With numerous general jobs completed and a 100% procedure good fortune price, Zac McDonald is among the top-rated WordPress developers on Upwork, the primary procedure board for freelancers.

He began working on hobby projects and simple jobs with a handy guide a rough turnaround. On the other hand in this day and age, he’s a very skilled skilled in WordPress protection, repairs, and development.

Zac McDonald strives arduous to decide a great Upwork portfolio and now lives the digital nomad life by the use of offering WordPress products and services and merchandise as a freelancer.

In this interview, Zac McDonald tells us about his WordPress journey. He moreover shares treasured advice for aspiring WordPress developers and freelancers who want to establish an authoritative portfolio on Upwork.

Verbal exchange and honesty at the side of your clients is just the number 1 issue. If you know the way to resolve their matter… and then you definately undoubtedly unravel it, that’s all anybody wants.

Zac McDonald – Freelance WordPress Devloper

Keep finding out to get skilled tips and proposals from one of the most a luck freelance WordPress developers throughout the trade!

Video Interview with Zac McDonald

If you happen to’d like to take a look at the entire video interview with Zac McDonald, then you definately’ll watch it underneath:

Or click on on on the rapid links underneath to see what we cover throughout the interview:

Meet Zac McDonald, Top-Rated WordPress Freelancer on Upwork

Zac McDonald has been working with WordPress for nearly 19 years, which is gorgeous on the subject of the beginning of the platform’s historical past. So, he’s acutely aware of an element or two about evolving with instrument.

He’s a certified WordPress developer specializing in Elementor Skilled, LearnDash, and additional.

At the side of construction WordPress internet sites from scratch, Zac provides protection, repairs, and troubleshooting products and services and merchandise. He even has commonplace clients on retainer.

He’s moreover one of the most a luck and top-rated WordPress freelancers on Upwork. In fact, he has a 100% procedure good fortune price and has completed over 150 jobs.

On the other hand you’ll be able to be wondering – how did he get to where he’s in this day and age? That’s why James Agar from the WPBeginner team reached out to him to learn further about his WordPress journey, and he was once as soon as kind enough to tell us about it.

A WordPress Journey: From Unpaid Hobby Duties to Earning $150 In line with Hour

Like many curious and self-taught WordPress enthusiasts, Zac started using the WordPress CMS while experimenting with new apparatus and projects.

After growing a few of his non-public WordPress web websites for fun, he found out every other selection on the subject of area. His partner worked at a salon with a terrible site, so he offered to redo it. He built a one-page site with Elementor, they usually liked it.

“I didn’t even ask for money. I merely did it for fun to build the site and to see if I might do it and if other people would like what I built,” he discussed.

Zac then used the ones unpaid projects to prove his experience as a professional WordPress developer.

I springboarded that to have a portfolio, to start out out drawing close to other clients and pronouncing, ‘I can do this for you at this price level.’ And it went from there.

Zac McDonald

As we mentioned, Zac mainly unearths projects on Upwork, which is undoubtedly one of the most popular procedure boards for WordPress builders.

He got his get began by the use of taking small jobs that he might entire briefly and effectively. That means, he was once as soon as ready to get further client opinions rapid, further development his credibility and recognition.

This worked effectively for Zac since he in truth enjoys problem-solving a wide variety of issues.

“I actually like working by the use of problems, so I kind of revel in when somebody brings me a subject matter, and I’ve to learn something and determine why they’ve the issue they’ve,” he discussed.

Zac moreover started off charging very little with a view to get his foot throughout the door.

“I consider my first procedure I took for $15 an hour. And one procedure, I built this guy a real rapid 4-page whole site for like virtual trade that he had for like $50, $100. Super reasonably priced, alternatively I got it finished in lower than a day, and I got my assessment. He liked what he got.”

Zac repeated this process, slowly raising his prices as he received further experience and got further certain client opinions.

This present day, he charges $150 in keeping with hour for brand new clients. That means his income have better by the use of 10x since he completed his first procedure! This is beautiful impressive, in our opinion. Plus, it’s a testament to the effectiveness of the “gradual and safe” approach.

Advice for Aspiring Freelance Developers: Zac on Transparency, Verbal exchange, and Learning New Abilities

If you happen to’ve ever used Upwork, you most likely know that getting jobs can be beautiful competitive. So, we moreover asked Zac what advice he would give to any aspiring freelance WordPress builders who need to stand out.

He emphasized the importance of transparency, verbal exchange, and finding out new skills. On the other hand he moreover discussed how important it’s to finish a few cast projects to build your reputation.

If you happen to’re starting out, it’s all about getting merely those first few projects, where you’ve were given a portfolio, and also you’ll prove: ‘I’ve finished this and been a luck at it,’ and then switch on from there.

Zac McDonald

In keeping with Zac, transparency way not at all telling a shopper that you simply’ll send on something will have to you’re now not sure you’ll. You’ll have to be comfy letting clients know your provide skills and whilst you’re open to finding out something new.

“Any person might say, ‘Hi, Zac, I want this widget on my internet web page.’ And I’ll say, ‘I’ve not at all worked with a recipe widget quicker than. Let me get once more to you tomorrow.’”

We expect this philosophy of honesty and openness to finding out new skills has been key to Zac’s good fortune. He moreover recognized that taking this implies pushes him to increase his skillset, giving him a competitive edge someday.

“The next time somebody comes at me with a recipe widget, I know exactly what to do, whether or not or now not or now not I took on that unique procedure.”

In addition to, Zac talked extensively regarding the importance of verbal exchange and turning in initiatives in a properly timed way. He really helpful providing clients with conservative turnaround cases.

