boards with jobs related to your course. Aside from college or university based job boards, there are a number of larger boards targeted at students and recent graduates. These often have a large number of internships and work placements, but there can be a mix of part-time and full-time work also.
9.2. Alumni Networks
The article speaks about different ways to locate WordPress developers. This is very useful when you have a tight deadline and need to hire one quickly. Usually the regular, casual paths to hiring take way too long and can eat up precious time when the client is really looking to meet his goal date for the website or the website’s new feature. As with all things involving technology, the newer and “flashier” it is, the less time there is to allocate towards development. WordPress was started around 2003 and since then has truly become one of the most simplistic means of turning a general idea into reality. The simplicity, combined with effectiveness and the minimum time investment truly makes it a valuable item to any developer’s portfolio. Alumni Networks and connections are great resources to locate students who may have yet to get a full-fledged developer job, but have the skills of someone who is pursuing more than just another “job”. These people are still in the mode of self-improvement and usually will take more pride in their work, they have not become “jaded” by the monotony of a repetitive job. All ideal traits you wish to find in a developer. Many colleges have entire clubs and organizations dedicated to web design, or design of some sort that involves the need of a developer. This is a goldmine since the people championing these clubs are often looking for “the” guy or girl who can pull it all together. It truly marks the beginning to extensive networking opportunities that they will be happy to shove in your direction when the time comes.
9.3. Career Fairs and Workshops
The purpose of a career fair is for employers to provide information and opportunities to students interested in working for them. Companies attend these fairs in order to meet and greet potential recruits, share information about their company, and to develop a pool of candidates for the future. These fairs provide students with the chance to talk to employers, learn about different companies and industries, and maybe even get a foot in the door. Postponed from September due to tragic events, The University at Albany, State University of New York will host their Fall Career Fair in November. One of the main reasons why UA’s career fairs are so successful is the involvement of the career services office, faculty, and alumni. The staff’s outreach to students and faculty’s continual urging of attendance plays a big role in their large fair turnout. Black says that in terms of opportunities at career fairs, there are usually things for everyone, including underclassmen. There are fairs with a specific focus such as science and technology, and there are others that have more of a liberal arts focus. Companies at these fairs may have positions available requiring various degrees and experience, which opens doors for students of all years. Today, it is crucial for college students to attend career fairs in order to begin networking and researching job prospects. Kievan Dunham, a junior and Business Administration major at the University at Albany, highlights the importance of what a career fair can offer to college students, saying, “It’s a great chance to find a summer job or internship and seek out companies that may have jobs more geared toward your future career.”
10. WordPress Developer Communities
The schedule typically includes a Friday Contributor Day, where community members gather to work on various teams (e.g. Documentation, Core, Polyglots, Support) – and a weekend of sessions, workshops and talks following the unconference format, where the schedule is built collaboratively by the community. WordCamp tickets are generally quite cheap (great value for what you get) ranging from free to $20 for the entire weekend.
WordCamp Central is quite a big site, and it can be quite hard to find the page which lists all upcoming WordCamps worldwide. I found the best way to locate the WordCamp closest to you is to simply use Google, and type “WordCamp Melbourne” (or wherever you’re from). A Google AdWords campaign could do wonders for this site.
A WordPress developer community can be a helpful place to facilitate your career, whether it’s meeting new clients, learning new things within WordPress, giving or receiving code help, or discussing industry topics. This is a fairly comprehensive list of where you can find a WordPress developer community, including both online and in-person resources.
10.1. WordPress Meetups
WordPress Meetups are regularly occurring events at a specific time and place, usually once a month. They are usually informal and can include talks, presentations, round table discussions, networking, social events, etc. Some meetups are general in nature while others are focused on specific aspects of WordPress like WP developers, front-end developers, bloggers, SEO, small business owners, etc. Meetups are a great way to meet like-minded people, learn new things, get questions answered, and sometimes even find your next WordPress-related job. The official WordPress Meetup program is a part of the WordPress Community program and has a very active discussion and support group. This is a resource provided to organizers through the WordPress Meetup organizers meetup and blog. If you know PHP and are interested in moving from a WordPress user to an advanced developer, you should check out your local PHP meetup. Though not specific to WordPress, you’ll be able to find the right group of people to help take you to that next level.
Meetup.com has become a popular place to organize groups of all shapes and sizes and WordPress is no exception. A quick search shows over 200 WordPress groups on the website.
10.2. WordCamps
WordCamps are a big part of the WordPress community and are a great opportunity to learn more about WordPress, develop your WordPress skills, and meet other WordPress users, developers, and specialists. There are usually multiple WordCamps on most weekends of the year somewhere in the world. They range in size from 50 to 2,000 attendees and in price from $35 to $65. WordCamps are often held at universities or in conference centers. They are usually held on weekends, with the majority of sessions being either one hour long or 30 minutes long. There are also often tracks for users who are newer to WordPress. The format of a WordCamp usually includes one or two days of sessions with a wide variety of topics including design, development, business, or blogging, marketing, SEO, etc. There are also often events such as “Happiness Bars” where you can get your WordPress questions answered one-on-one by a WordPress expert and an after-party where a lot of networking happens. These events are great places to meet WordPress developers and can be an excellent opportunity to connect with potential hires or get to know someone you met online before hiring them. Q&A sessions and networking events are also great times to get free professional advice about your WordPress project or get help with a problem. WordCamps are good places to volunteer (often your ticket is free if you volunteer for part of the event), which can get you added exposure and build your reputation as a competent developer in the WordPress community.
10.3. WordPress Slack Channels
WordPress is not only an open-source project but is a community which is built up by the users. The people who facilitate in developing the project are either volunteers or they are working in the WordPress web development field. There are many WordPress web development specialized communities where people come and find the solutions and look for the opportunities in the field. One of the most famous platform is Slack where there are many WordPress related groups who are providing guidance, work opportunities and healthy discussions. Slack is similar to a forum where you can ask the questions and other community fellows will answer. Some of the groups are paid as they are offering jobs and opportunities to the developers. Mostly there are groups of people who have collaborated to make a product and they invite others to join them.
This is one of the best opportunities to look for remote work as people post the job options time to time. Usually the job offers are done in the form of chat and one can negotiate the terms of the job. This is great for a new developer who can find experience as they hire the people at various levels. People share stories, experiences and conduct meetups via online chat with voice conversation. This builds up a healthy relation between the users and one can find the solutions easily. High quality resources are shared by many experienced developers and groups are conversing over it giving feedback and different approaches. This helps in staying updated as the field is rapidly changing.
