Scott Robinson

Monday, 23 January 2012 14:51

How do I choose the right web developer?

I’m starting a business in a regional area. How do I choose the right web developer for my business?

Whether you’re in a regional area or the city, finding the right web designer can be a daunting process.

Setting up a website can consume a substantial chunk of your marketing budget.

Because each developer takes a different approach, it can be difficult for you to compare apples with apples.

Worse, there are many ‘cowboys’ out there who prey on inexperienced business owners.

So it’s critical that you know what you're after.

Here are my top five tips for choosing the right web developer:

Find a developer who will provide you with a Content Management System (CMS) such as WordPress or Joomla: A CMS will allow you to update your own website. This will save you money long term, as you will not need to go back to the developer every time you want to update a page. A CMS will also allow you to grow your website in the future.
Know your needs: Some companies will base their pricing on how many layouts need to be developed. The more complex your website is, the more it will cost.
Examine the different payment options: Some developers will charge you a single upfront fee, while others will charge ongoing fees. It’s important that you analyse which is going to work best for your cashflow.
Structure comes first: Before you design how your website looks, make sure it has a structure that will work for both you and your customers.
Finally, choose someone you can trust: Most of the time, you’ll have very little direct knowledge about the work being done on your website. Therefore, you need to be able to trust that the company you choose will work in your best interests.

These points are far more important than whether a designer is based in the city or the country.

Being a regionally based agency owner myself, I know the quality and innovation that a boutique organisation can bring to a company over and above the ‘big guys’.

But at the end of the day, the most important thing is to ensure that you get a well-designed website with on-going support.

Scott Robinson is director of WA-based marketing specialist Jack in the Box. Previously a finalist at the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year awards, Scott’s expertise includes social networking, TV direction and graphic design. He is also a PushStart mentor.

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Comments (3)

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Thanks Scott. I write for stablemate Smart Company and operate a web services firm The E Team who specialise in looking after the online requirements of smaller business. You've mentioned the terms web 'developer' and web 'designer' but there is now a third that may be a better option for smaller business.
'Webmasters' (like The E Team) are to the web what doctors are to health. In other words they are web generalists who manage the website and web marketing requirements of their clients or employers. Webmasters are common in large organisations but are now available to smaller business. The beauty of webmasters is that unlike most web developers or designers, they work for the small business client. In other words, they are an affordable outsourced resource.
So instead of the time poor small business operator having to learn the nitty gritty of the online world - no small task given the rapid rate of change in the industry, their webmaster is able to help inform and advise them on developments so as to let them get on with what they do best.
As for Joomla and Wordpress, these are just a few of the available CMS solutions and a good webmaster will help advise on the best solution for their small business clients. Webmasters are available to work for regional businesses, even though they may be based in the cities (for now).
Cheers! Craig

creardon , January 24, 2012

Great article, I have a few comments however. While it is good to have a well structured site with a good CMS behind it that can be a potentially large investment for small businesses, especially in a rural area. For some businesses the complexity of some CMS's is also quite overwhelming.

Typically customers with businesses this size don't have elaborate budgets and are quite stretched for time. Based on this, we encourage our customers to start with something simple (Even just a page or two if that suits). This allows us to get something online for minimal cost in a few hours, at most a day or two. Then we can work together to start to market this (adwords, social media, other traditional channels...) and learn from the traffic and feedback where the next focus should be placed.

I run a relatively new company (Codesoda) and we build websites and web/mobile apps for small-medium sized businesses. We prefer to build lasting relationships with our customers and work closely with them to build up online brand awareness and to establish trust with their visitors.

Chris Raethke , January 24, 2012

Great article! We believe that a good web firm will help you with this due diligence: let the experienced team help you decide what structure your site should have, if you do or do not need a CMS, and overall what your needs are. If a firm is not willing to help you make these decisions, then they will likely not earn your trust. Have a conversation with a few different firms to decide if they "get" what you are trying to do, and can do so within your budget. Start-ups always have very special needs - so find someone that specializes in problem solving, and one that can bring the most modern ideas to the table (so you have a competitive advantage and you do not have outdated technologies requiring a new site/app prematurely).

I have co-founded Live Pulse, an interactive strategy firm that specializes in web, mobile, and social design and development for start-ups. Please drop us a line if we can help. http://livepulseweb.com

p.s. Often times, you get what you pay for. If it is "cheap" it will probably look and work cheap. I doubt "cheap" is how you want your customers and potential customers to view you and your company.

Chris Lawson , January 25, 2012