Developing a new custom website can be a massive undertaking–one with lots of moving parts and unexpected roadblocks. Because of this, you need a web designer that has seen it all and can handle your needs for a website that reflects your brand and satisfies the requirements your clients have.
In order to ensure you’re picking the right website developer, you need to ask the right questions not only to get the best quality, but to make sure you’re partnering with a developer who has worked with projects similar to yours and has excelled at it.
Have You Worked In My Industry Before?
Many web developers have the technical skills to do what’s necessary, but there’s no substitute for experience. Familiarity with your industry should give you peace of mind that the web developer you’re talking to knows the unique pitfalls and challenges that come with your industry, whether it’s competition, regulations, or consumer behavior. All of these can factor into the final design of the website.
Having been in business for over a decade, ShoreSite Web Designs has worked with clients from every industry imaginable–from yoga studios, CPAs, attorneys, and architects to schools, restaurants, landscapers, and mechanics! Chances are, we’re familiar with your industry or something close to it.
Is My Website Going To Belong To Me?
As you go through the process of finding a web developer, you’ll find that the answer to this question plays a huge role in your decision. There are plenty of web designers that seem perfect, but you come to find out that the website you’re paying for isn’t technically yours, and the second you decide to break off your relationship with that designer, you’re left without a website and you’re back to square one. Pick a designer that lets you keep what’s yours.
Of course, ShoreSite will happily provide the files necessary to transfer your website to wherever you decide to take your business (although we’re confident you’ll never want to leave!).
Do You Provide Services To Market My Website?
Ideally, the point of getting a shiny new website is to grow your clientele and boost your online presence. However, that’s nearly impossible to do without a digital marketing strategy to back it up. Some web designers and developers offer digital marketing services to their clients, such as Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Pay-Per-Click (PPC), and Social Media Marketing (SMM). Keeping everything in-house can be a great way to ensure everyone is on the same page, plus makes it easier for you to only have one point of contact.
Luckily, partnering with ShoreSite has its benefits–we offer all of the above services plus others, such as photography, content writing, and logo design, so you can get everything you need under one roof.
What Do You Need From Me To Get Started?
Remember, web design is a collaborative process. You shouldn’t expect to simply hand over a check and get a finished product in return. Most competent web developers require assets from you, whether that’s logos, branding guides, photos, content, or a number of other seemingly small items that become the building blocks for a website. Developers can do all the research, but in order for your site to truly stand out, we need to know what makes you unique.
Partnering with ShoreSite Web Designs means you don’t even need to ask this question. We’ll explain to you exactly what we need to get started, and if you don’t have it, then chances are we have a service that can get it for you.
How Long Will My Project Take?
There’s never a black and white answer to this–or at least there shouldn’t be. Web design is a dynamic process, and deadlines should be more of a range than a static date. Beware of companies that promise quick turnaround times for complicated websites–we know how badly you want to get things going, but some things are worth the wait. This question is to make sure your project fits into their schedule nicely and to assure you that they’re giving themselves enough time to create something truly great.
When you come to ShoreSite Web Designs, you’ll have talks with our developers and designers to fully understand the scope of your project before providing you with a range of dates that we expect to have your project done by.
Do You Offer Both Template and Custom Websites?
The distinction between template and custom websites is an important one, and you should familiarize yourself with the pros and cons of each before diving into the design process. Ask prospective web developers what the process for template and custom websites looks like for them. Decide whether you want to spend more and wait longer for a website built exactly for your needs, or if you’re ok with a website that could be a little clunky and bogged down by plugins for some extra savings.
ShoreSite Web Designs has experience creating both template and custom websites, and we can provide a price point and timeline for both. While we pride ourselves on our industry-leading custom work, we know that budgetary constraints sometimes require template websites, and we’ll do everything we can to ensure all your project requirements are met.
Of course, there are a million other questions you could ask, and you’ll find out quickly the differences between a great web designer and a good one (and the bad ones!). Let us help you skip the trial and error and partner with a great one–contact us today to get started!
