15 Questions To Ask A Developer Before Hiring Them

by Kayla Moore | Mar 26, 2019 | Web Development

1. Can I see examples of your work?

If you are hiring an experienced web developer they should have a website that you can visit with a portfolio of their previous work. Their website should provide you with information to learn more about them, the services that they offer, and examples of work. By obtaining this information you are able to develop an idea if the developer is most suitable for your project and can provide you with the services necessary. An online portfolio proves that the developer is credible.

2. How much do you charge?

Of course, the cost is extremely important. When you are shopping around for a web developer I am sure that you are comparing pricing. This question typically isn’t a standard answer and requires extensive detail of your project for the most appropriate budget. But during your discovery calls, this is definitely the time to ask. It seems like a no brainer but you would be surprised how many times I have had conversations with clients and we just vibed so well that they forgot to ask about what I would charge. They were planning on hiring me until I told them my price and it was not in their budget. After you have discussed the details of your project get a price and make sure it is within your budget before you continue to waste more of yours or the developers time.

3. What services are included in the pricing?

Be sure that you clearly understand what services the Web Developer is offering for the price you are going to pay. On several occasions, I have had clients hire me after discussing their project and agreeing on the services that I would provide then later express that they expected other services to be included such as graphic design, copywriting, or content creation. Which are all services that I do not provide. So be sure to have a clear understanding of what services you are being provided with the price you are paying to your developer. You do not want any unexpected costs later.

4. How will I pay you?

Determine the accepted methods of payment. There are tons of ways to pay people nowadays and everyone uses different payment services. Make sure you know how your developer accepts payments so you can be sure to sign up for the service if need be.

5. How long will it take you to build my website?

You may or may not be in a hurry for your website to be completed. But you should always what the turnaround time will be for your completed project. This will give you an idea of when to expect your site to be live and when to begin directing customers to it. You do not want to hire a web developer without a project end goal because there is no accountability. Also, if you have a specific deadline or need a quick turnaround this is something that you most definitely need to express to your developer upon hire. Effective communication will assure your website development is a smooth process.

6. Will I be able to manage and update my own website?

For some people, they do not want to continue to pay someone to manage and make minor changes to their website. They would prefer to do it themselves. If that is important to you, be sure to discuss this with your developer. This will give your developer an idea of the best way possible to build your website that best accommodates your requirements.

7. Will my website be responsive?

Responsive design is extremely important. Make sure that your developer is able to assure your website will be responsive across all devices and browsers.

8. Will my website be search engine friendly?

Everyone wants to be at the top of Google. But without meeting the necessary requirements, this will not happen. Make sure that your developer has the knowledge of SEO and will able to effectively accumulate it into your site. Every developer should have knowledge of basic SEO. But if you are wanting extensive SEO experience be sure to communicate that will your developer prior to hire.

9. Do you custom code websites or use pre-made templates?

If you are someone who wants your website custom coded from scratch you need to make sure to communicate this with your potential developer. Some developers such as myself use premade WordPress themes and use custom code them to fully customize the theme to meet the client expectations. Either method of development is effective. But if you prefer one or the other be sure to clarify this.

10. How will I be able to view site traffic and bounce rate?

Your developer should integrate services such as Google Analytics for your website. Google Analytics gives you the ability to view tons of different site statistics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, most visited pages, the method of traffic, demographics, etc. Make sure your potential developer offers this for you so your website can be as successful as possible which in turn will significantly benefit your business.

11. What happens if I do not like the initial design?

If you are hiring a Web Developer, you want to be sure your website is going to turn out how you wish. If you are unsure of what you want, you should find at least three website examples to show your developer. This will give them the best idea of how to bring your vision to life through your style of design and typography. Often times, providing your developer with examples of what you like it will eliminate the result of unsatisfaction with your end result. But in the unfortunate event that you may not like your finished project, you need to know where the potential developer stands and what they will do to make sure you are happy with your end result. The last thing you want is to spend money on something you are unhappy with and then have to spend more money or lose your project entirely.

12. What do you need from me in order to get started? How much involvement will be required from me throughout the project?

Although you are hiring a developer it does not mean that your involvement is eliminated. You will need to spend time preparing the information that you would like on your site such as copy, pictures, examples, videos, etc. The amount of time required is dependent on your project.

13. Do you use a content management system (CMS)? If so, which one do you use?

If you ask the previous questions mentioned, this question should basically already be addressed. But just to double check you want to ask how your website is being built. Majority of websites these days are built using a content management system (CMS) such as WordPress. When developers use WordPress it gives you the ability to manage your own website make minor changes/updates yourself if you choose. If this is important to you be sure to mention it so your developer doesn’t custom code a website you have no clue how to manage.

14. Will I be able to view my website as you are creating it?

Most developers build websites on a temporary domain and then once the project is completed transfer it to your live domain. Other developers build right on your domain. This can be the case if it is a new website. Either way, you will want to ask when you will be able to see progress and how often.

15. Do you offer web hosting?

Some developers will include web hosting in their price. Meaning they will host your domain on their server. But I strongly advise against this. I RECOMMEND HOSTING ON YOUR OWN SERVER! I discussed this in further detail in another post. Click here to read it.

