WordPress developers | The Blog Pros

June 4, 2024

8 Best WordPress Development Tools (Free + Paid)

We’ve developed and launched many successful websites from the ground up. So we know that whether you’re an experienced WordPress developer or a beginner, having the right development tool helps you customize your site and add different functionality.

From our years of experience, some of the best development tools we can recommend include Local WP, WPCode, Duplicator, MAMP, and GitHub Copilot.

In this article, we’ll explain everything we learned while testing the tools and narrow down the best WordPress development tools so you can easily find the right one for your site.

Are you in a rush and want to know which development tools to choose? Don’t worry. Here’s a quick overview of the best tools and plugins you can use.

	Tool	Best For	Price
1	Local WP	Develop and test WP sites on local machine	Free
2	WPCode	Easily insert code for themes, plugins, and features	Free +Paid
3	Duplicator	Migrate WP sites between servers	Free + Paid
4	MAMP	Run a local server environment for development	Free
5	GitHub Copilot	Generate code suggestions for various programming languages	Paid
6	XAMPP	Run a local server environment for development	Free
7	InstaWP	WordPress Sandbox for testing themes & plugins	Free + Paid
8	Theme Check	Check WP themes for errors and best practices	Free

How We Test and Review WordPress Development Tools

To find the best development tools for WordPress, we focused on 5 key areas:

Functionality: We looked for tools that cater to various development tasks, such as creating local development environments, debugging code, automating repetitive processes, easily inserting code into your site, creating backups, and more.
Ease of Use: Is the tool user-friendly and accessible for users of all experience levels? We prioritized tools with simple interfaces, clear documentation, and beginner-friendly features while still offering powerful functionalities for experienced developers.
Integration with WordPress: When reviewing tools, we looked for solutions that integrate seamlessly with the WordPress ecosystem. Seamless integration ensures a smooth development experience and avoids potential conflicts.
Performance: We considered how the tools affect website loading speed, resource usage, and overall user experience. Ideally, the chosen tools should optimize website performance or at least not hinder it.
Community and Support: We also checked if a strong community and support system is available for the tool. A large and active community provides valuable resources and troubleshooting assistance and helps users and developers stay updated on the latest updates and best practices.

Why Trust WPBeginner?

The WPBeginner editorial team has over 16 years of experience in WordPress, digital marketing, website development, and eCommerce. We’ve tried and tested various plugins and software on real websites to find the most suitable ones for our readers’ specific needs.

Want to learn more? Just check out our editorial process.

That said, let’s look at some of the best WordPress development tools.

1. Local WP

Local WP (previously known as Local by Flywheel) is a desktop application designed to simplify the process of creating and managing local WordPress development environments.

Whether you’re a seasoned developer or just starting with WordPress, Local WP offers a user-friendly interface and powerful features to streamline your workflow.

We tested Local WP and found it incredibly easy to set up. Within minutes, we had a fresh WordPress site running on our computer, complete with a custom domain name and SSL certificate. During the setup process, Local WP offers Nginx and Apache servers and different PHP versions to choose from.

Another impressive feature we discovered during testing was the ability to create multisite installations and manage them effortlessly. Local WP also allows you to import existing WordPress sites from live servers, making it perfect for development, staging, and testing purposes.

Pros:

Effortless setup and management of local WordPress sites
Built-in Nginx and Apache servers
Secure development environment with SSL certificates
Support for multisite installations
Easy import of existing WordPress sites
Integration with PHPMyAdmin and WP-CLI

Cons:

Requires some technical knowledge to use advanced features

Why We Recommend Local WP: When reviewing the plugin, Local WP stood out for its ease of use and comprehensive feature set. It’s a perfect solution for anyone who wants to develop and test WordPress sites locally without the complexities of setting up a server.

Pricing: Local WP is a free WordPress development tool.

2. WPCode

WPCode is one of the best WordPress development plugins for your website. It allows you to add custom code snippets to your WordPress site without directly modifying your site’s theme files. This keeps your theme safe from updates that might overwrite your code and means that you can make changes without risking breaking your site.

We tested WPCode extensively and found it to be a user-friendly plugin. It offers a feature-rich code snippet manager and library. You can choose from pre-built code snippets and instantly add them to your site.

WPCode provides a code editor with syntax highlighting for PHP, JavaScript, and HTML. This makes it simple to write and manage your code snippets, even for those without extensive coding experience.

Adding the WordPress Search Form code in WPCode

Besides that, it offers conditional logic for inserting code based on specific rules, ensuring your scripts only load on the specific pages or sections you need them.

Pros:

Manage custom code snippets without editing theme files
Beginner-friendly code editor with syntax highlighting
Built-in code validation to prevent errors
Insert header and footer code
Create advanced conditional logic rules to load snippets

Cons:

Limited features and functionality in the free version

Why We Recommend WPCode: It is an excellent choice for WordPress users who want to add custom functionality to their site without the complexity of editing theme files. WPCode stood out for its user-friendly interface, comprehensive features, and focus on code safety.

Pricing: WPCode prices start at $49 per year. There is also a WPCode Lite version you can use for free.

3. Duplicator

Is Duplicator the right backup and migration plugin for you?

Duplicator is the best WordPress plugin for cloning a site and creating backups. It also helps you migrate your WordPress site to a new host, domain, or staging environment.

It simplifies the WordPress backup process by creating a single downloadable package containing your entire site’s files and database. This package can be easily stored locally or uploaded to cloud storage like Dropbox or Google Drive for safekeeping.

A choice of backup storage locations in Duplicator

Duplicator comes in handy if you’re creating themes or testing new WordPress plugins. The plugin ensures you can easily revert to a previous version of your site if needed.

We particularly liked the scheduled backup option, which automates the process and ensures you always have a recent backup in case something goes wrong. With a few clicks, you can simply restore WordPress from a backup and revert changes during development.

