A website designer or web development company must develop a solid reputation for excellence as they seek new clients and ways of growing their business. However, those clients should also be aware of some of the top factors of a good web developer. The elements of building a strong web development business also align with what clients should seek.
There are around 162,900 web developers in the United States alone. Although some of those work for companies, many run their own businesses or work as freelancers. Figuring out who has the skills you need and the ability to complete the work requires doing a bit of research into past clients and jobs completed. Research like checking out their business on Yelp, Facebook, and/or Instagram. Additionally, here are seven things you should look for in a web development business.
A Well-Designed Website
Spend time on the web developer’s website. If their website isn’t designed in an aesthetically pleasing way, then what they design for you may be lackluster. Make sure the website also offers a good user experience (UX). Test out all the links and forms and make sure everything functions smoothly. You should also take a look at any client websites listed or included for you as references. How do those sites look, and does everything function correctly?
Mobile Site Focus
More and more people access the Internet via their mobile devices. If a website isn’t designed responsively to smaller screens, you risk losing out on a lot of traffic to your site. Check out other sites the developer designed and if they are mobile responsive. Look for a developer experienced in designing mobile apps as well. As the way people interact with the Internet changes, the need for customized apps will grow.
Mid-Range Pricing
Consider the cost of the web development company. If you run a small business, you likely can’t afford the most expensive web development business out there. However, you also shouldn’t go with the cheapest option as they may not have the experience to handle your needs or scale with you as you grow. Instead, look for a mid-range price and a developer who understands how to help you scale your business without breaking the bank.
Be sure to ask questions and make sure that you fully understand what the pricing is if you need to add different features to the project. Costs add up, so be as detailed and transparent as possible to help set expectations.
Time Estimates
Before signing on to do business with a web development team, ask how long it will take to complete the project. An experienced designer takes the time to ask pertinent questions and figure out the scope of the project. They can then offer a guess at how long it will take from start to finish. While they might be off by a week or so, the estimate should be fairly close to how long it actually takes to complete your project.
An issue with some web development companies is a lack of organization. Talk to your company about how they’ll stay on track with time estimates. If you’re launching a startup, you want to make sure your website or app is ready in time for your grand opening, so finding a company confident in their ability to deliver on schedule gives you peace of mind and one more detail you can delegate to someone else.
A Solid Team
Ask the web development business about the size of their team, who the team is made up of and the specialty area of each person. Depending upon the size of your business, you might work with one designer or a full team. For large-scale projects, you might also have a project manager, account manager, SEO expert, content writer and someone to coordinate it all.
While a freelancer can handle small-scale web design and may save you money, anything larger requires a team if you want the work completed in a timely manner. Ask questions about who will work on your project and how long each step in the process takes.
Excellent Communication Skills
No matter what company you choose to work with for your web development needs, you want to know they will get back to you quickly if you need them. You can tell a lot by the way they communicate when you seek information. Do they respond to emails quickly? Do they have a phone number for you to call?
The Big Picture
Take a step back and look at the web development company as a whole. All companies have growing pains. You might find a poor review or two but look for patterns. Did the company try to resolve those issues or have a reasonable explanation and solution? Base your decisions on the scope of the business’ work and take all the factors into consideration when choosing which company to do business with.
If you’re interested to learn more about POP THE PIXEL, and how we may be able to help with your website design or web development project, give us a ring at 323-828-4465 or email us. We’d be happy to chat!
About the Author of This Post
Lexie Lu is a graphic designer and blogger with a passion for the digital world. She spends most of her time working on logo mockups and creating websites for her clients. She also manages Design Roast and can be followed on Twitter @lexieludesigner.