WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems (CMS) in the world, powering over 30% of all websites. That means there’s a lot of demand for wordpress developer! If you’re thinking about becoming a WordPress developer, or are already working as one, here are 5 essential skills you need to succeed.
Define your goals upfront
Before you even start searching for a developer, take some time to sit down and think about what you want to achieve with your website. Do you want to increase traffic? Generate more leads? Make more sales? Once you know what your goals are, you can communicate them clearly to your developer and work together to create a plan to achieve them.
Find a developer who shares your vision
It’s important that you find a developer who shares your vision for your website. Take the time to read through their portfolio and see if their style aligns with what you’re looking for. A good developer will also be able to provide insights and suggestions on how to improve your site based on their experience with other projects.
Be clear about what you need help with
When you approach a developer, be clear about what kind of help you need. Do you need someone to make changes to an existing site or do you need someone to build a site from scratch? If you’re not sure, ask for a consultation so that the developer can assess your needs and give you an accurate quote.
1. Strong PHP skills
PHP is the programming language that WordPress is built on. So, if you want to be a WordPress developer, you need to have strong PHP skills. This includes being able to code custom functionality, troubleshoot errors, and performance issues.
2. Ability to work with MySQL databases
MySQL is the database system that stores all the data for a WordPress website (e.g. posts, pages, comments, etc.). As a WordPress developer, you need to be able to work with MySQL databases in order to create custom database tables, run queries, and optimize database performance.
3. Knowledge of front-end technologies
While the back-end is important for a WordPress developer, it’s also necessary to have front-end skills such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. This is because a large part of being a WordPress developer involves working with themes and plugins that utilize these technologies.
4. Familiarity with Apache or Nginx servers
WordPress websites are hosted on web servers such as Apache or Nginx. As a WordPress developer, you should have at least some familiarity with how these servers work in order to be able to troubleshoot hosting issues and configure server settings as needed.
5. Understanding of security best practices
Last but not least, it’s important for WordPress developers to have an understanding of security best practices. This includes things like hardening your development environment, using secure coding practices, and keeping up-to-date on the latest security vulnerabilities. By having these 5 essential skills, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a successful WordPress developer!
These are just a few things you should know if you’re thinking about becoming a WordPress developer—or are already working as one.
