A good website is crucial for almost any business these days. Whether you’re operating online or at a physical location, your website is your home base. Not only can potential customers learn about you this way, but they’ll find your contact information and location. So many people consult the internet before making a purchasing decision, and your website helps you influence these decisions.
A lot goes into a great website, though, and it’s not always as easy as it looks. By partnering with the right web developer, you’ll have a top-notch, easy-to-use website up quickly. Read on to learn how to choose the right web developer for your business.
What to Look For in a Web Developer
Your website is a huge factor in the success of your company, so web development isn’t something you want to be done poorly. Unfortunately, not all web developers are made equal. Some simply offer sub-par service and poor-quality design. Others take advantage of this largely web-based business and try to run scams.
There are a few key things you can look for to detect whether a web developer is legitimate, competent, and experienced enough to handle your requests.
A Strong Portfolio
First and foremost, they should have a robust portfolio. They should be able to provide you with a list of websites they’ve created and offer you the links. If they have no portfolio or have only a handful of mediocre sites to show off, you may want to steer clear.
Look for clean, visually appealing websites that are easy to understand and navigate. You want to see originality, creativity, and logical colour schemes. If they’ve worked with some big and popular companies, that’s a bonus – but what you’re really focused on is consistency and quality.
Good Reviews and Testimonials
Next, see if you can find some reviews. They may post testimonials on their own website, or you can check databases like Google. Lots of bad reviews are a clear red flag, but no reviews can be a concern as well. If they’re good at their job and have nothing to hide, they should allow customers to leave reviews.
Ideally, look for a web developer with lots of positive reviews and happy customers. It’s also important to keep in mind that no one is perfect. This means that a small amount of negative reviews next to plenty of positives, aren’t necessarily a dealbreaker. Read the negative reviews and see what the context is before making a judgment.
Creativity
Even if someone is great at writing code and creating a website that functions, a complete lack of creativity means a rather grim website. When browsing portfolios, look for creative elements and diversity among their published websites.
If every website looks almost the same with perhaps minor differences, this means yours will be the same as well. The internet is saturated with websites fighting for everyone’s attention. You need to stand out among your peers to garner any success.
Look for a web developer with a creative eye that can think outside the box and even collaborate with you. You may very well have some cool and unique ideas – find someone who can bring them to life in a beautiful way.
Custom Websites
Ideally, you want a web developer that creates custom websites. Some companies offer their services and then make you a template-based site. A good example of template websites are WordPress sites.
WordPress is a powerful platform and many incredible sites are built here – but they are done with templates. Most have customizable options but you’ll still be able to see the resemblance when two sites have used the same template.
Template websites aren’t always bad. Many blogs thrive with a simple template, as do small e-commerce stores and personal websites. It’s a great place for hobbyists to make a website for themselves in just a few minutes.
If you’re hiring a web developer, though, they should make something for you from scratch. If they’re going to charge you for a template site, you might as well do it yourself for free.
Good Communication
Lastly, you want your web developer to have strong communication skills. Not only is this crucial for logistical reasons, but for the design itself. They should ask you for your ideas, input, and vision.
They should also include you in the process and seek feedback from time to time. They should consider everything you have to say and respectfully speak up if they disagree with or don’t like something you’ve suggested.
You can gage a company’s communication skills in your first few interactions:
- How quickly do they respond to your initial email/phone call?
- Is their response professional and polite?
- Is their message clear and free from spelling and grammar issues?
- How do they answer any questions you have?
- Are they transparent about their process, pricing, and timeline?
These things tell you a lot about their communication skills and willingness to listen.
Choosing the Best One for Your Business
While it’s important to research and vet any web developer you’re considering, you also want to ensure compatibility. There are different types of websites and businesses, so you must ensure they’re willing and prepared to meet your specific needs.
For example, your website may be one of the following:
- E-commerce store
- Educational website with lots of blogs and articles
- Purely static website with general company information
- Membership website with a community aspect
These are some of the most common types of websites, and they’re all very different. They require different codes to create and have different ongoing needs. If you need to set up an e-commerce store, you may not want to work with a web developer that specializes in blogging sites.
It’s not to say this developer is talented and capable, but you may get better results with someone who knows exactly how to create what you’re looking for. Keep this in mind when you’re researching and examining potential developers. Always pay special attention to websites in their portfolio that are similar to yours.
Choose a Great Web Developer Today
Whether you simply need a website built or you want an array of web-based services, you should only work with the best. From design and marketing to SEO and ongoing content, we can help you create a beautiful, successful, and high-converting website. Contact us today and get started with a free quote!
