by An attractively designed and well-coded website will help you convert customers, rank high in Google, and avoid frustrating mistakes, as well as downtime.
You can build and maintain your website using a website builder or WordPress theme and plugins. However, working with a developer has many advantages, especially for business owners: you will have more flexibility about the appearance and functionality of your site, you can be sure that everything will work correctly and you will also reduce your workload.
Whether you’re creating a new website, updating it, or simply maintaining it, hiring a developer can save you time and ensure your site performs well.
We’ve seen how to hire a developer for a custom WordPress theme above , and today we’ll walk you through how to hire one for any website project. We will see how to describe your project and identify the type of developer you need, where to find and hire developers, and what your budget should be.
Do you already know the answers to some of these questions? Use the links below to jump directly to the information you need:
Determine the Scope of Your Project
The Types of Web Developers
Where to Hire a Developer
How Much Does a Website Development Cost?
How to Evaluate the Quality of a Web Developer
How to Determine the Scope of Your Project
Plotting out the project requirements will help you choose the right web developer and the right budget. It will also help you communicate exactly what you need, so that it is more possible to have a positive working relationship with the developer.
One of the most important things to consider is whether the project relates to website design, coding, and functionality, or both.
Design Projects: These are normally subject to branding and user experience. Maybe you want a new home page design, a more accessible color scheme , or different fonts.
Coding and functionality projects: These typically relate to the functionality of your site. Maybe you want a chat window or an easier way to add new products to your online store.
Sometimes projects require design and coding work. The redesign of your home page, for example, may need new code to insert videos or collapse and expand text.
What Kind of Developer Do I Need?
There are many different types of website developers, but now that you know the range of your project, you can define which one you should work with.
- Designer vs. Developer
If you only need design work, then a web designer is your best option. However, if it is a functionality-based project, you will need a developer. If your project needs both, you have a couple of options: you can hire a designer and developer, or you can work with an agency.
You may be wondering if a graphic designer could do the job instead of a web designer. While both graphic designers and web designers create branded images such as logos and color schemes, a web designer also uses CSS, HTML, and potentially other programming languages to bring designs to life on your web page.
Furthermore, and perhaps even more importantly, they design with the user experience in mind . This means they consider screen reader accessibility, SEO best practices, and how your website will look on different screens and systems.
We have written a guide on how to hire a designer to create a custom website , so if you decide that a designer is what you are really looking for, take a look. However, if you need a developer, read on.
- Front-end developers vs. Back end
The frontend of your website is the visible part with which the reader interacts. The backend is the part you use to upload new content, perform security updates, and more. Sometimes they are also called ‘client-side’ (frontend) and ‘server-side’ (backend).
These two parts of your website are built with different programming languages, so many developers specialize in one or the other. Before you start talking to developers, you’ll want to define whether this is a frontend or a backend project – or both.
Note that some backend developers describe themselves through the programming languages they specialize in, i.e. PHP developer or Ruby developer. If you are looking for a backend developer online and you know what language you need, try searching for that instead.
- Full-Stack Developer
Let’s say your project involves both frontend and backend for your site. You have two options: you can work with 2 developers or hire a full-stack developer.
A full-stack developer can work on both parts of the website. They have experience with all the major languages and frameworks, and as a result they tend to be more expensive.
It is particularly a good idea to work with a full-stack developer when you are designing a completely new website, as they can advise you on what is best for your site in the long run.
- Freelance vs. Full time
Depending on the complexity and duration of your project, you may find it better to work with a freelancer or hire a full-time web developer. Both options have their pros and cons, but it shouldn’t be difficult to find what works best for you and your company.
For one-time projects, where no maintenance is needed, a freelance web developer will probably best suit your needs. Similarly, if only minimal maintenance is required, an agency or a freelancer will help you keep your website working properly and costs will be reduced.
However, if you think your website is going to need regular and thorough updates or maintenance, then it might be better to hire a full-time employee. However, this also means that you have someone you trust, ready to fix whatever happens to your site. Larger businesses with more complex websites, such as banks and streaming services, often have a team of in-house developers.
Alternatively, you could bring in a full-time independent contractor for the duration of your project. This works well when your project is particularly large or urgent, but you don’t expect significant long-term maintenance. You benefit from having a dedicated web developer on the team, but you don’t have to commit to a long-term contract.
Where to Hire a Developer
There are many places where you can hire a professional developer or even a team of developers online. The best option for you will depend on your priorities and amount of time. Here are some options:
With Pritapal Bhangu – Full stack developer in Brisbane, you will have a dedicated project manager and access to a team of professional developers. It doesn’t matter if you need them to work on design, WordPress development, page speed optimization or anything else – your project manager will always locate a specialist to work on your website.
