Having a website is a must nowadays. Your website is the heartbeat of your brand. It should be a place where your target audience can learn about who you are, what you do, and why they can’t wait another minute to support your mission.
Running a website is an excellent way to let people know what your values are and what sets you apart from everyone else. The reality is that sometimes websites fall flat, even when you initially design it with great intentions.
If your website isn’t performing quite as well as you had hoped, it may be time to talk to a professional. Web developers can take your underwhelming website and transform it into a catalyst for change. Working with a website developer will give you, your website, and your brand the power to enact change through a hearty online presence that simply can’t be ignored.
Check out the 7’s P’s you should consider before hiring your next website developer.
Pipeline
Having a web developer that’s in high-demand can be a good thing, but there’s a flip side to that. Do they have more work than they can handle? Too much work can cause things to fall through the cracks. On the other hand, too little work means that they’re not busy, which may be a sign that perhaps they aren’t as great as they market themselves to be. Of course, you can certainly find an excellent web developer that isn’t overrun with projects. Just be cautious and do your research. Check out reviews and take a peek at any websites they’ve completed.
Processes
You’ve heard the saying, “Consistency is key.” This holds true even for web developers. Do they follow processes to ensure a consistent output? You want to be sure to find a developer who has a set of procedures in place to deliver quality and timely results each and every time – much like a recipe.
People
Web development is much like a perfect combination of art, psychology, and science. In all of these fields, it’s common practice to collaborate or bounce ideas off colleagues. Does the web developer you’re considering do it all themselves or do they have a team of people around them? Finding a web developer who is part of a team is the better option. This enables them to have more resources, different perspectives, and valuable input from multiple designers, all of which lends itself to a perfectly crafted website.
Principles
As a business owner, you know how important principles are. They are the backbone of a company. While yours are likely the lifeblood of your organization, you should also strive to find a web developer whose principles are just as vital to their success. You want to find someone who has principles that drive them to accomplish any task, no matter how big or small.
Professional
First impressions are everything! Is the web developer professional in their dealings with you in the early stages? Do they return emails and phone calls in a timely manner? If they aren’t setting the bar high from the very beginning, then you’ve seen everything you need to know. It’s highly unlikely that an unorganized, unreliable web developer will suddenly change their business practices. Save yourself headaches and wasted time and money and avoid unprofessional web developers at all costs.
Pricing
Are the prices cheap? Everyone wants to get the most bang for their buck but it’s true that you get what you pay for. Chances are if you hire a cheap developer, you’ll get cheap results. Remember, your website is an investment in the future success of your business.
Phases
Do they break the project into distinct phases so you sign off on each stage before moving into the next? Building a carefully crafted, effective website is much like a construction project. It’s not done overnight and it takes careful planning to see and achieve the vision. Web developers who require your approval at various points along the way tend to cause less bumps in the road and an end result that you can both be proud of.
Finding a web developer isn’t a task that should be taken lightly. With a little bit of research, you’ll be on your way to an eye-catching design that generates leads along with a custom-tailored website to propel your brand to new heights.
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