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5 Steps You Should Take Before Hiring a Web Developer & Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Whether you’re launching a new business, giving your existing site a facelift, or simply needing someone to manage ongoing updates and maintenance, finding a good web developer who fits your budget and truly understands your vision can take time and effort. With so many options, finding and selecting a web developer goes beyond just picking a name from a list or searching “web developer near me.” It requires some essential preparation. In this article, I’ll go over five important steps you should take before hiring a web developer and some common pitfalls to avoid based on my experience.

Table of contents

First, Here Are Some Important Website Statistics I Felt You Should Know
5 Steps You Should Take Before Hiring a Web Developer

11 Common Pitfalls to Avoid When Hiring a Web Developer

First, Here Are Some Important Website Statistics
I Felt You Should Know

Many website articles start by telling you “how important it is to have a website in today’s digital age.” If you’re looking for a web developer, you already know that. However, I thought giving you some basic website facts and figures would be good.

#01

Most people will check out your website before doing business with you

According to Forbes Magazine, around 85% of people will look at your company’s website before purchasing or taking a service.

#02

Your website has limited time to capture a visitor’s interest.

On average, a visitor takes 5 seconds to form an opinion about your website. Count it: 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. That’s not a lot of time.
A well-designed website that is easy to navigate, answers the right questions and provides a good user experience will help convert visitors into customers. Also, Your website must load fast. Four out of ten visitors will leave if it takes longer than 3 seconds to load or is unresponsive. An experienced web developer will know how to ensure your website loads quickly on desktop and mobile phones.
#03

Where will most of your website traffic come from?

According to SEM Rush, 91.54% of all website traffic globally comes from Google! Google is the virtual gatekeeper for all your company’s digital traffic. Being visible in Google search results through good SEO or Google Ads will provide a significant stream of this traffic to your website.

#04

A lot of people will look at your website from their mobile phones.

According to SEM Rush, 91.54% of all website traffic globally comes from Google! Google is the virtual gatekeeper for all your company’s digital traffic. Being visible in Google search results through good SEO or Google Ads will provide a significant stream of this traffic to your website.
#05

Besides having a great website, it is a numbers game!

Not to be a Debbie Downer, but competition is high, with over 1 billion websites. It costs nothing for a potential customer to browse various competitor websites to make their choice. According to industry data, the average website conversion rate, which means the percentage of website visitors who buy or reach out, is between 2.35% and 5.31% across different industries, with e-commerce sites typically seeing conversion rates around 2.5% to 3%. So, your website has to be awesome and get lots of traffic.
Because I just said it’s a numbers game, I wanted to quickly answer a common question that I get asked: “How do I get more traffic to my website?” While there are many ways to boost website traffic, here are the three best tried-and-proven ways to get more traffic to your website:

#01

Paid Ads

Running Google or Social Media ads is the fastest way to get immediate traffic to your website because you’re essentially paying to appear at the top of Google or in people’s social media feeds. A good ad campaign targets specific demographics, interests, and locations, targeting your exact potential customer.
#02

SEO & Content Marketing

In today’s world, content marketing is still king, and you see it everywhere: articles like this, YouTube videos, newsletters, and so on. In its simplicity, content marketing means providing useful, free information to potential customers and regularly posting engaging content, videos, and infographics to appeal to your audience’s interests. On the technical side, SEO is how you show up in Google when people search for a product or service you offer. It includes targeting specific keywords, optimizing your content, and your website’s meta descriptions and alt tags.
#03

Social Media

70% of Americans are on social media – about 239 million people. The chances of your potential buyer being on social media are BIG.

Growing your social media following can significantly increase traffic as you share insights, updates, and promotions that link to your site.

Building a social media following may seem overwhelming for some business owners, and hiring someone to do it can get expensive.

The easiest way to start is to

a) find out what social media platform your potential buyer uses most and
b) focus only on that platform.

Over time, you will learn to use the platform more and more, find ways to improve, and build a following and audience.

