I want to detail things to consider before hiring a web developer in this post as I find it is so extremely important. It will set your business back if you select the wrong one. Finding the right web developer or web designer can seem like an impossible task, but it doesn’t have to be so difficult. Your choice of developer or designer can make or break your site, so making sure you hire the right person for the job is important. Here are eight things to consider before you hire any designer or developer.
1) Determine your needs
Make sure you know what you want your website to do before you explore more things to consider before hiring a web developer. Some clients are unsure of their needs. Some want an online presence but don’t have much in terms of content, while others have thousands of pages worth of information that needs to be transferred over from their current website. As part of your initial sit-down, talk through all aspects of what you envision your site doing for your business. Clarify which pages need to exist and ensure they are there when it’s time for launch. Your web developer should also be able to give you an estimated timeline so you can better manage expectations when it comes time for launch day.
2) Calculate whether you’ll be able to handle it yourself
Web developers and designers tend to cost more than any other part of starting an online business. When you consider that even entry-level hires will need reliable internet access, specific software (and perhaps training), and ongoing support, it’s clear that web development isn’t something you want to handle alone. However, if your work can scale well with freelancers—if you can manage them easily—or if you’re adept at handling small projects yourself without too much stress, then it might be possible for you to bring in freelancers as needed. Either way, make sure your skills are up for managing outside help. If they aren’t, now is probably not a good time to take on another role within your business.
3) Talk to a number of developers or designers
If you have an idea for your business, it’s tempting to rush out and find someone who can help you with it. The trouble is that rushing into anything will ultimately leave you unsatisfied with your final product, so take some time before you commit to anything. Before contacting any developers or designers, do your research. Read their portfolios and make sure they’re experienced in areas related to what you want them for. Then contact them all and give them clear instructions about what you need. Also it is important to look at some of their client work. Like ours with Seoige Ireland Wax Creations!
4) Do they understand your vision?
When building your website, you’ll need someone who can fully comprehend your vision. Many of these companies are capable of producing beautiful websites, but they don’t have experience working with you personally. Before signing on with anyone, ask them what they think of your idea and get an idea for their vision for your website. Do they share it? If not, try working with someone else who has a similar outlook on how it should look and feel.
5) Are they available when you need them?
As a business owner, you’re going to be dealing with some very important deadlines, and having a freelancer that is slow in response times can really throw off your productivity. Therefore, it’s vital that you have someone who is going to be available when you need them! Web developers and designers are often slammed with multiple projects at once. If yours gets pushed back on their schedule, make sure they explain why they’re behind and when they think they will deliver. A little honesty goes a long way.
6) Do they have testimonials from their previous clients?
You should be able to find testimonials from previous clients on their website. If you don’t see any, it’s probably a sign that they don’t have much experience, or that they’re not very good at communicating with their clients. Either way, that could mean trouble for you as well. Asking your potential developer for references is another option; if they won’t provide them, look elsewhere! There are plenty of great developers and designers out there who would be happy to show off their work and tell you how much their previous clients love them!
7) Do they provide adequate after-service?
You’ve got your website up and running, but don’t think you can sit back on your laurels—this is when you should start monitoring how well your site performs. Sure, if it looks good on desktop then it must be OK for mobile, right? Wrong. You need to be checking how quickly your pages load on all devices (we recommend using Google PageSpeed Insights for easy measurement). So put in some quality control, otherwise you could end up with unhappy customers who won’t return for more.
8) Will they commit long term?
This one might be obvious, but it’s important. If you’re looking for an ongoing partnership, make sure your potential new hire is on board with that. You don’t want to bring someone in only to lose them halfway through your project because they need something else in their schedule. A commitment of 6 months at minimum is ideal; 2-3 years is even better if you can swing it. And, of course, payment isn’t everything—make sure you ask candidates about their goals and career goals too! With some luck (and some follow up interviews), you should end up with not just someone who can do great work but someone who wants to stick around for awhile too. I really hope that this helped you to realise things to consider before hiring a web developer.