A typical web development project requires in-depth expertise and a diverse set of skills, making it a difficult undertaking for a single person. For most companies, it just makes sense to hire a web development company to take care of the project – but even then, there are plenty of things to consider before you dive in.
When looking at how much a website costs, a standard brochure site typically costs between $2,000 and $8,000, while a custom solution can cost up to $50,000. It follows that the cost is always a significant consideration, and much of which will often go towards hiring a web development team.
Have you been thinking about having a new website developed? Are you looking for a web design company that can make the process simple and stress-free?
Read on for tips on choosing the right web design agency for your project.
Check their reviews
Most people love to share their experiences with others, both positive and negative, and those experiences are great opportunities to find out more about prospective web developers.
The number of written or filmed testimonials on a company’s website is a fairly good indication of their level of experience and how well they deliver on their promises – but remember, reviews should still be taken with a byte-sized grain of salt.
View previous work
Perhaps the only thing more telling than the words from previous customers is client works. If you are familiar with web development standards, simply looking at past clients’ websites should give you an indication of the quality a web developer can deliver. If you’re not so well-versed, consider asking a web-savvy friend to take a look and give you a recommendation.
Short on time? Simply checking the company’s own website will give you a good indication of their skills, their ideal customer, and whether their style will suit your plans.
Web projects work best when all parties work together. The problem is, not everyone is easy to work with – and going into the project with the wrong team by your side could spell disaster for your finished product.
The best way to avoid this problem is by setting up an initial consultation early in the project to discuss in-depth your expectations and their capabilities and make sure that it’s a good match. To ensure you make the most of your time, it’s best to prepare a list of questions that are pertinent to your project and see whether the developer can answer to your expectations. Some common questions you might ask include:
Set up an initial consultation
Web design might seem like a cut-and-dry kind of process, but you don’t want just any website. A site that is tailored to your needs, your business plans, and your market will be your best shot at connecting with the kind of customers you want to serve and earning a return on investment.
In order to design and develop a site that accurately reflects your business, your unique selling proposition, and the needs of your ideal customer, your web developer should have an in-depth understanding of your current position. The best way to make sure they get it right is to have them review your current website and ask questions of their own about your audience.
Who is in the team?
People are central to the processes of web design and development – both as consumers and creators – and you can’t underestimate the importance of getting a great team working on your project. This is particularly important to the creative side of your project and translating your vision into pixels and code.
For this reason, you should prioritise a team that keeps web design and development separate, allowing the experts in each role to focus on their areas of expertise. During your initial consultation, take the opportunity to ask questions about how the team works together and get to know more about the people behind each role.
How does their process work?
Web development involves so many moving parts that a watertight process is essential to success. Your job is to work out whether the workflow a company has developed will be right for you and your project.
While there are standard steps in the web development process that can’t be missed – namely information gathering, planning, design, content creation, coding, testing, and web maintenance – the approach to completing each of these steps may vary between agencies. Look out for things like process agreements that govern processes for revisions and communications.
Will they lock you into their own CMS platform?
Many developers have their preferences when it comes to development platforms, and it can cause problems if your site ends up on a platform that charges significant fees or restricts your design freedoms.
The solution is to opt for open source platforms such as WordPress Development or Craft so that there’s no risk of CMS lock-in. This way, you can avoid fees and choose the CMS platform that works best for you and your team.
Choosing the right web development company for your project is a process like any other, and one that deserves plenty of time and consideration. Ready to get a team of local web developers on your side? Get in touch today.