Pros:

Creates complete website backups
Offers scheduled automated backups
Simplifies website migrations with a user-friendly process
Supports cloud storage for convenient backup
Offers secure backup encryption

Cons:

Advanced features like multisite and scheduled backups require the Pro version
Navigating settings effectively requires some familiarity with WordPress

Why We Recommend Duplicator: Its ease of use and powerful features make Duplicator a standout choice for WordPress users of all experience levels. Whether you need a reliable backup solution or a way to migrate your site to a new host after development, Duplicator offers a user-friendly and efficient way to get the job done.

Pricing: Duplicator prices start at $39.60 per year, and it also offers a free version.

4. MAMP

MAMP (Macintosh, Apache, MySQL, PHP) is free and open-source web development software. The best part is that MAMP gets you up and running in minutes, allowing you to focus on building amazing websites locally on Mac and Windows.

We tested MAMP and found that WordPress installation was quick and simple. It just took a few minutes to get the server up and running. It also provides a clean interface for starting, stopping, and managing your server.

You can easily switch between PHP versions, choose between Nginx or Apache servers, and access the MySQL administration panel directly through the application. It also supports additional languages, including Python and Perl.

Pros:

Free and open-source
Easy installation and configuration
Intuitive interface for server management
Supports multiple PHP versions
Built-in virtual host management
Supports additional language other than PHP

Cons:

Less control over the local environment compared to XAMPP
Fewer dashboard options

Why We Recommend MAMP: It is a great choice for web developers, especially beginners, who need a straightforward way to set up a local development environment on their computers. Its user-friendly interface, ease of use, and open-source platform make it an excellent option for WordPress development.

Pricing: MAMP is a free WordPress development tool. However, there is also a premium version.

5. GitHub Copilot

GitHub Copilot is an AI-powered coding assistant that acts like your virtual pair programmer. It offers intelligent suggestions to complete lines, functions, or even entire blocks of code. When developing a WordPress site, feature, theme, or plugin, Copilot can save a lot of time and increase productivity.

We tested Copilot across various coding projects and were impressed with its versatility. It seamlessly integrated with our preferred IDEs (integrated development environments) like Visual Studio Code, JetBrains IDEs, and Neovim.

Besides that, GitHub Copilot is particularly great at generating code to reduce the time spent writing repetitive tasks. It even understands natural language comments, allowing you to describe the desired functionality and get code suggestions tailored to your needs.

Pros:

Suggests code completions, functions, and entire blocks of code
Analyzes context to provide relevant suggestions
Works with various coding styles and languages
Chat functionality offers additional problem-solving assistance
Easily integrates with different IDEs
Helps reduce time and improve productivity

Cons:

Requires a paid subscription (free trial available)
Code suggestions may require review and potential adjustments

Why We Recommend GitHub Copilot: For developers of all levels, GitHub Copilot offers a valuable productivity boost. By automating repetitive tasks and suggesting relevant code, Copilot frees you to focus on the creative aspects of coding.

Pricing: GitHub Copilot is a paid tool, with prices starting from $10 per month. However, there is also a free trial that you can use to get started.

6. XAMPP

XAMPP, which stands for Apache, MariaDB, PHP, and Perl, is a popular development tool. It is free and open-source, and it allows you to set up a fully functional development environment on your local machine. Using the tool, you can test your code and debug your projects efficiently.

XAMPP takes away the difficulty of configuring individual server components. Its simple interface allows you to easily start, stop, and manage Apache, MySQL, and PHP from a single place.

It is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux-based machines. To learn more, please see our guide on how to create a local WordPress site using XAMPP.

Pros:

Easy installation and configuration
Bundles essential development tools (Apache, MySQL, PHP, phpMyAdmin)
Lightweight and resource-efficient
Free and open-source
Cross-platform compatibility (Windows, macOS, Linux)

Cons:

Limited security features
May require some technical knowledge for advanced configurations

Why We Recommend XAMPP: After testing this tool, we believe it is a great choice for web developers and learners who need a convenient way to set up a local development environment. With its ease of use and comprehensive functionality, XAMPP is a powerful tool that can streamline your development process.

Pricing: XAMPP is a free and open-source development tool.

7. InstaWP

InstaWP is the next WordPress development tool on our list. It lets you create fully functional WordPress environments for testing themes and plugins or showcasing demos to clients.

The best part is that InstaWP installs WordPress in mere seconds. We were consistently amazed by the speed, allowing us to test multiple configurations quickly. InstaWP also lets you create templates containing your preferred WordPress version, PHP configuration, and pre-installed plugins.

We explored its other features, such as the ability to populate your sites with dummy content, manage backups and migrations, and even control access to your sandbox environments. These functionalities streamline the development process and provide greater flexibility.

Pros:

Incredibly fast WordPress site creation
Easy-to-use interface for managing sandbox sites
Template system for consistent development environments
Optional dummy content generation for realistic testing
Backup and migration functionalities

Cons:

Limited base plan restricts the number of concurrent sandbox sites
Advanced features might require upgrading to higher pricing plans

Why We Recommend InstaWP: Our testing revealed that InstaWP is great for developers, agencies, or anyone who juggles multiple WordPress environments. Its speed, ease of use, and template system significantly reduce setup time and ensure consistency.

Pricing: InstaWP offers a free plan that lets you create 3 temporary staging sites. However, paid plans with more features start at $90 per year.

8. Theme Check

Theme Check is a free WordPress plugin that acts as your personal inspector, analyzing your theme’s code for quality and compliance with WordPress’s coding standards.

The plugin offers a comprehensive automated test suite that checks various aspects of your WordPress theme.

It checks for common coding errors, ensures proper use of WordPress functions and templates, verifies the inclusion of essential theme files like stylesheet and template files, and even scans for outdated code or potential security vulnerabilities.

We found the tests to be thorough and informative, providing clear explanations for any flagged issues. Plus, the plugin is very easy to use, as you can run the tests from your WordPress dashboard.

Pros:

Catches a wide range of coding and styling issues
Check your theme with WordPress coding standards
Offers suggestions for improvement
Easy to use with clear results

Cons:

Requires some basic understanding of code to fully understand certain explanations
May not catch all potential issues

Why We Recommend Theme Check: For WordPress theme developers, Theme Check is an essential development tool. It streamlines the development workflow by identifying potential problems early on, saving you time and frustration during the submission process to WordPress.org.

