Building a website is a worthy investment for every business owner as it is the first point of contact for potential customers. Meanwhile, when looking for a web developer, asking the right questions is essential to ensure you hire the best fit.  In this guide, we put together a list of essential questions to ask a web developer before and after you hire them. 

Why Hire A Web Developer?

There are three good reasons why you should hire a web developer:

One; It’s Time Saving

There are some tools and content management systems that enable people to build websites themselves. However, if you choose to build your website yourself, you will need to dedicate a lot of time to learning about it.  

The good thing is; 

You can cut down this time by hiring a professional while concentrating on other areas of your business. 

Two; It’s More Professional

Hiring a professional web developer will help you with some technical bits you may not be able to handle on your own. Also, you want your website to look professional to attract your customers. When you hire a professional web developer, they will help you deliver a custom and unique website that stands out. 

Three; You Get On-Going Support

In most cases, especially when you work with a web development agency, your relationship won’t end once you launch the website. Hiring a professional web developer means you will get ongoing support which can come in handy if something goes wrong or you need to make modifications. 

Also, some web development agencies offer other services like SEO, design, and marketing, which will benefit your business.

12 Questions You Should Ask a Web Developer 

There are different web developers and agencies out there, so how can you ensure you hire the best fit for your job? It’s important to ask the right questions if you want to find a good fit for your website development needs. Here are 12 questions you should ask a web developer: 

1: How Much Will It Cost? 

One of the first and most important questions to ask when hiring a web developer is how much it will cost you. Even the best web developer may not be the right fit for you if they don’t fit your budget. Also, asking for costs before hiring makes it easy to compare different web development agencies. 

Usually, web design agencies will give you a quote once you reach out to them. However, you may need to discuss the project in detail to get an accurate cost. 

Also, it may be tempting to start looking for web developers that will charge you less, but this is usually not a good idea. If you want a professional website with great functions, you may need to spend a little high to get quality. 

2. What Type of Websites Have You Developed For Other Clients? 

Another critical question to ask a web developer is their experience working with clients with the exact needs as yours. Working with web developers with experience developing websites or applications for clients similar to your niche/industry is often recommended. 

Why? 

Web developers specialising in developing websites for your industry will understand your industry-specific needs well. So, ask the agency or web developer if they have past projects done for a business that shares your goals, audiences, or needs.   

3. How Long Will It Take To Complete My Website? 

The timeline to complete a project varies depending on the company and the extent of your website needs. If you need your website built within a specific time, inform your web developer to see if your schedule matches theirs. You want to hire a developer who can provide you with your completed website on time. 

4. Can You Write My Website Content? 

Many agencies offer a suite of services and plans, including web design, SEO, web content writing services, and marketing. That’s why one of the questions to ask a web design agency is the services they offer besides building websites. Before you start hunting for a developer, you may want to list out the other services you need or expect from the agency. However, it will cost you more if you need a web development agency to handle content or provide other services.

5. Can I See Your Past Projects? 

Most web developers and web development agencies have portfolios showcasing past projects. Don’t just ask if they have experience working with businesses like yours; ask to see the previous work done. Seeing their past work can give you insight into what to expect from them. In a case where you are not too pleased with what you see, you can move on to hiring someone else. 

Another reason this is a good question to ask a web developer is that it can help you generate ideas for your website. You can point out elements you like or don’t like to improve your website. 

6. Will You Be Outsourcing My Work or Doing It In-House? 

Some companies outsource some of the work to other web developers, especially if they do not have adequate capabilities to complete your project in-house. 

Is this a bad thing?

Not really. Outsourcing to a third party can help provide a wide range of services needed to get your website working. However, it may delay your work, incur additional charges, or lead to poor communication between you and the third party. If the company will be outsourcing, you can ask for the contractor’s past projects and credentials so that you have an idea of who they are working with.

7. Are A/B Testing Something You Do?

A/B testing involves creating multiple variants of a page to allow users to test their performance so that you can determine the page that works. If you would like A/B testing, then it’s essential to ask a web design agency before hiring them. 

