Choosing the Right PHP Programmer

If you run your own business, you will most likely need to hire a PHP programmer at some point. Perhaps you need to update or enhance your current website or you need to create a new one. PHP is a popular web development and programming language that is often used to design dynamic, interactive websites with incorporated applications that are browser-based.

If you are a small organization such as a non-profit club, you may be seeking an individual who is willing to complete the work at no charge.  Some inexperienced programmers will be happy to volunteer their time in exchange for some much-needed experience and a boost to their portfolio.  However, most businesses require an experienced PHP programmer to assist them with their website.  They will usually seek a professional programmer who has a long track record of successful past projects. 

In order to help you distinguish from an amateur programmer and an experienced professional, you should ask potential candidates some of the following questions:

• How long have you been working in the industry?
• What additional computer skills besides PHP do you possess?
• Have you ever been involved in a similar project to yours?

These types of questions can help you find the type of programmer you require.

Experienced PHP programmers should possess detailed knowledge of multi-browser compatibility, search engine marketing (SEM), search engine optimization (SEO) and security issues.  They should also be adept at creating and modifying JavaScript.  SEM and SEO experience are particularly important if your website will be focused on e-commerce; search engine traffic is the most important determining factor of online sales.

Unfortunately, many PHP programmers have insufficient experience or knowledge concerning search engine optimization.  Therefore, you should look for a programmer who knows exactly how to improve the search engine ranking of your website.  If this isn’t possible, at least ensure the individual won’t lower your search engine rankings.

An experienced PHP programmer should also be very familiar with database technology.  This is important because the majority of PHP-based web applications require MySql or another hosting database.  In addition, a professional programmer needs to know how to use cascading style sheets (CSS) and JavaScript because they can greatly enhance the functionality and visual appeal of a website.  They enable a programmer to customize the layout, appearance and fonts of a website, as well as create various interactive web applications.

You also need to realize that many online surfers do not use Internet Explorer.  Many other popular web browsers exist that read JavaScript code and CSS differently.  Therefore, if the programmer you hire does not ensure cross-browser compatibility, certain features of your website may be inaccessible to anyone who uses a different web browser.

The bottom line is to ensure that the PHP programmer you choose is very familiar with JavaScript, CSS, SEO and MySql or a comparable alternative.  Also verify that the website they create will be compatible with most of the popular web browsers, rather than just Internet Explorer.  Don’t be afraid to ask the potential candidates lots of questions.  This will help you to ensure you’re hiring the PHP programmer who will do the best job for you and your company.

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