Hiring a WordPress developer can make or break your project. Whether you’re launching a new site, redesigning your current one, or improving performance — choosing the wrong developer can cost you time, money, and peace of mind.
The good news? You can avoid most hiring pitfalls by simply asking the right questions before you start.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through 10 critical questions to ask any WordPress developer — and explain what to look for in their answers.
1. What Type of WordPress Projects Have You Worked On?
Start by asking about their past experience. A good developer should have a clear portfolio showing real-world WordPress projects — not just theme demos.
Look for experience in:
- Custom theme or plugin development
- WooCommerce or membership site setups
- Performance or SEO optimization
If they’ve handled projects similar to yours, it’s a great sign. You can also explore our custom WordPress development services to see examples of expert-level builds.
2. Can You Show Me Live Websites You’ve Built or Maintained?
A credible developer should proudly share live site links.
Pay attention to:
- Website loading speed
- Design consistency
- Mobile responsiveness
- Usability and navigation
Live examples give you a sense of their attention to detail and real-world results, beyond just code samples.
3. How Do You Handle Security and Backups?
Security is often overlooked — until it’s too late. Ask how the developer manages backups, updates, and security hardening.
A strong developer should mention:
- Using trusted plugins for backups (like UpdraftPlus or BlogVault)
- Implementing two-factor authentication
- Following secure coding standards
- Regular malware scans and updates
If they sound vague or unsure, that’s a red flag.
See how our WordPress security hardening process helps keep your site protected from vulnerabilities.
4. What’s Your Process for Project Communication?
Communication breakdowns are a common cause of project delays.
Ask how they’ll:
- Provide updates (Slack, Trello, email, etc.)
- Share progress reports
- Handle revisions or feedback
A professional WordPress developer will have a clear, transparent process — not a “just trust me” approach.
5. Do You Use Page Builders or Custom Code?
Different developers work differently. Some prefer page builders (like Elementor or Gutenberg), while others code from scratch.
This isn’t about one being better — it’s about what’s right for your project.
If you need quick, easy-to-edit pages, a page builder might be fine.
If you need scalability or complex features, custom code is often better.
Learn more about our WordPress page builder services to see how we combine both flexibility and precision.
6. How Do You Ensure Performance Optimization?
A beautiful site is useless if it loads slowly. Ask what techniques they use for performance improvement.
They should mention:
- Image compression and lazy loading
- Caching strategies
- Minified CSS/JS
- Lightweight theme development
A solid developer should aim for Core Web Vitals compliance and fast mobile scores.
7. Do You Follow SEO Best Practices During Development?
Even if you have a separate SEO expert, a developer should still follow technical SEO basics — clean permalinks, schema, alt tags, and fast loading.
If they say “SEO isn’t my job,” that’s a bad sign.
The best WordPress developers build SEO-ready foundations to make your site discoverable from day one.
8. What Is Your Post-Launch Support Policy?
Once your site goes live, issues may arise — bugs, plugin conflicts, or content adjustments.
Ask if the developer provides post-launch support and for how long.
Reliable developers offer:
- At least 15–30 days of support
- Options for long-term maintenance
If they disappear after delivery, that’s not a partnership — it’s a transaction.
9. What’s Your Estimated Timeline and Payment Structure?
Clear timelines and transparent pricing show professionalism.
Be cautious if someone promises to finish complex builds in “just a few days.”
Ask about:
- Milestones and deliverables
- Payment schedule (fixed, hourly, or milestone-based)
- Handling of delays or scope changes
Transparency upfront prevents disputes later.
10. How Do You Stay Updated with WordPress Changes?
WordPress evolves constantly — new features, security patches, and PHP versions.
A strong developer keeps learning. They might mention following:
- The official WordPress developer blog
- Gutenberg updates
- Plugin changelogs
- Reputable resources like WP Tavern or Kinsta
If they’re not staying current, their work could quickly become outdated.
Final Thoughts
Asking these questions before hiring a WordPress developer helps you avoid mistakes and ensures you’re partnering with someone who truly understands your goals.
But if you don’t have time to vet developers yourself, HireWPDevs.io does all this work for you — from skill testing to quality assurance.
We connect you with pre-vetted, experienced WordPress experts who know how to deliver fast, secure, and scalable websites.