Pricing: Theme Check is a free WordPress plugin.

Which Is the Best WordPress Development Tool?

After testing and reviewing multiple tools and plugins, we recommend different solutions for specific situations.

For instance, if you’re looking for a tool to set up and test WordPress sites locally, then we suggest using Local WP. It is very easy to use, and you can create a local site within a few minutes. Plus, it lets you choose the PHP version and server type.

On the other hand, you can use WPCode to add custom code snippets to your site and add additional functionality. The plugin makes it super simple to insert and manage code snippets on your site without risking breaking anything.

Similarly, you can use Duplicator to migrate and back up your WordPress site during the development process.

FAQs about WordPress Development Tools

1. What are local WordPress development tools?

Local WordPress development tools allow you to set up a WordPress environment on your computer, completely separate from a live website. This lets you develop and test themes, plugins, and modifications without affecting a live website.

2 . What are the benefits of using WordPress development tools?

WordPress development tools let you experiment and make changes without impacting a live website. They also increase efficiency by developing and iterating faster in a controlled environment. You can also work on projects even without an internet connection.

3. Which is better, XAMPP or Local WP?

Local WP is simpler and more user-friendly than XAMPP, making it perfect for beginners. XAMPP requires a bit more technical knowledge but provides more control over the local development environment.

Discover More WordPress Development Guides

We hope this article helped you find the best WordPress development tools. You may also want to see our guide on how to add dummy content for theme development in WordPress and the most common WordPress errors and how to fix them.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post 8 Best WordPress Development Tools (Free + Paid) first appeared on WPBeginner.

May 10, 2024

How to White Label WordPress Development for Digital Agencies (8 Tips)

Are you a digital agency owner looking for a white-label WordPress development service?

Running an agency and managing your clients is tough work. That’s why many agency owners choose to work with white-label partners for their WordPress website projects.

Since we have plenty of WordPress experience, we’ve put together this guide to help you white-label your WordPress development.

In this article, we’ll share some easy tips on how to white-label your WordPress development services.

How to White Label WordPress Development for Digital Agencies

What Is White-Label WordPress Development?

White-label WordPress development allows digital marketing agencies to offer WordPress websites to their clients under their own brand name. This means the client won’t know the website was built by someone else.

White-label WordPress development works by hiring a third-party WordPress freelance developer or agency like Seahawk Media.

Once you have received your client’s project description, you can pass that information to the white-label partner. They’ll build the WordPress website and handle the technical work while you manage the client relationship and present the finished product as your own.

What Are the Benefits of White-Label WordPress Development?

White-label WordPress development offers several advantages for digital agencies and freelancers:

Create a smooth client experience – Ensure brand consistency and build client trust by using your own brand design and logo throughout the website development process.
Save up on WordPress development costs – Building an in-house development team can be expensive. White-label services are often more cost-effective, allowing you to keep your overhead low and potentially increase your profit margins on WordPress projects.
Expand your services – By offering white-label WordPress development, you can add website creation to your service list without hiring your own developers. This helps you attract new clients looking for complete digital marketing solutions.
Focus on scalability – When you partner with a white-label WordPress agency, you can easily take on more projects and increase sales without worrying about the actual development work and staffing limitations.
Let WordPress experts do the job – Benefit from the experience of a team specializing in WordPress development. They can handle complex tasks and ensure your clients’ websites are built to the highest standards.

Now that we have covered the basics, let’s go over some expert tips on white-labeling WordPress web development services for agency owners. Feel free to use the quick links below to skip to your desired section:

Decide What Web Development Work to Outsource
Research Potential WordPress Development Partners
Secure Your Partnership with a Solid Contract
Promote Your WordPress Development Services
Gather a Detailed Project Description from Clients
Keep Your Client and Partner in the Loop
Collect Client Feedback and Keep Improving
Cross-Sell Other Services to Increase Revenue

1. Decide What Web Development Work to Outsource

Before you set out to find a WordPress development agency, you should figure out what kind of projects your target audience or existing clients most likely need.

That way, you can decide which specific expertise to look for when choosing an agency to work with. You will want to work with partners who have the right skills and experience for your client’s needs.

Perhaps the agency specializes in website development. This includes everything from website design and user experience (UX) to front-end and back-end development. This option is ideal for clients who need to create a new website from scratch.

Does your client have a WordPress site already and is looking to add custom functionality to it? Maybe you can outsource a custom WordPress theme or plugin development to a third party.

If your client wants to build an online store, you can outsource the setup of WooCommerce, a popular eCommerce plugin for WordPress.

The white-label development team can help with creating your client’s website, setting up the payment gateways, adding the products, and so on.

You may also want to think long-term and offer ongoing support after the website’s launch. This may include WordPress support and maintenance services like regular updates, security patches, and troubleshooting assistance.

2. Research Potential WordPress Development Partners

Now that you have an idea of what development work to outsource, you can start looking for the right WordPress agency to work with you.

There are so many options on the market. But if you want trusted recommendations, then you can check out our list of the best WordPress development agencies.

We’ve thoroughly reviewed and even worked with some of the companies listed there. So don’t hesitate to go over to their website and say hi!

When finding the right WordPress development partner, you should look for these elements:

List of WordPress services and if they suit your business needs.
Years of experience in WordPress development.
Portfolio and/or client case studies to see if they have worked on projects with your specific needs.
Any explanation about their WordPress development process for white-labeling. If there’s nothing, you can always contact them.
Any experience with specific types of WordPress plugins or themes. For example, some clients may want to use a page builder like SeedProd to make it easier to update their content.
Any mention of security and data protection practices to ensure your client’s website is safe and protected.
Pricing for white-labeling services.
Client testimonials on review platforms or social media. It’s also good to check how they respond to negative reviews.

