If you don't maintain your WooCommerce store, it will eventually fail to work. So maintaining your WooCommerce store is essential for keeping it running efficiently and avoiding any potential problems.
This includes updating all plugins and the theme, as well as working on a staging server. Updates ensure that your store is running the latest version of WooCommerce, with all the latest security enhancements and bug fixes.
Below is my food strategy to maintain 8% body fat, energy and great mental clarity for a whole year-round. This is just one part of the puzzle, but very important. Others are having a correct circadian rhythm, good sleep, and the right amount of exercise at the right time. I follow the rules like 90% of the time. I'm also breaking these rules with peace in my mind. Consistency is important, but having fun in life too!
How to approach this document? You can just plug&play anything you want, or gain a simple inspiration. I would be stoked if it helps you anyhow to feel better.
An expert in any field is defined by a set of core know-how. If he or she has to work with other people, then typically some soft skills are required in addition. And the requirements become more complex, for example, when it comes to an external expert who is supposed to help you with the software part of your online store. Such as WooCommerce.
The basic know-how expected of a WooCommerce developer is relatively simple:
And then there are more or less specific requirements: multi-lingual implementations, solutions for the operation of the e-shop (fulfillment, logistics), implementation of external code (payment gateways, external sales platforms), connection to product comparators, data communication with accounting, CRM, financial management tools, etc.
In other words, there are many possible situations and specific requirements, but to solve most of them with one person only, you will have to look for someone other than the bearer of just the basic know-how.
A partner rather than a one-off
Among the possible developers, you will have to pick one who will not try to just complete the to-do list and disappear as quickly as possible, but rather a partner. Someone who takes an active interest in finding out, what you truly need. He or she will identify potential pitfalls and bring the best solutions available. Someone, who is also suggesting what could be done better. Or informing you about the latest trends in the industry.
Who are we looking for?
Where to find a WooCommerce specialist?
Freelancers
Facebook groups and other social platforms
Expert platforms
What are the takeaways?
Working with E-commerce and WooCommerce stores is not a one-time intervention. There are always new features, new products, and new ways to sell them. Or new updates of your current software. And things going bad with your current WordPress build.
That's why you shouldn't rely on one-time interventions with various freelance WooCommerce developers. You'll need someone you can come back to not only for help, but also for advice on how to kick-start your business. And with someone who already knows your store, its plugins, and its focus, you will find the best solution much faster.
You don't necessarily have to sign up for the first WordPress developer you'll meet. Cooperation can be tested on smaller-scale things. If you don't get along nicely, you can always end it and keep looking for someone who will be a partner for the long haul.
You can move forward a lot with your freelance career just by being super responsive and super friendly. It's a rare commodity. And freelancing is mainly about relationships with your clients. This and your expertise - that's how I currently see the core of freelancing.
I've been on both sides of the barricade. I'm regularly hired for doing specialized WooCommerce and WordPress development and consulting projects for my clients. And I'm hiring other people to do work for me. I'm not delegating my core business because when you work with me, you work with me only (if not explicitly told else) - only this way, I can be sure about delivering the right quality.
Through the years, I've noticed that one of the essential qualities when working remotely is being responsive and keeping the deadlines.
The side effect of this approach is, that your freelance earnings will be maximized in the long run. When someone hires you, he/she has some sort of project to create. And they hope, that at the end of the business transaction, they will end up with more value than they paid to you.
If you do value-based pricing (and I believe you should do it 99% of the time), then you are basically getting a share from the value you deliver to your client. So we can establish a rule: the more value you deliver to your client, the bigger is your share.
Based on the rule, we can formulate an optimal strategy, which is to deliver as much value to your client, as possible.