Today, most businesses want a website. Some already have one. Others want one. They don't want to hire IT staff and probably can't afford any. And in most cases, an in-house IT staff, especially for your typical small business, is simply not necessary. But, that doesn't mean you have to go without or be forced to use some cookie cutter website or personal frontpage experiment. You can hire a web developer/designer to build a professional website for you, set it up, then hand it to you so you can do whatever you want with it. But, how should you go about finding someone to do this? What should you look for? There are literally thousands of companies/individuals offering to work on your website. How do you choose from this large group?
what do you want?
The first step is to decide what you want on your website. This is very important as it will determine what the requirements are and, in turn, what skill set your web developer needs to meet your needs. Here are some questions you can ask yourself:
* What type of information do you want to have on your site? How big do you envision the site (# of pages) to be?
* Will your site need regular updates? Would you like to do this update yourself?
* Will you join e-commerce on this website?
* Will you need a database?
* How fast do you need to get the job done?
* what is your budget?
start your search
Searching the web for someone who has the skills needed for your website will still give you a huge list of possible options. Referrals are often the best way to get people out. If someone recommends a developer, it is because they are happy with the service that was provided to them. So, if someone recommends a developer to you, you should investigate that developer and see if they have the skills you would need from them.
Often, the web developers you are considering are not located in your city. In today's day and age, this is usually not a problem. Yes, there are instances where a face-to-face meeting is really beneficial, and if you really consider this meeting to be important, you should narrow your search down to developers within driving distance of your location. Otherwise, the Internet and phone systems provide all the communication you need, regardless of distance.
The first thing to do when considering a developer is to check out their website.
* Is the website well designed and attractive?
* Is it easy to navigate?
* Are there any broken links?
* Is the information complete (employees' introduction, company location, contact methods, etc.)?
* Does the site load quickly?
* Is there a portfolio? (Very important. A developer without a portfolio to display is a total question mark. You just don't know if people are good or are snacking on Doritos trying to figure things out).
* What skills does the developer have? Do they only design, or can they do dynamic web development and database design? Also, make sure that they do not advertise themselves as a web designer but focus mainly on print media. Internet design and print design are different ballparks with different needs. Also, keep in mind that good use of Dreamweaver or Frontpage does not in itself become a web designer. Check their portfolio and make sure the developer really knows their stuff. A person proficient in Internet development should not only know how to build a site, but also maintain it, market it, and promote it. Ideally, a web developer has successfully done all of the above on their sites.
* Does the site provide customer testimonials? read them. And, you can contact those customers freely to ask them questions about the service you have provided.
Small Freelancers Vs Large Firms
You need to decide whether you want to work with a large web design firm or a small freelance web company (or even a single web developer). There is more security for the client when working with a larger firm. The skills they provide vary widely because their staff is so large, and they often have a very large portfolio. The caveat, however, is that larger web companies often charge more money. The overhead costs for such companies are high, so they will charge more. Additionally, larger web companies often come with more bureaucracy. With so many developers, communication is often not exactly what it should be, leading to project inconsistencies due to miscommunication. Plus, sometimes you'll find that these companies pay a little more attention to the process than just getting the job done.
Freelance web developers offer better value for money, and because they are the same person, the communication flow between them and the client is usually much better (one-on-one). If there is an employee, the size is usually smaller, which means that communication will still be more tidy. This will promote more consistent coding and coordination. Plus, you know who is responsible for your project and have more accountability. In large firms, no one is responsible in some cases. (Or so they say). The downside of freelancing is that their skill set is their skill set, and if you need something they don't know how to do, they should research it. Also, freelancers are limited by their size. If they already have a lot of workload, their workload is limited and this may force you to wait. Therefore, depending on the size of your project, a larger firm can guarantee that the job gets done quickly.
Rates and Guidelines
Check web developer rates. Often, you won't find rates posted directly on their website. It's usually because they like to take guesswork out of it, so just approach them, give them some details, and go back and forth until you get a ballpark figure. When receiving an estimate, make sure it is detailed and accurate. Ask any question you have. If you think the price is too high, ask them about it. Don't be afraid to counter-offer.
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