How to Choose A Web Development Company (14 Expert Tips)

A website is like an online visiting card that showcases details of what you do and may even allow visitors to make a purchase. It is vital to have a fully-functioning website that is mobile-responsive and provides a good user experience. 

Several core vitals make for a good website, making it necessary to engage with a web development company. They will help you adopt the latest technologies and applications that help enhance your customer journey.

Choosing the right web developer is crucial to ensure that your business is represented well online. 

In this article, we discuss the various steps on how to find and hire a reliable web development company. 

14 Steps to Hiring a Web Development Company

Here are a few steps that you can follow to hire a web development company that meets your needs:

1. Understand Your Requirements

Before you approach a web development company, it is important to gain clarity on your requirements and expectations from them. Define the scope of work for the web developer. A basic framework makes it easier for you and the developer to create a website that meets your standards. You can sketch a rough layout to put your ideas in perspective and clearly define the purpose and content of your website.

2. Identify a List of Web Developers

Once you define the scope of work, it is easier to understand if you require an onshore or offshore developer. Prepare a list of developers on a spreadsheet. You can look for prospective developers by doing a simple search on search engines like Google or Bing. 

You may also widen your search by using platforms like LinkedIn, Dribbble or Behance to find web developers. It will help you maintain a record of the potential developers and their details, even for future projects. 

3. Understand The Type of Developers You Need

When it comes to building a website, there are three different types of web developers who each specialize in a certain area. Here’s a quick overview of each type to help you decide which one is right for your project:

Front-end developers: Front-end web developers work with technologies like HTML, CSS, PHP or JavaScript to create a functional website for users to interact with the brand. They work with web designers to create the layouts to ensure it is user friendly.

Back-end developers: Back-end developers focus on the technical aspects of the website to ensure it is functional and without any bugs. They use programming languages like PHP, Ruby, and Python among others to build out the back-end infrastructure.

Full-stack developers: Full-stack developer focuses on both front-end and back-end development of the website. They understand the front-end framework, language, and back-end technologies to create user-friendly websites.

4. Study The Company 

Read about the company on their website to understand their process, services, and the kind of work they’ve previously done. It helps you gauge if the company can meet your requirements. It is good to maintain these details on the spreadsheet so you can refer to them at any time. 

5. Assess Their Work

When you read through a web developer’s website, pay close attention to their work. Use online tools to check the website's speed, responsiveness, and design. Assessing their work will help you understand their quality of work, expertise, and industry experience. 

Some web development companies may specialize in building e-commerce sites while some may be experienced in creating corporate websites. Depending on your requirements, you can choose a developer. 

You may even discuss different projects with the web development team to understand their contributions to the project and current relations with the client. A firm that maintains good relations with its clients may be a good choice for your project. 

6. Read Their Case Studies

When you’re looking to hire a web developer, it’s important to see if they have any case studies or a portfolio section. If they do, take some time to go through them and see what kind of work they’ve done in the past. This will give you an idea of the kind of work they’re capable of and whether or not they’re a good fit for your project. 

If you can’t find any case studies or a portfolio, that doesn’t necessarily mean the developer isn’t good. They may just not have anything published yet. In this case, you can ask them for some examples of their work or for references from past clients.

7. Check Their Services

Depending on the scope of work, some web development companies may also offer services like content writing and SEO for the website. You may use these services even after or before the development of the website. 

Some web development companies may provide you with a 360-degree solution offering services such as digital marketing and application development to help you scale your business by leveraging the website. They may help you create additional landing pages for ads, or set up CRM systems to help you manage leads. 

Some web development companies may provide additional support services and regular website maintenance to keep it updated. These services may include regularly updating your product or service catalog, adding season-specific content or focusing on search engine optimization (SEO). 

These services are only a bonus when selecting a web development company. Depending on your website, budgets, and requirements, you may or may not require these services. 

8. Read Reviews and Customer Feedback

When you are looking for a web development company to create your website, it is important to check the reviews, and customer feedback. Check the company's rating and reviews on different review websites like Clutch, DesignRush, Upcity, etc. See what people are saying about the quality of work, cost, and customer service of the company.

These will give you an idea of what other customers think of the company and how satisfied they are with the work that the developers have done for them. 

9. Check Your Compatibility

Speak to the client servicing team at different web development companies. It helps you understand their working style and if they can fulfill your needs. It also helps establish a rapport since building a website requires you to interact with different teams regularly. It also provides you with an opportunity to assess their soft skills like how they communicate, their punctuality, and their expertise. These are vital checks that will help you ensure a smooth workflow. 

10. Know Your Budget

Website development companies may offer different packages depending on the scope of the work. Discuss with your team and fix a budget before negotiating the prices with the development company. Understand the market rates to estimate your costs. Defining your scope of work early on in the discussion will help you set appropriate budgets. 

11. Define Your Timelines

Before you select a web developer to work on your website, define the timelines. Speak with the team and understand if they can execute the project within the stipulated time. Set different deadlines for each task such as content, front-end development, backend development, revisions and final handover to ensure a smooth workflow. 

12. Get Back to The Spreadsheet

Compare and analyze all the data you’ve collected about each firm. Compare the timelines, costs, work culture and services before you make a decision. The spreadsheet may act as a good reference point for you and your team to decide. 

13. Read The Contract Terms

Before signing up with a particular web development company, read the contract carefully. Understand the payment terms, deadlines and other service-related terms. 

14. Assign a Point of Contact

To ensure you have a smooth onboarding and development process, assign a point of contact for your team who coordinates with the web developer. This way, you can ensure smooth communication channels and avoid confusion during the design, development and handover phase. 

Final word

Choosing a web developer or a web development company may seem daunting. However, it is a crucial one-time investment that ensures your business gets the appropriate online representation and is reachable to its clients and customers.

It is recommended to choose a web development company over a freelance web developer to ensure timely delivery of projects and accountability. A web development company will also help you with other resources such as design and content to ensure you receive the best results for the project. 

With that said, if you’re looking for a reliable web development company, we can help!

We offer a wide range of web development services and our developers can work on anything from developing a new website from scratch to improving an existing one. Our team is experienced and knowledgeable in various web development technologies and can tailor our services to your specific needs. 

Contact us today to get a beautiful, functional website that will help you grow your business!

Further reading: 

How to Do Web Design Without Coding