In this day and age, web developers are not only desirable; they’ve almost become necessary. It's nearly impossible to have a brand or an identity without a strong online presence. As a result, web developers must be adept at creating incredible user experiences. Assessing this alone can be tough. Your web developer should have knowledge of PHP, HTML, CSS, Javascript, and Java. Thankfully, there are sites out there that can help you make sense of the hiring process.
What Is Web Development?
Web development is the programming and coding work required in developing a website for the Internet or an intranet. Web development also includes a host of development services from building a simple single static page of plain text to complex web applications, eCommerce stores, electronic businesses, and social network services.
In essence, Web Development has only become stronger as a career prospect for developers. Furthermore, companies all over the world have some type of web presence and this simple fact is a testament to the fact that web development will only be even more crucial in 2021. With the advent of new web development languages like React, Vue, Angular, and more, Web development is evolving and getting better and more efficient with time.
The other important aspect contributing to the consistent growth of web development is the advent of virtual assistants, Artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, Virtual and Augmented Reality, Voice Search, and other such smart web development that is required to build smart solutions.
Some of the best sites to hire developers include Toptal, Arc, Gun.io, Fiverr, Upwork, and more.
Web development is an essential component of marketing as well as technology. One of the main reasons behind the popularity of Web Development is because it is a robust and rewarding career prospect for individuals. Similarly, Web Development is a critical business function for companies.
What Is a Web Developer?
A web developer is a professional programmer who specializes in the development of software and applications on the Internet using a client-server model. Web development essentially is creating websites. A web programmer's primary role is ensuring that the site looks good and is easy to use, but they're also responsible for making sure the site performs well and has enough resources available. Web developers can specialize in a suite of different programming languages. They are usually categorized as front-end developers or back-end developers or full-stack developers depending on their specialty or skills.
Here is what you need to keep in mind when hiring a Web developer:
- Identify the purpose of hiring a web developer: Are you looking to make minor updates to your web page? Do you need to build an entirely new site? A new mobile app? Is something wrong with your analytics? Do you need a new tool created?
- Use reliable platforms and tools: Hire web developers using the leading platforms like Toptal, LinkedIn, Arc, Upwork, and more.
- Interview the candidate: Discuss, explain, communicate, and give full context and all the details about the project. Ask relevant questions to gauge the expertise and compatibility of the developer with your team.
What is web development used for? | Creating, designing, and maintaining websites and web applications. |
Advantages: | Wide reach and accessibility, Platform independence, Continuous availability and updates |
Disadvantages: | Compatibility challenges, Performance limitations, Security vulnerabilities |
Related programming languages: | HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, Python, Ruby, Java |
Freelancers average hourly rate: | $15 to $100 per hour, depending on factors such as skill lever, experience, location and complexity of the project. |
Where to hire? | Freelance marketplaces, job boards, online communities and forums related to web development, professional networking sites, and industry-specific job portals that cater to the tech industry. |
How To Hire a Web Developer
Essentially, there are three different options for hiring: full-time, part-time or freelance basis. If you are looking to build a full-fledged web development team, then hiring full-time Web Developers makes sense. The biggest advantage of hiring full-time developers is the ability to monitor and control the pace of your project and the ability to ensure quality, However, hiring full-time Web developers has its cons such as having to give paid leaves and incur employee insurance expenses. Hiring part-time is lucrative when you’re looking for a simple project to be completed. Hiring freelance Web developers is wise as this enables you to save on cost involved and time spent on hiring and training.How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Freelance Web Developer
A Web Developer’s expertise lies in taking care of server-side and front-end logic. Typically speaking, they are well-versed in HTML, JavaScript, CSS, and JQuery for front-end work, and are generally familiar with Perl, Python, Ruby, PHP, Java, ASP, and/or ASP.net for server-side frameworks.
Having said that, there are certain factors that determine the cost of hiring a freelance Web developer:
- Complexity and scope of the project
- The geographic location of the freelance developer and the employer
- Expertise and experience level of the developer
- Past work experience and brands they’ve worked with
What Skills To Look For Before Hiring a Freelance Web Developer
Look for the following qualities in your freelance Web developer candidates.- Strong technical proficiency
- Experience with various Web frameworks
- Great communication skills
- Ability to work independently
- Strongly motivated and reliable
- Depth in past work
- Keen problem solving and coding
- Excellent reviews and feedbacks
How To Find a Freelance Web Developer
Finding top web developer talent doesn't have to be difficult. If you use talent matching services like Toptal, there’s absolutely zero work that has to be done on your end. Companies like Toptal vet and interview programmers for you and match you with the best freelancers based on your needs.If quality is a priority, then sites like Toptal, Scalable Path, and Gigster can be of great use. If you’re concerned with saving money, then you may want to explore affordable freelance marketplaces. Upwork, PeoplePerHour, and Freelancer have communities composed of millions of freelancers.You’re bound to find the right fit if you’re willing to put in the time and energy of prospecting potential web developer hires yourself. Companies should also think about supplementing their efforts by perusing popular online developer communities like Stack Overflow and GitHub or outsourcing software development.
Dedicated freelance website developers spend a lot of their time on sites like these to hone their skills so their job boards can be of great use to your company.
Job boards, marketplaces, and matching services all have their uses. Which site will best serve you will depend on your specific situation.
Ultimately, which sites you employ to find them depends on a multitude of factors, such as:
- How quickly do you need to hire a web developer (i.e., your timeline)
- How much experience do you have hiring high-quality developers
- Whether or not you’re equipped to test technical skills and programming languages
- How many programmers do you need to bring onto your development team
- The years of experience those front-end developers need
- Whether or not you’re open to remote workers, local freelancers, or using a web development agency
- What your budget constraints are
- Your project management process and your capacity to manage front-end, back-end, and full-stack developers