5 Steps You Should Take Before Hiring a Web Developer

#01

What should your website do?

I know this step sounds basic, but it’s important.

Websites serve various purposes, from generating leads to selling products online, or simply acting as a digital portfolio. It’s essential to define what you want your website to achieve.

Doing so will help your web developer determine the various design elements, the sequence they appear on the home page and the menu, and design appropriate call-to-action buttons and prompts.

Ask yourself:

Do you want more calls or appointments? Do you intend to sell products directly through the site? Or do you simply need a website to showcase your work and reassure partners and potential customers that you’re a legit company and your awesome products and services?

#02

Set a budget

Website costs can vary dramatically based on your desired number of pages, necessary features, whether it’s e-commerce or not, the web developer’s expertise, and so on.

Another major factor that determines price is the website company itself. I’ve seen companies send a quote for $15,000 for a website that I’d build for $3,500.

Knowing your budget or the range you’d like to spend helps narrow your options to firms that offer the best value for your money.

Later in this article, I will discuss why the cheapest option is not always the best and how it’s essential to balance cost and quality to ensure the web developer you choose is affordable and professional.

#03

Where will most of your website traffic come from?

According to SEM Rush, 91.54% of all website traffic globally comes from Google! Google is the virtual gatekeeper for all your company’s digital traffic. Being visible in Google search results through good SEO or Google Ads will provide a significant stream of this traffic to your website.

#04

Set a timeframe or deadline for your website

Website development can typically take anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks, depending on the size and complexity of the project and the web developer’s workload. That said, nobody wants to hire a web developer and wait 3-6 months for your website. It’s important to communicate your expected time frame with potential web developers and ensure they meet your timeline before hiring them. If you have an urgent need, such as an upcoming product launch or meeting, ensure the web developer has the bandwidth to meet your accelerated schedule without compromising the quality of the finished product.

A funny story about why setting a deadline with your web developer is important

About two weeks ago, a good friend of mine started a new power-washing business and asked if I could help create his branding and website. Happy to help, we started with his logo design and quickly moved onto the website development. Fast forward to last Monday, before I even had a chance to drink my morning coffee, when I received a frantic text from him. He urgently needed his new website within the next two hours. What?! By now, I was fully awake – without coffee. Why the rush, I wondered? Devan had forgotten to mention a small detail: that day, he was scheduled to speak at a conference in front of several hundred potential commercial clients. Talk about cutting it close! Luckily, we had already completed his website’s content and design, so we put together a great-looking landing page 23 minutes before he went on stage! It showcased his services perfectly and included all the right calls to action. His presentation and the conference were successful, and he walked away with more new customers than he expected. This hilarious yet hectic experience highlights why knowing your deadline and ensuring your web developer can meet it is critical—preferably over a calm cup of coffee!
#05

Do some basic market research

Last but not least, having at least some basic market research is vital when launching a new website. Your website should quickly provide important information. Clearly state who you are, what you do, who your product or service is for, the problems it solves, what it is, and answer common questions; if you offer a service, it should state what areas you service. It should also say what sets you apart from your competition and why visitors should choose your product or services or other options; it should also build trust in a new customer and, most importantly, make it easy and seamless for someone to buy or reach out. A good web developer or content writer can quickly achieve this if you have done some market research. To make this simple, you need to find the answers to three simple questions: WHO, HOW, WHAT. Who is most likely to buy? How do you reach them? What do you say to them? If you’re uncertain about how to address these questions, I wrote a detailed article on the topic last week, which you can explore here:
By following these 5 steps, you’ll be well-prepared to select a web developer who can meet your needs and help build a great-looking and effective website for your business Remember, a well-thought-out website is more than just an expense; it’s an investment in your brand’s future.

11 Common Pitfalls to Avoid When Hiring a Web Developer

Based on years of experience in the industry and insights from my time at several large marketing agencies, here are critical pitfalls to avoid when hiring a web developer:

#01

Avoid doing it yourself

If you’re not experienced in web development, resist the urge to build your website on your own.

