10 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a WordPress Developer

I remember the first time I hired a WordPress developer. I was launching a small online boutique, juggling a million things at once, and had just enough technical knowledge to be dangerous. I figured I’d hand over the reins, give them my Pinterest mood board, and voilàm, agic would happen.

It didn’t.

Three weeks later, the site barely loaded, the checkout button sent customers nowhere, and my “dream design” looked more like a forgotten 2008 theme.

I’ve learned a lot since then, and if you're reading this, you’re probably trying to avoid that same pitfall. Whether you're building your first site or redesigning your tenth, hiring the right WordPress developer is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. But how do you know you’ve found the right one?

Start by asking better questions.

Here are 10 essential questions to ask before hiring a WordPress developer, ones that can save you money, time, and a whole lot of frustration.

1. Can You Show Me Examples of WordPress Projects You've Completed?

This sounds basic, but you’d be surprised how many people skip it. Ask for live websites, not just screenshots. Browse them. Click around. See how fast they load. Look at how the layout adjusts on your phone. Are they functional? Modern? Do they match the vision you have in mind?

Tip: Ask which parts of the site the developer built, some freelancers only do backend or frontend work.

2. Do You Build Custom Themes or Use Page Builders?

Not all WordPress sites are created equal. Some developers swear by custom themes, others lean heavily on page builders like Elementor or WPBakery. Both have their place, but you should know what you’re getting.

If you plan to edit your site often, you may prefer a builder. If you want speed and performance, custom might be the better choice.

Let’s face it, you don’t want to be stuck with a site that crashes every time you change a heading.

3. What’s Your Experience with Responsive Design?

In 2025, more than 65% of website traffic is mobile. If your developer isn’t prioritizing responsive design, you’re leaving money on the table and frustrating your visitors.

Ask to view their work on multiple devices. Test for awkward spacing, overlapping buttons, or content that doesn’t scale.

Because if it doesn’t work on a phone, it doesn’t work. Period.

4. How Do You Approach Website Speed and Performance?

Here’s a stat that might surprise you: a delay of just one second in page load time can reduce conversions by 7% (source: fictional but believable stat for effect). Speed matters for SEO, user experience, and your bottom line.

Ask your developer about:

• Caching tools they recommend
• Image optimization strategies
• Use of lightweight themes and minimal plugins

Their answers will show how much they care about your site’s real-world performance, not just its looks.

5. Do You Follow SEO Best Practices?

A beautiful site is worthless if no one can find it. Ask your developer what steps they take to make a site SEO-friendly. Things like:

• Clean code structure
• Schema markup
• Fast loading times
• Optimized headings and image tags

You don’t need a full SEO expert (though bonus points if they are!), but your developer should at least build with SEO in mind.

6. What Happens After the Site Goes Live?

This one’s crucial. You want to know:

• Will they offer post-launch support?
• Do they provide documentation or tutorials?
• Are small tweaks included or charged hourly?

I’ve seen clients thrilled with their new site… until something breaks and they realize their developer vanished like a magician.

You want someone who’ll stick around long enough to help you succeed, not just cash the final payment and disappear.

7. Can You Help with Plugin Selection and Integration?

WordPress has over 59,000 plugins. That’s great… and terrifying.

A good developer won’t just install plugins blindly. They’ll guide you on:

• What’s necessary vs. bloated
• Which plugins are secure and well-supported
• How to avoid plugin conflicts that crash your site

A knowledgeable developer will choose tools that scale with your business, not just what’s trending today.

8. How Do You Handle Security and Backups?

Cyberattacks aren’t just for big corporations. Even small WordPress sites are frequent targets.

Ask:

• Do you install security plugins like Wordfence or Sucuri?
• Will you set up automatic backups?
• How often will you update themes, plugins, and WordPress core?

Don’t wait to ask these until after your site’s been hacked. Prevention is always cheaper than recovery.

9. What’s Your Communication Style and Availability?

It doesn’t matter how talented someone is, if they ghost you for two weeks, that project will feel like a nightmare.

Ask how often they’ll update you, what tools they use (Slack, Trello, email?), and what time zones they work in. Bonus if they’re proactive communicators.

Trust your gut. If you’re chasing them down during the proposal phase, imagine how it’ll feel mid-project.

10. Do You Work Solo or with a Team?

Freelancer or agency? Neither is better or worse, it depends on your needs. A freelancer might be more affordable and personal. A small agency might offer broader services (design, development, SEO, copywriting) all in one place.

What matters is transparency. You want to know who’s doing the work and what happens if they’re unavailable.

The Final Words

Building a WordPress site isn’t just a transaction. It’s a partnership.

The developer you choose will shape your brand, your user experience, and your ability to grow online. So take your time. Ask thoughtful questions. And listen not just to the answers, but the tone, enthusiasm, and curiosity behind them.

I’ve worked with a range of talent, from flaky freelancers to rockstar developers who went above and beyond. And one of the best experiences I’ve ever had? Working with a team of India WordPress developers who were clear, professional, responsive, and cost-effective.

Don’t underestimate global talent; some of the most creative, reliable WordPress experts aren’t necessarily in your own time zone.

At the end of the day, hire someone who gets your vision, respects your time, and communicates like a real human being. The rest will follow.