Why hiring the wrong developer costs MORE than hiring the right one
Your story: “I’ve seen clients come to me after paying $200 for a site that broke in 2 weeks”
Promise: “I’ll show you exactly what to look for (and what to avoid)”
Where to Find WordPress Developers?
Option 1: Freelance Platforms
- Fiverr (pros/cons)
- Upwork (pros/cons)
- Freelancer.com (pros/cons)
Option 2: Agencies
- When this makes sense ($3K+ budgets)
- When it’s overkill
Option 3: Local Developers
- Benefits of in-person
- Higher costs
Option 4: Referrals
- Best option if you have them
- Ask business owners you trust
My recommendation: Start with freelance platforms (Fiverr/Upwork) for small businesses. Look for developers with 100+ reviews and 7+ years experience.
What Affects WordPress Website Cost?
1: No Portfolio or Generic Examples
What to look for:
- 10+ real client examples
- Variety of industries/styles
- Live links (not just screenshots)
Number of Pages
- “I can build any website” but shows 2-3 generic examples
- All examples look identical (using same template)
- No live links (sites may not exist)
2: Too Cheap to Be True
Realistic pricing:
- Basic site (3-5 pages): $500-1,500
- Standard site (6-10 pages): $1,000-2,500
- E-commerce: $1,500-4,000
Red flag pricing:
- “Professional website $50”
- “E-commerce store $100”
3: Poor Communication
Good communication:
- Responds within 24 hours
- Asks clarifying questions
- Explains technical things simply
- Proactive updates
Red flag:
- Takes 3+ days to respond
- Vague answers
- Doesn’t ask about your business/goals
- No check-ins during project
4: No Clear Process
Good developer has:
- Clear timeline (e.g., “5-7 days”)
- Defined deliverables
- Revision policy
- Payment milestones
Red flag:
- “It’ll be done when it’s done”
- No revision policy
- Asks for 100% upfront
- Changes scope mid-project
5: Doesn't Ask Questions
Good developer asks:
- “What’s your business goal?”
- “Who’s your target audience?”
- “Do you have branding guidelines?”
- “Any examples of sites you like?”
Red flag developer:
- Just says “send me your content”
- Doesn’t ask about your goals
- Starts building without understanding your business
Why this matters: They’re building a template, not a custom solution for YOU.
6: Promises Unrealistic Timelines
Realistic timelines:
- 3-5 page site: 5-7 days
- 10-page site: 10-14 days
- E-commerce: 14-21 days
Red flag:
- “10-page e-commerce site in 24 hours”
- “I can deliver anything in 2 days”
Reality: Quality work takes time. Fast + Cheap + Good – pick two.
7: Won't Teach You to Update the Site
Good developer:
- Provides training video
- Walks you through admin panel
- Answers questions after delivery
Red flag:
- “You can’t edit anything yourself”
- “You have to pay me for updates”
- No documentation/training
This creates dependency – they want you to keep paying for simple updates.
8: Uses Nulled/Pirated Themes or Plugins
Good developer:
- Uses legitimate themes (paid or free from official sources)
- Licensed plugins
- Original code
Red flag:
- Offers “premium themes free”
- Uses “cracked” plugins
- Site has suspicious code
Why this is dangerous:
- Security vulnerabilities
- No updates (breaks over time)
- Could get your site blacklisted
- Legal issues