In the competitive internet age, having the right WordPress specialists on your team is crucial for ensuring WordPress-related challenges don’t impact your growth as a digital agency or business.
With expert support, you can unlock the full potential of WordPress, optimizing it to align with your current and long-term needs.
But before hiring a WordPress freelancer, what questions should you be asking to determine if they’re a good fit for your business? Don’t worry; we have got you covered!
Our team is here with 5 essential questions you should ask your WordPress freelancer to determine whether they can deliver on all fronts!
Without waiting much, let’s get started.
Q1 – Are You Up-To-Date with the Latest WordPress Features?
Your first interaction with a WordPress developer is an opportunity to gauge their skill level and familiarity with the platform’s current state, and future developments.
In the ever-evolving world of digital technology, it’s essential that your developer is not only up-to-date, but also forward-thinking.
To determine your freelancer’s familiarity with the most recent versions and features of WordPress:
- Ask directly about their experience: Inquire about their experience with the latest WordPress updates and versions.
- Find out how invested they are in WordPress’s evolution. Ask how they stay informed about new features and trends within the platform.
- Request a copy of their portfolio: Request examples of projects where they successfully implemented the latest WordPress functionalities.
- Consider how agile their skills are: Assess their ability to anticipate and adapt to upcoming WordPress developments.
- Evaluate their approach to strategy: Discuss their strategies for ensuring clients’ websites stay cutting-edge in terms of technology and user experience.
Q2 – How Well Can You Integrate with In-House Teams?
In the collaborative world of digital agencies and fast-paced online business, effective teamwork is vital. Your WordPress developer must seamlessly integrate with your in-house teams, complementing the diverse range of services you offer, and your approach to project management.
To find out more about how well your WordPress freelancer will integrate with your existing team, we suggest that you:
- Evaluate their communication skills: Effective collaboration often hinges on clear communication. Assess how well the developer articulates their ideas, discusses challenges, and handles basic communication like email and phone calls.
- Check references: Reach out to previous clients or colleagues who have worked with your chosen freelancer. Ask about their experiences regarding teamwork, flexibility, and ability to collaborate with diverse teams. Additionally, verifying their skills in areas like custom theme development, plugin development, and other advanced web development skills will be beneficial.
- Assess adaptability: In fast-paced environments, adaptability is crucial. Discuss scenarios where the developer had to adjust to changes in project scope, timelines, or team dynamics, and evaluate how well they navigated these situations.
- Ask about their familiarity with collaborative tools: Inquire about the tools and platforms the developer is familiar with for team collaboration. Proficiency in project management tools, communication platforms, and version control systems can be hugely beneficial for seamless integration.
Q3 – Is Your Portfolio Diverse or Niche?
As a digital agency or established business, you’ll know who your customers are, and what type of value they’re seeking from you.
Your WordPress developer’s portfolio should include clients of a similar nature or showcase experience with the ideal customer base you aim to attract, aligning with this goal.
Whether you focus on a specific niche or cater to various industries, their portfolio should reflect the level of diversity or specialization you require.
To determine if your freelance WordPress developer has a portfolio that aligns with your business needs, consider the following points:
- Client alignment: Ensure the developer has experience working with clients similar to your target audience.
- Industry expertise: See if the portfolio reflects expertise in the specific industry or industries you serve.
- Scale of projects: Assess whether or not the developer has handled projects of a similar scale to what you anticipate assigning to them.
- Positive outcomes: Review project outcomes and successes to ensure alignment with your goals.
- Creative adaptation: Check for creative adaptation to different client requirements and sectors.
- Specializations: Evaluate how specialized your WordPress specialist is in areas like WordPress plugins, and custom themes.
Tip: Customer engagement is a significant trend. But it’s also important to consider how in-tune every professional WordPress developer or specialist is with topics like accessibility, diversity and inclusion, and global industry standards.
Q4 – What’s the Biggest WordPress Challenge You’ve Overcome?
Success stories are inspiring, but understanding how a WordPress developer deals with challenges when things go wrong can reveal a lot about their work ethic and trustworthiness.
Overcoming WordPress hurdles isn’t always easy, and honest discussions about their difficulties can provide valuable insights.
To assess your WordPress freelancer’s commitment to transparency and quality work, consider the following:
- Open communication: Evaluate their level of transparency in discussing challenges and setbacks they’ve faced during projects.
- Learning experience: Inquire about what they learned from challenging situations, and how that influenced their subsequent work.
- Client communication: Find out how they communicate challenges to clients, and manage their expectations.
- Preventive measures: Discuss the strategies they employ in order to anticipate and prevent potential challenges.
Tip: The most talented WordPress developers are usually the ones whose skills extend beyond coding. Look for freelance WordPress developers who are also highly skilled in overcoming challenges in areas like client management and WordPress site security to maximize the value of their services.
Q5 – How Well Can You Work to Other People’s Deadlines?
Digital agencies and fast-paced online businesses are driven by deadlines. So, your freelance developer must be able to keep up and adapt to your client’s requirements as needed.
To ensure this is the case, focus on assessing their:
- Approach to project communication: Evaluate how effectively the developer communicates regarding project timelines and deadlines.
- Time management strategies: Inquire about projects they’ve completed under tight deadlines, and how they successfully managed their time.
- Flexibility: Assess their flexibility in adapting to shifting priorities, and urgent client requests.
- Project planning skills: Discuss their approach to project planning, and how they allocate time for different phases of WordPress development.
- Collaboration with teams: Understand how well they collaborate with other team members to meet collective deadlines.
- Ability to handle pressure: Inquire about their experience working under pressure, and delivering results within tight timeframes.
UnlimitedWP: Your Key to Partnering with the Right WordPress Developer
Finding the perfect WordPress web developer is vital in ensuring your agency or business survives and thrives in the digital world. To ensure you’re working with the best WordPress developers for your unique requirements, consider partnering with UnlimitedWP.
Our team of experts can help you make the right choice, and find the best WordPress developer to support your operations and drive better results.
Ready to take the next step?
Hiring WordPress developers and specialists doesn’t have to be difficult — but it does have to be strategic! Book a demo call with UnlimitedWP today, and find out how we can help you hire WordPress developers who meet your specific needs, and ensure your projects are handled with expertise and precision.
