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Ten Places to Find a Joomla Developer

We love what we do here at BuildAJoomlaWebsite. We're passionate about helping people learn and discover what they can do for themselves, even if that's discovering a brand new career!

At times, however, you might have a specific need that's a bit beyond our tutorials, or you might decide that your project really requires some outside help because you'd like to be managing your Joomla website instead of struggling through developing and customizing it.

There are many great Joomla designers and Joomla developers out there waiting to work on your project, but where do you find them?

We were asked this question so many times that we thought a good post about finding Joomla freelancers was due. We don't necessarily endorse any of these sites or companies, but we do offer them as potential resources for finding help on your Joomla project.

Unless otherwise noted, all of the sites here present some kind of rating system, usually a 5 star scale, and show job history with each profile.

oDesk

There are 36,481 Contractors for Joomla on oDesk as of this post.

One of the best features of Odesk is the search capability. Once you type in your search term, Joomla for instance, you can then filter by category, feedback score, hourly rate, minimum hours billed, tests, location and a lot more. There is also a filter for English level, but this is self-assessed and not always completely accurate.

Payments, both sending and receiving, are fairly easy to deal with on oDesk, but remember that these sites do take percentages. You will pay a bit more and receive a bit less because of this.

Communication with contractors on oDesk can be a bit spotty, so be very careful in your initial contact to avoid problems.

Check oDesk

Elance.com

There are 24,265 results for Joomla on Elance as of this post.

The search feature on Elance is quite good with the ability to filter and sort on many different criteria, such as work type, tested skills, location, feedback, reviews, hourly rate and groups. The location search can also be very specific with Country, State, City, Zip Code and proximity as options.

Elance provides a "Level" number. According to the website, "Level represents activity and experience on Elance. Contractors start at Level 1 and achieve higher levels through their work. A higher 'Level' indicates greater earnings, ratings and other achievements on Elance." Each profile page shows an "Overview" for each worker or company, as well as a percentage of repeat clients.

In addition to verifying payment sources, Elance also provides verification for phone numbers and locations of workers.

Check Elance

Freelancer.com

No specific results for Joomla, but the site reports 3,962,676 freelancers working. There are many pages of workers returned from a search on the term Joomla. The search function at Freelancer.com is a bit clunky. It can be hard to go through all of the results from a search, and there doesn't appear to be an advanced search feature or good filter.

Each freelancer is shown with a Reputation score and an earnings number. With the activity shown for each freelancer, there is also a percentage (out of 100%) for Completion Rate, On Budget, On Time, and Repeat Hire Rate.

Page layout is good here, and navigation is very Web 2.0. There's also a feature where you can host a website design contest and get many designs to choose from and then pay for the one you like. This is similar to 99designs.

Check freelancer

Guru.com

There are 6,588 results for Joomla on Guru as of this post.

Guru.com is a bit smaller and less formal in tone from the other freelance websites. They're based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and use freelancers themselves.

Guru's search feature is good, with several key filters, such as skill, location and industry. They also have a budget filter for searches as freelancers can offer both a minimum hourly wage as well as a minimum budget rate. This can be very helpful if you are more comfortable working on a project budget basis.

Profile pages in Guru.com are not quite as user friendly, with a tabbed layout and lots of data to sort through.

Check guru

Joomlancers.com

The best thing about Joomlancers, at least for our purposes, is that it is mostly dedicated to Joomla resources.

The front page of Joomlancers is quite nice as it presents a quick overview of the most recent projects, top providers, most recent reviews, and most recent awards. This is a great place for a quick start at finding help.

The navigation on Joomlancers isn't incredible, but the fact that the pool is so condensed eases that a lot. Joomlancers relys a great deal on messaging between Providers and Buyers, and bids are placed for jobs posted.

Although it is dedicated to Joomla in name and spirit, there are several other categories where you can find help on projects outside of Joomla, including Drupal and Wordpress.

Check Joomlancers

Fiverr.com

If you've never perused fiverr, you should. Just make sure you're doing so when you have a few hours to kill. It's truly amazing what some people will do for five dollars, sometimes even scary.

