Who Can Build Me a Website? Finding a Web Development Partner

Posted on September 2, 2022 in Blog

As any successful organization knows, a website is essential for attracting customers, promoting products and introducing services. Building a website can be a complex and time-consuming process. There are plenty of great website design and development companies that can help create an effective online presence; the key is to hire a web developer that understands your needs, communicates effectively and can bring your vision to life.

You aren’t just choosing someone who builds websites; find a website design company that will treat you like a partner well beyond the site launch.

How to Choose a Website Developer

People who build websites leave a lasting thumbprint on your brand’s digital identity, so do your homework. Businesses can learn a lot about prospective partners before they even read the RFP. Here’s how to gut-check a website design and development company.

1. Read Reviews

One of the best ways to narrow down your options is to read reviews from other businesses. While it’s true that you can’t always please everyone, by taking the time to read reviews, you can get a glimpse of each company’s strengths and weaknesses. You can also learn about their past clients’ experiences and get a sense of what they’re like to work with.

Just remember that reviews should be read critically; take them with a grain of salt.

2. Ask Around

When hiring a good web developer, referrals from friends, family or colleagues are always a good place to start. After all, who better to vouch for a company’s quality of work than someone who has already used their services and someone you implicitly trust? Furthermore, by getting a referral, you can be sure that the company you’re considering is reputable and has a proven track record of satisfied customers.

3. Determine Your Budget

Once you’ve read some reviews and narrowed down your options, it’s time to consider your budget. How much do you plan to spend on website development? Decide whether the project will be a standalone expense or come from your annual marketing budget. Once you have numbers nailed down, you can start looking for companies that fit within your price range.

Cheaper companies may be able to provide basic web development services, but they may need to gain the experience or expertise to develop a complex website. Adjust your expectations to match your budget, but don’t let important features or functions get axed if they’re important.

4. Consider Their Portfolio

You wouldn’t buy a car without taking it for a test drive, and you shouldn’t hire a web development company without checking out their work. A company’s portfolio shows what they’re capable of and what their strengths are. If you’re looking for a company specializing in e-commerce sites, you don’t want to see a portfolio full of brochure websites.

Look for a portfolio with various projects across several industries, with a mix of features or functions. It should also demonstrate multiple skills, from design to development to SEO. Thin portfolios aren’t always a bad thing, but make sure to ask newer website companies about their experience and new projects.

5. Set Clear Expectations

This is a partnership, so make sure your priorities are aligned, too. Take a step back and think about what you need from your website. The more clearly you present your website must-haves, ways of working, timeline and what tasks you can handle in-house, the more accurate your estimate and more streamlined the process. Know where you’re at and what you need; otherwise, you could end up hiring a company that doesn’t meet your expectations or understand your vision.

6. Think Functionality First

To avoid any potential problems, sit down and make a list of everything you want your website to do. Do you need an e-commerce platform? A blog? Custom forms? Once you have a clear idea of your site’s scope, you can search for companies specializing in that type of work. And trust us, there are plenty of them out there.

7. Make your Goals Clear

The best website developers will take the time to get to know your business, learn about your customers and understand your goals for the site. They should be able to provide you with a proposal that outlines their understanding of the project and how they plan to approach it.

8. Ask (A Lot Of) Questions

A good website development company will be happy to answer any questions you have about their process or their experience. Asking questions will fill important knowledge gaps and kickstart productive conversations that spark fresh ideas or clarify certain concepts.

The Best Questions to Ask Before Building a Website

Knowing how to choose the right web development partner means knowing the right questions to ask. Start with this list of questions and get the conversation started!

Do you have experience in developing websites for businesses like mine?
Do you use prebuilt templates, or do you develop everything from scratch?
Is your website platform proprietary or open source? If it’s proprietary, is there an ongoing fee to use it?
Will my website be ADA-compliant?
Is your website platform easy to use? Will I have to come to you every time I want changes?
What is your process for designing and building a website?
How much will you charge for designing and developing a website?
Do you have any references from past clients?
What kind of support and maintenance do you offer after completing the website?
Do you have any SEO experience?
Will the website adhere to best practices related to Core Web Vitals and accessibility?
What kind of involvement is expected from me? Can I provide feedback on the design?
What does the website quality assurance process like?
How many developers will be involved in the process?
What kind of functionality is included?
What other services do you offer?

Choose a Web Development Partner You Can Count On

A website is one of the most important investments a business can make. Don’t trust the work to just anyone; find a website design company with the experience, the resources and the reputation to deliver the goods. Count on Oneupweb’s fully integrated team to get the job done right. Get in touch or call 231-922-9977 today to get started.