We’ll complete our assessment now and analyse five more vital issues which should help you to make up your mind in making this, your biggest online decision.

• SEO – do they understand Search Engine Optimisation?  Can they explain how the infrastructure, design and content has an impact on your search engine performance?  Have they created websites in the past that have retained a good ranking?  Ask them for a list of web projects that include SEO and check out where they are listed in the search engines (but be sure to remember to clear your temp files, cookies and history before doing a search –  this will ensure you see their true listing in the SERPs.)

• Tender – it’s important that their tender answers your questions and provides a solution to your needs.  Some tender documents start with pages and pages about themselves and their company and this approach often gives you very little real information. It should start by answering your questions and describing what they will do for you, followed by samples of projects and their staff biographies.

• Price – whatever you are buying, it’s never a good idea to pick the cheapest because it’s the cheapest, you should of course pick the company that will provide the best solution for you.  And remember, there is always room for some negotiating or shelving some development options until phase two when you will have access to more budgets.

• Are they invested in you? –  it is important that the company you choose is invested in your project and will do everything they can to ensure that your site gives you a good return on your investment.   Designing a website is so much more than design and development. They need to do their research and understand your market.  Your web agency should see you as a long term partner.

• Working with competitors - are they working with your competitors? If so they are not the best people for the job.  There is a total conflict of interest and they should disclose any potential conflict at the start.

• Gut feeling – sometimes the oldest ways of picking a service provider are the best. If it does not feel like a right partnership, then it most likely isn’t.  You have to trust your instincts.

We hope this gives you a solid overview of what you need to consider when making this major business decision. If you’d like a little more insight, we’d be glad to sit down with you and analyse your particular requirements. Talk to us today 

The post What to look for when hiring a web developer? PART 2 appeared first on Be Dynamic.

1. A good brief can be the saving grace for any web design project: Do not start into any website project without having a detailed brief / spec signed off by both parties.  If your designer knows exactly what you want,  what they deliver will be bang on.   If necessary get advice from a third party so that all questions are asked and answered before the project kicks off.  Trust me, this initial preparation will save you money and a few less grey hairs.

2. Create a timetable and stick to it, the timetable should details what is to be delivered, by whom and what date it is to be delivered by.  Make sure that both parties stick to it. While it would be nice if the designer could give you all of their time, they do have other clients and if you loose your place in the queue other projects will be moved up and your project moved down.

3. Communication is key: Make a point to follow up with your web designer regularly, ask them to give you weekly updates on project progress, this way you feel part of the process and you do not get frustrated. Nothing worse than handing over a couple of thousand euro and to be left out of the loop.  It can cause you huge frustration.

4. Snag list: When the first draft of the website is ready for review, send a full list of snags to the designer. This may mean taking a few days to review the site and getting a third party to review it with you to ensure all snags are identified.  Snagging a website means testing all functionality, content, layout, spelling errors etc.  I have been involved in projects where snags are sent in bit by bit – all this does is cause confusion and extends the project.  If a designer received a full list they can set time aside to correct all snags at once.

5. Going live:  Decide the best time for your website to go live, choose a day during the working week (Monday-Friday) this means that if anything goes wrong the web designer can be contacted. Choose the day with the least website traffic and if you are moving your email, ensure that all mailboxes are set up prior to the changeover.

6. Final snag list – review the full website again once it is live and send a final snag list to the designer.  Agree when the site has been completed so designer can sign off on the project.   Remember: any changes that are needed after sign off will most likely cost you money so completing the second snag list if very important. (Ensure that this snagging period is included in the brief/spec)

I hope this helps your website design project run smoother.

The post How to manage your website designer appeared first on Be Dynamic.