Fiverr.com will, however, provide you with a good resource for quick Joomla installations, bug fixes and small template tweaks. There are also providers on fiverr that will do bigger jobs, but it will cost you more than a fiver.

Make sure to check Gig Rating for reliability and how many orders are in a seller's queue to see how long you will have to wait for your work to be done.

Check fiverr

Linkedin.com Joomla User Group

There is an active community of Joomla users on Linkedin, and at times there are jobs posted there. While you might be better off searching for a full time web developer in this way, there are most definitely contractors that frequent Linkedin. If they're active in this group, chances are that they know what they're doing.

Check Linkedin

Local Joomla User Groups (JUGs)

According to joomla.com, "Local Joomla User Groups (JUG) are a great way to meet new people, get help with a project, or share your own knowledge with other Joomla users."

This would be a great place to find help for a more involved project that had a bigger budget or a more fleshed out business plan perhaps. The people you might meet at these user groups are probably professionals working in the industry, and possibly there specifically looking for some freelance work. You also have the benefit of meeting face to face this way.

Check Joomla User Groups

Joomla.org Resources Directory

Joomla.org also has a Resource Directory in the Community and Support section of the website. You can search by category or location, and the services are broken down into specific categories, such as consulting, freelancing, graphic design and even project management.

Check The Joomla Resource Directory

Google it!

This often overlooked tool is so pervasive that we forget to start there sometimes. While it can be overwhelming, it can also lead to a more directed search when using the right keywords.

For instance, searching on "joomla developer san diego" returns over 2.4 million results, but the top several are very promising. Terms such as joomla extension developer, joomla template developer, and joomla website creator are all great terms to start with. Adding in your specific location can also help, but isn't at all necessary.

Check Google

So as you can see, there are a lot of similarities between some of these resources, and you will even find that many of the busiest Joomla developers and designers are listed in multiple sites. If you do some homework and check your prospects very carefully, it is possible to get good help for an affordable price. And just like a really good mechanic or doctor, once you find your favorite Joomla developer, you may not want to let them go.

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Comments 15

Guest - payee on Thursday, 19 July 2012 06:52

Thanks this is great, can you do a tutorial on where and how to get joomla jobs? Keep up the good work

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Thanks this is great, can you do a tutorial on where and how to get joomla jobs? Keep up the good work
Richard Pearce on Thursday, 19 July 2012 08:44

Where to get jobs? See above.
How to get jobs? Having used a few of these sources to find developers, the best piece of advice I can give is to communicate well. When I place a job request, more than half of the responses I get are generic replies. Something like "we can help you, we're great, pick us" that kind of thing. This shows that the provider hasn't bothered to read the job requirements so I immediately dismiss those applications. Take time to read through the requirements and respond accordingly. Ask questions to start a conversation. For example, you might reply with "I understand that you want to do X,Y,Z. I have done this kind of thing before, but can I check something with you first. Would you like to do it this way (explain) or that way (explain). If you take the time to communicate with the buyer, you're far more likely to win. A word of warning, many buyers on these sites are cheapskates (not me of course!) and expect everything for nothing.

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[i]Where [/i]to get jobs? See above. [i]How [/i]to get jobs? Having used a few of these sources to find developers, the best piece of advice I can give is to communicate well. When I place a job request, more than half of the responses I get are generic replies. Something like "we can help you, we're great, pick us" that kind of thing. This shows that the provider hasn't bothered to read the job requirements so I immediately dismiss those applications. Take time to read through the requirements and respond accordingly. Ask questions to start a conversation. For example, you might reply with "I understand that you want to do X,Y,Z. I have done this kind of thing before, but can I check something with you first. Would you like to do it this way (explain) or that way (explain). If you take the time to communicate with the buyer, you're far more likely to win. A word of warning, many buyers on these sites are cheapskates (not me of course!) and expect everything for nothing.
Murray Cowell on Thursday, 19 July 2012 19:50

I would add to that advice to put as much information and as many examples of your work as possible into your profile.

It is vital that potential clients can see what you are capable of when they are deciding whether to invite you to bid on a job.

