Choosing A Website Provider

There are many web development companies out there but who should you choose and why? The following impartial guide provides some great tips to help in making your decision.

The Developers Website & Portfolio

A good start is to take a look at the development companies' own website. If their own site looks professional, is well structured and provides the right information then it is often a good indicator that yours will be too.

Another, and often better indication of capability can be gained through looking at other websites or projects that the developer has worked on. Always make sure the developer openly displays previous work samples and client comments on their website.

Company Information + Expertise

Is the company a one-person operation or do they employ in-house specialists in key areas such as graphic design, web-development and web marketing? Are they large enough to cope with your demands yet small enough that you can speak to a real person when you need to? Do they provide ongoing support and maintain an infrastructure that ensures your project will remain live for years to come? After all, it's no good paying for a website if the provider has to pull the plug a few years down the line.

Are you able to communicate easily with the developers? Do they answer your questions clearly and in terms you can understand? You need to be sure of what work is being carried out, whether this is the best option and what functionality it's going to achieve for you. Basically you need to feel in control of YOUR project and not be kept in the dark or overwhelmed with jargon. Also, do the company provide related services that you may need now or in the future such as stationery design and marketing. It may be a better option than sourcing separate providers.

Charging Structure + Ongoing Fees

Never assume that the lowest bidder is the best option. Sometimes this may be the case depending on your requirements, but does this price compromise the quality of the product or the level of ongoing service (as highlighted above)? Can the company give you assurances about prices or provide a structure that allows you to remain in control via fixed up-front quotations or a set hourly/daily/weekly fee for ongoing work? Are you able to confirm a mutually agreeable timescale for the project completion? Find out what is considered "completion".

Also, do they provide any free services such as free updates or free introductory web hosting, etc.

Website Hosting

Every website needs website hosting. This is basically your webspace, where your website lives on the internet. Usually you will need to pay for this on a monthly or annual basis.

Does the development company provide website hosting as part of their service or would you have to find this yourself elsewhere? If they do provide hosting then can they give you up-front pricing information so that you know exactly how much this will cost?

With hosting, reliability is the key to ensuring your website remains visible. With this in mind, always ask about 'server reliability' and remember that this can often be reflected in the cost. Very cheap hosting may not always be the solution.

Who Owns Your Information

Always ensure that you will own your domain name and website content. It sounds obvious yet there are many horror stories where developers have registered domain names in their own name and then charged a fortune to transfer ownership if a client wished to change provider. You should always be safe in the knowledge that you are in control.

What Next?

We hope this information has provided you with a brief insight into several key areas and has armed you with a list of questions to ask your shorlisted companies. Don't be afraid to ask questions. After all, it's your business and your money!