If you want add functionality to your website that does not seem to be built into WordPress, a custom plugin maybe the answer. But before making the decision to hire a plugin programmer (such as moi!) here are some research steps you should try first:
- Create a list of words describing the function you want to add.
These will be helpful in searching for existing plugins that may work for you.
- Search for plugins in the WordPress plugin repository
Using your keywords, take look at what’s available. All the plugins listed are free, so you can download a few and test them out. You might find one that is close enough to what you want that you can use it as is.
If you find one that is close, but you still need something more, you can contact the plugin author and tell them what you need. Sometimes they will add your feature into the next release of their plugin (for free), and other times they will offer to do the work for you for a fee. Either way is cheaper than paying a programmer to build it from scratch. - Search for premium plugins
Repeat your search at Code Canyon WordPress Plugins . These plugins all cost something, but some may have 30-day return policies that allow you to return a plugin that doesn’t work for you. Remember to contact plugin authors and ask about possible additional features.
- And last, but not least…
if your search has been fruitless, and your budget is at least $1000, you can contact me (via form below) and we’ll talk. I love building custom plugins!