What to Ask Before Hiring a Website Design and Development Company

What Website Design and Development Should Deliver

When you hire a website design and development company, you want more than a digital brochure. A well-designed website should attract visitors and convert them into paying customers. This means it needs to load quickly, be easy to navigate, and rank well in search engines. The end goal is a site that not only looks good but also functions effectively to support your business objectives.

Key Questions to Ask Any Provider

Before signing with any provider, you should ask the following questions:

• What is your process for understanding my business needs? A good company will take the time to understand your business and tailor their approach accordingly.
• Can you provide examples of similar projects you've completed? Seeing past work helps gauge their expertise and style.
• How do you approach search engine optimization (SEO)? SEO is crucial for making your website findable. The provider should have a strategy for this.
• What is the timeline for project completion? While timelines can vary, you need a provider who can realistically estimate project duration.
• Who will be managing my project? Knowing who your point of contact is ensures smooth communication throughout the process.

When to Walk Away

Certain responses should raise red flags and make you reconsider:

• Vague answers about past projects or an inability to provide examples could mean a lack of experience.
• If they dismiss the importance of SEO, they might not be up-to-date with industry standards.
• Unclear timelines or resistance to set deadlines can indicate poor project management.
• If they don't ask about your specific business needs, they may be offering a one-size-fits-all solution.

What a Fair Scope of Work Includes

A fair scope of work from a website design and development company should outline detailed steps. Typically, this includes:

• An initial meeting to discuss your business goals and website needs.
• A research phase to analyze competitors and market standards.
• Wireframing and design concepts for feedback and approval.
• Development of the site using agreed-upon technologies.
• Testing across all major browsers and devices to ensure functionality.
• A training session to help you manage the site post-launch.

Each stage should have clear deliverables, allowing you to track progress.

How to Tell If It's Working in the First Month

Within the first month of launch, several indicators can show if the website is on the right track:

• Traffic Patterns: Monitor analytics to see if site visits are increasing.
• Search Rankings: Check if the site is starting to appear in search engine results.
• User Engagement: Look at metrics like time on site and pages per visit to gauge user interest.
• Conversion Rates: Track whether visits are leading to desired actions, like form submissions or calls.

If these metrics aren't moving, it might be time to reassess the strategy with your provider.

Remember, choosing a website design and development company is a significant investment. Ask the right questions and keep an eye on early results to ensure your new website supports your business goals. We're here to answer these questions and more. Book a call with us today.