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How to Choose a Web Developer

It can sometimes be difficult to know which web design company to choose. Below is a list of questions to ask and a few top tips to help you decide.

Portfolio of Previous Work

Ask to see examples of previous work the web developer has undertaken. Spend some time exploring these websites making a note of how responsive they are, are they easy to navigate, are there any errors, is the text clear, can you find the information you are looking for easily etc. If possible, try accessing the websites on different computers and / or using different browsers. Does the website function well on all devices?

Contact Previous Clients

Once you've checked out the websites, contact a couple of clients to ask for their feedback on the developer. Ask if the project was completed on time and within budget. Did the end result meet the clients' expectations and goals? Was the client kept informed and consulted adequately throughout the project? What is the "after sales" service like once the website has been created?

Check Qualifications

Does the person coding your website have any qualifications in web application development?

How Will you Update your Website?

Once completed, you'll want to ensure your website stays fresh and appealing by updating the content from time to time. Ask potential developers how this will be managed. Be sure to take into account the costs for such maintenance tasks when evaluating the overall cost of the project. Some developers will require you to sign up to monthly packages whereas others may charge you an hourly rate based on the time taken to action your modifications.

We believe you should have a choice when it comes to maintaining your website. If we design your website, you can choose to either pay us a flat monthly or annual fee and we will handle all the amendments you want to make to your site without limits. Alternatively, just pay us on an adhoc basis as and when you need to make changes. The third option is for us to integrate a "Content Management System" into your website which would allow you to easily update your content through a special password protected page on your website. We'd be delighted to explain all these options in more detail and help you decide which would be the most cost effective and efficient method for you.

Ask About the Process

Does the company have a process or structure which is followed when creating sites?

Be Aware of Templates

It's unforunate, but some people claim to be web developers yet they have very limited knowledge about how to create a website. Some "developers" will say they are going to design a website for you but what they actually do is just enter your details in to a ready made template. Your site will end up looking identical to thousands of others sites around the world and your ranking in search engines may be compromised.

and Site Creator Software

Similarly, some "developers" use site creator software to create websites for their clients. This type of software can often be purchased for under €100 and it is aimed at people with little or no experience in coding a website. Be aware, most of these software packages are very limited in what they can achieve and often produce badly formed websites which do not validate to the W3C guidelines. This means the website may not display properly in all browsers or could take longer than necessary to download.

Make sure your developer will actually be developing a site for you to meet your exact requirements. Afterall, a badly designed website is worse than no website at all.

You can check to see if a web page is coded well by entering the address of the page you want to test below and clicking go. You will then be taken to the W3C website which will show the results and either a green (passed) or red (failed) banner.

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