Wordpress Developers

[babblemouth]

Often shocked how many companies touting themselves as Wordpress Developers have used an existing theme for their own website, often something from the Genesis Framework or similar.

I suppose using the term developer, you are taking a theme and developing it but sometimes the costs quoted for what is essentially using an existing theme are very high

 

[Nuno]

There are lots of chancers in every sector of commerce and all parts of the net.

Strictly speaking you are right and 'Developer' shouldn't be used by WordPress themebenders. But Joe Schmoe the Average Punter doesn't know this and doesn't care.

He wants a website that works for him and his business. Often a Themebender's skillset is in making a good UI and in conversion and the building blocks (the theme being one type) used to get there are not seen as important compared to the final result.

 

[british steve]

I'm shocked at how many people call themselves developers of anysort (not just wordpress) when they dont have a bloody clue what they are doing!

Including several people who lurk on this forum!

 

[JonathanSEO]

Often shocked how many companies touting themselves as Wordpress Developers have used an existing theme for their own website, often something from the Genesis Framework or similar.

I suppose using the term developer, you are taking a theme and developing it but sometimes the costs quoted for what is essentially using an existing theme are very high

I wouldn't see that as a big deal. If you're a developer and a pre existing theme on the Genesis framework (which is very good btw) fits your needs then why wouldn't you use it?

A developers own website isn't going to be an indicator of what they can do. Also depends whether they are front end or backend.

If they are backend then pretty likely they will use a theme. If front end they may use a theme or they may develop their own.

Whilst I agree there are lots of crap developers who cares what their site uses, if they can deliver exactly what you require on time and within budget that's all that matters.

I'd look at their portfolio far more than their own website.

 

[edmondscommerce]

there is always the "builders house" argument as well, as in their houses are often a bit of a wreck because they try to do the work themselves but never have the time to finish jobs off properly.

Decent developers are often going to be way too busy working on client sites to spare any time for their own

 

[DanSoftBridge]

I've been in the development industry for a good few years now and have extensive back-end coding experience. That said - if there's a template I like, I'll happily use it. I refuse to reinvent the wheel. Maybe not in this particular case, but I can assure you - using a UI template is the least of a developer's worries in certain scenarios. There's still a lot more work required to get it all functional.

 

[Websitehandyman]

Some people want to re-invent the wheel everyday others don't. In the past I've done most things you can do with Wordpress but still yet to "develop" my own theme. With frameworks, child themes, content types etc the really is no point (well little point) if you can find a starting place ready to use. Thats what open source is all about isn't it ?

Then again I'm not a developer I'm an enabler

 

[DavidHorn]

Well, if the developer is clear about using a theme and the client is happy with that, it's not a problem.

A good developer is not always being paid for their development skills only - but for their client skills also. How do they help you, do they provide advice for your business, are they good to work with, are they reliable, do they pick up the phone when you ring? There's a cost in all those things - and if you like the developer you're working with, it can turn into a long term trusting relationship - and that's priceless.

Also though - there's a difference between buying a theme and developing a theme with a framework. Frameworks - like Genesis, or Bones, provide a backbone for your theme development - they can speed up the development process whilst getting out of the way of the UI, or overall site design. This is an aid both to the developer (who can save time) and the client (who gets a website built upon a robust framework that offers additional functionality).

Sure, there are a lot of people who'll just take your money and run - but that's the same in all industries. And, as with all industries, you should do your research before you hire anyone. Get recommendations, ask for references, check portfolios, that sort of thing. Hiring a developer is at least as complex as hiring a member of staff and should be treated as seriously.

David

 

[PoundPig]

Often shocked how many companies touting themselves as Wordpress Developers have used an existing theme for their own website, often something from the Genesis Framework or similar.

I fully agree with your comment but I think you may have got slightly confused referencing the Genesis Framework and you meant a studiopress theme on the Genesis Framework which is a massive difference!

I develop all of my clients websites on the Genesis Framework from the ground up! Totally customed, amazingly fast, clean and secure! This is not a cheat sheet to pulling an existing theme apart but pure raw custom coding at its best! But there are some chancers out there for sure.

The easiest way to find out is ask if they can take a PSD and convert it into a custom Wordpress theme down to the exact pixel!