Are you looking to improve your company’s website and online presence but struggling with the best way to do it? If so, you should consider working with a WordPress developer today.
HubSpot reports that 43 percent of all websites utilize WordPress, and we have a good idea why. For one, both small business owners and Fortune 500 companies use this platform to create aesthetically pleasing websites fast. It also enables them to optimize their products or services and enhance their online presence exponentially.
In this article, we’ll discuss more about what WordPress is, how it benefits your company, and why you should consider hiring a WordPress developer to improve your website!
What Is WordPress?
WordPress is an open-source, free content management system (CMS) that’s been around since the early 2000s. It was a go-to for bloggers for many years because of its easy-to-use features. But, over time, the software has evolved and is now responsible for hosting millions of websites daily.
WordPress is an excellent CMS for companies across multiple industries to use. Many bloggers still use it today, but it’s also effective for creating professional business websites, design portfolios, and online forums. Its easy-to-use interface allows young professionals, small businesses, and large corporations to seamlessly develop an online presence without coding or other technical concepts.
Advantages of Using WordPress
In addition to its easy-to-use interface, WordPress offers many other advantages, including:
- Easy installation and setup
- Mobile device compatibility
- Flexibility and functionality
- Complete customization
- Works with thousands of plugins
- Performs routine updates
- Requires less coding
- Allows for third-party hosting
- Offers many design options
- Cost-effectiveness
How Using WordPress Is Beneficial to Your Business
The benefits of using WordPress for your business will depend on your company’s needs. For example, the platform allows small businesses to develop a website with minimal coding skills and without breaking the bank. WordPress is also search engine friendly, meaning your small business can organically grow its website. These benefits also apply to large corporations. Utilizing WordPress can help improve your company’s online traffic, and you can use it regardless of your industry.
But if WordPress is so easy to use, why might you need a WordPress developer?
What Is a WordPress Developer?
A WordPress developer is a professional who specializes in building websites with WordPress. Many professionals have the knowledge and skills to build websites from scratch—full-stack development—but are hired by companies specifically to enhance WordPress software and improve or create a custom website.
WordPress is easy to use on its own. But some companies may want to hire a developer to manage more complex features, change the infrastructure, or create unique customization features.
Related: Top Software Developer Skills Hiring Managers Should Look For
Duties and Responsibilities of a WordPress Developer
A WordPress developer’s day-to-day duties and responsibilities of a WordPress developer may vary depending on the company and its business needs. Some general tasks that they may be responsible for include:
- Meeting with clients to discuss ideas and vision for their website’s design and functions
- Communicating with colleagues to better understand the specifications for website development
- Utilizing programming languages like HTML and CSS to write code and work with other developers to design websites
- Designing the website front-end, ensuring the quality of its appearance and aesthetic
- Creating unique WordPress themes and plugins for the client or business
- Tracking and analyzing website analytics, metrics, and organic growth
- Continuously conducting performance tests, troubleshooting issues, and performing routine updates and maintenance
- Creating documentation to help other developers understand the codes and systems of a website
- Developing contingency plans in case of a website hack, crash, or serious complication
Necessary Skills and Qualifications
Many developers nowadays are self-taught, and years of freelancing can help someone build an extensive portfolio. Anyone interested in WordPress development can begin by learning a programming language, familiarizing themselves with WordPress, learning from others thanks to the global community of WordPress professionals, and creating a portfolio to market their work.
In addition to soft skills—communication, problem-solving, and creativity—these are a few hard skills to look for when hiring a WordPress developer for your team:
- Working knowledge of programming languages, including HTML, CSS, PHP, JavaScript, and Java, to name a few
- Understanding of responsive design, which impacts a website’s accessibility across multiple devices with varying screen sizes and orientations
- Search-engine-optimization (SEO) skills
- Knowledge of user experience—UX design—to ensure that a website is easy to use
- Database management and the ability to set up and secure website hosting
- Foundational knowledge of Photoshop and editing to post high-quality content on a website
Why Should Your Company Hire a WordPress Developer?
Before hiring a WordPress developer, you must determine your business needs and how your company can benefit. Here are four reasons why you should consider hiring a WordPress developer.
1. Technical Support
The first advantage to hiring a WordPress developer is that they can provide ongoing technical support. Whether you’re a small business owner or a high-ranking executive, chances are you don’t have time to become a complete expert on WordPress, even if it’s user-friendly. Developers can manage your website, troubleshoot problems, and push updates to ensure the website is working efficiently. That includes providing technical support and taking measures to improve the website.
2. Customization and Unique Content
WordPress has an endless supply of themes, plugins, and content options. But customization and original content are essential to stand out from the crowd and the millions of other WordPress users.
A developer can create unique plugins, develop custom themes, and produce original content that matches your company’s aesthetics more accurately. Image is everything, and adding a developer to your team ensures your website image honors your company’s brand.
3. Organic Website Growth
As mentioned, SEO is critical to your company regarding organic growth and website traffic. The goal of any company is for people to find their website with a single search. But becoming an SEO expert takes time.
Professional WordPress developers know the ins and outs of SEO and strategizing website growth. They can take the reigns on improving the company’s website rank and increasing traffic for your products and services.
4. Save Time
Saving yourself time is another reason to consider adding a WordPress developer to your team. Even though WordPress is easy to use, a lot goes into successfully creating and maintaining a website.
Hiring someone whose sole responsibility is to create and manage your company’s website relieves you of the pressures of website management and gives you time back in your day to focus on the day-to-day tasks of running a business.
Tips for Hiring a WordPress Developer Today
Again, the first step toward hiring a WordPress developer is assessing your business needs. Upon determining how your company can benefit, consider using these tips to hire a developer:
- Assess the area of expertise you’re looking for by creating a list of website features and designs your business needs.
- Clearly communicate to prospective candidates about your business needs and what you’re looking for in a developer.
- Browse the websites and portfolios of prospective candidates.
- Create a project brief and post jobs on freelancing networks to contract developers.
- Prepare WordPress interview questions that assess the candidate’s knowledge, skills, background, and expertise.
- Read through reviews or testimonials when utilizing a freelance marketplace.
- Consider assigning a short-term project or paid trial to assess soft and technical skills.
- Observe how candidates conduct themselves during interviews to assess skills like communication or business etiquette.
- Consider working with a recruiting agency to help you hire a WordPress developer.
3 Reasons to Hire a Programmer or Developer with a Staffing Agency
Do You Need a WordPress Developer?
You should hire a WordPress developer if you’re looking to create a functional and aesthetically pleasing website for your business or improve your current one. Whether you’re a small business owner or work for a large organization, these developers can reduce the stress of creating and maintaining a website, and ensure high-quality content.
Hire a WordPress Developer with Insight Global.
Let us know you needs below, and a recruiter will reach out in as little as 10 minutes! Questions? Call us toll-free: 855-485-8853