How to Hire a Web Developer?

Finding a web developer that understands your needs is a nightmare. But someone has to do it. Hiring the right candidate to build your website is even more paramount now in days when competition is so stiff and costs are very high. So, we’ve written this post – with all the steps necessary to help you find the right person for the job.

With the rise of internet usage, it has never been more important to have a website. Aspiring entrepreneurs who want to start their own business need a place for people interested in what they offer to find them. The problem is that not everyone can build a website from scratch, which is where web developers come in!

Web developers are able to take an idea and turn it into reality by designing and programming websites with the right tools. If you are looking for someone amazing, keep reading for all you need to know on how to hire one!

How To Hire A Web Developer: 5 Steps For Success

Step 1 – Define the scope of your project

It starts by outlining what you want to accomplish with your website. This includes the type of website you need and for what purpose.

For example, do you need a website to serve as an online store or you need a site to help you generate business leads? Determine if your site would require unique features, coding or special integrations?

Only when you know what you want can you seek out someone to help you achieve your goals.

Step 2 – Figure out the type of web developer you need

There are many different types of web developers. Some specialize in a specific type of website while others can do it all, providing that the cost is right and you have enough time to wait for them to get around to your project.

What are your options? Consider the following:

Web developer Vs. Web designer

The first question to ask yourself is whether you need a web developer or a website designer. Web designers and developers, though often used interchangeably albeit mistakenly, are two different types of professionals with different skill sets, so it’s important to know the difference between them before making your decision.

A web designer understands how to design the look of your site, including color scheme, typography and layout. They provide you with a visual representation of what your website will look like before it is built. A web developer has skills in HTML coding, CSS styling and JavaScript programming that you need if you want to be able to interact with your website in an interactive way.

A web designer is the best person to execute your design ideas, but a web developer can help you create new features on what’s already been created. They are two very different roles and it’s important that they aren’t confused with one another.

In most cases, people who need to have their site redesigned will go with the website design approach while those looking for new features or functionality typically go with hiring a web developer. If you’re not sure what it is that your business needs, speak to someone who has experience in this area.

Front-end or Back-end Developer?

The next question to ask yourself is whether you need a front-end or back-end developer.

Front-end developers:

Responsible for the appearance of your website – colors, graphics, animations and other elements the website user sees. They are excellent website designers.

In charge of making sure it looks right – the user Interface(UI) and is easy to navigate. Work on things like HTML, CSS and JavaScript programming in the front-end of a website. And they can customize your site according to your needs.

Back-end developers:

Responsible for the functionality of your website – the server side of the site. They are website UX experts.

In charge of making sure it’s secure and can handle large amounts of traffic. They are proficient in techs like PHP, MySQL or Ruby programming in the backend of a website.

Full-stack Developer

Full-stack developers  are web developers that are proficient in both front-end and back-end work. They are usually the most expensive option, but they can handle anything you throw at them. For example,  they can design your website, make sure it’s secure and handle large amounts of traffic while also creating the functionality that you need.

A full-stack developer is a great option if you have high demands or are looking for someone to take care of everything without needing external help from any other professionals. The benefit of hiring a full-stack developer in such an instance is that you won’t have to incur extra cost  that is typically associated with hiring more than one person – for example, using a web designer and developer.

Freelance web developer or hiring a full-time web developer?

When looking for web developers you’ll also find that you also have different options: freelance and full-time.

Hiring Freelance web developers

Freelance web developers work on an as needed basis either for a set fee or on an hourly basis. For example, they can create your website for a one-time-fee. They also present an inexpensive option for those who want to take a trial-and-error approach and are not sure what type of developer they need.

Hiring a full-time developer

This is typically the most expensive option but it’s also a long-term investment for your business. It is ideal to hire a full-time web developer when you need to have someone who is dedicated full-time. A good example of this would be for a company that has a large website with complex functionality and needs a web developer to work on the site full-time and fix problems as they arise.

Step 3 – Craft a detailed Job Description

From your findings and answers in the first two steps, next, create a job description based on your needs. This will be your blueprint to the type of person you want to hire and what skills they should have.

What to consider when creating your job description

The specific tasks that need to be completed

Do you want someone who can design and code your site, or do you have a graphic designer lined up for this as well? Do you need somebody to help with social media integration, updates, content management systems like WordPress.com or even an agency partner to take care of everything?

