Joomla developer

If you have decided to use Joomla for your website, you will need to hire a Joomla developer. Depending on the requirements of your project, you might need different things. So it is important to have a clear understanding of your website’s functionality requirements and what exactly you want.

Having your website functionalities sorted before you start hiring will ensure that you do not waste time and money in the process later. Think about what you want included – whether you will have a blog component, photo gallery, online store, contact forms, social media integration, etc. The more you figure out upfront, the easier it will be for your Joomla developer to do the work better and faster.

After you have done that, here are 10 questions to ask a Joomla developer before hiring them for your project.

What do I own after the website is built?

You need to know what you will own after the website is built. Some developers and agencies set up hosting, domain names, email, and other elements on their accounts. You should avoid this – the best case is that you own all the online accounts, including domains, hosting, analytics, and so on.

How long will it take to build the Joomla website?

Of course, the duration might be different depending on the complexity of the project. But you need to know how long approximately the project will take – 3 to 6 weeks is pretty common for a standard Joomla website.

Is there going to be a mobile version?

You have to make sure that your Joomla website is mobile friendly as mobile is getting bigger and bigger each day. Your Joomla developer should either create a separate mobile template or build the website using responsive design to ensure that it is mobile friendly.

What’s your billing process?

Some developers will take the whole payment upfront, while others offer part payments. Discuss the billing process upfront to ensure that you are fully aware of the final bill you will receive.

What will be included in the Joomla website?

As already mentioned, you should discuss upfront all the functionalities that will be included in your Joomla website. This way, you will avoid time delays and additional costs in the development process.

Will my Joomla site be SEO friendly and optimized?

It is important to know the difference between SEO friendly and SEO optimized websites. The first one means that search engines will be able to crawl the website and take copies of the pages to put in their index. The second means that the content and keywords will be optimized to rank in search engines.

Is the Joomla website going to be secure?

You want to avoid hacker attacks as much as possible. Ensure that the Joomla developer you will hire will take care of your website’s security, especially when using third-party components.

What are the ongoing costs for my Joomla website?

Joomla is a free download, so other than domain name and hosting, there should not be any additional ongoing costs. But, developers might use additional services, so ask about any fees or retainers you should be aware of.

Who is responsible for the content?

Most business owners prefer to add content and update the website by themselves – after all, this is the whole point of having a website built in a content management system.

Do you offer support after you build the site?

Some developers provide the option for support after the website is built. Ask whether there is any support available in case you need it.

A Joomla developer is quite a broad term, so before you start looking for one, you need to set your requirements and criteria straight.

There are four most common areas of expertise on the Joomla developer market:

A site builder uses their knowledge of templates and extensions to build websites by using already created solutions. Best for small businesses as they provide good value at a lower market rate.
A template skinner knows CSS and HTML and can take someone else’s design to turn it into a Joomla website design. They are best for graphic designers who want to adapt their design to their website.
A web designer can also create custom designs and alter existing ones. Their value depends on their abilities and the complexity and size of the website.
An extension developer is technical and can create custom Joomla extensions. They can also solve different problems by using their knowledge of the platform.

A Joomla developer can fall in more than one category, but you want to know what kind of projects they have worked on similar to yours.

Should you hire a freelance Joomla developer or a company?

Both freelancers and companies have their pros and cons.

When you hire a freelance Joomla developer, you are working directly with the person, speeding up the outcome, and bringing results faster. They can be rather flexible and often work at lower rates. But you might encounter a lack of professionalism and poor service, and the results can be variable.

When you hire a team of developers, you get access to multi-layered services to address various issues – SEO, programming, design, marketing, etc. Development companies offer more stability and deeper experience pools, as well as professional service and results. But the service is more costly and less flexible, and there is the risk that you get a thin company – as some entrepreneurs mark themselves as a company while, in reality, they outsource your project.

To choose the best fit for your project, consider your business needs. For example, if your project is very small, a freelancer developer might be a good fit. But if you have a more complex project, require some guidance in the process, and can not invest a lot of your time in the process, a development company would better suit your needs.

Where to look for your Joomla developer

There are several main resources that you can use to find your Joomla developer.

Referrals are always a good way to find help so if you have colleagues or friends that use Joomla, ask them for recommendations.

Searching on the Internet – this approach can be useful, but it will take some time and effort – you will need to go beyond the first page of results to find a suitable prospect.

Staffing companies – Agency recruiters have their finger on the pulse and are experts in their specialized markets. Using Staff Augmentation, you can easily hire Joomla developers, so you can focus on the growth of your business. You can now take on additional short term projects without adding to long term headcount while having the ability to downsize staff and overhead when the projects are finished.

Posts tagged "Joomla developer"

Before You Hire a Joomla Developer, Ask These 10 Questions