One-Stop Guide For Freelance Shopify Developers

Shopify is a great platform to get started on eCommerce. Many beginners prefer the platform for its ease of use. It offers you the great scalability and flexibility needed for an eCommerce store. 

However, similar to creating websites, Shopify stores also need developers. To make your web store more efficient, you will need their help. For example, if you want to add new features to your existing Shopify store, you cannot do it without a developer. 

There are many options when you need to hire a Shopify developer. You can either choose a freelance developer, someone permanent for your business, or even an agency. In this blog, we will help you understand why freelancers are the most popular option and how you can go about hiring one for your project.

Why hire freelance Shopify Developers?

The following are some of the reasons why most business owners go for freelancers rather than hiring a full-time employee. 

  1. Access global talents for getting the job done at affordable rates. 
  2. Prevent the need for investing in the conventional hiring process. 
  3. Get more done within a short period of time. 
  4. Find expert professionals who need very less supervision to complete the project. 
  5. Reduced risk in comparison to hiring someone as an employee for a permanent position. 
  6. They come with the tools needed for the operation. 

You cannot fully understand the capabilities of a developer until you work with them. Hence, it is always better to search for experienced freelancers rather than risking your budget on a rookie.

How to choose the right person for the job?

1. Choose a freelance platform to advertise your requirement

There are many freelancing platforms like Upwork, Guru, and Freelancer.com. Pick the platform that suits your work style and post a requirement for the project you have to complete. For example, you can add a project with the heading “Need a Shopify Developer for a complete rebuild of a fashion store”. 

Below that, post more details about your project like duration, responsibilities, and the remuneration you are willing to pay. Having an easy-to-understand and descriptive advertisement is the first step to getting the right person.

2. Take a look at their portfolio

After you start getting proposals on your project, you should take a look at the portfolio of the potential freelancer candidates. An experienced Shopify Developer will definitely have a few projects put up on their profile or website for potential clients to see. If you cannot see any portfolio, it is better to look for other freelancers.

For further analysis, contact them directly and ask for the links to websites and Shopify stores they have developed. Verify whether the website they created has a good response and functions properly as it should.

3. Look for client testimonials

Any good and enthusiastic Shopify Developer will have their own website. So, look for client testimonials on their website or on the freelance platform you posted your ad on. Most of the time, the reviews from clients say exactly how it feels to work with them. It can help you understand whether their working style will suit your requirements.

4. Get to know if they meet the qualification requirements

To determine whether they will suit your project, you must initially determine the type of developer you need for your project. We will list some common types of Shopify Developers so that you can make a well-informed choice.

a. Front-end developer

Front-end developers are those that work closely with the design team to create perfect human experiences on your website. The success of your Shopify store significantly depends on the user’s experience. The easier it is to use, the more popular your store becomes. 

The following are the skills a front-end developer must have:

  • Knowledge of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
  • Thorough understanding of how the Shopify platform works. 
  • Expertise in SVN, Git, or CVS. 
  • Experience with SCSS/LESS
  • Knows their way around JS Frameworks like Angular, JQuery, and Node. 
  • Practice in responsive design and development processes. 

b. Back-end development

When you need to scale the platform and build newer structures from scratch, you will need a back-end Shopify developer. They work to make your website more structured, fast, and responsive on a basic level. Additionally, they also resolve bugs and other architectural framework errors in the platform. 

The following are the skills a back-end developer must have:

  • PHP
  • Ruby on Rails
  • GraphQL
  • Node.js
  • Python
  • Java
  • SQL, etc.

c. Full-stack developer

They have a strong knowledge of website development programming languages and Liquid templating. Moreover, they take care of custom-building your website from scratch. With the programming knowledge and knowledge about SEO, these developers often build templates, custom apps, and user-friendly stores that attract your target audience. You can also install third party APIs and custom Shopify plugins with their help. 

Their skills include:

  • HTML5
  • CSS3
  • JavaScript
  • Shopify theming system
  • Experience with Storefront API
  • Perfect understating of JS frameworks

5. Determine their project management skills

Even when Shopify developers have all the necessary programming skills, they sometimes lack essential project management skills. Time is crucial for a business. Hence, it is vital that you choose a person who understands the value of time. Also, inquire about the mode of communication they use and analyze the time they take to respond to queries. 

Another important trait you must be looking for is their ability to collaborate. See if they work well together with your team and provide regular updates about the project.

Conclusion

We always recommend you hire a Shopify Developer after a thorough inspection of their portfolio and careful analysis of their skills. One of the best ways to test their skills is to provide sample work and see if they fulfill all the initial requirements put forth. Be it small or big, your Shopify store matters for your growth and success. So, spend enough time evaluating the candidates and choose wisely. 

Guest article written by: Hetvi works as a Product Associate at Refrens.com – Online Invoice Generator & India’s most powerful platform for freelancer’s growth. She has worked for some renowned companies as a Brand and Digital marketing associate. You can follow Refrens.com on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

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