Have these discussions with your next website developer so you can save money, and time and increase your earning after your new website build is completed.
It's important to know if the web developer has worked on projects with similar goals to yours. Be sure to describe in detail what you want from your website and ask them to repeat it back to you to ensure they understand what you’re looking for and can deliver it. Remember that e-commerce websites require different developer skills than standard brochure websites do. If a potential developer has little experience setting up an online store, that could lead to long delays as they try to learn and master new skills.
Your web developer should dig deeper into your business to ensure the website can support its needs. Ask them questions about their research process to make sure they understand your business, target audience, website expectations, and brand, and can work within your brand guidelines. If your developer doesn’t grasp what your business is about, visitors will arrive at a site inconsistent with your image, mission, and goals. Remember that small business website design is just another form of marketing.
It's important to know how long a web development project takes to complete from start to finish. If a developer doesn’t understand why meeting deadlines is critical, work with someone who does. Ensure your developer understands that your business will face consequences if agreed-upon deadlines aren’t met. If your developer can’t offer you a firm completion date, have them commit to a maximum price they won’t exceed if they miss crucial deadlines.
Many web developers package web design with related services. Be clear on what they’ll provide and determine the developer’s ability to deliver. Will they write website copy? Will they set up Google Analytics and Search Console? Will the website be mobile-friendly? List the services you need and ensure the developer can provide them.
Search engine optimization (SEO) is a way of coding, writing, and designing your website so it ranks as highly as possible on Google. Ask your developer about their experience in SEO and what strategy they’ll use for your site. How will they increase your site’s visibility to search engines? If they don’t do keyword research and employ other proven technical SEO strategies, go with someone else. A website should attract potential clients, grab their interest, and successfully convert leads. If no one can find your website, it will fail at all three goals.