For example, will have to you think the enterprise will take you 2 weeks, then it’s absolute best to tell the consumer that it’s going to take you a month. That means, it will provide you with a buffer in case you occur to run into any roadblocks. Plus, the consumer can also be delighted will have to you turn the enterprise in early.

Additionally, Zac touched on the importance of retaining at once to very good clients and galvanizing client loyalty by the use of maintaining his prices. “I in most cases don’t raise fees on ongoing clients,” he discussed.

After all, Zac discussed how finding out new skills and technology is essential for succeeding as a WordPress developer. We’ll dive further into his technical ideas throughout the next phase.

Technical Guidelines for WordPress Developers: Always Keep Learning

If you want to be successful as a freelance WordPress developer on a platform like Upwork, you’ll need all of the comfortable skills Zac discussed throughout the previous phase. On the other hand what do you need when it comes to technical revel in?

Zac had some useful advice in this department as effectively. He discussed, “Obviously, the additional coding languages you already know, the simpler.”

On the other hand, he made it clear that being a whiz at every single WordPress programming language isn’t necessarily a will have to.

“I’m in truth now not a clutch coder or the rest like that. I know just a bit little little bit of Java, just a bit little little bit of PHP. I’m beautiful very good with CSS, HTML, actually.”

“In any case, there’s somebody that’s smarter than you that wrote a plugin that does exactly what you need to do already, 9 cases out of 10. And in all probability it’s vital to pay $10 or $20 or $50, alternatively it’s just about always undoubtedly definitely worth the business for time.”

Zac McDonald

That discussed, Zac cited CSS as crucial language to learn.

“I to find CSS is in truth the number 1 issue I’m using with WordPress… on account of a lot of problems are kind of in a rigid, predetermined theme or internet web page builder where there’s most efficient such a large amount of alternatives. And also you’ll with regards to exchange the rest on the front end of a internet web page using CSS.”

If you happen to’re merely getting started, you could have regarded as making an attempt to take a look at our loose WordPress video lessons or the following beginner’s guides:

• Tips on how to Be informed WordPress Fundamentals for Unfastened (Step by means of Step)
• Perfect Unfastened WordPress Tutorials
• What’s CSS?
• What’s PHP?
• What’s JavaScript?

Zac has even referenced WPBeginner himself, pronouncing, “I’ve undoubtedly used it as an invaluable useful resource.”

“I actually like how whilst you find a internet web page on there, it maximum frequently will provide you with means 1, means 2, means 3. So if I don’t want to use a plugin, it will give me some code to punch in there to accomplish my process,” he discussed.

Apart from the additional typical coding skills, Zac moreover talked such a lot regarding the importance of continuous to increase your complementary skills and information.

At the side of CSS, he talked regarding the importance of AI and the best way using it to supply unique photos and text can also lend a hand.

Plenty of clients want developers to provide an all-in-one service, so with the ability to give them site copy and images imply you’ll be able to stand out as a freelancer.

If truth be told, if you choose to take a look at this, Zac recommends letting clients know prior to now that you just rely on AI to create this bonus content material subject material.

After all, he signifies that figuring out the easiest way to make use of a photo-editing device can also make you further attention-grabbing to imaginable clients.

Now, let’s concentrate some final concepts from Zac.

Final Concepts & Where to To search out Zac’s Artwork

In the beginning of our conversation, once we asked Zac why he decided on to art work with WordPress, he discussed, “I in truth revel in it. I merely get pleasure from the technical problem-solving that I get to do dealing with WordPress.”

Closer to the highest of our chat, he reiterated this an identical idea, at the side of the importance of a healthy hobby and an urge for meals for finding out.

That’s the main issue… learn, and learn by the use of doing, and learn by the use of doing something you revel in.

Zac McDonald

When we talked to Zac, it became clear that he in truth loves his procedure, which is maximum indubitably great knowledge will have to you’re an aspiring WordPress developer!

All through our keep in touch, he moreover highlighted the professional freedom he enjoys as a freelancer.

“I was not at all precise great at a md and a nine-to-five procedure. Where freelancing is very good. I’m in my sweatpants in my basement, and I’m at art work.”

As an absolutely a ways flung team, we revel in a couple of of those benefits, too. So, we wholeheartedly consider Zac on this degree.

If you happen to’re serious about collaborating with Zac, differently you merely want to see what a a luck WordPress portfolio turns out like, you’ll to find his art work and call wisdom on his skilled website online or his Upwork profile.

Bonus: Professional Guides for Aspiring WordPress Developers

Want to transform a a luck, well-paid freelance WordPress developer like Zac? Listed below are some additional assets to help you get started:

• Perfect WordPress Starter Topics for Builders
• Most sensible Equipment for WordPress Freelancers, Designers, and Builders
• Perfect WordPress Building Equipment (Unfastened + Paid)
• Perfect WordPress Developer Jobs Websites (+ Instance Task Template)
• Perfect Freelance Web pages to To find Paintings (Most sensible Choices)
• Tips on how to Organize More than one WordPress Websites From One Dashboard
• Tips on how to Create Invoices for Shoppers The usage of WordPress
• Will WordPress Substitute Internet Builders? (Skilled Insights)
• The Long run of WordPress: What to Be expecting (Our Predictions)
• WordPress Profession Choices – Tips on how to Make a Residing With WordPress

If you happen to liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You’ll have the ability to moreover to find us on Twitter and Fb.

The submit How Zac McDonald Grew Into the Most sensible-Rated WordPress Freelancer on Upwork first gave the impression on WPBeginner.

WordPress Maintenance

[ continue ]

WordPress Maintenance Plans | WordPress Hosting

read more