Web Services Needed: What SMEs Need to Know When Hiring a Web Developer or DesignerPosted by Tillman Strong on May 19th, 2021 Your business is... well, whatever your organization may be: human resources, plumbing, running your restaurant. Many SME owners are privileged to do what they love and work very hard to make their businesses successful. Whatever you do, you want your site to work for you, nevertheless, you want to spend your time running your business, no longer working on the nuts and bolts of web page design, so when you need web services, how will you make sure that you are doing the right thing for your business? This straightforward checklist will allow you to manage your online service needs from begin to finish and to ensure you get the best quality and value web development for the company. Which web services do you want? Unless you yet have a website, the first step is to write down why you want a website and what you want it to do for your business. Is it an online business card for reference? Do you want to sell products or services via your site? Is it to improve communication within or outside the organisation? All of these factors influence the look and development of your website, who might be best suited to do the work and the potential cost. If you already have a website, try to pinpoint exactly what you do and don't like about the existing website and how things may be changed. Try to be specific: instead of noting that it looks outdated, identify why is it so: is it the color scheme or the fonts? May be the navigation clumsy or out-of-date? You don't need to be a web site design expert to do this, nonetheless it will give you a head start in looking for a web developer to resolve these problems. Next, prioritise your "wishlist", which may be a combination of specific points, e.g. improving the layout and much more general needs e.g. "I would like to drive more business to my website". Once you have this, you've got a brief which a web developer can use to work out the web services needed and how to achieve the desired results. Because the list is prioritised, in terms of obtaining quotes for the task, you can decide how much is achievable inside your timeframe and budget. Choosing the right person Do you need a web designer, web developer or programmer? The terms may all sound similar, but there are distinct differences in the task they do and therefore everything you can get from their web services for the site. A web designer makes a speciality of the appearance or look and feel of the website, like the layout. A good web design service should be an expert in making websites visually powerful and impactful and in drawing people to the right areas of your website. Some web site designers combine their services with graphical design, so if you have a fresh look and feel branding on your website, they are able to incorporate it for you personally on company letterheads and business cards too. A web programmer focuses more on functionality. He or she might program solely for the web or may do software programming too. The programmer's concern gets features of your site to work. Examples may include building an online intranet or database application, where information could be stored on your own database and manipulated via your website. In larger companies, these roles are often split so that programmers focus on the "back end" - the features that produce a website work and apply the "front end" developed by a web designer to make the site more attractive. A web developer muddies the water considerably, sorry. Web developers can incorporate components of design and programming. Web development is a broader term for getting an internet site online and making it work. You can expect a good web developer with an eye to both the appearance and functionality of the website. If you need to narrow it down and you are not quite sure concerning the technicalities, have a look around your site. Probably your URLs in the address bar could have some type of extension e.g.(.html,.asp,.php,.cfm). Try Googling for terms like "asp developer" to find someone with the precise skills to enhance your website. Grill the portfolio Once you visit a web developer's website, check their portfolio thoroughly and don't stop there - look for their clients' website online. If you are searching for website redesign to allow you to update content easier, how well will be the developer's portfolio sites maintained? For anyone who is primarily concerned with Search engine optimisation (SEO), just how do client sites fare on search engines for the relevant terms? The personal touch Most importantly, focus on client recommendations. The website can show you the end result, but the recommendation can inform you of the web design process using this type of individual or company. Every SME differs, but with all those I've worked with, one thing has remained the same: the importance of the personal touch. Whether you are having a freelancer or perhaps a big web development company, you must ensure that you can set up a good relationship together with your web developer. How quickly and thoroughly do they react to emails or calls? Are they forthcoming with advice and what type of advice do they provide? Again, you don't have to be an expert, you merely have to judge whether you imagine it rings true and fits for you personally and your business Go big or go local? Web site design and development is big business and variety may be the name of the overall game. Google, athemeart and Yahoo! can play a big part in your choice, but rankings aren't always the complete story. It is really worth considering a local web site design company or developer, since they may have local contacts to assist you promote your site or greater usage of resources like web business directory listings which can boost your search engine rankings. I worked with a Cambridge charity who wanted to hire a Cambridge web developer because they knew the web services needed will be ongoing and that discussion and meeting in person in Cambridge would be vital that you them, instead of discussing their needs over the phone or email. How much should web site design cost? As with any investment you make for your SME, it goes without saying that you should check around and get a few quotes. Although you may know which developer you wish to go with, it really is worth checking that you will be being charged the going rate for the net services needed. If the web design prices are above average, it is advisable to decide whether your relationship with the business or freelance web developer are worth paying the extra cost. If the prices are considerably below average, this will set alarm bells ringing. Canny SMEs know that you always get everything you pay for. Working as a freelancer, I understand that my clients prefer me to be upfront about costs and that it builds trust. Beware companies who hedge their bets with quotes as it can be considered a telltale sign of inexperience. However, it really is worth bearing in mind that quoted prices are just a starting point. Being an SME, it is down to you to hash out what is included and what is not. For example, many sites offer SEO friendly websites. Which means that the net design will incorporate the features had a need to give your site a lift on Google. However, SEO does not stop here. If you ask me, building websites for Cambridge companies in search engines can be an ongoing process which takes place over a period of time. Web site design prices: break it down If in doubt, ask the net designer or developer to break the price down per task. This way, if you have a time-consuming feature that is not near the top of your web design wishlist, you can decide whether or not it is worth the web developer's time and - moreover - your money. Your SME, your site Love or loathe the internet: your website is a big part of your company's identity. It pays to get it right; it costs to obtain it wrong, so invest some time to find the web services you need.Like it? Share it! More by this author |