Why is it so $%@#$ hard to find and retain great WordPress developers?
In episode #64 of the WPElevation.com podcast, Dave explains why the best WordPress developers are so tough to find, and how to solve this problem for your business.
WordPress is already the most popular CMS on the planet and continues to grow. There are WordPress developers coming onto the market every day, but most of them are inexperienced and difficult to work with. The best WordPress developers, unfortunately, never seem to stick around.
The reason is simple: WordPress is an entry-level skill for most php developers. WordPress jobs are almost always small, and WordPress clients are frequently on a very tight budget with little software experience. This can lead to headaches as smaller jobs with novice clients are tricky to estimate and delivery while maintaining profit.
A solid LAMP stack programmer will quickly realize that they can increase their income by targeting larger jobs with more professional clients, usually be moving on to other frameworks like Zend or Magento in hopes of attracting bigger jobs. This makes the WordPress development world a bit of a revolving door – new, inexperienced programmers jumping in every day while the best WordPress developers quickly gain experience and move on to something else.
It’s frustrating, but there’s a simple fix and that’s to pay top market rates. Avoiding cheap developers will prevent the headaches associated with inexperienced contractors. Paying at the top of the market means you can attract those top developers, and although it may not last forever you’ll be able to hang on to them as long as possible.
Need help? We always know where the best WordPress developers are and are happy to refer.
Photos by ~Brenda-Starr~, JohnONolan.
Dave Hecker
Latest posts by Dave Hecker (see all)
- Empowering Developers: The Software Estimation Hotseat - April 18, 2017
- Impressions from Lviv IT Arena 2016 - October 11, 2016
- Contracts with Russian Teams: Interview with Gene Taschkinov - September 30, 2016