You’ve made the decision to create a website for your company or redesign your existing one. The question is: who will do it the right way? How do you choose the right web development company for your business? There is no one right way to do it, but there are some good tips that we can offer – from people who have been through the process.
1. What are you really looking for?
First, you must determine your goals and what you will need to do to reach them. It is important to identify your target audience, the website that should be appealing to them, and the message you wish to send to them. Third, consider the challenges that you may face and how a website development company can assist you. These questions will help determine the type of website that you need: ecommerce, portfolio or business.
2. Establish a budget
It is crucial that you know how much money you have to spend on your website; you may need to strike a balance between the quality and price; even if your budget is limited, don’t compromise too much on the quality. A good website is likely to bring in higher ROI in the long run. Also, keep in mind that websites can always be updated or redesigned; so there’s no need to start off with loads of fancy stuff. Look for a web developer who can create a website that’s functional and intuitive even if it doesn’t look grand – for a reasonable fee.
3. See the Competition
Some businesses keep tabs on their competitors – and this is important if you want to enjoy great success; learn from your rivals to emulate what works, and to not repeat their mistakes. This doesn’t mean you have to exactly copy what they do; but if you can see that a specific functionality is raking in the customers for them, you can include a similar one in your site – for example, an advanced search option where the user can apply multiple filters. Look for a web design company that is capable of incorporating all such features in a website.
4. The Pudding is Proof
Do not believe the boasts of web development companies about their accomplishments. You can get proof in the form:
Portfolios: Ask to see their previous websites. See if they are functional, beautiful, unique, intuitive, and what else you need in a website. You will find little details such as how attentive they are to detail and if they have the ability to design complex websites.
Testimonials: Client reviews are a great way to find out about the trustworthiness, communication and skills of the web design firm. You can leave reviews on the company’s website or on other social media sites.
5. Decide the level of support you require
You may need support for several things – setting up email, reset passwords, making changes in the website, incorporating new elements, etc. A website cannot be static – it’s like a living, breathing entity that undergoes additions and transformations as and when the business grows or changes. Ask the website development company if they can provide the tools to update content, add new pages, make small changes and so on. For including new features, you are most likely to be completely dependent on your web developer who is in essence your technology partner. Usually all developers offer support, but to be safe, check beforehand how much support they are offering.
6. Find Customized Solution Providers
You will see that every web development and web design company claims to be the best and offer the perfect solution. You can filter out companies that only offer pre-made solutions. A good web developer should be able customize WordPress. You want a company that can customize solutions to meet your specific business needs and scales with your business’ growth.