Be as specific as you can about what you are good at. Identify what makes you different from other Joomla developers. If you are one of tens of thousands of results, then it's good to have a point of difference.

Don't undersell yourself. As Richard points out, come clients on these sites are cheapskates, and as Sean Owens mentions, the cheapest bidder is almost always trouble.

Personally, I routinely turn down bidders whose prices are too low. If you've got a skill and you know you are good at it, stick to your prices and seek out clients who care about quality more than price. They do exist.

Clients like this will be looking to develop long term relationships with you. It's just too much hassle to have to keep looking for new contractors every time. Likewise, if you build long term relationships, you won't have to spend as much time and effort bidding for jobs, so your cost of sale will reduce.

0
I would add to that advice to put as much information and as many examples of your work as possible into your profile. It is vital that potential clients can see what you are capable of when they are deciding whether to invite you to bid on a job. Be as specific as you can about what you are good at. Identify what makes you different from other Joomla developers. If you are one of tens of thousands of results, then it's good to have a point of difference. Don't undersell yourself. As Richard points out, come clients on these sites are cheapskates, and as Sean Owens mentions, the cheapest bidder is almost always trouble. Personally, I routinely turn down bidders whose prices are too low. If you've got a skill and you know you are good at it, stick to your prices and seek out clients who care about quality more than price. They do exist. Clients like this will be looking to develop long term relationships with you. It's just too much hassle to have to keep looking for new contractors every time. Likewise, if you build long term relationships, you won't have to spend as much time and effort bidding for jobs, so your cost of sale will reduce.
Simon on Friday, 20 July 2012 07:30

turn down bidders whose prices are too low

Good point. Likewise, I would turn down suppliers whose prices are too low...

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[quote]turn down bidders whose prices are too low[/quote] Good point. Likewise, I would turn down suppliers whose prices are too low...
Guest - Barb Ackemann on Thursday, 19 July 2012 08:37

I was so glad to see your suggestion of checking for a Joomla Users Group meeting in your geographical area. Our New England Joomla Users Group welcomes developers, designers, and users (and would-be users!). A great way to connect and find the people you need.

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I was so glad to see your suggestion of checking for a Joomla Users Group meeting in your geographical area. Our New England Joomla Users Group welcomes developers, designers, and users (and would-be users!). A great way to connect and find the people you need.
Richard Pearce on Thursday, 19 July 2012 20:27

Hi Barb,

I was speaking with someone recently who went to a JUG meeting in the hope of learning how to use Joomla. He was pleased that he was able to speak with real people, but disappointed that he left without knowing what to do next. We - as in the community - should produce a simple handout for JUG newbies. Sigh - too many ideas - too little time.

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Hi Barb, I was speaking with someone recently who went to a JUG meeting in the hope of learning how to use Joomla. He was pleased that he was able to speak with real people, but disappointed that he left without knowing what to do next. We - as in the community - should produce a simple handout for JUG newbies. Sigh - too many ideas - too little time.
Guest - Sean Owens on Thursday, 19 July 2012 18:28

As a company that constantly uses contractors, there are a few lessons we have learnt.
1. the cheapest bidder is almost always trouble
2. specify clearly and in great detail what you want, screen shots, wire frames, basically the whole job spec'd in great detail. it takes time but saves time.
3. references from non friends and associates
4. first time out use an escrow account, protects you both
5. split work into small bite sized chunks, no point in sending a developer away for 4 weeks and then expecting to hear from them in 4 weeks with a perfect development. Split the project into many 4 hour tasks. Track their progress.
6. We use http://www.taskbiller.com for managing all this. Allows contractors to bill you in the same system as you bill your clients. We built the product ourselves and use it everyday.

