If you need a website designed and built, there are a lot of different web developers out there, and sometimes it can be a bit difficult to choose which developer is right for you.

You might think all websites are the same so when it comes to choosing a web developer, does it matter who you choose? Not all websites are the same, for instance, Google is a website which performs searches, YouTube is a website that displays lots of videos. Both of them are websites, both of them do very different things. So you need to choose a web developer who has experience in the type of website you need.

Here are my top tips on choosing the best web developer for your website.

1. What Type of Website do You Need?

First things first you need to determine what type of website you want? Is it purely an informative website designed to give potential clients more information about your business? Maybe an e-commerce site where customers buy products and services directly from your website? Or an appointment based website where clients book an appointment directly from your website?

This should be the first decision you make before doing anything else.

2. Check How Much Support is Available?

Now you need to determine how much support you need from your web developer. Most developers will just create the website and their service won’t include other areas such as:

Structuring of the website
Writing the content
Researching keywords
Advice on getting found on Google
SEO
e-mail options.

And what about communication - how will they consult with you?

Other questions to ask include whether you have full access to the site to add new pages or make amends as your business grows? What happens if you don’t like the website? These questions are essential for you to understand the experience of the developer and what’s included in the price.

Determining the level of support you need will help you decide which developer will create a website to help your business grows.

3. Factor ALL of The Costs

Like everything in life, getting a website for your business isn’t free. In addition to the web developer fee, there are other costs to consider such as web hosting, domain name costs, e-mail, and support options.

Take into account all of the costs before choosing a web developer and make sure it fits your budget. Take into account the most expensive might not be the best, and the cheapest option might not be the worst.

4. Read the Reviews, Seriously Read Them

You’d read the reviews for a holiday destination, or a new product interested in buying. So why should it be any different for when you’re choosing a web developer?

It’s easy to find a review for a company, just do a quick Google search.

The lower the ratings and reviews there are for a company, you might wish to ask more questions. Web developers with higher reviews may be a little more expensive but you’ll most likely get a better service and product from them.

5. Contact Them

By now you should have a list of web developers you potentially want to work with. The next step is to contact them.

A good web development agency should always reply in a polite professional manner, usually arranging an initial meeting with you to get more information about your business and what you want from your website.

Usually, web developers will ask you as many questions as you’ll ask them as they’re trying to get as much information to understand your business and what you need from your website. Don’t be put off by all of the questions.

If you find the conversation too technical, ask them to explain what the words mean. If they are reluctant or impatient, move onto to the next choice on your list until you find the website developer that’s right for you.

6. Allow More Time

Dependent upon the size and requirements, a website project can usually take between 6 - 8 weeks, sometimes longer depending on the timescale you agreed and how much content you have prepared.

You need to discuss with the web developer how you want your website to look. Be prepared to send over imagery, videos, and written content to show your business with a positive first impression.

listen to the developer about design choices and suggestions and their job is to help you get the best website.

Conclusion

That was 6 things I think you need to consider when choosing a web developer for your project. If you have more tips on choosing a web developer for your website, put them in the comments below and if you need any advice then please contact us on 01642 777996.

How to Choose a Web Developer for Your Website?