Qualifications for the project

Do you need someone who has a college degree in Computer Science with at least five years of experience, or is somebody with less than two years of web design skills and a recent portfolio? Make sure when your job description is complete that it reflects what you are looking for.

 The benefits of preparing a job description includes:

• The description in itself would weed out unqualified candidates. For example,  if you require a degree in computer science, then candidates without the requisite qualifications would not apply.

• The job description can be used for your company’s online posting to attract qualified and interested candidates

• It would help you keep your project focused.

• The person applying for the job knows what is expected of them before even starting the application process. So, there will be less chance of miscommunication between employer and employee if they have done research about your expectations before getting started.

• Prospective web developers can use the information to give you a near accurate quote for the price of your project.

Once the job description is complete, it’s time to post it on sites like Upwork.com or Freelancer.com where people can apply their skills within your requirements in hopes of being hired for this great opportunity!

Step 4 – Post your Job Description to attract qualified web developers

Post your job description to sites like Upwork.com, Freelancer.com etc.

In order for people who are looking for jobs on these sites to be able to find your post, create a detailed title that will attract the right people. For example, “Web Designer with at least two years of experience and a degree in Computer Science required”

Another option: You can also share your job description/postings with friends, family, and other professionals in the industry who are good at recruiting. They will be happy to help you out!

You can also try posting your job description to Classifieds, LinkedIn, Facebook, and other sites.

Step 5 – Evaluate prospective web developers

Once you post your job description and the response from interested candidates is flowing in, it’s time to evaluate them to weed out any unqualified candidates.

Points to keep in mind when evaluating web developers:

• Are they as professional on the phone, emails or in person as their resume and cover letter suggest?
• Do they have an appropriate level of experience for your requirements? Someone who has completed a project similar to yours will have a better understanding of the requirements and timelines than someone who hasn’t. Chances of them getting it right at the first attempt with zero or few mistakes are higher.
• Communication skills – If the person is chatty and responds promptly to your questions, this is an indication of their ability to communicate with clients.
• How many projects have they completed? Can they comment on past work to give you a better idea of their skillset and the results that can be expected?
• Portfolio: this is the best way to judge someone’s skills
• Will they be able to work with you if your timezone differs from theirs?
• Customer reviews: if the person has any, make sure to read them.
• Do they have a good understanding of the design process and how it impacts Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?
• Do they understand your budget? It is important that they are able to work within your budget.
• Do they prioritise customer service? This is especially important if you want an ongoing relationship with your web developer.
• Guarantee: What is their warranty in case the website isn’t completed on time or created according to specifications?

Do the research on whether the person is a good cultural fit too! This may seem like an odd suggestion but there can sometimes be big differences between cultures when it comes to workplace politeness and communication styles etc., which might make hiring someone difficult if you don’t know what to expect from them.

Paid test:

 A paid test will give you an idea of their skillset and if it is worth investing in them. Things to note include: communication, and  the quality of the work.

A paid test means you’ll spend  some money on your part. This could be a problem if you’re on a tight budget. Luckily sites like Hiremotely make sure they screen their freelancers by testing their skills. And more importantly, they offer free trial periods so you can see if the person is the right one for your job.

You should ask prospective web developers questions like:

• Do you have any questions about the project or job requirements?
• How are changes to the website handled in the event that I need to make changes?
• How do you handle budget changes or additional work requests during the process of a website build?

Step 6 – Hire a web developer for your success

After you’ve evaluated the candidates and picked a top quality web developer that ticks the right boxes,  it’s time to get them on board.

The first step is discussing your project and the requirements that you need for it. Ask for their  thoughts and opinion on your requirements. Answer any question they may have.

It’s important to set expectations so that you and the web developer know what is expected of them, what will happen if they are unsuccessful, and what they’ll get in return for their work.

Find a freelancer online: you can take your time to find the perfect web developer for your needs.

Avoid the following:

• Failing to set expectations and agreements in place before you start working with them, which could lead to a lot of problems along the way

• Choosing one that’s too expensive because they are promising more than you need, or less than you need

• Choosing one that doesn’t offer any guarantees in case they don’t complete the task on time or according to your specifications

Final Words:

If this is your first website project ever, then hiring someone else may seem like an overwhelming commitment! Don’t worry too much about how long it will take – just make sure that you can give enough detail in your brief for them and they’ll get back to you as soon as possible. You won’t have any idea of what’s required until after the initial consultation anyway since no one knows exactly what their company needs at this point without further information from you (or anyone else involved).