When you decide to develop a website you will be surprised how many web design companies are out there offering their services. With so many web developers out there selecting a company might be quite difficult, especially if you are not familiar with the industry. Very often the developers will talk a pretty story and show you a convincing presentation, but how do you know what their real level of expertise is? Let me give you an idea of some simple questions you may ask to make sure your project ends up in the right hands.
1. How Many years of Experience Does The Company Have? Do They Have Any Awards?
Experience in the industry is a good indication of stability and expertise. Web Development companies with years in business have established a strong reputation for outstanding design and exceptional approach to customers. Experienced companies are more likely to be there for technical support and regular system updates and maintenance. Do you remember yourself being an amateur in what you're doing now? No one blames you for that but admit that years of experience make a difference. The more time you are involved in something the more efforts you put into it, the more passionate you become. Being experienced usually means being an expert in whatever you are doing. Web Design is no exception.
2. What's the number of Staff Members and What Are Their Qualifications?
Speaking about effective Web Development companies doesn't necessarily mean the more staff members the better. The most important factor is the qualification of the employees. Timeless truth: quality over quantity, but we would like to add that quantities of quality always win!
3. What Other Services Does The Company Offer Besides Website Design?
Most effective companies do not limit the range of their services to Web Design and Web Development. They try to extend this list to SEO, Logo Design, Web Content Writing, Blog Promotion, Social Media Marketing, E-Commerce Development and more. Regardless of whether you're only looking to develop a website or promote it on the web, I highly recommend finding a company that could easily handle any of the tasks mentioned above.
4. Does the Web Design Company ask questions about your Business to later use it in the process of Website Development?
Professional Web Development companies often ask you to answer certain questions to get a better understanding of your overall website goals and needs. Even if the web development firm is full of highly trained experts in Web Design it doesn't necessarily mean that they are experts in your industry. That's why they need to ask a lot of questions to get a better understanding of the business and the purpose of your website.
5. What Are The Company's Payment Terms?
Before making certain arrangements with your Web Development company, it's important to make everything clear about payment deadlines. Trustful company will cross all the t's and dot all the i's to show you the transparency of a situation.
If the web development company asks you to make all the payments before the project starts, it's a good reason to become alert. It means there is something they are afraid of. Do not hesitate to settle all the payment issues. Otherwise, it may cost you much more than what you actually intended to spend.
6. Does the Web Development Company guarantee Privacy of your Information?
If you want to get a high-quality website, your web development agency can't do without access to very important information, which you wouldn't like to distribute to third parties and especially to your competitors. What if somebody stole your ideas, or had access to important inside information about your business? That's why there must be a strong privacy policy to protect your information. Discuss this issue with your web development company to avoid unexpected surprises. Imagine yourself browsing through the websites of competitors and discovering your own ideas, your unique and precious ideas which you have been developing for months or even years. It's certainly not the best case scenario. But it happens and it's for you to decide who you're going to pass your valuable information to.
7. How much time does it take to complete your Web Development project?
Be curious about an average turn-around time for projects which are similar in size to your own. This will show you whether your web development company has relevant project management system. In case you have a certain deadline to meet make sure to discuss it with the developers to see if they are capable of completing the project in time.
8. Is this Web Development company capable of Writing Content for your website?
SEO copywriting is a powerful tool which aims at promoting your website. Properly optimized, your website has a good chance to appear on the front pages of Search Engines. Every efficient company offers copywriting services. Be sure you ask them to show you some examples. What would be really great is to look at the sites within your industry.
9. What Operating Systems and Programming Languages are used by the Web Development Company?
If you have the slightest idea of that, web development companies use both open source PHP/MySQL and ASP.NET programming languages. Ask web developers to provide you with the technical advice on which Platform would be most suitable for your needs and budget.
10. What's the process of Website Testing and Quality Checking? Are you given access to your website while it's still in the development stages?
Generally, the process of quality checking involves browser testing, checking for broken links and testing of general usability. This helps ensure that the website is easy to navigate and visitors may easily make out what is what. If you have an ability to see the version of your website in the process of development, you will be able to interact with the designers about what you like and what you don't. This way it would be easier for you to be involved in the process.
11. Are you allowed to Host your Website with any Other Company?
In some cases a web development company does not provide you with any other options but to host your website with them. Of course you are so excited about creating your website that thinking about hosting would be too much. That won't go this way. Everything has to be arranged in advance. What if you find a company with a more appealing hosting service? Do not hesitate to go one step further and ask about hosting.
12. Are they going to teach you how to manage your website?
If the website is operating on specific software, it would be much easier for you to have a clear idea of how to use it. Find out whether your web development company will give you a tutorial or documentation. In case this system is difficult to understand, it would be perfect to have a special training program. So make sure you receive great customer support before you make a decision about a web development agency.
13. Is This Web Development Company Capable of SEO? Have they included it in a quote?
Search Engine Optimization is very difficult to understand and moreover to deal with. Reliable Web Development companies should be experienced in SEO and providing internet marketing solutions. Make sure to choose a company that will help you get the most desirable results with your business campaign.
14. How much does it cost to update your website after it is already completed?
Before ordering website development, you should think about future website redesigns, how often you will need them and how much you're ready to spend on them. Ask your website design company about future website redesign price and the conditions of maintenance. In case you have to update your website quite often, Content Management System would be the best option for you. It will come in handy if you are planning to make regular and frequent changes on your website.
15. Do you have to get a website bug fixed at additional cost? Do you need to pay for small changes?
In most cases web development companies fix the bugs or apply slight changes free of charge. But of course there are companies that will charge you even for the smallest change on your website, especially if it doesn't qualify as a bug. Usually web development agencies provide you with several designs for you to approve the one you like most. You will then be involved in each stage of web design process. Every step which is approved by the client is regarded to be finished. When you go back and ask for certain changes – it may cost you money. But it all depends on a company you've chosen and their customer support.
I hope you now understand how important it is to ask your web design company the right questions. Wrong decision may result in some very disappointing results. These 18 questions will help you find out more about the company and avoid undesirable surprises. Study your web development company from different angles and don't let it play tricks on you.