If you’re looking for a top-notch WordPress development agency, then look no further than Seahawk Media. This white-label WordPress company has worked with 1000+ businesses, including big-name brands like DreamHost, GoDaddy, and Alibaba Cloud.

That being said, there services are available for businesses of all sizes. You can hire them for white-label web design, SEO content, WordPress migration, and more.

You can learn more about the company in our full Seahawk review.

If you’re looking to work with a freelancer instead of a white-label agency, Codeable is a great place to start.

Lots of WordPress agencies use Codeable to find skilled web developers who can deliver high-quality work and meet their client’s needs, all while keeping their own branding.

3. Secure Your Partnership with a Solid Contract

If you have contacted a WordPress development company and they are interested in working with you, you can now prepare a contract for them.

A well-defined contract protects both you and your white-label development partner. It clarifies key details like project scope, timelines, deliverables, payment structures, and communication protocols.

Having everything documented upfront minimizes misunderstandings and ensures everyone is on the same page.

If you want, you can even create a contract agreement form on your agency website and have the third party sign it there.

Here are some elements you should include in the contract:

Project scope – Clearly define the specific website development tasks to be outsourced. Include details like features and any design elements covered by the agreement.
Deliverables and timelines – Outline the expected deliverables (such as website mockups or completed custom plugins) and establish clear deadlines for each project stage.
Payment schedule – Specify the payment terms, including the total project cost, payment milestones, and payment methods.
Revisions and approvals – Define the revision process for design concepts and website development phases. Determine how many revisions are included and who has final approval authority.
Confidentiality and intellectual property – Include clauses protecting your client’s confidential information and intellectual property rights.
White-labeling procedures – Specify how the white-labeling will be implemented. This might include details on removing the development agency’s branding and replacing it with your own.
Warranties and guarantees – Outline any warranties the development company offers regarding the quality of their work and website functionality.
Termination clause – Include a clause outlining the conditions under which either party can terminate the contract.
Dispute resolution – Define a process for resolving any potential disagreements that may arise during the project.

Before finalizing the contract, ensure both you and the development partner have thoroughly reviewed the document. Ask any clarifying questions and ensure all terms are fully understood.

Once satisfied, sign the contract to officially establish your white-label WordPress development partnership.

Note: This does not constitute legal advice, and we are not legal professionals. We recommend discussing any contracts with your attorney or legal team before proceeding into any contractual agreement.

4. Promote Your WordPress Development Services

Now that you have a white-label partner, you can start offering your WordPress development services to potential and existing clients.

One way to do this is by adding WordPress development to the services section of your website.

There, make sure to clearly outline the benefits of the service. For example, if you work with Seahawk Media, then you can mention how you can get a mobile-optimized website affordably and quickly (thanks to Seahawk’s QuickSite service).

Example of a services section about WordPress development

Also, mention the specific services you offer, such as full website creation, custom theme development, and/or WordPress maintenance.

You can also create a landing page that dives deeper into your WordPress development services. You can optimize it for relevant keywords related to WordPress development and even use it as a landing page for search ads.

On the page, you can add a handy request-a-quote form to generate leads and make it easier for users to reach out to you.

Website design request form template by WPForms

If you have a social media presence, then you can announce your new WordPress development services on relevant platforms. LinkedIn is great for attracting businesses that need to make a custom website.

For step-by-step guidance, we’ve created an ultimate guide on how to do lead generation like a pro. This tutorial can give you the tips and tools to convert visitors into leads and, eventually, your next clients.

5. Gather a Detailed Project Description from Clients

Have you secured a client for your WordPress development service? Great! Your next step is to get as much information as possible about their project so that your white-label partner can start working on it.

A thorough project description ensures the development team has a clear understanding of the client’s vision. This includes details like the project’s goals, timeline, target audience, desired functionality, client’s brand identity, website inspiration, and so on.

For this step, we recommend setting up a call with your client rather than just asking for a written document. This allows for a more in-depth discussion about their project needs and fosters a stronger relationship from the get-go.

You can install a WordPress appointment booking form plugin like WPForms to let clients easily book a meeting with you. This feature makes the scheduling process much easier and eliminates any back-and-forth emails.

WPForms appointment booking form template

Additionally, if you don’t have video chat software yet, then we recommend using RingCentral.

With features like screen sharing, video call scheduling, and meeting recording, RingCentral is one of the best video chat tools for small businesses.

Alternatively, you can use a free option like Google Meet or Zoom to communicate with your client.

6. Keep Your Client and Partner in the Loop

Once your white-label partner is on board the project, you should regularly communicate with the development team and your client. The goal is to make sure everyone knows what’s going on with the project.

When working with your partner, we recommend using a project management tool like Asana to keep track of tasks, deadlines, and files. This way, everyone can see what needs to be done and who’s working on what.

You can also create a Trello-like Kanban board on the WordPress dashboard of your client’s website to keep everything in the same place.

Additionally, schedule regular meetings with your white-label partner to chat about the project. This is a chance to discuss any problems and make sure everything is going smoothly.

When the project is almost done, you should check the website for quality standards and common WordPress errors. The website should look good and work great when presented to your client.

As for your clients, you can do weekly or bi-weekly check-ins via email to give them updates on how things are going. Feel free to schedule calls with them to answer their questions and make sure they’re happy with the progress.

7. Collect Client Feedback and Keep Improving

Gathering client feedback about your white-label WordPress development experience can be incredibly helpful. They can help you find ways to improve your service, like making communication smoother or getting websites done even faster.

If your clients love your work, you can ask them for positive reviews to put on your website. This can convince other people to do business with you, too. Social proof is very powerful for converting users into clients.

Here’s an example of a good customer review section on Seahawk Media’s website:

One way to find out your clients’ thoughts is with the WPForms plugin. This plugin makes it easy to add a short and simple feedback form to your agency website.

We also suggest scheduling a follow-up call with your client to discuss the project and get their honest feedback. This allows for a more in-depth conversation about their experience.

8. Cross-Sell Other Services to Increase Revenue

Perhaps your client’s project is done and their WordPress site is published. To create a long-term relationship with them, you can offer them your other existing services to help them succeed.

