Whether you are starting a new business and need a website for it, or have an existing business and wish to improve or even replace your current site, unless you are a website developer, you will need to employ a website development company to do the work. If you do some research you will see there are literally hundreds of them out there.
Some of these will be one-man or woman operations, whereby the person designs and develops websites on a freelance basis. Whilst many of them are excellent at what they do, and can often design a very impressive website, they are not what most businesses need. They usually cannot back up the design with elements relating to SEO or conversion, for the simple reason that they specialise only in design.
For a more comprehensive service that can not only design your website but also ensure it has every chance of ranking and converting well, you need the services of a website development company. One huge benefit they have is a team with all the skills required to ensure that every necessary element is optimised. Such a company will also be more able to offer you continued support after the website has gone live to implement any updates that are necessary.
The question now needs to be ‘What should you be looking for in a website development company?’ and by answering that you will ensure that when you employ them, they can provide the service you are expecting.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Web Development Company
1. Portfolio
The first thing to look for is the portfolio of websites that they’ve created for previous clients. You may find they have links to these on their own website, but if not, they will certainly direct you to them if you ask. When you land on the websites they’ve created previously, take them for a ‘test drive’ by clicking through and looking at the content, its structure, and its navigation. and of course, how it looks.
Ideally, you want to see a range of different types of websites which will indicate that they are able to create websites of all types, including the one you would like. Be cautious if every website they have created looks similar as this might indicate that they have limited scope in terms of design and may only be using one or two templates or themes. This would hinder any options you might have to make your website unique and limit the scope of SEO elements.
2. Experience
When looking for a web development company for your business, it’s best to go for those who have years of experience delivering great results. These digital agencies have spent a longer time honing their skills and perfecting the process of creating top-notch websites. Find their LinkedIn to check how long they’ve been in the industry.
3. Expertise and Flexibility
You should also check where their expertise lies. Website development companies with a deeper knowledge of your particular niche can build a website that reflects your business values so it connects with the people that you are trying to target. They will also be more aware of the web design patterns, features, and integrations to fit your field and will be able to customise a solution around that.
That said, the web development company must be adaptable enough to develop a website that is unique from the other businesses in that niche. Your website should be one-of-a-kind and not the same as everyone in their portfolio.
4. Market Recognition
Awards and recognitions are good indicators of a website development company’s competency. The same goes if they’ve been featured in a reputable publisher’s article. These mean that they stand out from their competitors and are known in the industry for
Any company would only want to be associated with other outstanding companies. So, if the web development agency that you’re considering is a certified partner of platforms such as WordPress and Shopify, that speaks volumes.
5. Testimonials and Feedback
Look for the businesses that the agency has worked with before and see if you can get their contact details. In this way, you might be able to contact the business owners for first-hand accounts of how well they liked the way web development company provided their services. Inquire about their professionalism, work ethics, expertise, communication, and ability to deliver on time.
You can also check out sites like Clutch, DesignRush, Upcity, and GoodFirms to see if they have good ratings and positive reviews. How are people commenting on the quality of their work, prices, and customer service?
You can also seek testimonials by requesting them directly from the website development company. Just make sure that these are actual client reviews and that they sound genuine.
6. Project Management
You should also ascertain what the design and development process will be. A reputable website development company will be able to outline the entire process for you from the initial discussions with you, through to completion. Better still, if they provide a single point of contact for you to communicate with and get updates from, this is also a sign that they care about their clients.
Effective project management means that they have an optimised and structured process in place that includes timelines, milestones, workflow, approval, asset sharing, and the use of good project management software. Ask for the scope, responsibilities, and timeframes and if they’ll be able to fulfil everything regarding the cost and time.
7. Design and Development Skills
Look at the team that will be deployed for your project. Ensure that the company has experienced and trained staff that is updated with all the latest technologies and trends regarding website development. They must be skilled in managing widely used languages and frameworks like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript and also be experienced with platforms like WordPress, Shopify, Magento, Joomla, and Drupal.
Inspect their portfolio sites if they have clean code, fast loading times, and are visually appealing and mobile-friendly. Check out their layout, typography, color combinations, and visual hierarchy. Does any of their portfolio sites show their experience in features such as ecommerce, forms, analytics, databases, and APIs? How about security and compliance?
8. SEO and Digital Marketing Capabilities
Your potential web partner should have the capabilities to help you rank on search engines. This includes mobile-friendliness, optimising code for crawlers and indexing, providing search engine optimisation (SEO) audits, continuously monitoring performance using tools like Moz, creating content, and other SEO strategies that will help you reach your target audience and drive organic traffic.
9. Time Frame
You’ll want to determine what kind of time frames the website development company can offer you. If you need the website to be up and running quickly, a digital agency with plenty of resources, including staff, should be able to accommodate this. Be wary of any agency which is reluctant to commit to a time frame as this could mean that are incapable of, or worse, have no intention of, meeting deadlines.
Aside from executing the project within the stipulated time, you’ll also want to ask for deadlines for each milestone such as content, front-end development, back-end development, revisions and the final turnover.
10. Design and Development Costs
You want to know what your web design and development will cost. A digital agency that operates efficiently will be able to confirm a fee with you beforehand, which you can both agree upon, including any additional services which you may have requested, such as ongoing SEO after your website is live. Make sure that there aren’t any hidden costs and that everything will be documented.
That said, remember that a high price doesn’t guarantee impeccable results and that a low price might mean that the company is cutting corners. Look for value and how well they can meet your needs while still being within your budget.
11. Ongoing Support
Confirm that the website development company that you are considering provide ongoing support. After all, websites require constant maintenance and updates to make sure that they stay functional, secure, and up-to-date. This includes fixing bugs, security updates, and website enhancements.
Final Words
The selection of a website development company is an important factor in online success which can have a direct impact on your business. An attractive website is not just a virtual showcase; it is a means to increase traffic quality, improve user experience, and turn visitors into loyal customers. Through diligent examination of the portfolio, experience, and market reputation of a company, you can be sure to properly align yourself with a team that matches your goals and vision. Also, evaluating their abilities in project management, SEO, and post-launch support will enable you to make an informed decision.
Cost and timelines certainly matter, but they should not be the only criteria. A good development company will provide you transparency, clear communication, and solutions customised to your needs. You can avoid future troubles by making sure that you have the right people on the project right from the start. By partnering with the right web development company, your business can be on track for a strong digital presence and sustainable growth and success.
