As technology continues to shape our day-to-day lives, having an online presence has become a necessity for businesses of all sizes. A website not only serves as the first point of contact between you and your customers, it also provides a 24/7 advertising platform that your target audience can view at any time of the day. But with so many web development companies out there, how do you ensure that you choose the right one for your needs?
This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to make an informed decision on how to choose a web development company. From defining your goals to finding server hosting options, we’ve got you covered!
What You Need to Consider Before Choosing the Right Web Development Company
Your competitors have their own websites, and you need to catch up or get left behind. Different web development companies offer various services, so you’ll have to find the one that matches your needs the most. Here are a few things you can do before you determine which one will be the best for your company:
Determine and Understand Your Business’ Needs
Before you even consider working with web development companies, you’ll need to understand what you need from a website. Every business has different objectives, so defining these goals is the first step in finding the right partner:
What Type of Website You’ll Need
The type of website your business requires should determine your choice of a web development partner. Here are some types of websites you should know about:
- Informational. These types of websites provide basic details about your business and the products or services you offer. It often includes a homepage, an About page, and a contact page. If this is the type of website you need, then your requirements will be much, much simpler.
- E-Commerce. If you’re planning to sell products online, then your website should have a shop page in addition to the other basic pages. Shop pages require e-commerce functionality, like product catalogs, shopping carts, and payment processing.
- Custom Web Applications. Custom web applications are customized software solutions that are designed to address a business’s needs and challenges. This is the most complex type of website and requires a certain level of expertise to develop. It often consists of personalized dashboards, booking platforms, and inventory systems.
Key Features and Functionalities
Beyond the basic structure, ask yourself if you’ll need certain features and functionalities that will make your website stand out from the rest of your competitors. Here are some unique features and functionalities you may require:
- Responsive Designs. A website’s responsiveness is determined by how well it works across desktops, tablets, and mobile devices. For example, if your target audience is shown to prefer using mobile phones, you may need your website that works just as well on mobile as it does on desktop.
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO). A website built with SEO practices in mind will help it rank higher in search engine results for relevant topics.
- Content Management System (CMS). CMSs are platforms that can allow you to easily update your website’s content whenever you want. If this is what you need, you may need to work with dedicated WordPress developers or other agencies experienced in managing a CMS.
- Third-Party Integrations. Some businesses will require websites integrated with software or applications. Customer Relationship Management (CRM), email marketing tools, or payment gateways are good examples of these.
Look for Relevant Experience
Now that you know what your website needs, you can find the perfect web development partner. One of the first things you can check is their industry knowledge and experience.
Industry Experience
You should work with a web development company experienced in your specific industry, if possible. Agencies that have worked with other businesses like yours will be more familiar with the unique requirements and challenges you’re facing.
For example, a web developer with experience in e-commerce websites, will have a better understanding of how product displays, cart functions, and payment systems work. Meanwhile, a web development agency that specializes in corporate websites can have better knowledge of brand identity and user experience.
Technical Expertise
On the technical side, development companies with experience in specific technologies that will power your website will also prove beneficial. Proficiency in programming frameworks and languages like HTML, JavaScript, CSS, or PHP is an absolute must.
Websites that require advanced functionality need specific tools and platforms to make them work. Good web developers should be able to handle tools and platforms, like Node.js, Python, and React to produce the best results.
Past Projects and Case Studies
An impressive portfolio is an excellent measurement of a web developer’s capabilities and experience. Review the projects they’ve accomplished and see if they’ve worked on websites that are similar to yours in terms of design and functionality.
A reputable company should always have a strong portfolio or gallery that features its best work. A company’s hesitance to share examples of their projects or has only vague, low-quality samples indicates a lack of expertise and knowledge. Remember to check out their case studies if they have any. These can highlight a company’s ability to deliver quality results, handle challenges, and meet deadlines.
A portfolio isn’t only a showcase of their design and development experience. It should also feature their technical expertise and problem-solving skills.
Evaluate the Company’s Development Process
Knowing how a company’s web development process works is the best way to understand how your website will turn out. Ensure that their process aligns with your business needs, expectations, and goals.
Project Management
Ask the company about their approach to project management. What methods do they use? How do they manage smaller tasks? How do they plan to meet deadlines? How will they handle challenges and sudden changes in requirements?
A company that fails to explain its workflow, milestones, and quality standards may often struggle with organization and lead to mismanagement, poor work quality, and delays.
