WordPress is the world’s most popular content management system that’s also used for business and non-blogging websites. The ease of use that comes with WordPress is why it’s such a popular platform.
When you create your site using WordPress, you have access to templates, themes, plugins, and widgets. You can, in theory, fully customize your site yourself, so why do people still heavily rely on WordPress website development services?
Whether or not to hire a WordPress developer is going to depend on the goals for your site, but for many businesses, it’s advantageous to work with a professional.
What Does a WordPress Developer Do?
Even though WordPress software is free, many people will hire professional developers to ensure they’re getting the high-quality site they envision. WordPress developers are one type of developer who specializes in building sites with WordPress.
Most are also full-stack developers.
A full-stack developer can develop your front-end and your back-end. You might hire a developer to build a custom site or to improve a site you already have and add extended functionality.
Particular tasks a developer does include designing and developing new features and functions, taking client requirements, and translating them to technical specs. They can implement and maintain site architecture and write, test, and debug code.
A WordPress developer is an expert in this platform.
While, as mentioned, most will work on the front and back end, some will specialize in one or the other.
Developers who work on the back end of a site focus on its functionality, including plugins. Plugins are like little apps that perform specialized tasks on your site, working in the background.
Front-end developers work on the part of your site that a visitor can see. They work on design, fonts, colors, and other aesthetic elements.
The Benefits of Working with a Developer
When you first start working with WordPress, it may seem silly to spend money on a developer when so much of the platform is designed to be user-friendly, even without coding knowledge.
However, you might quickly find that you need a developer and that the benefits of working with one will far outweigh the costs.
The benefits of working with professional WordPress developers include:
You can fully customize your site. If you have ideas in your head, it’s hard to bring those to life without the help of a developer. A developer is, first and foremost, a problem solver, and they can help translate your vision to your actual site.
Some people like how their site looks, but they want to change and improve the functions, so a developer can help here. Plus, a developer is going to know how to make sure your site is built to be fast.
Poorly coded sites are more likely to experience security breaches. A WordPress developer can create clean code without vulnerabilities, lowering your risk of being the victim of a cyberattack.
If you want to build your brand around a unique website that stands out, a developer can help you do this.
There are thousands of themes just on WordPress itself alone. It’s easy to get overwhelmed with so many options, and you may not have the time to deal with creating a site.
There are going to be issues or questions you have along the way, inevitably. WordPress developers can be a source of information and guidance for you, so you aren’t on your own.
They can make sure you’re running the most recent security updates, and they can troubleshoot problems you might encounter, like a bug with your site. Many developers will agree to provide monthly maintenance support for a site too.
Having competent end-to-end support can go a long way to avoiding major issues with your site.
Good developers can help you with analysis. They can look at data like bounce rates, page views, session duration, and more, and they can also help you see where you need to make changes to improve your site performance.
What to Consider When Hiring a WordPress Developer
If you’ve decided to hire a WordPress developer, you first want to be very clear on your needs before you talk to anyone.
You won’t be building your site personally, but you still need to know what you want and what your requirements are so you can explain it to potential developers.
You don’t have to plan the layout before hiring someone, but you want to know the goal, the types of pages you hope it will contain, and the functionality and features it should include.
For example, does it need e-Commerce capabilities? Building a custom website isn’t necessarily inexpensive, although using WordPress tends to be less expensive overall than other platforms.
Your budget will depend on the scope of your project and the complexity of the requirements. A simple site with a few pages is going to be cheaper than a custom-built site with many pages and a complex design.
You’ll also have to factor in how experienced the developer is you’re going to work with.
Once you know the scope of your project, your site needs, and your budget, start to compare professionals. Look at their portfolio of past work and ask for references or testimonials.
You want to make sure you’re going to work with someone who specifically has experience with WordPress to make sure you’re getting the most out of their expertise and the platform itself.
You’ll want to learn a bit about the tools they use too. Some developers will build a custom theme.
Others will use a plugin that’s a page builder like Elementor. There’s no right or wrong answer, but you want to know what your site will be like foundationally since it affects how you’ll make changes in the future.
While it does require additional cost upfront, most businesses find the benefits of hiring a WordPress professional far outweigh these costs. You have access to expertise; peace of mind, and you know that you’re going to get a design that’s exclusive to your business.