4 Questions to Ask Before You Hire a Website Developer

In the process of hiring a website developer to work with your company, properly vetting the candidates will help you build a partnership that works well for both of you in the long run. So when you get to the point where you’re ready to narrow down your options, you’ll want to ask some question that get useful answers.

Here are four questions to ask before you hire a website developer.

1. Can you tell us about your company?

You’ll want to know how long the company has been in business, how many people work there, and other key stats about the organization. You should be looking for a firm that has staying power, as well as one with employees who can provide you with the expertise you need. Keep in mind that while larger companies have a larger pool of talent, smaller companies can often provide you with superior customer service and personalized attention that goes the extra mile.

2. What kinds of clients do you work with?

Asking about other clients can give you insights into the kinds of organizations the firm is comfortable working with. A website developer that works with companies that are about the same size and in the same general industry as yours will take less time to ramp up to speed on your project, and may be able to offer ideas you hadn’t considered.

3. What is your process?

Try to get an idea about how the development team moves through a project — how they get client input, how they collaborate, what kind of schedule they follow, and what kind of guards they have in place to ensure the project doesn’t get out of hand. Setting expectations early is an important part of building a strong, productive working relationship.

4. How do you deal with disagreements?

As with any project, people are probably going to have differing ideas when it comes to Web development. Ask how the firm might push back if they see something that doesn’t fit with what you feel is best. Do they compromise? Ask for specifics: finding out how they deal with conflict can give you a better idea of what it’s like to work with them.

A Few Questions to Ask Yourself

In addition to the above questions you should ask prospective website developers, there are also questions you should ask yourself.
Are the company representatives listening to your requirements, and do they really understand what you need?
Do they provide their own ideas based on their expertise, or simply parrot back what you want?

Sometimes a Web developer might listen to your requirements, and then come back with a proposal that outlines what they will change. Instead, look for a developer that provides viable solutions that address the problem at hand.

Red flags to watch out for include:

  • a reluctance to share past work with you.
  • vague or nonexistent stories about working with past clients.
  • a preoccupation with price.

A good Web development firm will come up with a detailed line-item proposal that makes it clear what you’re paying for and what you’ll get.

Performing your due diligence when vetting Web developers can make the difference between a project that meets your expectations and one that exceeds them. Asking these key questions as you shop around will help you narrow down your options.

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