Questionnaire for Choosing a Web Development Company

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1300 760 363

When you contact a web development company, you may be asked a couple of questions, which can help the company to understand you and your needs better. But, isn’t it important for you as well, to obtain more information about the company? After all, your money as well as your online presence is at stake. So here are some questions that you should ask (not necessarily in this order), before choosing a company for website development:

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Q1: How big is the team? Does it work in-house? How much experience does the team have?

A: Start by finding out the size of the team. Make sure that there are at least 5-6 developers. If there aren’t enough developers, the company may take forever to complete the project. Furthermore, if the company has an in-house team, you may not have to deal with the risks associated with outsourcing. Of course, the experience of the team is of paramount importance if you want the best talent to work on your website.

The only source of knowledge is experience. – Albert Einstein

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Q2: What all technologies are to be used?

A: Ask the company to provide you with a list of technologies that it is likely to use for website development. Match the list against the latest technologies such as CSS3 and HTML5 to ensure that the company can develop a contemporary website for you. It is also important to find out if the technologies are suitable for your unique requirements.

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Q3: Which CMS does the company intend to use? How much it would cost you?

A: If the company is planning to use an open-source CMS, instead of some proprietary software, you may be able to save money in terms of development costs because you might not have to pay the licensing fee. Therefore, always insist on open-source CMS. Another benefit of open-source CMS is that you need not depend on the company for post-development support. In fact, you can hire any other cheap web developer if he/she is an active member of the relevant community, has the necessary skills, and more importantly, knows how to update a site and/or fix the issues.

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Q4: Can the company develop a responsive website for you?

A: With mobile traffic accounting for 16% of all web traffic, it is now more important than ever to have a responsive website. So you must ensure that the company can develop a site that your visitors can easily browse even when they are using handheld devices.

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Q5: Can the website development company also maintain your

site?

A: If you find a one-stop destination for development and maintenance, then you can focus on your business and leave the website related tasks to the company. No matter how good your site is, it must be updated and maintained at regular intervals. However, the maintenance costs can run in thousands of dollars. So it is better if you ask the company for a package that doesn’t cost you a fortune.

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Q6: How much time does the company need to develop the

site?

A: Talk to the company and settle for a deadline that’s acceptable to both the parties.

But can the company meet the deadline?

If the company doesn’t have too many developers, isn’t well-versed in useful technologies, and outsources its work, chances are that it won’t be able to meet your deadline. In this case, even if the deadline is met, you may be handed over a site that’s full of bugs which are yet to be fixed.

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Q7: How much does the company charge? Is there a pricing policy in place?

A: It is a good idea to ask about all the costs upfront. You may think that you have found a cheap website developer but then the company might ask you to pay an additional amount later on. So when you ask the company about the price of development, it is important for you to get a detailed quote. If the company charges on hourly basis, you must find out how many hours are needed to finish the work on your website.

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Q8: Can the company help you in understanding the development process?

A: If the company tells you about the different steps that it usually follows, you can actively participate in the development process.

Make sure that you have this information before the company starts working on your project.

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Q9: Would you get complete control?

A: When the project ends, the company must hand over all the relevant files to you so that you can use them as and when you need to. Ideally, the company should not claim to have any right over these files.

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Q10: Can the company ensure that your website is a success?

A: No company can guarantee the success of your site, but if enough measures are taken during the development process to ensure that is easy for you to attract traffic and convert the visitors into customers, your chances of succeeding may increase.

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Q11: Can you get some references?

A: If you are investing in a website, you have the right to know if the company can do justice to your project. References can help you in finding out more about the company’s capabilities.

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Q12: Would you get a dedicated project manager?

A: A dedicated manager can ensure that there are minimal delays. He/she can also pass on your feedback to the developers so that they can make the necessary changes. Also, if you do not want to handle minor issues on your own, then always make sure that a dedicated manager is assigned to your project. The manager must try to resolve the issues before they are escalated to you.

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Q13: For how long the company has been in business?

A: If the company has been there for at least 5-6 years, you can be sure it is not going anywhere. Startups or relatively new companies may leave you in the lurch. So it is better to avoid such companies.

1300 760 363

1300 760 363

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