WordPress is one of the most popular platforms for building websites online – and for good reason. WordPress has all the tools and features you need to build a solid website, with plenty of room for customization (especially when you consider its impressive selection of plugins and upgrades).

But if you want to make the most of your WordPress website, you’ll want to enlist the help of WordPress developers. Custom WordPress developers can utilize the WordPress platform to help you build exactly the website you want – without being restricted to premade templates and default themes.

How should you choose the right WordPress developer for your website?

Start With Your Goals

Before you get any further, take a moment to evaluate your goals. What are you hoping to achieve with your custom WordPress development?

Think about:

·       Design. What kind of design are you hoping to achieve? Are you looking for something that's both aesthetically pleasing and persuasive to visitors who find your site? Are you looking for something unique and distinctive? Are you trying to achieve a groundbreaking new book?

·       Development. How much help do you need developing this website? Are you trying to build something from the ground up? Do you require any special functionality for your website? How in-depth do you need this website development to be?

·       Timing. What is the timing for your latest web design and development project? Are you hoping to launch as soon as possible? Or do you have several weeks or months to work with? Would you be willing to compromise on timing for a lower cost?

·       Expenses. Speaking of cost, what is your budget for this project? How much are you willing to spend on custom web design and development? Would you be willing to extend your budget under the right circumstances?

Be Ready to Shop Around

There are many custom WordPress developers to choose from, with a wide range of different backgrounds and levels of experience. You'll need to be ready to shop around if you want to find the best services for the best possible prices. Be prepared to speak with many different firms and contractors before making your final decision.

Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a WordPress Developer

These are some of the most important factors to keep in mind when choosing a WordPress developer:

·       Experience. How much experience does this developer have with WordPress and custom developments? Is this a firm with access to many experienced individuals? Is this a single individual with a decade of experience or more? Experience isn't a guarantee of quality, but it's a reasonably good indicator of it.

·       Areas of specialty. Does this developer specialize in something specific? For example, are they used to making websites for a specific industry? Or are they familiar with specific types of functional websites? There's nothing wrong with hiring a generic developer, but a specialist might be able to do a better job if you're looking for something unique.

·       Examples of past work. Don't hire a developer until you've seen some examples of their past work. Can this developer demonstrate, with a real example, how capable they are? If you're happy with the work they've done in the past, you'll probably be happy with the work they do for you in the future.

·       Reviews and testimonials. Similarly, it's important to look at reviews and testimonials. What do previous customers and clients have to say about this developer? Are there specific compliments or complaints that appear throughout many different sources of feedback?

·       Security and privacy. Does this developer take security and privacy seriously? Are they going to make sure your website is developed as securely as possible?

·       Communication. Are you satisfied with the level of communication you're receiving from this developer? When you have questions, do they answer them? If you send a message, do you receive a response relatively quickly?

·       The process. What is the process like for this web design and development? When do they anticipate being able to begin your project? How long do they think it's going to take to complete the development? Calculate whether this aligns with your timing goals and consider whether this process is a good fit for your organization.

·       Costs. Obviously, you'll also need to think about the costs. How much does this developer charge and is it within your budget? Is there any wiggle room on this pricing? Could these costs increase in the future?

Choosing a WordPress developer isn't always a straightforward decision, especially if you have multiple vendors you're considering with similar offers and price structures. But the better you understand the environment of custom development, and the more effort you're willing to put into the project, the better your final results will be.