It scarcely needs to be said that your website is critical for creating strong first impressions with potential customers. As such, it’s important to have a website that conveys your professionalism and trustworthiness, and that speaks to the value your brand offers to its consumers. Creating a favorable user experience is also important.

A skilled web developer can help you achieve an excellent, effective site that aligns with all your sales, marketing, and branding goals. But of course, it’s important to remember that not all web developers are created equal. Before you hire someone to assist with your website, it’s important to ask some key questions, assessing their level of technical and creative skill.

What to Ask Your Web Development Company

As you interview potential web development partners, here are some of the questions you might ask to ensure the best fit.

1) Have you worked on projects that are similar in nature?

Different web development companies tend to tailor their services to specific industries or niches, and you’ll want someone whose experience aligns with your own business goals. For example, if you need help setting up an e-commerce store, be sure to ask potential web developers about their e-commerce track record.

2) What’s your research process like?

A good web development team will spend plenty of time researching your business, your industry, and your competitors, ensuring their finished work is tailored to the marketplace. Ask what kind of interview process you should expect, what kind of brand guidelines will be developed, etc.

3) What’s the expected timeline?

Web development takes some time, and you shouldn’t rush your development team. However, it’s perfectly reasonable to ask for a general timeframe, and to hold your developer accountable to the deadline that they set.

4) What specific services do you offer?

“Web development” is a pretty broad term that can encompass a number of ancillary services. There’s the design of the site itself, but also things like content writing, Google Analytics setup, social media integration, and more. Make sure you have clarity about exactly what services you can expect.

5) What’s your SEO strategy?

When you get a new website, you naturally want it to achieve a high level of search engine visibility. A good website development company will make SEO a top priority from the very beginning of their process. Ask your web developer how they will build SEO into the site itself, as opposed to making it an afterthought.

6) How can I edit or adjust my website?

Let’s say you need to make a small tweak to your website, perhaps updating your hours of operation, or adding a new name to your list of team members. Check to see whether you’ll have an easy way to make these changes in-house, or whether you’ll need to wait for the web development team to do it for you.

7) Can I see some testimonials?

You’ll be able to assess a web developer’s client satisfaction levels simply by browsing Google reviews, but don’t hesitate to request testimonials and references, too. A reputable web development company won’t hesitate to send you this information.

8) What’s my level of involvement?

Before you initiate a working relationship with your web development team, make sure you clarify expectations. Will you get to approve/veto every decision? Do you want to be involved at such a granular level, or simply to have little check-ins and progress reports along the way?

9) How much will this work cost?

The cost of web development work can vary by many different factors, including the scope of the work itself. You’ll naturally pay a bit more if your site is larger, or if you’re also requesting content marketing services. Make sure you get the pricing structure in writing, in advance.

10) Will you outsource anything?

Some web developers do everything in-house, while others may outsource to content writing teams or graphic designers. There’s nothing wrong with outsourcing, but you have a right to know exactly who’s working on your project.

11) What assets do I need to provide?

See what information you’ll be responsible for providing before your web developer begins work. For example, you may be asked to provide passwords and logins, font/color guides, logos, etc.

12) Will this be an original design, or made from a template?

This is a critical question to ask, as it not only gets to the level of quality you can expect but will also have a huge bearing on the cost of the project.

Schedule a Web Development Consultation Today

Questions about web development work? We’d love to provide all the information you need. Learn more about working with the team at enCOMPASS Agency today. Reach out to us whenever you’re ready to schedule a consultation call.