Top 35 Tips to Hire a WordPress Developer

Let’s be honest…

Hiring a WordPress developer can feel like walking into a maze with no map. Do you go for the cheapest? The one with the flashiest portfolio? The one your cousin recommends?

One wrong move, and suddenly your “3-week project” becomes a 3-month saga with disappearing acts, broken buttons, and budget blowouts.

But don’t worry! We’ve been there. And after working with 100+ developers across projects (some wins, some lessons), I’ve compiled the most practical, no-BS guide to hiring the right WordPress developer.

Let’s dive in.

Phase 1: Set Yourself Up for Success

1. What’s your website’s job?

Is it a portfolio? A store? A lead machine? Be clear. If you’re vague, you’ll get vague results.

2. List the must-haves

Want a payment gateway? Booking system? Chatbot? List it. Otherwise, you’ll hear “That’ll cost extra” halfway through.

3. Budget & Timeline: Be Real

Fast. Cheap. Good. Pick two. If you’ve got $200 and a 5-day timeline, don’t expect Amazon-quality. But with clear expectations, even $500 can go a long way.

4. One-time help or long-term partner?

Freelancer for small jobs. Agency or dedicated dev for ongoing work. Don’t expect a weekend warrior to be your CTO.

5. Designers are not always developers

Looks aren’t everything. That sleek homepage? It might break when you click “Buy Now” if a designer did the dev work.

6. Freelancer vs Agency vs In-house

• Freelancers: Affordable but need direction.
• Agencies: Expensive but reliable.
• In-house: Great if you’ve got steady dev work.

7. WordPress.org or WordPress.com?

Go self-hosted (WordPress.org) if you want freedom. WordPress.com is okay for bloggers and hobbyists – not businesses.

8. Show them what you love

Bookmark 2–3 websites you like. This saves a ton of back-and-forth later.

Phase 2: Finding the Right Talent

9. Go beyond job boards

Sites like Codeable, Toptal, and even niche Facebook groups are goldmines. Better quality than random Fiverr gigs.

10. Ask around

Someone in your network probably knows “a guy.” Personal referrals are often the safest bets.

11. GitHub > Resume

If they can show you real projects on GitHub, it’s better than a 5-star rating on a freelancing site.

12. LinkedIn filters are your friend

Search: “WordPress Developer + Elementor + WooCommerce” and sort by location or experience.

13. Check testimonials—but read between the lines

“Great work” means nothing. Look for patterns like “met deadlines,” “clear communication,” or… “ghosted halfway” (red flag!).

14. Avoid falling for flashy designs

Some devs rely on pretty themes with zero backend skills. Ask, “Did you build this from scratch or customize a theme?”

15. Location doesn’t always matter—but time zones do

I’ve worked with incredible devs from Serbia to Surat. What matters most? At least 2 hours of overlap with your working day.

16. Match them to your industry

Launching an eCommerce store? Find someone who’s actually built a few. A developer who’s only worked on blogs won’t cut it.

Phase 3: Tech Stuff (That Actually Matters)

17. Can they code?

Even if they use Elementor or Bricks, they should understand PHP, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

18. Page builder experience helps YOU later

Want to edit your site without begging your dev? Make sure they’re good with Elementor, Divi, or Bricks.

19. Ask: tweak or build?

Some devs can only customize pre-built themes. Others create custom ones from scratch. Know what you need.

20. Test their WordPress IQ

Ask something simple:
“What’s the difference between add_action and add_filter?”
If they mumble, that’s your cue to run.

21. Speed optimization is non-negotiable

Slow sites kill conversions. Ask if they use tools like WP Rocket, image compression, and CDN. If not? Keep scrolling.

22. Basic SEO knowledge is a must

No, they don’t need to be SEO experts. But they should know how to use heading tags, schema, clean URLs, and image alt-texts.

23. WooCommerce experience? Ask for proof

Selling online? Don’t just ask “Can you do WooCommerce?” Ask: “Can you show me a store you built?”

24. APIs = Flexibility

Want to integrate with Google Calendar, Zapier, or a CRM? Ask if they’ve done API work before.

Phase 4: Communication & Red Flags

25. The tools they use tell a lot

If they say, “Just WhatsApp me,” be careful. Real pros use Slack, Trello, or ClickUp. It’s a sign they’re organized.

26. Timezone overlap = sanity

You don’t need 8 hours of overlap. Even 2-3 hours makes feedback loops faster.

27. Always ask for a Scope of Work

No SOW = scope creep = surprises.
Make sure the deliverables, timeline, pricing, and feedback process are documented.

28. Vague pricing = future fights

“Depends on requirements” is okay at first, but get clarity fast. What’s included? What’s extra?

29. How many revisions?

You’ll want to tweak stuff, everyone does. Clarify how many rounds of edits are included.

30. Ask: “What happens after launch?”

Who fixes bugs? Who handles updates? Is there any support included? Don’t assume, just ask!

Phase 5: Final Filters Before You Say YES

31. Test Task > Interview

A paid test task beats a 30-minute Zoom call. It shows how they actually work.

32. Ask for a quick case study

Get them to walk you through a past project. What was the challenge? What did they solve?

33. Version control matters

GitHub, Bitbucket, GitLab – if they don’t use one, that’s a red flag. Real devs don’t code on live sites.

34. No pirated plugins, please

Illegal themes/plugins = security risks. Ask where they source premium tools from.

35. Will they teach you?

Once your site is ready, will they show you how to update blog posts or swap banners?
Great devs empower you. They don’t trap you.

Bonus Insight: How Much Should You Pay?

Here’s a rough idea (but always judge based on skills, not zip code):