The first hurdle in launching a website is choosing the right web development company. Since your website is the online face of your company, choosing the web developer must be done with utmost care.
A website development firm might have the biggest company as their client, but that does not mean they are right for your business. Also, you cannot trust online rankings as they are completely based on third-party reviews.
To sum it up for you, here are the most important features to look for in a company.
Experience of the Firm
Working with an experienced company comes with a number of advantages. They are reliable and it puts you at ease as your website is in safe hands. They know what your clients and the potential customers expect from your website, and they can exploit human visual senses to give you an eye-catching website.
The only con of the experienced firms is that they are too systematic which can hinder the creativity to some extent. But that can be eliminated if the company understands what you are looking for.
Technology Used
Make sure that the technology used by the firm is an updated one. Stone age technologies make it hard to compel changes as you are limited to a set of prehistoric functions.
The Range of Services Provided
Launching a website is not a solution but a start. If a company works only till the launch, then there is more work for you as you have to maintain the website, make tweaks based on the trend, remove bugs, and answer the customer queries. This is the reason to look for a firm which offers a wide range of services.
Further having the same company work on your website again implies that they are well briefed about your expectations.
Client Engagement
Before choosing the firm, try to set up a meeting with them and inquire about how they approach the project. It also gives you an idea of how much they value their clients and how capable they are in implementing your suggestions to your website.
Portfolio
Take a look at the live websites built by your chosen company. This gives you an idea of how their designs will be and how capable they are to build your website. Some firms out there will display screenshots and images, but relying on only those is not advisable.
Qualified Team
In case you have a query, who will be your contact to the company? And how good is the team working on your website? How are your priorities delivered to them? And do they understand how you need your website to be? It is better to discuss everything with the company right at the beginning for better understanding and trust.
Size of the Company
The size of the firm matters because it gives you an idea of the average size of the companies they work with. It is better to deal with the companies you are comfortable with than to seek out the biggest.
Timeline
Be specific on the time when you need the website to be ready. And make sure the company can complete the project within your time frame. If you are in a rush, it is better to lay it out why you need the website sooner for the company to prioritize accordingly. Remember, you are not compromising quality for time.
Your Budget
The company must be within your price range. Because of the size of your business, the price can vary significantly, but it is only a waste of time to go to a firm who would not come down to your price range.
In the end, it all comes down to whether the company is ready to accept your ideas. You are the boss of your business, so you know better what your customers expect from you. If your idea is not suitable, then the company must take action to explain why your idea may receive a backlash. Client satisfaction is important, but not at the cost of the quality.
