Choosing a Web Designer/Developer

One important key to effective web design is a product of experience, a keen understanding of the competitive world on the Internet and all the technologies relative to a web designs success. Selection of someone that is lacking in up to date technical knowledge, or one without a genuine concern for the customer and their success can quickly set you on a path for failure.

Another key element to an effective web design is that the selected developer knows how to communicate effectively with you and relate your business and its needs to your web site's visitors. The developer should be able too clearly and effectively explain technologies to you that you have questions about. The developer should also be able to grasp an understanding of your business and its online needs.

You and the developer need to discuss what you want in a web site? What are your needs and intentions for having a web site? Does the developer listen to and understand your needs and intentions? Have you and has the developer checked other similar businesses to see what they are doing on the Internet? Can a prospective developer offer any suggestions for improving upon what others have already accomplished? The more clarity you have about the intended results of your web site, the more accurately you and the developer can communicate your needs, the more likely it is that you will achieve the desired results.

The following is important information your should consider when selecting a developer.

What are the developer's strengths and weaknesses? The range of skills required for creating the many different types of web sites is more diverse than you can imagine. If a developer tells you they have done or can do any project, it's suggested you take the statement with a grain of salt.

Is the developer easy to work with and talk to? Are they able to communicate technical information so that you can understand it? The process of creating a web site can be an overwhelming process for many people. Consider hiring a developer with whom you have a good rapport and can easily communicate with.

Look at some of the sites the developer has done for previous clients. Do they load quickly? Are they easy to navigate through? Do they accurately reflect their clients' business? Has the developer custom created each site or would they have you select from a list of prepackaged sites?

What is your budget and what is quoted cost of the developer's projects? As a rule, the larger the company, the more they charge for their services. Companies which mass produce sites from prepackaged templates often cost less but don't provide you with the solutions which may more closely meet your needs. Site developers who are getting started will often create your site for a lower fee, essentially using your project to develop their skills.

Another important consideration is the developer's understanding of Search Engine Optimization and page positioning in the search engines. It has been stated that 80% of a web site's visitors come through the search engines. It is imperative that the web developer have a through understanding of designing web pages that not only are functional and appealing but also that are search engine friendly. There are individuals involved in search engine optimization and web page marketing that charge $100 and up per hour and have never designed a web site. Likewise there are web designers/developers that if asked will say they know how to optimize web pages for the search engines but have never heard of terms like keyword prominence and density. Please visit our section on Search Engine Optimization for further information.