Important questions to ask your web developer

If you go down the route of engaging a professional developer or agency to create your new site, there are a number of questions you should ask them to ensure that you are getting a website which will offer profitability for years to come.

Project and Cost Questions

Web design projects can create many problems for businesses, especially those without a reasonable level of technical knowledge. To begin with, you should have a clear answer to a range of questions relating to the project itself, including:

• What is the total cost for launching your new website?
• Who will you be working with on your project?
• What are the qualifications of your team members?
• How much time will each team member dedicate to the project?
• Will you pay a flat price for the project? Will this flat price be decided beforehand?
• Is the cost of the project reasonable for the services you will be receiving?
• How will you be charged for extra features outside of the scope of the project?
• What are the agency’s internal quality control and assurance processes?
• Does the firm employ professionals full-time? Does the firm rely on independent contractors or outsourcing for their projects?
• Do the staff members appear to be experienced, skilled, and trustworthy? Do you get a good vibe from the staff members?
• Is the operation of the web design firm efficient? Is the operation of the firm compatible with the operation of your own business?
• Will you own the work the web design firm produces? Will you have complete access to the work? Will you need to pay a licensing fee to use the work?
• Does the agreement state that the web design firm will do the coding according to all industry standards?
• Does the agreement promise that the work will be customized appropriately for your needs?

Design and Functionality Questions

Next, there are a number of questions you should ask about the design and functionality of your website, such as:

• Will your site be designed from scratch, or using existing themes and templates?
• Will your site offer mobile responsive design?
• What will the process be for feedback and amends during the design process?
• Will the structure and pages of the site be informed by a clear SEO strategy?
• What CMS platform will the site use?
• Will your staff be able to easily alter design elements such as text and images in the CMS platform?
• Can additional functions be added easily using plug-ins?
• Will your new site be shipped with your desired functionality?
• Does your site offer suitable ecommerce, booking and marketing functions for your needs?
• Does the site support common security standards and protocols?
• Will the site offer acceptable performance and technical SEO standards?
• Will the agency offer content services, or should content be created and uploaded by your team?

Support and Usage Questions

Finally, there are a number of questions you should ask to ensure that you get the most value out of your new website:

• Do the developers offer training on managing and administering your new website?
• Does the firm offer ongoing hosting, or should this be purchased separately?
• Does the firm offer ongoing technical support?
• How will additional website changes be charged after launch?
• Do the developers offer tie-in marketing and optimisation services?
• Can additional pages be added to the site without engaging the developer?
• What user permission level will your team have in the CMS?
• Will the developer set up common tools such as Google Analytics and Search Console?