The Career Goldmine You’re Probably Ignoring: WordPress

Over the years, I’ve dabbled in many areas of tech—Virtual Reality, OpenCV (Computer Vision), Graphic Design, Mobile App Development, and traditional PHP programming. I even started with C++ as my foundational language and completed my college thesis on a Parking Space Availability Detector. I’ve worked with platforms like Joomla and Drupal, too.

A photo of Champ Camba with a laptop, looking confident and ready to work

The Simple Truth: WordPress Offers Limitless Opportunities

While the other technologies were exciting and intellectually rewarding, they often came with limited client demand—especially in developing regions or freelance marketplaces. On the other hand, WordPress was everywhere.

WordPress powers over 40% of websites on the internet. It's more than just a blogging platform. You can build:

  • Business websites
  • eCommerce stores
  • Membership communities
  • Learning management systems
  • Portfolios and blogs
  • Custom enterprise-level platforms

And within this ecosystem, you can wear many hats: Data encoder, form builder, theme customizer, Elementor designer, plugin developer, security specialist—the list goes on.

I found my niche in this ecosystem, and the best part? I never ran out of projects.

What If You’re Just Getting Started?

Here’s how I would start if I had zero experience:

  1. Understand the basics: Learn what WordPress is and how its core features work—posts, pages, themes, and plugins.
  2. Explore the plugin directory: Get familiar with the most used plugins like Elementor, Contact Form 7, WooCommerce, and ACF.
  3. Build your first project: Even if it's a mock client or your personal website, this is your testing ground.
  4. Market yourself locally: Don’t underestimate traditional methods. I went door-to-door in my city offering web services to businesses.

Packaging Your First Services

Start with a basic company website package:

  • WordPress setup with Elementor
  • Logo design
  • 10 content pages (₱1,000 per page)
  • Mobile responsive design
  • Basic SEO setup

💡Total starting rate: Around ₱30,000 for a full package.

I always recommend letting the client shoulder domain and hosting costs. You’re just starting, and covering these upfront can lead to issues—especially if payments get delayed.

Upselling With Add-On Services

If you have photography or social media skills, use them to upsell:

  • Company photoshoots or product photography
  • Social media management
  • SEO-optimized post updates (₱300/post or more)
  • Monthly website maintenance retainers

These add-ons can make you more than just a developer—you become a digital partner.

Why WordPress Was the Right Choice for Me

Unlike VR and mobile development where projects are fewer and far between (especially for solo developers), WordPress gave me financial stability, creative flexibility, and global reach. Whether it’s a ₱30k local project or a $5,000+ international build, I always had something to work on.

It’s free, easy to start, and well-supported by a massive global community.

Stay tuned—I'll be sharing more insights from my journey as a successful WordPress engineer. Whether you're just starting or looking to level up, there's a lot more coming your way.