React.js & Next.js Developer for Modern Blog

We are looking for a freelance React.js & Next.js developer to build a modern blog module for our website. The blog design and functionality should be inspired by Gizmodo
clean, fast, and optimized for content publishing.

The blog module will be integrated into our existing website and should allow easy publishing, categorization, and SEO optimization of articles.

Requirements
Strong proficiency in React.js and Next.js (latest version).
Experience with Next.js API routes for backend functionality.
Knowledge of Headless CMS (preferred: Strapi, Sanity, or Contentful) or custom CMS integration.
Expertise in SEO optimization and server-side rendering (SSR) in Next.js.
Familiarity with responsive design and cross-browser compatibility.
Ability to integrate comments section, categories, tags, and author profiles.
Database integration (MySQL, MongoDB, or PostgreSQL).

Features to Include
Homepage Blog Feed – Display latest articles with image, title, excerpt, and category.
Article Page – Rich media (text, images, video embeds), social sharing, and SEO meta tags.
Categories & Tags – Filter content by categories/tags.
Search Functionality – Search across blog content.
Author Pages – Author bio and related articles.
Admin Panel / CMS – To add, edit, and delete articles (can be CMS-based or custom).
Responsive Layout – Mobile, tablet, and desktop friendly.
Fast Loading – Optimized for speed (Lighthouse & Core Web Vitals).

Example Reference
We are inspired by the structure and UX of Gizmodo.com
clean design, article feed, featured stories, and category-based browsing.

Deliverables
Complete blog module with frontend + backend.
Integration with our existing Next.js site.
Documentation for future maintenance.
Deployment-ready code (Vercel / Netlify / Custom Server).