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How to Become a Successful WordPress

Freelancer - Learn WordPress Development
from Scratch
Posted on December 14, 2021 by Swarna Rajan
in Guides
learn WordPress for freelancing? And become a Top WordPress Freelancer and make money
online? But, not sure where to begin?

In this article, we will talk about how you can Master WordPress, develop websites and earn
income out of it, in just 4 steps,

1. Get started with WordPress

2. Create different WordPress websites
3. Build your Portfolio
4. Sign up for Freelancing

But before all that, let’s understand why this is the best time for you to start your WordPress
freelancing journey.

Should you become a Freelance WordPress developer in 2022?

Many beginners believe that it’s too late to get started with WordPress, let alone have a
successful WordPress Freelancing journey. They don’t think of WordPress as an in-demand skill
in 2022.

Well, the truth is, WordPress is powering more websites now than ever! Yes, WordPress is the
most used Content Management system and looks like it’ll continue to do so for years to come.

WordPress powers 39.6% of the internet in 2021, a growth of nearly 5% from 35% in 2020, and
a 4% rise from the year before.
Source
So, even if you haven’t started yet, it’s still worth your time to learn WordPress and become a
Freelance WordPress developer.

What does it take to be a Freelance WordPress Developer?

Depending on whether you want to learn to code or not, you can become one of the two popular
types of WordPress developers.

The first type of WordPress developers are non-coders, who primarily build WordPress
websites using the readymade website templates available. With the powerful built-in themes
and page builder plugins, this type of WordPress developer rarely uses coding.

Non-coding WordPress developers know their way around WordPress basics and are capable of
setting a domain, hosting, and managing content on the platform.

While they are capable of creating professional WordPress websites, it’s advisable to learn the
coding basics in the long run. Because only making use of the readymade templates may limit
the scope and creativity of what can be truly achieved with a powerful platform like WordPress.

That is where the second type of WordPress developers come in, who make use of coding to
build websites rather than solely relying on the website builder tools. Typically, such WordPress
developers will be familiar with the basics of HTML, CSS, Javascript, and PHP which will help
them extend the functionality of the platform.

These WordPress developers are capable of customizing and modifying the default WordPress
themes and plugins. They may even be capable of developing their own plugins for the
WordPress platform.

To state the obvious, WordPress developers who know how to code are capable of building
custom-designed websites, which are tailor-made for businesses, compared to the non-coders.
Depending on the project and requirements, they may even get paid more!

So, the bottom line is, get started with WordPress and its readymade templates to create websites
of professional standards. And over the years, strengthen your coding basics to stand out as a
Freelance WordPress developer.

Steps to Become a WordPress Freelancer

Having discussed what it takes to become a freelance WordPress developer, it’s now time to get
started. We have split the entire process into four phases, one step at a time.

1. Get started with WordPress

2. Create different WordPress websites
3. Build your Portfolio
4. Sign up for Freelancing
Get started with WordPress

Well, obviously!! To be a professional WordPress developer, you first need to get started and
learn all about WordPress. With several resources scattered all over the Internet, you can get
started with WordPress in no time.

However, you need to differentiate yourself from the short-term WordPress learners like
beginner business owners who only wish to create their own websites. That’s all there is to their
goal, to create one WordPress website and be done with it.

While it works for business owners, that’s not the case with freelancing. As a freelancer, you
need to refresh the basics and keep yourself updated on a regular basis. And that’s where a
professional WordPress course comes in.

An exclusive WordPress course like Website Learner’s Make a Pro Website course will not only
help you master WordPress but also act as a one-stop place to refresh the basics over time.

Create different WordPress websites

While the course and tutorial knowledge is essential to get familiar with the WordPress
environment, real learning always comes with practical projects. Consistent practice in
developing various WordPress websites will make a successful WordPress developer stand out
from others.

So, before freelancing for other businesses and clients, you need to practise a lot by creating
different types of websites. Instead of focusing on creating only one type of website, you need to
be familiar with building WordPress websites across multiple genres.

Trust us when we say this, you can learn much easier by working on projects while parallelly
learning from the lectures. This will get you prepared for all sorts of client requirements. And
also, these practical projects can be part of your website development portfolio.

Build your Portfolio

Once you have hands-on experience in creating multiple WordPress websites, the next thing you
need is a portfolio! As a freelancer, the first thing a client looks for is the websites you have
created. More than anything, what really stands out is how unique and creative your work is
among other freelancers.

So, it’s always advisable to keep a well-structured portfolio showcasing the amazing websites
you have created over time. Such a portfolio will make you look professional and add to the
credibility of your profile.

To get started, you can sign up with portfolio platforms like Behance and Dribble to showcase all
the practical projects you have worked on over the course of learning WordPress. If you want to
stand out from the rest, you can even opt to create a separate website for your portfolio.
Apart from showcasing your work across other platforms, you should also display your portfolio
right there on the freelance platforms, if possible. Doing so will make it easy for the clients to
find your work right within your freelancing profile.