Timeline and Milestones
Set your project’s timeline upfront. Good web developers should provide an estimated delivery date while outlining the major milestones along the way. Having clear deadlines will ensure that both parties stay on track and can address any potential delays proactively.
Quality Assurance (QA)
QA is crucial to making sure that your website doesn’t have any front-end mistakes and functions properly across different devices and browsers. Your web development partner should have a thorough QA process that tests for bugs and issues before your website even launches.
Read Up on the Pricing and Contracts
Understanding how a web development company’s prices and contracts work is crucial so you know if you’re getting your money’s worth.
Understand the Prices Offered
Web development agencies offer various pricing models such as hourly rates, fixed prices, or retainer models–each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Make sure you understand what is included in the costs. See if the designing, development, and testing processes are part of the package, as well as the post-launch support and maintenance.
Here are some of the pricing models:
- Hourly. Hourly rates are the most flexible option available, it can also lead to over budgeting if it takes longer than the expected timeline.
- Fixed. Fixed prices can help you control expenses but may be less flexible if changes need to be made during the development process.
- Retainer. Provides stability and predictability and allows for better collaboration, but may limit flexibility for both parties and become too expensive if the service’s value fluctuates over time.
Get Multiple Quotes
It’s often a good idea to get multiple prices from different web development agencies to compare the value of their services and its inclusions. Keep in mind that high-quality web development takes time, expertise, and proper investment, so keep a lookout for unrealistic results in unusually low prices and shorter timeframes. These are usually telltale signs of a company cutting corners, which leads to substandard results and incomplete work.
Review the Contract
Once you’ve chosen a company you can work with, carefully review your contract. See if it outlines all deliverables, deadlines, support, and payment terms. Read each word carefully before moving forward.
Evaluate Communication and Support
Every successful project launch begins with effective communication. A good web development agency should understand your vision and how you want to get there. That said, it’s important that they keep an open line and work closely with you every step of the way.
Responsiveness
Determine how quickly a company responds to your inquiries and concerns. If they respond slowly or seem disorganized in their communications, it can be a sign that they may not be reliable during the development process, too. You, as a client, would want a partner who is professional, responsive, and proactive in addressing your questions.
Collaboration and Transparency
Seek out a company that focuses on collaboration and keeps you involved during the decision-making process. They should show transparency on the project’s progress and provide you with regular updates. You can consider requesting access to their project management tools as well so you can keep track of the most recent developments and milestones.
They should also be open to feedback, taking the time to listen to your ideas and offer suggestions and alternatives without compromising your vision.
Post-Launch Support
The web design process shouldn’t end after the website launches. A dependable web development team should offer ongoing support post-launch. This support covers bug fixes, update implementation, or even training sessions for your team to manage the website effectively.
A company that doesn’t provide post-launch support or maintenance is essentially leaving you to resolve all issues on your own, so always check a company’s support policies before making a decision.
Check Reviews and References
While portfolios and case studies can give you an idea of how a company works, you shouldn’t overlook what their customers and references have to say. They provide an even better insight into their reputation and how they manage their relationships with the people and businesses they work with.
Online Reviews
Most web development companies have reviews on websites like Google, Trustpilot, or Clutch. These reviews are a goldmine of feedback since they come from clients who have directly worked with these companies. Keep a lookout for patterns in their feedback. Are their clients happy with their results? Do they respond quickly to concerns? Do they meet deadlines?
While it’s common to have negative reviews, check if the company takes criticism seriously and uses the feedback it receives to improve its services.
Client References
Another step you can take is to ask the company itself for client references. Speak with their previous customers directly and ask for feedback on their experience. This will help you determine if the company brings results, if they meet deadlines, and how they handle the challenges they’ve faced during the development process.
Learn About Their Partners
Some web development agencies don’t offer every related service under the sun but work with other service providers to provide you with what you need. For example, some companies have no hosting services but offer shared, virtual private server (VPS), dedicated, and cloud hosting options from their partners.
This situation extends to CMS, since not all web development companies have the manpower to deliver WordPress solutions. As an alternative, they may work with white label developers for WordPress or Shopify to meet the specific requirements of their clients.
Find the Best Web Development Company to Work With!
Now that you’re aware of how to choose a web development company, you need to keep in mind that the best choice isn’t just a vendor; they should be a long-term business partner throughout your digital journey. By understanding your needs, evaluating potential companies, and knowing how they work, you can make an informed decision that will ensure results that exceed expectations.