The more you help your clients, the happier they’ll be, and the longer they’ll stick with you.

For example, maybe they’re happy with the web design, but their content isn’t ranking on Google’s search engine results pages. This is a great chance to offer them your search engine optimization (SEO) and content marketing services.

You can also check in with the client after some time to see what problems might have occurred after the website launch. If the website is too slow, then you can offer a special speed optimization package to make it load faster.

Or, perform a user experience audit if their visitors have been bouncing off of their site much more than usual.

Additionally, you can help your client reach more people through other digital marketing channels like social media or newsletters.

Alternative Ways to White-Label WordPress Development

Perhaps you’re a small WordPress agency or freelancer who can build the website yourself but want more control over your branding. If so, then you may not need a full-blown development agency for white-labeling.

Instead, you can use WordPress plugins that offer white-labeling features. This means you can replace the plugin developer’s branding with your own and create a consistent brand experience for your clients.

One example is to use the White Label CMS plugin to white-label your client’s WordPress admin dashboard.

Another way is to use a reseller WordPress hosting plan like SiteGround’s. This type of service lets you purchase a hosting plan and resell it to your clients under your own brand.

This gives you more control over the hosting environment and lets you offer website development and hosting as a bundled service.

What Is the Best White-Label WordPress Development Service for Digital Agencies?

Based on our experience, Seahawk Media is the best white-label WordPress development service for digital agencies.

With a large team of WordPress experts, Seahawk Media can handle various WordPress-related tasks. Their range of services includes website design, ongoing maintenance, hacked site repair, eCommerce, and so much more.

If you’re interested, you can schedule a free consultation with the Seahawk team.

Another recommended option is Codeable. They run a WordPress freelancer platform, making them ideal for agencies wanting to support their client’s projects under their own brand.

We hope this article helped you learn how to white-label WordPress development for digital agencies. You may also be interested in our expert pick of the best WordPress hosting providers and our guide on how to manage multiple WordPress sites from one dashboard.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post How to White Label WordPress Development for Digital Agencies (8 Tips) first appeared on WPBeginner.

September 4, 2023

WordPress Career Options – How to Make a Living With WordPress

Are you thinking about switching to a career in WordPress?

When planning any changes to your job, you will want to look at all the options and make sure your new career path will be secure for years to come.

In this article, we will show you the best WordPress careers so that you can learn how to make a living with WordPress.

WordPress Career Options - How to Make a Living with WordPress

Why Choose WordPress Careers?

WordPress is a highly successful content management system. It’s one of the best website builders, it’s free and open source, and it powers 43% of sites on the internet.

Note: When we talk about WordPress, we are referring to the self-hosted WordPress.org instead of WordPress.com. To learn the differences, you can see our complete guide to WordPress.org vs. WordPress.com.

Since the WordPress platform is so popular, you may be wondering if you can make your living with it.

The good news is that pursuing a new job in WordPress can be safe and rewarding. The demand for WordPress professionals remains high due to the platform’s popularity and constant growth. Plus, there are lots of WordPress careers for individuals with a wide range of skill sets.

You could get started as a freelancer building WordPress websites for others, make money by flipping websites, or build your own WordPress site as a side business.

Or you could apply for job listings with one of the most successful WordPress companies today, such as Automattic, WP Engine, or WPBeginner’s parent company, Awesome Motive.

Note: While other tech companies have been struggling in today’s economy, Awesome Motive has continued to hire WordPress developers, WordPress support specialists, technical content writers, and more. We now have more than 300 employees in over 50 countries.

That being said, let’s look at the best WordPress career options for making a living with WordPress.

WordPress Developer

WordPress developers are responsible for creating and customizing WordPress websites, eCommerce sites, plugins, and custom themes using programming languages like PHP, JavaScript, CSS, MySQL, HTML, and more.

You will spend time adding functionality, optimizing performance, and resolving technical issues. While this can mean writing new code, you will also need to enhance old code, diagnose and fix bugs, update legacy code, and provide feedback to other developers.

Employment of web developers and web designers is projected to grow 13% from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations. WordPress developers, including both back-end and front-end developers, are in especially high demand since WordPress powers 43.2% of all websites.

If you are interested in becoming a WordPress developer, then you can get started by reading our guide on how to learn WordPress for free.

WordPress UI/UX Designer

UI/UX designers are responsible for the user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) of WordPress plugins and WordPress themes. You will focus on creating visually appealing and user-friendly interfaces and perform UX audits to provide a good user experience.

While developers are more focused on the technical side of software development, UI/UX designers focus on the user experience. Developers typically work with code, while UI/UX designers usually work with images, text, and other visual elements.

However, there is some overlap between the two roles, and many developers and UI/UX designers have skills in both areas. Ultimately, the goal of both developers and UI/UX designers is to create software that is both functional and enjoyable to use.

The best way to decide whether you want to be a developer or a UI/UX designer is to consider your own strengths and interests. If you are most interested in creating visually appealing and user-friendly interfaces, then you might be a good fit for a UI/UX designer role.

WordPress QA Engineer

A QA engineer, or quality assurance engineer, is responsible for ensuring the quality of software. They do this by finding bugs before the software is released to the public. This involves designing and running tests, analyzing test results, and reporting bugs to developers.

They will often automate these tests to save time and improve the efficiency of the testing process. After that, they look for bugs in the test results and decide whether they are critical.

They need to communicate the bugs to the developers in a clear and concise way so that they can be fixed as quickly as possible. This can involve working with the developers to find the root cause of the bug and develop a fix.

If you are looking for a career where you can use your analytical and problem-solving skills to make a difference, then QA engineering may be the right career for you.

Marketing Specialist

Marketing specialists do market research and make marketing strategies to drive the sales of a WordPress company’s plugins, themes, or services.

This can include planning promotions and content marketing, and you will often be responsible for managing the company’s social media channels. You may also work with partners to advertise their products and services using an affiliate referral program.