And talking of freelance platforms, it’s time for you to sign up across different freelancing
platforms.

Sign up for Freelancing

Once you know your way around WordPress and have created multiple websites, it’s time to sign
up and start your freelancing journey. To make things easier on both ends, several freelancing
platforms are available on the Internet that bridge the gap between freelancers and clients.

To begin with, you can sign up with popular platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, Freelancer, etc. By
strategically planning the work and finding the right set of clients, you can make great money
with your WordPress skills.

So, that’s the process of becoming a freelance WordPress developer.

How to Become a Top WordPress Freelancer

By this time, you know how to become a freelance WordPress developer. But here are some tips
that show what it takes to become a truly successful freelance WordPress developer.

Be up-to-date with WordPress

WordPress as a content management system comes up with its regular updates. Thousands of
premium themes and plugins also add up to the WordPress ecosystem. Being a WordPress
freelancer, it’s more than essential to keep yourself updated with such WordPress news.

As it’s quite hard to manually keep track of everything, it’s advisable to be part of a large
WordPress community. This way, you will get to know about the major news and updates from
WordPress in one place.

And by being part of such a community, you can also get your queries, if any, solved in no time.

Find the right balance

One of the most important aspects of the freelancing journey is to find the right balance between
quality and price. As a freelance WordPress developer, it’s obvious that you’ll get a variety of
projects across different price ranges.

So, it doesn’t make sense to work the same way for all projects. You need to take a call on the
time and effort each one takes, keeping in mind that there shouldn’t be any compromise on the
quality.
Promote across Social media

Social media just keeps growing and it’s only smart to take advantage of it. In fact, there are
equal chances of you getting a freelance job via social media compared to the freelance
platforms.

That is why it’s recommended to ride the tide and promote your freelancing services across all
social media platforms.

Network with professionals

Networking is the method of having a professional relationship with fellow developers and
enthusiasts, which will be beneficial in the long run. As important it is to be part of a WordPress
community, it is equally important to have your own professional network.

Networking not only improves your credibility but also helps you get new clients over time.
Moreover, it helps you stay relevant in the domain and keep yourself up-to-date.

Pros and Cons of being a WordPress Freelancer

Pros

1. Working on your own terms

The number one reason why most people switch to freelancing is the ability to work on their
own terms. Unlike full-time jobs where it’s mandatory to work on a schedule, freelancing has the
flexibility to work when you feel like working.

Considering the work is remote, you can work anytime, from anywhere, as long as the projects
are completed within the deadlines.

1. Well-established platform

Powering over 450 million websites worldwide, WordPress is going nowhere anytime soon.
Over the years, it has slowly established itself as the frontrunner of all the Content management
systems in the market.

Learning and mastering such a well-established tool is always an advantage that will give you a
headstart among your peers.

1. Amazing community

WordPress, being the open-source platform it is, has a large number of communities across the
globe. These community members make it a safe haven for people to share knowledge and even
get doubts resolved.
Such communities will encourage participation and come a long way in the WordPress
freelancing journey.

Cons

1. Highly competitive

It is general knowledge that with popularity comes competition. Being popular and easy to get
started, WordPress has become one of the easiest ways for people to start freelancing.

Though most of the competition will be novice website developers who use ready-made
templates, the client may not be aware of it. Eventually, the freelancing market may become
competitive as a whole.

1. Work uncertainty

Unlike traditional 9 to 5 jobs, being a freelance WordPress developer is a matter of choice. And
it has its own set of drawbacks, one being the uncertainty in work.

While freelancing provides a flexible work environment, it kind of lacks the security that comes
with the traditional job, which may not work well with a beginner freelancer. Also, one can’t
help but think of all the benefits that come with a full-time job.

Challenges you may face as a Freelance WordPress Developer

1. Finding Clients

One of the biggest challenges in the freelancing journey is getting clients for your work.
Especially beginner freelancers find it hard to get a client and kickstart their freelancing journey.
In fact, the very first project takes time!

Even if you get started with the first project, it’s still a challenge to get the right clients who
respect and pay for your skill as a service. And what’s even more challenging is retaining the
clients, which will be beneficial in the long run.

1. Quoting the Right Price

Quoting the right price for your work and getting it approved by the client is a challenge, not just
for beginner freelancers but even for experienced ones. With the huge WordPress freelancing
market, clients look for the most affordable option.

While clients negotiate, it’s important to stick with the price your work deserves and not agree to
anything less. By doing so, you not only improve your credibility as a professional but also help
fellow WordPress developers quote the right price.

1. Remote work environment

The very nature of freelancing is the ability to work on your own time, remotely. While most
freelancers are used to such work environments, developers who are beginner freelancers,
switching from a full-time job, may find it difficult to adapt.

Also, with remote locations comes obvious challenges like work-life balance and lack of proper
communication with clients. While it’s natural to face these challenges initially, things will get
better over time.

