How Much Does It Cost to Hire Someone to Do a WordPress Website?

When you need someone to do web-related work for you, how much do you pay? You might think it’s a simple question but there are a few important factors to keep in mind. To give you an idea, we’ve put together a rough guide on hiring a cheap, but competent, developer to build you a simple blog or website from scratch. So before you start paying exorbitant amounts to popular naming agencies, be sure to check out our guide so you can get the best bang for your buck.

Finding The Right Expert

As the name would suggest, a web developer is someone who specializes in the online development of websites. Not all website developers are created equal so make sure you’re only getting the best by checking out their portfolio, previous work (if any) and client testimonials. Never, ever, ever, engage with a web developer who offers cheap services—this is a red flag. Instead, look for a reputable agency that offers a whole range of services including development, design and content curation. Having a team of experts under one roof means you’re less likely to be hit with unpredictable costs and delays. Furthermore, make sure you’re working with a company that is a member of the International Web Association (IWA). Not only will this bolster their professional standing but it also means they are committed to continuous education and keeping up-to-date with the latest web development trends and practices. This also provides you with a sense of reassurance that you’re making the right decision for your business.

Understand The Basics

A lot of small businesses don’t have the time or the expertise to do things the right way. For those who do, they usually prefer to outsource as much as possible to avoid dealing with the minutiae of website management. That’s why it’s essential that you, as a business owner or manager, are aware of and understand these principles. After all, if you’re still doing everything yourself, you’re bound to make at least a few obvious mistakes. These will only cost you time and money in the long run. So be sure to have a sit-down with your developer and go over the following topics:

• What are the objectives of your site?
• What do you hope to achieve?
• Why should someone visit your site instead of just going to your competitors?
• What features or capabilities does your site have that makes it special?
• How will you measure the success of your website?
• What is your end-game?

This is an important step because if you don’t know what you’re looking for, it will be difficult to find the right person for the job. Your developer will need to understand what you want and can then create a working plan that incorporates all those wonderful suggestions you have for the site. While you’re at it, be sure to ask for a copy of their business plan so you have something to review. Many agencies won’t even begin work until they have a signed contract in place. So don’t be afraid to haggle a little bit over the price. A little uncertainty never hurts.

Set A Budget

Budget is always a touchy subject when it comes to spending money. People like to think that they can get something for nothing, but that’s rarely the case. Especially when you’re talking about hiring professional services. The key to a happy and fruitful relationship with your developer is setting a budget and sticking to it. They’ll respect you more for it. Just be sure to set a budget that’s not so low that it discourages them from doing a good job. You don’t want to go through the entire project and find out that you run out of money in the middle. This will leave a bad taste in everyone’s mouth. There are a few proven ways to find the right balance:

• Set a minimum budget and stick to it.
• Pay in advance.
• Don’t be afraid to haggle.

No matter which option you choose, make sure that you’re not under any illusion that this is going to be cheaper than doing it yourself. Especially if you’re paying by the hour, you’re bound to end up spending more money. However, you will be paying for the experience of working with a professional instead of doing it yourself, which is both challenging and sometimes frustrating. If you follow these tips, you’re sure to find the right person for the job and create a beneficial working relationship.

Get A Trial Run

Once you’ve found a developer who you think is right for the job, you need to schedule a trial run. Even if you’ve worked together for a few hours or days, it’s worth having another session where you can sit down and go over everything that needs to be done. During this session, they’ll need to walk you through every step so you can verify that everything is going according to plan. Also, at this point, you should have a clear idea of what your site is going to look like and how it’s going to work. Make sure to add extra time for this session so you can ask any questions you might have about the project. You don’t want to start using the site and then have a glitch that leaves you stuck without anyone to help you. This is why it’s important to get the trial run done before you start paying for the project.

Make Sure You Are Correct About What You Need

It’s very easy for companies to sell you what you want rather than what you need. For example, you might have asked for a store, and they might have said no problem and then sold you a blog. You might not even know that blogs are a type of store. They can both be found on WordPress.com. So it’s important to make sure that you’re not getting something that you don’t need. If you’re not sure, ask for more information. It’s also important to remember that your developer might not be the best person to ask. So instead, ask someone who knows more about these things. Keep in mind that your entire team might not be as familiar with this area as you are, so make sure to ask for help. You might also want to consider training a member of your staff to help you with these kinds of transactions if you think that this is even slightly tedious. This is why it’s important to get everything in writing before you start work so there are no disagreements about what was said versus what was agreed upon. It’s also important to have a contract that sets out the responsibilities of both parties. This will help you avoid any problems down the line. If everything is spelled out clearly and there are no misunderstandings, then there’s no reason to worry about.

Create An Environment That Motivates Them

When you’re creating a working environment that is both stimulating and rewarding, you’ve created an environment that will attract and retain the best talent. It’s not always easy to find a motivated developer who is also willing to do their fair share of the work. So be sure to provide them with the proper tools so they can get the job done. This could include setting up a proper office with everything they need or paying for premium-rate subscriptions to services like Freshbooks, where they can quickly and easily track client billing. Many agencies offer these types of perks to high-performing employees so be sure to consider them if you want to recruit and retain top talent.

Do Your Research

To find the right person for the job, you need to do some research. Fortunately, the internet makes this easier than you’d think. You can start by searching for their name, along with keywords, such as “wordpress expert” or “web developer”. This will give you a good starting point. From there, you can drill down into additional information, such as their prior experience, clients, portfolio and, of course, their price. Remember, there are cheap and there are expensive. You just need to know what to look for.

Consider All The Options

If you’re not blessed with an abundance of talent within your organization, there are a number of places you can look for additional help. One option is to hire a virtual assistant to help you with day-to-day tasks. These individuals will be able to help you find a reliable web developer who can meet your deadlines. They will also be able to help you set up a professional appearance on your site, including taking care of uploading images and videos as well as providing content for the media sections of your site.

Remember that the person you choose needs to be a good fit for your organization. Take the time to do some research and make sure you’re making the right choice for the job. You’re sure to be happy with the results.