How to Hire a WordPress Hosting Engineer
There’s a reason why hosting companies like WordPress offer their services for free: it’s because the margins are high enough that some vendors will happily take your money. On the other hand, experienced engineers charge thousands because they know how to leverage the power of the web to generate revenue.
You’re probably wondering how you can afford to pay a professional to help you run your website. After all, it’s free software and anyone can host a website for free.
The answer is simple: by hiring someone to build you a custom platform from scratch. A platform that is stable, scalable, and mobile-friendly.
Why Should You Build A Custom Web Platform?
It might seem like a good idea to just grab some pre-made software and install it on your web hosting account. After all, all you need is a bare minimum to get going and the vendors provide the rest. This could save you a significant amount of money and allow you to focus on what’s important to you. However, you might discover that the software isn’t suited to your needs. For example, if you’re looking for a blogging platform, you might end up with a web development tool that was originally designed to power Facebook pages.
The problem with this approach is that often times the developers that build the software aren’t the ones who maintain it. Nor do they care about your needs as a website owner. They might even try to push you towards services that provide them with revenue streams (like selling your data to marketing firms or serving you ads).
This can leave you disappointed and in a bit of a pickle. You’ve either got to find a way to hack the software to work the way you want it to or find someone that cares about your needs and desires enough to build the platform with you in mind.
The Benefits Of A Custom Web Platform
There are several advantages to building a custom web platform. To start, you’re guaranteed to receive updates and bug fixes from the developer that built it. This might not seem like a benefit, but consider this: unless you contact the developer directly, you won’t know when these fixes are made available. When you’re developing a platform yourself, you’re guaranteed to discover any flaws early on and be able to provide feedback to the developer.
Another advantage to building a custom web platform is that you gain full control over the design and functions of your site. This means that no one else will be able to infringe upon your brand identity by accident or on purpose. Finally, if you’re doing this as a side project or for your own personal use, you’d be wise to do it while you have the opportunity. As you get deeper into the process, you’ll realize how much more convenient it is to build the platform now rather than later when you’ve got more experience.
How To Hire A WordPress Hosting Engineer
Just because you have a budget in mind doesn’t mean you have to settle for the first person that answers your call for help. There are several steps you can take to make sure you hire the best possible engineer for the job.
First, do your research. This way, you’ll know exactly what you’re looking for and won’t be forced into a compromise.
Second, set the budget. Just because you have a certain amount of money to spend doesn’t mean that you have to limit yourself to just one company. As a matter of fact, there are several talented WordPress hosting engineers out there that are independent contractors and can be hired individually. This way, you won’t be forced to choose between having a site or paying your bills.
Third, have some sample projects. This will help the engineer understand what you’re looking for and allow you to see exactly how the person will work. It’s not recommended that you show these projects to someone that hasn’t been hired yet. Once they see what you’re asking for, it’ll be much easier to get the best price.
Fourth, have patience. You’ll need to find someone that is capable of building your perfect platform and won’t give up until they’ve delivered. This might seem like an impossible task, but with patience and good communication, anything is possible.
Finally, be prepared to negotiate. This is especially important if you’re planning on hiring an independent contractor because they might not be used to working with other businesses. Be prepared to compromise so that everyone can end up happy.
When Can You Start Testing?
The sooner you can start testing the better because you’ll discover any flaws immediately rather than waiting until the night before deadline to report them.
If you have a beta testing phase, you might want to consider starting it now rather than waiting until the end. For example, if you notice that some images on your site are significantly larger than the required size, you can start a conversation with the engineer to have them reduced in size so that your visitors don’t suffer from unimportant graphics hanging on their browser.
This can help you avoid any unnecessary interruptions and frustrations at a later date. You can start by simply testing their skill by having them build a simple blog for you. You don’t need to go overboard and ask them to build an entire eCommerce store or a custom social media platform. This will only confuse them and potentially waste time. Instead, take them step-by-step through the process so that they can get an idea of what you’re looking for.
Keep Track Of Your Budget
Budgets are always a matter of concern when paying for engineering services, but you can take certain measures to keep track of your budget while you’re searching for a WordPress hosting engineer. For example, you can set up automated payments through PayPal or credit cards so that each month’s bill is automatically paid for without any additional input from you.
At the same time, you can create a work order with the details of what you’re looking for (e.g. A custom blog platform) and who you’ve interviewed (e.g. WordPress Hosting Engineer). This way, you’ll always know where you stand and can make a well-informed decision about whether or not to proceed with the engagement.