Marketing specialists spend a lot of time working with other team members, including developers and designers. You will typically need to design and optimize landing pages and create an email newsletter to generate leads and sales.

You will also need to build relationships with potential customers and influencers in the industry. This will often mean attending WordPress events and conferences like WordCamp.

WordPress Support Specialist

Support specialists make sure that customers can successfully use their plugins and themes on their own WordPress websites. You will troubleshoot errors, answer customer questions, and provide solutions to ensure a positive user experience.

Technical support is more focused on resolving specific problems, while customer support focuses on providing a positive overall experience. However, there is some overlap between the two, and many technical support representatives also have strong customer service skills.

Customers may contact support staff via a toll-free phone number, email, a help desk, or live chat. You will aim to build relationships based on trust by listening to your customer’s needs. This will result in happy, passionate, and loyal customers.

This means that a support specialist is one of the best WordPress careers if you are patient, understanding, and able to place customers at ease. You also need to provide confident and timely answers by being familiar with the product’s documentation and common issues.

WordPress Content Writer

A content writer creates engaging and informative content for WordPress plugins, themes, and services. You research and write documentation, tutorials, marketing materials, and blog posts to promote and support your company’s products.

This will involve writing accurate descriptions for the plugin or theme’s landing page, marketplace listings, or sales pages. You will highlight key features and benefits and include screenshots and unique selling points to attract and educate potential customers.

You may also be responsible for writing technical documentation for WordPress plugins and themes. This means you need to have a strong understanding of WordPress and its features.

You will collaborate closely with the development team to understand new features, updates, and bug fixes. You need to keep track of upcoming changes and ensure that the documentation reflects the most current version of the plugin.

Professional WordPress bloggers and writers will also need to optimize their content to improve search engine rankings. This includes doing keyword research, writing meta descriptions and tags, optimizing titles and headings, and following search engine optimization (SEO) best practices.

Video Content Creator

A video content creator is responsible for creating videos to promote the company’s products, such as WordPress plugins or themes. You may also make tutorial videos that explain how to do specific tasks and cover different use cases.

As a video creator, you will need to plan content, write scripts, and find ways to present complex topics simply. You will research trends, analyze audience preferences, and identify the topics that need to be covered.

You will shoot high-quality videos using cameras, lighting equipment, and other necessary tools. Plus, you will set up appropriate backgrounds, props, and settings to improve the visual appearance of the videos with proper framing, focus, and audio quality during recording.

You will need to edit the video and optimize it for online viewing, though, at this point, another team member may take over. You will also add appropriate metadata, such as titles, descriptions, and tags, to improve video SEO.

Finally, you will upload the video to a streaming service such as YouTube or Vimeo and then embed the video in WordPress so that it can be viewed on the website. You may also work with the marketing team to promote the videos.

Graphic Designer

Graphic designers create the visual elements, icons, logos, and overall aesthetics for WordPress plugins and themes. You work closely with developers and other team members to improve the products’ visual appeal, usability, and branding.

Usability principles are important when designing WordPress plugins and themes. WordPress designers focus on creating clear and understandable visual cues, buttons, and icons, making it easier for users to interact with the product and achieve their goals.

You may also create graphics for blog posts, social media posts, and video thumbnails. Plus, you will collaborate with marketing teams to create promotional materials, banners, and graphics.

FAQs About WordPress Careers

Do you have any questions about the best way to get into a WordPress career? Here are some of the most frequent questions we are asked about WordPress careers by our readers.

Are WordPress jobs in demand?

Yes. With WordPress powering 43% of all websites, freelance WordPress developers and other roles are in high demand. When visiting online job boards, you can be confident there will be plenty of WordPress careers being advertised.

How can I prepare for a WordPress career?

The best way to prepare for a WordPress career is to become familiar with WordPress. You can learn a lot of WordPress skills by reading WPBeginner tutorials and watching content on our YouTube channel. You can also take advantage of our paid courses at WP101.

It’s also important to get involved in the WordPress community. There are many ways to get involved, like going to WordPress meetups, participating in forums, and contributing to open-source projects.

WordPress plugins and themes are written in PHP, so if you want to become a developer, then it is important to have strong coding skills in PHP. You can also learn JavaScript and MySQL, which are other important languages for WordPress development.

How long does it take to learn WordPress to get a job?

It can take beginners between 6 months to a year to become familiar with WordPress, depending on how much time you spend learning and using the platform.

However, if you want to become a skilled WordPress developer, then you will need to invest even more time in learning WordPress and the PHP programming language.

Can someone who doesn’t know how to code get a job in WordPress?

Yes. While there are plenty of jobs for WordPress developers, there are also WordPress careers that don’t need any coding skills.

These include graphic design, creating written and video content, customer support, and marketing.

Where can I apply for WordPress jobs?

There are many places to find WordPress job postings when looking for new career opportunities.

You can start by checking online job boards like Indeed, Monster, and CareerBuilder. There are also a number of WordPress-specific job boards, such as WordPress Jobs.

Social media platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter can also be a good way to find WordPress-related job opportunities. You can also attend WordPress meetups and join online WordPress communities to network with WordPress companies.

Make sure you visit our Careers page to learn about the benefits of working at Awesome Motive and see the jobs we have available. We often advertise new full-time job openings, so make sure you come back regularly.

We hope this tutorial helped you learn about WordPress careers. You may also want to see our guide on the reasons you should use WordPress for your website or our expert pick of the must-have WordPress plugins and tools.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post WordPress Career Options – How to Make a Living With WordPress first appeared on WPBeginner.

January 13, 2023

11 Best WordPress Developer Jobs Sites (+ Example Job Template)

Are you looking to hire developers for your website, or simply want to make a career as a WordPress developer?

As your website grows, you’ll need experts to help customize themes, write custom code, and add additional functionality to your website. A WordPress developer job site can help you find the right talent. Similarly, if you’re a developer yourself, a job website can help you land great jobs, clients, and long-term projects.

In this article, we’ll share some of the best WordPress developer job sites along with example job templates that you can use to post your WordPress job listing.

