Gone are the days when in-house developers build one website for the duration of their careers. 

Studies say that 32% of all employees will be remote in 2021 compared to 19% in 2019. 

Hiring a remote WordPress developer allows you to access talent from all over the world. This opens a pathway for building unique websites. You can also approach problems from a different angle, hence getting a better solution.

If you’re thinking of hiring a remote developer, awesome! You can cut costs and get a potentially better website. 

8 Must-Knows to hire a Remote WordPress Developer

Have a clear objective

As a hiring manager, it is your responsibility to have a project with established objectives. Especially if you’re working with an outsourced team.

This makes communication between your team and the remote WordPress developer easier. And having your necessities in order will also help you hire the right person for the job. 

Here are some of the parameters you should fix before you start hiring. 

Website needs

Do you want an e-commerce website? Or are a service provider looking to showcase your extent of services? 

Give the gist of your business in the job listing. 

Features

Give potential hires a list of features you’d like your website to have. This will allow them to assess their abilities before they apply for the project. 

You can also save time by only interviewing qualified remote developers. 

Expectations From The Developer

Though it is a remote position, you may want the freelancer to be available during certain times. Or you may require a certain percentage of project completion per week. 

Mention these details in your job listing. 

Comb through reviews and portfolios

This is the first thing all hiring managers look at. Ironically, it is very often overlooked. 

Going through the developer’s reviews will reveal to you their work ethic. This is sometimes more vital to a project than subject knowledge is. 

Look for developers with updated portfolios. This portrays that they are proud of their work and like to show it off. 

Looking through their past projects will also tell you the scope of their abilities and if that matches your expectation. 

Don’t fall for suspiciously cheap prices

We get it, you have a budget. And if you’re a startup, it’s likely you want to spend even less than your budget. But as the price of a developer decreases, it’s likely their quality of work will also decrease. 

Look at multiple hiring platforms to comb through the average hourly rate for a WordPress developer. Look in your region to get an accurate rate. This will be helpful when it comes time for negotiations. 

But don’t discount every remote WordPress developer who works for cheap. It could well be that their quality of work is still per your requirements. 

And if you come across a developer who has the exact skills and qualifications you need but is out of your budget, you should be prepared to negotiate your price. 

Have a paid test

Most hiring managers insist on giving developers a test. And often, this test has complicated questions that need a substantial amount of energy and time to complete. 

If you demand this of developers without pay, it amounts to taking advantage of the developer 

Testing a developer is great. But make sure you pay them fairly for the test. 

Even if the developer doesn’t perform well you can rest peacefully knowing that you’ve avoided a bigger loss on your project. 

Open lines of communication

When working remotely, one of the main requirements for a fast turnover is communication. As the client, you should let the remote developer know when you’re available for meetings. 

Make it a point to ask the developer when they’re free to take calls. And schedule meetings only during this time. This will tell them that you are a respectful client and help build a healthy relationship. 

If you use a communication channel like Slack, add the remote developer to the channel as well. This will ensure that they have all the information they need to complete the project. 

It is also better for the project if only one person converses with the freelancer. This will help eliminate any confusion and scope for misunderstandings. 

So though you introduce the freelancer to the team, have a single line for communication. 

Scope of service

For some WordPress developers, testing may not be a part of their contract. Some developers only work on corrections for a short time after they’ve turned over the project. This is the scope of their service. 

Make sure you’re clear on what the developer is willing to do for your project. Are they willing to take care of maintenance? If so, what do they charge for that?

As a client, you should also communicate your post-project expectations to the freelancer. This way, you can lessen the chances of disappointment. 

Look for the right skills 

Building a WordPress website with just a builder and plugins is possible. But why would you hire a developer when you can do that yourself?

A remote WordPress developer should have some basic coding skills. That way, your website isn’t just the theme replicated. 

Here are some of the skills to look for in a remote WordPress developer. 

PHP

PHP is a server-side language that’s needed if you want to customize your WordPress website. It will help you create interactive websites without depending on the theme or plugin. 

PHP is one of the easiest coding languages with a large range of resources for beginners. So even if a developer doesn’t know PHP, it is pretty simple to learn. 

Theme Codex

Codex is the manual for WordPress developers. The theme codex teaches developers how to build their own themes. You can also modify existing themes with the codex. 

For a unique website, the developer must know how to modify a theme. This will improve the look and function of your website. 

Plugin Codex

Plugins are part of a WordPress website that adds features and functionality. And it’s a powerful asset if your developer has the ability to custom-make that plugin. 

Knowing plugin codex will allow you to tweak certain functionalities of existing plugins. This will make your website user-friendly, thus helping it to rank better. 

HTML+CSS+JS

These three programming languages are the fundamentals for building your WordPress site. You can easily edit themes and add them to your website if the developer has these skills. 

All these languages are basic and are fairly easy to learn. So most developers will know them. 

E-Commerce Tools

WordPress has a bunch of plugins and tools for E-commerce. But check if your developer knows how to use these tools. 

Having a good understanding of WordPress E-commerce will ensure your shop is user-friendly. 

Draw A contract

No matter how small your project is, draw a contract for it. This will protect both your end of the business as well as the remote developer. 

You can even consider it a red flag if the remote developer is turning down the need for a contract. 

The contract should have details of both the client and the freelancer. It should also have the project details, the compensation, and a means to address disputes. 

The contract doesn’t need to be verbose or complicated. Just make sure it’s effective. 

Hiring a remote WordPress developer is one of the best ways to connect with top talent and build a unique website. Follow these hiring tips to protect yourself and for the best remote experience. 

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