How To choose a website developer
A good website developer will suggest and initiate ideas, and guide you towards what works best for you and your business.
Choosing a web developer can be overwhelming and difficult. But bear in mind, you get what you pay for!
These days everybody is a web development expert, from friends and cousins to a mate's mate that you met in a pub. If you just want a page up on the internet for the sake of it, then a very budget price may be sufficient. But for a professional business appearance and a website that functions properly, you will need to pay more.
What does a website developer do?
A web developer uses special languages that involve writing code to develop a website.
Website development is the developing of a website for the internet. It can include anything from a static 1 page website or e-commerce, to website design and complex social networking services.
Experienced web developers:
Have years of experience using various technologies
Will be able to suggest and initiate ideas
Have a business background
Will be able to guide you towards what works best
In the long run, it will be more cost efficient. With the peace of mind that you have a website that does what it is meant to do in the best possible way. After all, it is your business and its reputation that is on the line.
Check list for choosing a website developer:
Have they got good financial stability, i.e. will they be around for the duration of building your website and long after?
Look at their portfolio, have they worked with larger companies and/or sole traders and small businesses, how good were their previous projects?
What is their own website like?
Are you allowed to communicate directly with the developers?
Do they produce sites which comply with the latest legal requirements?
How do they ensure good usability?
Will you own your website or will you be tied in to the web developer?
Factors to consider when developing your website:
What your budget is, based on how important it is for your business to have a website?
What you want your website to do?
Will a simple website be sufficient, or do you need a website that is more complex (in terms or products and visitors)?
How much control you want over your website upon completion?
Are you willing to compromise quality over cost?
This could help you decide whether to approach a freelancer, a small company or a large company.
What if I want to make changes to my website?
Ask your website developer to make the changes for you.
You may be charged each time you make a change, alternatively you may take out a maintenance agreement with them, where you pay a fixed amount each month or year.
When your website is being built, ensure you have asked for content management system (CMS). A content management system will allow you to make changes to text, photos and images yourself.
What is a Content Management System (CMS)?
If you want to make regular updates or changes to your website, a good Content Management System (CMS) may be the best and most cost effective solution. Good Content Management Systems can make it much easier for non-technical staff to make changes to a website, without needing a high level of website programming and design skills.
What makes good content management system?
A Good Content Management System will allow you to:
Manage web pages (editing/deleting content, creating/organise web pages), using a simple editor for fonts, sizes, colours, tables etc
Access and maintain product catalogues, information archives, documents etc
Manage media i.e. to upload images/videos with ease
Apply user roles i.e. take full control of who can access what areas on the CMS and what they can do
Import and export data
Manage newsletters - e-mail marketing
Edit articles, news events, press releases
Create search engine friendly pages and urls