Note: If you’re a WordPress developer looking for a remote job, we are hiring. Come join our team of 200+ amazing people and work on products that are used by over 20 million websites – See Open Positions.

Why Hire WordPress Developers Using a Job Website?

If you have a WordPress website, then you’ll likely need the help of a developer as your site grows.

A developer can customize your WordPress theme, which might not be possible with default options. Similarly, you might want to add certain features and functionalities that aren’t available in any WordPress plugin. A developer can write custom code to make this possible.

Plus, a WordPress developer can help with other technical stuff for your website. For example, you might want to speed up your site and require migration from another platform. In both cases, a developer with technical skills can be really helpful for your business.

That said, finding the right talent can be a challenge for many business owners. This is where a WordPress developer job website can help you out. You can shortlist candidates from a large pool for a full-time role or for a limited-time project.

On the other hand, if you’re a developer yourself, then a job website can help you kickstart your career. With WordPress’s growing popularity, there is a high demand for developers. You can find a lot of opportunities to land a job, secure clients, and work on multiple projects.

Before we reveal the best websites for finding WordPress developers, let’s look at a sample job description template.

WordPress Developer Job Description Template

When you’re posting a job opening for WordPress developers, you’d want to attract the best talent. This is where creating an enticing and detailed job description can be handy.

A typical WordPress developer job template will include:

Company Details

You can start with a brief introduction about your company. Simply tell the candidate about what the company does, its achievements, values, work culture, what you’re looking for, and why they should join your organization.

For instance, here’s a look at the introduction for a Development Team Manager at Awesome Motive.

Job Description

Next, you can add details about the job, and what type of person would be suitable for the WordPress developer position.

For instance, you’re looking for someone who is a self-starter, has excellent communication, someone who can jump between front-end and back-end development tasks, and more.

You can take a look at the WordPress developer job description on LinkedIn for Awesome Motive for inspiration.

Responsibilities

After that, you can go ahead and list the responsibilities a WordPress developer will have to fulfill.

These can include writing and testing new plugin features, triaging bugs, providing feedback, refactoring legacy code for backward compatibility, and more.

If it is a managerial role, then you can include responsibilities like supervising other developers, giving feedback, and training new recruits.

Qualification and Skill Requirements

In this section, you’ll need to list down the skills, qualifications, and experience the candidate should have to perform the job successfully.

For instance, the WordPress developer should be proficient with PHP and MySQL. They should be familiar with JavaScript, jQuery, HTML5, CSS3, and more. Plus, you can also list the number of years of experience a developer should have before applying for the position.

Similarly, you can add more details for a managerial role, like having project management experience, a deep understanding of third-party APIs, etc.

Requirements for WordPress developer role

Benefits and Perks

A WordPress developer job description should also include the perks you’re offering to the candidates. These can include health insurance, paid time off, annual retreats, reimbursement programs, personal development courses, and other benefits.

For example, here’s a list of benefits Awesome Motive offers to its employees around the world.

Other Information and Disclosures

Lastly, you can add additional details to the job description, like where you’re based.

Plus, it is also good to provide any legal discloses and inclusion statements.

With that said, let’s look at some of the best WordPress developer job sites where you can find the best WordPress developer talent.

1. LinkedIn

LinkedIn - Best WordPress developer job site

LinkedIn is one of the best WordPress developer job sites for business owners and job seekers. It is a popular social media platform that helps connect companies with the right talent.

You can set up a company page on LinkedIn, add details, and list job openings. The best part is that it allows users an Easy Apply option. Job seekers can simply share their LinkedIn profile with the company and apply for the position.

For example, see Awesome Motive’s page on LinkedIn.

With LinkedIn, you can also build a brand and grow followers. It lets you share recent blog posts and announcements, create a network, and more.

As a WordPress developer, LinkedIn is a great platform to search for job opportunities. You can create a profile for free, connect with other people in the industry, follow different companies, access courses on the LinkedIn Learning platform, and get notifications for the latest job posts.

You can also set a special frame on your profile picture that shows you are either ‘Looking for Work’ or ‘Looking to Hire’ so that your connections can know at a glance you’re someone they should contact.

An important thing to note is that LinkedIn is free to use. However, it also offers 4 types of premium subscription plans for recruiters and job seekers.

For instance, with the Recruiter Lite plan, you can access advanced filters, 2nd and 3rd-degree networks, get smart suggestions, candidate recommendations, and more.

2. Upwork

Upwork WordPress developer recruitment website

Upwork is a popular work marketplace where you can find experienced WordPress developers.

The website is great for finding expert developers for specific projects. This way, you can find the right talent for a limited time and pay them an hourly rate or a fixed amount for the project’s duration.

For example, you can post projects for website restructure, build a multisite using Elementor, optimize your website for performance, and more. Developers can then submit proposals for each project, and you can then shortlist the best candidate.

As a WordPress developer, Upwork is a great place to find clients and work on different tasks. This way, you can build a career and gain experience in different areas. The best part, it is free to create a profile on Upwork. After that, you can bid on various projects

3. WordPress Jobs

WordPress Jobs is the official job board on the WordPress.org website. You can create a job post and find a developer from the large community of WordPress experts.

There are different categories for which you can create an opening. These include performance, design, support, development, plugin development, theme customization, translation, writing, and more.

The job board is easy to use, and you can hire talent from a global pool of experts. Once your job post is reviewed and approved, it will be displayed for 21 days on the website. This gives you ample time to find the best WordPress developer for your site.

For instance, in the screenshot above, you can see different jobs listed for development. In each post, you get to see the job type and location.

4. Codeable

Codeable is a WordPress developer job website designed specifically for WordPress experts. It has a rigorous and thorough process of hiring developers, so you always get the best talent.

The platform follows a 6 step process for vetting developers. The process starts with a professional review and then a technical exam. After that, there is a behavioral interview and live coding test. Those who pass the test must then complete a Codeable Academy course exam.

Once a WordPress developer passes these steps, candidates start working on real-life projects on a 90-day trial period. Lastly, the performance of each WordPress expert is continuously monitored.

