6 Tips for Choosing the Right Web Development Company
So you’ve decided to get a website for your business, or revamp your old one. Now the question remains – who will do the job the way you want it? How do you decide which web development company is the best suited for your business? Well there’s no set formula, but we can give you a few good tips – gathered from people who actually went through this process.
1. What do you really need?
You first need to determine what your goals and understand what you need to achieve them. You also need to consider who your target audience will be, what your website should have to attract them, and what message you want to convey to them. Thirdly, you should think about the likely challenges you will face, and how a web development company can help you overcome them. the answers to these questions will help you decide on the type of website you need – ecommerce, portfolio, business, and so on.
2. Set 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. Check out 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. Proof of the Pudding
No matter how much the web development company brags about its exploits, demand proof. This can be in the form of:
- Portfolios: ask to see the previous websites they have designed; see if they have good functionality, aesthetics, uniqueness in design, intuitiveness and whatever else it is that you want in your website. It will also tell you little things like how well they pay attention to detail, if they are competent enough to design complex websites and more.
- Testimonials: Reviews by previous clients are also a good way to know about the skills, communication, transparency and trustworthiness of the web development firm. Reviews may be on their own website, or on social networking sites, independent review sites.
5. Determine the level of support do you need
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. Look for Customized Solution Providers
If you check the website of any web design and development company, you will notice that they will all claim to be the best, and have the perfect solution for your needs. To weed out the chaff, cross out companies that deliver only preset solutions; a good web developer must be able to customize even a CMS like say WordPress effectively. Look for a company that is able to customize solutions to match your unique business requirements, and can scale according to your business growth.
To Sum Up
A really good web development firm will have genuine interest in seeing your business achieve your goals – because their success lies in their success. A company that is interested and capable of offering products and services that can help you achieve growth, is able and willing to craft innovative, scalable, flexible and customized solutions – that is what you need.
Do get in touch with us enquiry@ipixtechnologies.com and we will tell you how we can help you.