8. Do You Use Pre-Made Templates or Custom Designs? 

One of the things to know before hiring a web developer is that they offer different website design methods. Web development agencies often offer pre-made templates, custom designs, and a mix. 

What’s the difference?

A premade template is based on an existing website design. Templated websites are less customisable but cost less and are easier to manage than coded sites.  

A custom design involves coding and is designed specifically for your company’s needs. Custom-coded websites are unique but usually more expensive and time-consuming than those made from premade templates. 

Therefore, ask the web designer which method they intend to use to develop your website and why they think it’s better. You can also let your web developer know if you have a preferred method. 

9. Will You Integrate The Website With Social Media

Social media integration is automatic for some web design agencies. However, some web developers will not integrate your social media with the website unless you ask. That’s why you should include this as part of the questions to ask a web designer in an interview. You can also enquire about their social media marketing services like social media management, advertising, and outreach, as some web development agencies offer that too.

10. Will You Be Able To Make Changes in the Future? 

Some companies do not accept additional changes or requests once you get your website. However, it’s a good idea to work with a web developer that can provide modifications to the website when needed. You also need to ask the web developer if they will be able to make modifications and how many rounds of revisions you can request. You may need to pay extra for design modifications, so discuss with your web developer before hiring them. 

11. How Will You Help Me Meet My Goals? 

Another good question to ask a web developer is how they can help meet your goals. If your goal is to have an ecommerce site that loads fast, then you need to ask your web developer how they can develop your app so that it’s fast. 

12. What Do You Need From Me To Complete The Project?

At this point, you’ve probably already decided to hire the web developer and need to know what necessary things you need to provide to get the work started. This may include branding assets like logos, brand guidelines, palettes, fonts, images, etc. 

Tips for Hiring a Great Web Developer

Now that you know what you should ask your web developer let’s see some tips on how to hire a web developer.

1: Understand Your Website Needs 

What is your website needs? What type of site are you trying to build, and what’s the goal? Who is your target audience, and how do you want the website to look? Are there specific features or elements you want on your website? You need to figure out these things before looking for a web developer. 

The more you understand your needs, the easier it is to figure out what to ask your developer before hiring. Also, understanding your needs will help you choose the right partner to meet your requirements.

2. Research, Research, Research

You need to conduct a lot of research before hiring a web app developer. Take your time while hiring to ensure you work with someone with the skill sets required for your website needs or challenges. Some of the factors in evaluating web developers during your research include:

• Technical skills 
• Response time
• Previous projects and experience
• Reviews from previous clients
• Communication skills
• Costs

When you are looking to hire a web developer, try to hire a company that will be a partner for your business on a long-term basis. This is to ensure you get ongoing support and regular website improvements. 

3. Consider Your Budget

Another important tip for hiring a web development company is communicating your budget. Some companies already have fixed pricing based on your website needs, and some offer a custom quote.  Consider different potential web developers against your budget to help you pick the right fit. 

4. Prepare Questions To Ask The Web Developer

Once you find a web developer that can meet your company’s needs, you can reach out to them to discuss the project better. This could be face-to-face, voice call, or a video session. Before meeting with them, ensure you prepare the essential questions to ask a web developer during an interview. 

5. Communicate With Your Web Developer

You must ensure you are on the same page as your website development team to prevent misunderstandings. Communicate your needs clearly and ensure you are on the same page regarding your project requirements and needs. Also, once you find the right person, ensure you agree on the cost, deliverable time, and deliverables. 

Bottom Line:

Your company website is often the first point of contact for your potential customers, so you need to ensure it stands out. 

How do you ensure this?

Working with a web developer with the necessary skill sets, experience, and understanding to handle your website needs is essential. One of the best ways to ensure you work with the right partner is by knowing the right questions to ask a web developer. When you find answers to those questions, you will have a better chance of hiring a web developer who shares your vision for your website. 

Work With Astract9

If you are looking for a web developer, please feel free to reach out to us. At Astract9, we help companies build functional websites that can meet their needs and boost lead generation. We also provide additional marketing services and support like digital advertising, content marketing, and graphic design.