As a website owner, you can hire a developer for consultancy or create projects on Codeable in no time.

Note that the platform will charge a fixed 17.5% of your project’s estimated cost as a service fee. For consultancy, it charges $69 for one hour.

5. FlexJobs

FlexJobs is the next website on our list that you can use to hire WordPress developers. It is a popular job board for remote workers and freelancers around the world.

If you’re a WordPress developer and looking for a remote position or a freelance project, then this is the perfect platform. FlexJobs has a thorough vetting process for posted jobs and ensures all employers are reliable.

Besides that, as a developer, you can also access the library to write award-winning resumes, mock interviews, and get tips for successfully landing remote jobs.

Do note that it is a paid platform, and you’ll need to subscribe to a premium plan to access job descriptions and apply for a position.

Similarly, companies can also post jobs on FlexJobs only after successfully completing their vetting process. As an employer, you can access the large network of developers on FlexJobs.

6. SolidGigs

SolidGigs is a paid WordPress developer job website for freelancers looking to secure clients and projects. It hosts the top 1% of WordPress developer jobs, so you get to work for reliable and well-paying companies.

The job board was created by WordPress developers and writers themselves. It is different from other freelancing websites like Upwork or FlexJobs.

Instead of going through a list of projects and sending proposals, SolidGigs will find the right client for you.

As a developer, you’ll first tell SolidGigs the type of work you want.

After that, the website searches for ideal clients and then alerts you when a good match is found. You can then send a pitch to the client and secure the gig.

7. We Work Remotely

We Work Remotely is a leading online remote job website. It is used by many startups and top tech companies like Google and Amazon. We also use We Work Remotely to hire WordPress developers for our team.

It is a paid platform where you’ll need to pay $299 to post a job opening. Besides that, you get helpful resources like a hiring guide, the latest trends, and remote job description templates.

Plus, We Work Remotely has a strong community. You can join their Slack channel and forum to interact with other members and potential candidates.

We have used WWR job board numerous times to hire developer candidates for WPBeginner as well as our sister products such as WPForms, AIOSEO, OptinMonster, and others.

As a WordPress developer, you can easily search for job openings on We Work Remotely. There are full-time roles, freelancing projects, and on-site development positions listed by many companies.

8. ZipRecruiter

ZipRecruiter is the next WordPress developer job site on our list. It is a popular website for companies hiring developers and job seekers.

You can post a job opening on ZipRecruiter and find qualified candidates. The platform offers a matching technology feature that helps you scan through thousands of resumes and find developers with the right skills, experience, and education.

There is also an enterprise solution offered by ZipRecruiter. You can run sponsored ads and target a specific audience, access the resume database, and take assistance from dedicated specialists for developing a hiring strategy.

View wordpress developer jobs on ZipRecruiter

As a WordPress developer, you can create a free account on ZipRecruiter and find suitable jobs. You can search for jobs using different keywords, locations, or salary ranges.

9. WPHired

WPHired is a popular WordPress developer job site founded in 2010 and is one of the oldest WordPress job boards.

You can easily find expert WordPress developers on the website. Be it for plugin development, theme customization, code creation, programming, or any other task, WPHired is the perfect place to find the right talent.

All you have to do is create an account and post a WordPress job. Next, you can choose from 1000+ WordPress experts and hire them for your website. The best part is that you can post unlimited jobs for free for 30 days.

However, if you’d like to get your job post featured and stand out, then WPHired offers premium pricing plans starting from $39.99. The post is listed at the top of other jobs on the homepage and is promoted through social feeds.

On the other hand, as a WordPress developer, there are many opportunities to land full-time roles, temporary jobs, or freelancing projects. It lets job seekers search for projects based on keywords, regions, or categories.

10. Remote.co

Remote.co is another popular job board that you can use to post an opening for a WordPress developer position. It helps you connect with talented individuals from around the world and hire developers remotely.

The platform is used by popular companies, such as GoDaddy, Aha!, and Thomson Reuters. You can post a job opening once for $299 for 30 days or purchase more credits to post multiple jobs.

As a WordPress developer, Remote.co is also a great place to find remote work. You can perform a simple job search on the website and see the latest openings.

Plus, the website also offers detailed FAQs on different topics for both, recruiters and job seekers. For instance, you can learn how to manage remote teams or what traits to look for in candidates.

11. Indeed

Indeed is a similar website to LinkedIn and allows you to find the right talent for your company. Creating a job post is straightforward on Indeed.

All you need to do is create a free account, set up a job post by adding a title, description, and location, and post your job. Indeed also lets you create sponsored posts, which helps increase the visibility of your job opening.

Indeed also helps job seekers find the best WordPress development jobs in the market. You can perform a simple search using a keyword and country to see different openings.

Which WordPress Developer Job Site Should You Use?

In our experience, the top WordPress developer job sites are LinkedIn and FlexJobs if you’re looking for full-timers, and Codeable if you’re looking to hire WordPress developers on contract for specific projects.

If you’re looking for the best remote WordPress jobs board, then We Work Remotely is a reliable source of getting high quality candidates.

The best way to find the right talent is by posting job openings on multiple platforms. Most job boards and websites allow you to post an opening for free, so you can maximize your chances of attracting the best resources.

When you’re looking to hire a WordPress developer on a project basis, then Codeable has an advantage over Upwork because Codeable vets each developer that’s added on the platform. This leads to better overall work quality. Although you can always post the project on both Codeable and Upwork to see the price difference.

We hope that this article helped you find the best WordPress developer job sites. You may also want to see our ultimate guide to WordPress SEO and our comparison of the best business phone services for small businesses.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post 11 Best WordPress Developer Jobs Sites (+ Example Job Template) first appeared on WPBeginner.

November 20, 2018

15+ Design Tips for Developers When Your Designer Is Not Around

There are times when you have to design something in a hurry – and designers are nowhere to be found. In times like these, we can’t sit and cry – we have to hack design. Here are some convenient WordPress design tips that will set up any developer for success, even if there’s a pressing deadline […]