1. Keeping the website Secure

Though WordPress is as secure as the other platforms, at times, it becomes a popular target for
hackers and scammers, owing to its high popularity. As a Freelance WordPress developer, it
becomes quite a challenge to ensure there are no security threats on the client websites.

Though WordPress comes with regular updates and security fixes, the third-party plugins may
make the entire website vulnerable. The best solution as a WordPress developer is to make sure
all the software is up-to-date and credible enough to install on the website.

1. Dependent on Plugins

With WordPress plugins, you can add any and all sorts of features to a WordPress website!
That’s what makes them a crucial part of the WordPress ecosystem. While the ability to include
any kind of feature using the plugins is seen as an advantage, the same acts as a bane as well.

Because, with the vast library of plugins, WordPress developers may get too comfortable with
the plugins, and not put their coding knowledge to use.

The Ultimate question: Do you need to learn to code?

Initially… No! Eventually… Yes!

Being a beginner who only starts out with WordPress and website development, it is fine for you
to create WordPress websites without any coding. Though it appears to be a blessing initially,
over time, it limits the flexibility and customization options one gets by knowing to code.

When we say coding, we don’t mean that you need to master several programming languages. It
is quite sufficient if you are strong with the basics of programming languages like HTML, CSS,
PHP, and Javascript.

These four programming languages constitute WordPress and are responsible for its
functionalities. So strengthening your basics across these languages not only expands
customization opportunities but also makes you stand out from novice WordPress developers.

Must-need Resources to become a Top WordPress Freelancer

As discussed, there are several resources available on the Internet to learn WordPress. But
having chosen to become a freelance WordPress developer, you need to take a call on whether
you wish to learn it the hard way or the easy way.

The hard way is searching all over the Internet to find the right WordPress tutorial. It’s sort of a
never-ending process where you collect all the scattered resources and try to make sense of it.
There is no guidance on where to begin and you may even get lost eventually.

The easy way is when you enroll in a well-structured course with all the essential resources in
one place. It drastically reduces the time and effort put into finding the right beginner tutorials.
But, even after this, comes the question of choosing the best WordPress course of the lot.

With years of experience in creating tutorials for WordPress beginners, we at Website Learners
have curated the most comprehensive Make a Pro Website course. The course teaches you
everything from WordPress basics to successfully managing one all by yourself.

In short, everything you need to get started as a Freelance WordPress developer!

Though the course is generally priced at ₹14,899, you can now get the WordPress course at a
whopping 70% discount, for ₹4500 only!

With all the necessary resources available in one place, the Make a Pro Website course is more
of an investment in your freelancing journey. So, make use of the limited period offer and
master WordPress.

And looking at how rapidly eCommerce is growing across the world, we have come up with a
separate WordPress eCommerce course as well. Apart from the general WordPress lectures, this
course dives deep into the eCommerce world.

Website Learner’s WordPress eCommerce course teaches all about the popular WordPress
eCommerce platform, WooCommerce. It starts from eCommerce basics and then teaches about
several eCommerce aspects like setting up taxes, promoting the store, etc.

By mastering WooCommerce, you, as a freelancer, can create all sorts of business websites, be it
for beginner entrepreneurs or established enterprises.
Get started now as the course is now available at a flat 70% discount off the original price!!

Get 70% Off on WordPress eCommerce course

The WordPress eCommerce course will be highly beneficial if you’re planning to freelance by
creating websites solely for other businesses.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is WordPress good for freelancing?

Yes, absolutely! Being the most popular content management system, WordPress is one of the
easiest platforms to get started with website creation. Even an absolute beginner can learn
WordPress and build websites in no time.

That is why WordPress is regarded as one of the best platforms to master and begin freelancing.
How do I become a successful WordPress developer?

First things first, you need to learn and master the popular content management system,
WordPress. Once you know your way around the platform, it’s time to put the lessons into
practice. Create different types of practice websites across various domains, and eventually build
a portfolio.

Apart from these, it’s recommended to learn the basics of programming languages like HTML,
CSS, PHP, etc. This will make you stand out from the competition.

Does WordPress need coding?

No, initially you don’t need coding. But as a professional WordPress freelancer, you’ll need
coding in the long run. WordPress is hugely popular for its ability to create websites without
knowing how to code.

While that holds true initially, a WordPress freelancer must also be strong with the basics of
HTML, CSS, PHP, etc. Doing so enhances and opens up even more customization
functionalities.

How long does it take to become a WordPress developer?

Well, that depends! While you can learn and create a WordPress website in one week, it takes
several weeks, even months of practice to become a full-on WordPress developer.

Apart from the lectures, consistent practice by creating different types of websites will come a
long way in the freelancing journey.

Where can I find ideal WordPress freelance projects?

A beginner WordPress freelancer can get started with popular freelancing platforms like Fiverr,
Upwork, Freelancer, etc. As WordPress is a highly popular domain, the competition is fierce too.
So, it is recommended you have a portfolio with all of your best works and what you offer as a
WordPress developer.

Swarna Rajan
User-centred Content Creator
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