It’s not hard to find a freelancer advertising their WordPress skills. But how do you know if the individual is a qualified developer? You don’t want to spend your resources only to discover it was a waste of time and money.
Perhaps you’re looking for someone who can:
The best way to hire a professional WordPress developer is to find one on a top-rated freelance website. However, not all freelancer sites are the same.
Some accept anyone looking to make money off of online gigs without checking their experience. Others screen freelancers before they can bid on WordPress projects ensuring you get the best person for the task.
Before you hire a random freelancer, you need to know the best sites to find one.
With so many platforms advertising freelancers, it’s difficult to know which one to use. To make it easier to find the best one to develop your WordPress site it helps to know what each freelancer platform offers.
Toptal is a top-rated freelance marketplace that only accepts the best talent. The platform advertises it matches the top 3% of freelancers with prospective clients. Even though the estimate is probably exaggerated, everyone marketing their developers’ skills has gone through an in-depth assessment of their skills.
For a freelancer to register on Toptal, they must pass a five-step vetting process. Along with language and personality tests, there is also a live screening and a review of the applicant’s skills. Freelancers must also complete test projects, and if accepted onto the platform maintain an excellent work record with clients.
What sets Topal apart is its no-risk test period. When a client hires a freelancer for the first time, there is a guarantee. If after two weeks you aren’t happy with the work or freelancer, the site will refund you. It only applies if you did not accept the project, if you did you will still owe for the hours worked.
On this platform, you’ll only find virtual workers that reside in the Philippines. It’s an easy platform to navigate if you’re looking for a WordPress programmer. When you’re on the platform, you have two options. You can scroll through the developers and contact those that meet the skill requirements for the project.
You can also create the job posting and interview applicants before choosing the one you feel is best. The platform is no-hassle, and you decide the terms for the project. There also aren’t any extra fees when you hire a freelancer. The hiring rates are also reasonable, and often lower than other platforms.
While there are over 1,000,000 profiles to choose from, you are also missing out on some of the safeguards offered by other freelancer platforms. You can fire a freelancer for under-performing but if you’ve released milestone payments they are usually non-refundable. You also can’t ask the platform to replace a developer. You are responsible for finding and hiring a replacement and paying their fees.
Fiverr is a platform designed for easy navigation by freelancers and employers. Like many platforms, it’s not devoted solely to developers for the WordPress CMS. It includes other online professionals as well.
How the platform works is simple. Clients post their jobs and freelancers bid on the project. Freelancers do complete a profile that lists their skills and previous work history. However, there isn’t a skill test or screening process to pass before they’re listed on the platform.
You can engage the freelancer through messages on the site, but you’ll still have to trust your judgment. However, your payment for the project is held in escrow until you accept it.
The entire platform is devoted to matching clients with the perfect developer. It guarantees that its clients are paired with a freelancer within 24-hours. If you’re not happy with your match, you can ask for another freelancer without any risks.
Lemon.io has promised to weed out developers that aren’t motivated or as determined to help your project succeed as you are. The strenuous enrollment process freelancers go through before being listed on the platform helps ensure that you are hiring the best.
Another benefit is the weekly reports clients receive from their hired developers. You don’t have to wonder or worry about the status of your project. You’ll always know exactly how it is coming along, and have plenty of time to stop the freelancer if you feel your project is moving in the wrong direction. While the platform doesn’t offer refunds, it will match you with another developer if deadlines are missed without any extra cost to you.
Upwork is geared more towards clients than freelancers when it comes to payment. It has several fees that apply to developers, but not as many for clients looking to hire talent. All freelancers must create a profile and are rated according to job feedback and applicable skill tests.
Freelance developers aren’t required to take the tests to bid on projects, but it does give you a clearer idea of the individual’s skill set. Clients can request top-rated developers or post their projects and conduct several interviews. Payment is only released to the freelancer when their work is approved, giving you a type of guarantee. You can’t ask the platform to switch developers, but you can cancel the task if you’re not happy with the work.
Not every company has the financial resources or personnel to develop apps and WordPress sites. To help cover this gap, Gigster was created. Unlike many other freelance hiring sites that offer a variety of talent with different skill sets, Gigster only features developers.
How it works is simple. You initiate a chat with the Gigster team by describing your project and payment. The platform’s AI software then provides an accurate quote, if you accept it the team will start working on your task. Your team usually includes developers, a designer, and a project manager. The manager is your liaison and will keep you updated on the team’s progress.
The main downside to the platform is you are not in control. Once you accept the team's bid, they are in charge of the project. If you have trouble giving up control this may be an issue. You also want to remember that the site is devoted more to development than design so you might have to tweak this part of the project.
Triplebyte is a relatively new platform but it’s seeing a lot of success. Started in Silicon Valley in 2015, it’s become a fast-growing tech recruiting marketplace. Part of its rapid success is due to its rigorous screening process.
Not everyone is allowed to post their profiles for hire on the site. There is a three-step screening process that includes an online quiz and coding test, along with a phone interview. Clients can sort through software engineers by specialty and hire the ones that fit their specifications.
The primary downside to the service is its screening process. It does ensure that you are hiring a top-rated developer, but this also means you are paying more. WordPress developers with more years of experience expect to get paid more for their skills, resulting in higher bids for your company. While you will pay more on Triplebyte, it is worth it when you view the finished project.
If you want to hire a developer for a long-term project or a few weeks, X-Team will help you find the right freelancer. Everyone takes skill tests and submits their resume before being added as a developer. It ensures you are only hiring the best.
One aspect of X-Team that sets them apart is how the platform invests in its freelance developers. This helps freelancers improve their skills and bring more to each client they work with. It’s not hard to hire a developer on the freelance board. On any X-team website page, there’s a box where you can initiate a conversation.
From there, you can discuss your project with X-team and get in touch with developers that fit your company’s needs. Another reason why you might want to look at X-team, the site is one of the few that does not require a minimum upfront initial payment. You only pay when the project is completed and accepted.
If you want to hire a high-quality freelance WordPress developer, Codeable is the board that focuses on this skill set. Like the other websites, it’s free to join and browse for qualified talent. What sets the website apart is the variety of skills offered by freelancers. There’s a top-rated developer for every aspect of your project.
How the site works is simple. Companies post their project requirements and the skills they’re looking for in a freelancer. Once you’ve accepted a developer’s bid, work starts on your project. Organizations can also use Codeable for rush projects. The site’s support team will help clients expedite the project and match you with potentially qualified freelancers.
There are a few common questions companies have about hiring a freelance WordPress Developer.
The cost depends on the scope of your project and the developer’s level of experience with the content management system. You can pay by the hour or per project depending on the contract of the WordPress job. Some sites will allow you to hire part-time or full-time freelancers.
Some software engineers can develop your WordPress site, but not all. There are different types of software engineers and not all come with the skills you need. It’s always best to hire a developer familiar with WordPress for this type of project.
If you want to find talent that is affordable and available, a freelancer job board will put you in contact with a wide range of skilled developers.
Online platforms give medium and small businesses that are often lacking in resources and IT departments an opportunity to work with WordPress experts. These sites allow companies to scroll through a range of developers with a variety of skill sets. You can find the perfect freelance developer without depleting company resources.
Before you start posting your projects on any freelance recruiter site you find online, you want to make sure you’re attracting qualified talent. Not all sites screen their freelancers before allowing them to accept jobs, and this can result in problems with your project. Taking the time to review the freelance board will ensure you’re not disappointed with the WordPress developer you hired.