By now, you should have a solid idea of whether this developer is a right fit for you and your project.

Why Your Business Needs A Website

by Kayla Moore | Mar 26, 2019 | Web Development

It’s time to get out of that old school mentality and hop on the modern day bandwagon of showcasing your business in the online world. The importance of having a website for your business and online marketing is totally underestimated. Unfortunately, this is hindering a lot of business professionals aspiring to maximize their business potential. Building a website is one of the best investments that you can make in your business nowadays. Having a brand that stands out against the competition is crucial to the success of your business.

According to Statista, there are expected to be 2.71 billion smartphone users worldwide. You know what this means… 2.71 billion people have access to the entire online world at the tip of their fingertips. If someone is looking for a local restaurant, dealership, body shop, boutique, shops, etc. the first thing they are going to do is look up places and information on their mobile devices. If you are not available to be discovered your competition easily steals your business.

Here is why your business needs a website like yesterday!

1. It gives your business credibility

Having a website builds trusts with potential customers proving to them that you are legit. As I previously stated a mass majority of people nowadays are using mobile devices. The first thing people do when they are need services, looking for a restaurant, shopping, etc. they do their research online. If your business doesn’t have a website potential customers will simply move onto one of your competitors who does because they were more accessible. The information they were looking for was there for them to find allowing them to do their research and gain trust in the company.

To put into perspective- say you’re planning a trip. You search for the best hotels in the area and there are pages upon pages of results that pop up. The first hotels that you are going to look into are the first ones that pop up with the most reviews, information, and images. If you come across a hotel that has no website, pictures, or information you’re just going to move to the next. This is simply because their website lacks credibility. Therefore, you are automatically going to trust the website that provides you with the most information and pops up towards the top of search results. You are not going to choose the hotel on page 10 of the search results with no credibility.

This is the same perspective you have to have when it comes to your own business. Think like a potential customer shopping around for products or services. Businesses who have a website are the first ones who will grow their client base over ones who don’t.

2. It’s your first impression

This topic sort of stems off of number one building your credibility. But it is also important to understand more in-depth that with technology being a leading industry your website is the first impression for your business. Majority of the world uses the internet. The internet is the first thing people are going to resort to when looking for information on anything. Chances are when people come across the field of your business or want to know about your particular business the first thing they are going to do is research online. They are going to look at your website, social media accounts, reviews, etc. This is where you want to make the best lasting impression for potential customers. If your website is not professional, interactive, informative, responsive, and user-friendly chances are that potential client will overlook your business. Making an excellent first impression is just as important online as it is face to face.

3. Marketing to reach the mass majority

Having a business website gives you an automatic online presence. In modern society, marketing as drastically improved. You have the ability to market your business on social media, through email, ads/campaigns, press releases, social media influencers, etc. According to Skyword, over 3 billion people use social media each month which is 42% of the entire world. Therefore, you can automatically reach a mass majority of the population simply by having a business website and marketing it online. Whereas, older marketing tactics such as billboards and newspaper ads only target the local population that visually see the billboard or ads. The ROI (return of investment) is extremely low for these types of marketing as there is no way to tell if a customer found out about your business through your marketing, word of mouth, simply driving past, or online. Whereas, online marketing you have the ability to completely track your ROI. This gives you the ability to learn what is improving your business and what isn’t. Which in turn will help you target your marketing in the best way possible.

4. Lead generation

When your business has a website you have the ability to implement email marketing into your website. This happens when someone visits your website by having a form for them to sign up for a newsletter or a valuable freebie. When you capture user email addresses this creates the opportunity for lead generation. You can send them ongoing emails that provide them with useful content, freebies, coupons, and products that will, in turn, send subscribers back to your website.

5. E-commerce

According to disruptive advertising, there was 2.3 trillion in e-commerce sales. What this means for your business is a vast majority of the population is shopping online and will be more likely to order from your website than physically shopping in person. You can sell products and services on your website very easily while giving shoppers the ability to shop online in the comfort of their own home. The awesome thing about e-commerce is your business will be making sales 24/7 without you having to physically be working.

6. It will save you time

Running a business can be really exhausting and stressful with all of the tasks needed to keep your business successful. Whether you’re trading emails, taking calls, or sending out proposals – communicating with potential customers takes time. Your website can save you that time by providing valuable information and answers to common customer questions and inquiries. What does this mean for you? You have the ability to have more free time.

7. You’re in control

A website gives you full control over your business. You have the ability to control your presence online, growing your customer base, sales, marketing, etc. Every aspect that makes your business run successfully is all in your hands. If you are resourceful or hire professionals to manage your website it will enhance your website to its greatest potential.

8. It will save you money

The development, maintenance, and marketing for your website can be much cheaper than the costs of physically running a business. Lead generation is the best way to increase your consumer base completely for free with the greatest reach! Once the initial development of your website is completed, your ads are running, and consumers are visiting your website- there are plenty of services that set up automations for your website. You know all of those awesome coupons you get from your favorite retailers sent right to your email inbox every week? Those are automations that have been set up. You can set automations up for the future and have your business running behind the scenes while you are at home relaxing with your family.