1
As a company that constantly uses contractors, there are a few lessons we have learnt. 1. the cheapest bidder is almost always trouble 2. specify clearly and in great detail what you want, screen shots, wire frames, basically the whole job spec'd in great detail. it takes time but saves time. 3. references from non friends and associates 4. first time out use an escrow account, protects you both 5. split work into small bite sized chunks, no point in sending a developer away for 4 weeks and then expecting to hear from them in 4 weeks with a perfect development. Split the project into many 4 hour tasks. Track their progress. 6. We use http://www.taskbiller.com for managing all this. Allows contractors to bill you in the same system as you bill your clients. We built the product ourselves and use it everyday.
Murray Cowell on Thursday, 19 July 2012 19:53

Thanks for not mentioning Scriptlance.

Of all the freelance sites I have used, Scriptlance was the worst experience of all. In fact, it was one of the worst experiences of any online service I've ever had.

Steer well clear!

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Thanks for not mentioning Scriptlance. Of all the freelance sites I have used, Scriptlance was the worst experience of all. In fact, it was one of the worst experiences of any online service I've ever had. Steer well clear!
Richard Pearce on Thursday, 19 July 2012 20:02

Never used them, but I recall their site looked cheap and nasty. They have been acquired by Freelancer.

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Never used them, but I recall their site looked cheap and nasty. They have been acquired by Freelancer.
Guest - Liv Kristin on Sunday, 29 July 2012 00:58

I agree with some of the comments here. As they say, you really get what you pay for. I recently hired a joomla developer and because I got him cheap I was really scared that he would turn out to be a nightmare. But boy was I wrong, he was amazing at such a low price. I got him from staff.com and I hired him for a trial period to test waters. I am proud to have tested him and I am glad staff.com has those kind of "trial" features.

0
I agree with some of the comments here. As they say, you really get what you pay for. I recently hired a joomla developer and because I got him cheap I was really scared that he would turn out to be a nightmare. But boy was I wrong, he was amazing at such a low price. I got him from staff.com and I hired him for a trial period to test waters. I am proud to have tested him and I am glad staff.com has those kind of "trial" features.
Guest - David Brownz on Tuesday, 31 July 2012 19:30

Robert i want to ask you one thing is hiring Joomla developer from free lancing is secure and well or not. Well i am looking for a joomla developer in affordable cost for developing a site. Please reply.:D

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Robert i want to ask you one thing is hiring Joomla developer from free lancing is secure and well or not. Well i am looking for a joomla developer in affordable cost for developing a site. Please reply.:D
Richard Pearce on Wednesday, 01 August 2012 07:35

What do you mean by "secure"? In terms of payment, this is handled by the freelance site so you don't expose your credit card to an untrusted source. In terms of website security, well this could be a problem, but if someone did something malicious, it would kill their reputation at the freelance board because you would give them a bad rating. Nevertheless, once the project is finished, it is a very good idea to change any passwords you gave to people. This might include your site FTP password and you should disable their Joomla Administrator account.

0
What do you mean by "secure"? In terms of payment, this is handled by the freelance site so you don't expose your credit card to an untrusted source. In terms of website security, well this [i]could [/i]be a problem, but if someone did something malicious, it would kill their reputation at the freelance board because you would give them a bad rating. Nevertheless, once the project is finished, it is a [i]very [/i]good idea to change any passwords you gave to people. This might include your site FTP password and you should disable their Joomla Administrator account.
Guest - David Brownz on Wednesday, 01 August 2012 17:16

Surely Richard i was asking in terms of payment which i have to pay through my credit cart but now you have cleared it very nicely thanks. Still i want a ask you about a little doubt, i am not exactly aware with Site FTP password and all. I hope you can have a great ans for it.

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Surely Richard i was asking in terms of payment which i have to pay through my credit cart but now you have cleared it very nicely thanks. Still i want a ask you about a little doubt, i am not exactly aware with Site FTP password and all. I hope you can have a great ans for it.
Richard Pearce on Monday, 06 August 2012 16:23

I think you should post this in our form as it isn't related to this post. Not sure what you're asking, but you might like to review our free course The Basics.

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I think you should post this in our form as it isn't related to this post. Not sure what you're asking, but you might like to review our free course [url="http://www.buildajoomlawebsite.com/the-basics"]The Basics[/url].
Guest - David Brownz on Thursday, 23 August 2012 19:49

Ok fine i will.

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Ok fine i will.

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