Are you looking to hire a WordPress developer but not sure about his work? Whether you’re hiring freelancers or a full-time team, it’s important to know that not all developers are the same. Each comes with its unique set of capabilities. Thus, you must know what work samples to request when hiring a WordPress developer.
You need someone skilled in coding, organized, good at troubleshooting, and up-to-date with new technologies. However, to find the right developer, ask for past work samples. These will show their experience and ability to meet your client’s needs.
This guide lists key work samples to request before hiring and questions to help you choose the best candidate.
Type of Work Samples to Request Before Hiring a WordPress Developer
When hiring a WordPress developer, reviewing work samples is essential to know their capabilities and ensure they meet your needs. Here are some key work samples to request, enhanced with practical tips and a human touch for better readability:
Custom Theme Development
Ask for a sample theme showcasing the developer’s ability to create unique, responsive designs with custom headers, footers, and navigation menus. This will give you a clear idea of their design and layout skills.
Plugin Development
Request examples of custom plugins that include specific functionalities like custom post types, fields, or integrations with other plugins. This helps assess their ability to enhance site functionality.
Website Redesign
Review a project where the developer has transformed an old website into a modern, user-friendly, and responsive site. Look for improvements in aesthetics and usability.
Content Migration
Check samples of content migration projects where the developer has successfully moved content to WordPress while maintaining or improving site structure. Ensure they include custom post types and fields.
Security and Compliance
Examine projects demonstrating the developer’s expertise in implementing security measures like SSL encryption, regular backups, and security updates. This ensures they can protect your site from threats.
Troubleshooting
Look for examples where the developer resolved technical issues, showcasing their debugging, error handling, and performance optimization skills. This indicates their problem-solving abilities.
Performance Optimization
Ask for samples that highlight improvements in website speed and efficiency through caching, image compression, and database optimization. This shows their ability to enhance site performance.
Custom Functionality
Request examples of custom functionalities developed for WordPress sites, such as unique post types and custom fields, to assess their ability to tailor features to your specific needs.
Commerce Integrations
Assessing a developer’s experience with eCommerce integrations in WordPress, such as WooCommerce, can help you understand their ability to convert a website into a user-friendly online store.
Reviewing this aspect of their work ensures the developer can meet the specific needs of online businesses.
Wrapping Up
Hiring a professional WordPress developer can ease your agency’s workload. However, not all developers have the same skills, and picking the wrong one can harm your clients’ websites.
To find the right developer, review their work samples. Look at their custom themes, security measures, and problem-solving skills. This will help you see their versatility and creativity.
Also, ask potential developers the questions in this guide to understand their abilities better. This will help you make a smart hiring decision for a successful partnership.
