Guide for WordPress Freelance Opportunities
WordPress Mansura User Group - April 2020 - @NabeelMolham
Who am I?!
- Freelance Web Developer, WordPress Specialist
- Working since 2005
- Started with Macromedia Flash MX (ActionScript)
- Dynamic Content: Server-side <=> XML <=> Flash
- Got into ASP.NET, SQL Server, Oracel
- Very quickly moved to Open Source
- Tried many PHP CMSs and Frameworks
- Started with WordPress version 2.8 and loving it
- Joined Codeable.io in December 2015 and what a ride!
Nabeel Molham
Why WordPress in the first place?!
- Most popular robust and flexible CMS
- ~ 36% market share - W3Techs
- Free and Open Source
- it's a framework underneath
- Default behavior is a Blog but User extendable
- End-User comes first all the time
- Cheap and easy to run
What is the difference between WordPress
Administrator and Developer?
A Good WordPress Administrator/Power-User
- Fully understand WordPress and how to use it
- Understands it's components (Plugins, themes, Post Types, sidebars, etc)
- Have good experience of how to use the system and configure it
- Have good knowledge of the ecosystem (plugins & themes)
- Always plan and outline what to do
- Know what to use with what (good combination)
- Good HTML & CSS knowledge with some basic JS
- Up-to-date with what is going on
- Updates, security and strong passwords
- Documentation & Documentation & Documentation
A Good WordPress Developer
- He/She is a Good Web Developer in the first place
- Mixed with a good WordPress Administrator
- Good knowledge of PHP, MySQL, HTML, CSS, Javascript, etc
- Knows how the system works under the hood (Hooks, templates, WP REST API, etc.)
- He/She is creating/developing the tools for the Administrator to use
- Develop plugins, themes, plugins that integrates with other plugins/themes
- Can work well with existing websites
- Should be able to explore existing code to integrate with it
- Can follow the rabbit whole (tracing, debugging and testing)
What sort of jobs out there?
WP Administrators
- Maintenance and Management
- Setup and configure the system
- Digital Marketing, ex: Content Creation, SEO, Landing Pages, Social Media integration, etc.
- Website Optimization (Website speed, Image optimization, Caching)
- General Consultation
- Basic customizations with HTML & CSS
- etc
What sort of jobs out there?
WP Developers
- Web Development (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, MySQL)
- WordPress general development (WordPress Workflow)
- Specialization in special integration (ex: WooCommerce)
- Mobile Development (ex: WP REST API)
- WP-CLI integration
- Premium plugins and themes (Including addons/extensions for other plugins)
- etc.
Don't forget Web Designers
WordPress is a a website software after all
Freelance Platforms
- General & Easy to access
- Upwork
- Freelancer
- PeoplePerHour
- Guru
- Fiverr - khamsat
- Twine
- Guru
- Truelancer
- Specialized & Hard to access
- Codeable.io
- Toptal
- Envato Studio
- Coding Ninjas
Freelance General Tips
- Always try to come up with the best solution that is sustainable and practical
- Take Responsibility
- Calculate your time based on real estimates
- Admit your mistakes
- After-sale customer service
- Aim to built long-term relationship with your clients
- Always be open to try new things all the time
- Clients are not money bags
- Show your clients that you care, most pf them will hire you if they felt you care and comfortable talking to you
Remember!
The perfect opportunity comes to whom is ready for it
Nabeel Molham
Questions? Reach out!
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