The fact that you want to know how to choose a custom website development agency is a clear indication you understand the benefits of working with one. It may not look like it, but custom websites have a lot to offer in terms of being more engaging and better at converting potential sales into closed transactions.
But Why Is It Challenging to Choose Custom Web Developers?
Simple. Because most of the developers won’t satisfy your needs. A custom website is strikingly different from a typical website in that the developer has to be guided by the unique ecosystem of your business. One slight mistake and you miss your objectives for having a bespoke platform.
But when you find top-class custom eCommerce web development service providers like Launch, they even exceed your expectations with suggestions and improvements that will help you reach your maximum potential. The problem is that there aren’t as many reliable custom web developers in the market as you’d want to believe.
So, What Should You Look For?
Even though it’s not a direct process, finding the right developer should be easier if you consider:
1. The Company’s Portfolio
Considering how important a website is to a company, only the developers with stellar websites should make it to your shortlist. They should have a rich portfolio and be active enough in web development to the extent of already having ongoing projects. If not, their most recently completed projects should only be weeks old.
That’s not to mean that companies with older projects are not a good fit. Just have a closer look at what they have done in the past, and be particularly keen when it comes to client reviews.
2. Their Process and Approach
In any construction project, a proper approach and a thorough process will always give you the upper hand. A good web developer should have a clear and unique process that guides them from the start to the finish of the project.
Such a process should have undergone years of refinement so that it clearly outlines the best practices and the client’s involvement at each stage. Even without deep explanations, a client’s process should give you great confidence in their ability to deliver successfully.
3. Their Technologies and Languages
Remember you are after a unique website that makes your customers feel you have something different to offer when they compare you with competitors. This means leveraging the best web design technologies, practices, and languages out there.
Some practices and languages are better than others when it comes to custom web development, and leveraging advanced technologies is the key to timely deliveries and bull’s eye accuracy. Among the technologies and languages that a stellar custom web designer should be using are WordPress, Magento, Angular, jQuery, D3, and SQL. But don’t limit yourself – ask what the developer is offering, and then you can decide if it works for you.
4. Their References
A reliable custom website developer’s references should be more than just a screenshot of the websites they have designed previously. Get real references and find out from them what it was like to work with the developers you are interested in shortlisting.
Ask about everything – even the seemingly most trivial details. By consulting with references, you’ll have a better idea of the developer’s likelihood to heed your wishes during the design process and not steamroll you into adding features that will help them drive up the cost.
5. The Company’s Average Timelines and Quotations
Even though you want a website with all the bells and whistles, you have to ask yourself if you can afford it, and if the wait is worthwhile. If, maybe, yours is a fully online business that stakes everything on the website, invest as much as you can. But if you are using the website to increase convenience for your customers and have an online presence, you may not benefit a lot and it’ll probably take longer to have the site up and running.
At times, however, you may come across a web developer who is well-equipped and skilled to complete even the most complicated projects in the least possible time. If you can afford it, having an advanced website will be an added advantage. Also, try to find out if the developer has a flexible cost plan for extra services that may not have been included in the initial cost estimate.
To Sum It All Up,
Choosing the right custom website developer for your business isn’t rocket science – it only requires enough attention and devotion.
As long as you pick a development agency that has experts in your industry and takes heed of the best practices in custom web development, you will be on the right path. Their portfolio and references will be the most instrumental navigational tools.