Platforms like WIX might seem convenient, but they are still technical and require some experience and knowledge. Additionally, they often result in limited, cookie-cutter designs that may not adequately serve your unique business needs.

#02

Don’t be afraid to invest in a good website

The cheapest option isn’t always the best. Investing a few thousand dollars in a well-designed, effective website can provide a substantial return on investment through increased sales and customer engagement. If your budget allows it, consider allocating more to ensure quality.
#03

Consider steering away from a huge marketing agency

Large web design agencies often manage thousands of clients, leading to a generic, one-size-fits-all design and development approach, even if they say otherwise. Opt for a developer that offers personalized services to ensure your website stands out.
#04

Don’t forget to ask for samples of their work

Always ask to see examples of websites the developer has built. This will give you a better understanding of their capabilities and style. Sales reps might sell you an idea, but the proof is in the work they’ve done.
#05

Checking their reviews on Google

Take some time to look at reviews on Google and other platforms to gauge previous customers’ satisfaction. Reviews provide unbiased insights into the web developer’s reliability and quality of work.
#06

Ask what platform your website will be built with

Inquire about the platform used to build your website. Without getting technical, I will say that WordPress is a suitable choice for most businesses due to its widespread use and flexibility. Almost 50% of websites use WordPress. Avoid developers who insist on using less common platforms, and try to avoid web developers who use their own proprietary website platforms.
#07

What are the maintenance and ongoing costs?

Understand how ongoing maintenance is handled and the associated monthly and annual costs. Knowing what you’re committing to for the long term is crucial to keep your website up-to-date and functioning smoothly.
#08

Ensure you own the website and its content

After the website is built, verify who owns it and its content. Some niche agencies might retain ownership, which will cause issues if you decide to change providers or make significant updates independently.
#09

Purchase your own domain name

Always buy your domain name yourself; using platforms like GoDaddy ensures you retain control over this crucial aspect of your online presence.

#10

SEO should be built into the website from the start

Earlier, I made mention of SEO as one of the three sure-fire ways to get more traffic to your website. To put it more bluntly, a beautiful website won’t help if no one can find it. Ensure your web developer integrates SEO best practices during the building phase to enhance your site’s visibility in search engine results once it’s launched. Try to have your keyword research done before hiring a web developer, or ask them to help you with keyword and competition research as part of your website project for a small additional fee.
#11

You don’t necessarily have to hire a web developer “near me.”

All I need to build you an excellent website is a computer and internet connection.

Don’t restrict your choices to local web developers.

Many competent web developers and marketing agencies operate remotely, allowing you to hire the best talent from anywhere.

Physical meetings are rarely necessary, as most communications can be handled online.

Bonus Tips:

Apart from considering price and reviewing sample websites, it’s essential that you feel comfortable and confident with your web developer before hiring them.

Don’t overlook any red flags or gut feelings about their professionalism or responsiveness.

Choose a web developer with whom you have a good chemistry right from the initial conversation—someone who is easy to reach and quick to respond knows their business, and does good work.

A solid partnership with a good web developer can significantly enhance your website’s development process and ongoing management.

Trust and communication are key to ensuring that your website continually evolves to meet your business needs effectively.

By being aware of these pitfalls, you can make a more informed decision and select a web developer that will truly meet your needs and contribute to your business’s success.

Choosing the right web developer is a significant decision; getting the right website can impact the success of your online presence.

By being prepared and avoiding common pitfalls, you can find and select a web developer who aligns with your business needs and values.

Remember, a good website is not just about aesthetics; it’s about functionality, adaptability, and alignment with your business goals, and most importantly, it must get you the results you want.

I hope you found this article helpful.

If you’re ready to take the next step in developing a website that truly represents your brand and meets your specific needs, consider contacting us.

We offer personalized web design and marketing services tailored to start-ups and small businesses.

With our thorough and free initial consultation process, we ensure that your digital presence is not only visually appealing but also strategically sound.

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