School life is exciting, but the never-ending bills take the fun out of it. If you’re not on a full-ride scholarship, learning a skill is the best alternative to a comfortable education experience. Apart from this, it prepares you for the future job market. One such skill that is experiencing rapid growth is WordPress development. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the market will grow by 23% between 2020 and 2030. The average median pay is also $78,000 a year, or $37.65 per hour. Interestingly, you don’t need to be a tech guru to learn WordPress development. This article will outline the key steps to becoming a successful WordPress developer.
WordPress Popularity and Significance in Today’s Web Development Landscape
Did you know that WordPress powers over 40% of all the websites on the Internet? They include blogs, forums, e-commerce stores, and media galleries. A WordPress developer specializes in ecosystems and infrastructure. They also manage visual elements and backend development.
When it comes to WordPress development, users don’t need to know how to code to build a website. The user-friendly site has built-in plugins, themes, and settings. It has a vast developer community that provides support. WordPress is search engine friendly. As a result, users optimize their sites for higher SEO ranking, organic traffic, and improved visibility.
WordPress is scalable, mobile responsive, and secure. It provides multilingual support, and the continual development efforts make it attractive for individuals, businesses, and developers.
7 Key Steps for Students to Become Successful WordPress Developers
WordPress has various components. Follow these steps to become a successful developer:
1. Manage Your Time
Students live hectic lives. It takes a lot to balance academic and social lives. If you add learning WordPress software to the mix, you’ll soon become overwhelmed with responsibility.
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Combining deadlines on tasks for both work and study is challenging. Fortunately, there is a solution for students who find themselves in this predicament. They can rely on the expertise of an assignment completer provided by online academic essay writing services. Professional essay writers offer thesis statement writing and paper editing services. They also provide confidentiality and guarantee a high-quality result. Besides hiring a writer to do my assignments online, you must implement measures that help you manage your time.
2. Learn Web Development Basics
Becoming a WordPress developer does not require coding skills. Nonetheless, the basics are crucial for debugging, troubleshooting, and extending the platform’s functionality. The programming languages you should pay attention to are:
- HTML
- CSS
- JavaScript
- PHP
3. Learn WordPress Basics
WordPress development is one of the easiest CMS to learn for building websites. But it has several parts that require skills. Research WordPress resources to understand what makes it unique. Some helpful materials are:
- WordPress codex: The codex is the official WordPress online manual. It covers the website’s basics and technicalities.
- Reddit and forums: The WordPress developer community has over 166 thousand members. Join to ask questions or learn about the ins and outs of the website.
- Envato WordPress tutorials: They consist of training videos and pictures, and e-books on the software.
- WordPress developer resources: The site has an official list of resources you can use. They include APIs, access code references, the Gutenberg editor, and other tools you’ll find useful.
4. Choose a Niche
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Developers focus on three parts of WordPress. They are:
- Core software: It includes editing, building, and security.
- Plugins: These involve creating themes and selling them to core developers.
- Themes: Developers use plugins to add functionality to their websites. Hence, it is a lucrative niche.
5. Create an Environment for Testing
Set up a location for storing all your files. It allows you to test your skills and view changes in a browser. The environment also promotes collaboration with DevOps engineers and team members. It helps to debug any issue before releasing your security patch, custom theme, or plugin.
6. Join a Community
WordPress has one of the largest online communities. Join for a chance to interact with members, connect physically, and attend WordCamp conferences. Active engagement also keeps you updated with announcements.
7. Build a Portfolio and Resume
A portfolio helps you display development skills to clients who want to hire you. It highlights your experience. Furthermore, it showcases your personal information and other relevant abilities. Create a resume and portfolio to increase your employability.
Benefits of Becoming a Skilled WordPress Developer While Still in College
Becoming a skilled developer at the university equips you with practical knowledge and hands-on experience. Below are some personal and professional advantages of learning it at school:
Provides Skills and Practical Application
WordPress is a widely used CMS. As a result, the skill set is in high demand. Learning it opens the doors to internships, freelance roles, and full-time employment, even as a student. If you’re studying a related course like computer science, it provides an opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge.
A Chance to Make Money
Professional WordPress knowledge allows you to work on projects remotely at flexible hours. Freelance platforms like Upwork and Fiverr provide a marketplace to find employers who require assistance. Apart from it, students with an entrepreneurial mindset can start their businesses in custom plugin development, themes, etc.
Provides Networking Opportunities
Working with businesses and individuals exposes you to other developers and designers. But to do this, you need to join developer forums and communities and attend local camps. Connecting with like-minded individuals provides an opportunity to learn from their experiences. You also collaborate on tasks and potentially find a mentor to guide your career.
The Importance of Keeping Up with the Latest WordPress Updates, Features, And Trends
Change is constant, and the same is true for a WordPress developer. The platform releases updates to address security vulnerabilities and protect sites from threats. Moreover, it offers improvements and bug fixes that enhance compatibility with new web browsers. Hence, you must keep up with trends. Other reasons to stay updated are:
- For performance optimization
- New functionalities
- Plugin and theme compatibility
- Support and community
- SEO
- To keep you ahead of the curve
Start your WordPress Developer Career
Becoming a WordPress developer is a fun endeavor. However, it requires continuous learning and dedication to web development. The world is going global, and much of our interactions happen online. The venture is profitable and is not as intensive as other types of web development. Since you don’t need a degree, sign up for development courses today.
We recommend balancing your time using scheduling tools and other management apps. Always practice your programming language and stay up to date with the latest trends and technologies. Follow the steps above and set yourself up for a lucrative career as a WordPress developer.
