These days, it seems like web developers are everywhere, but how do you know which one is the right one for your business? Once you've determined that you need a feature on your website to help your business grow, you want to make sure that the person you hire to create that feature can actually execute.
Here are five (5) things to look for when hiring a web developer.
Find someone who can actually work with the technology your website is built on.
Finding someone who can work with the way your site is configured is critical because web development is a huge industry, offering you a choice thousands of languages, interfaces, and products. If your site is built with Squarespace, find someone who has proven Squarspace chops; if it's built with WordPress, find a WordPress developer with a track record of working with businesses like yours.
Every business is different, and sometimes you need a combination of skills, like someone who has worked with a specific marketing platform and knows how to integrate its tools with a Shopify theme. A web developer may not have every single tool your business runs on in their portfolio, so make sure you identify what will bring the most value to your company and hire based on that.
Find someone who understands your business.
Many web developers are just interested in the code and they forget that they are working with busineses, people whose goal is to drive sales and make money. When you find a web developer who understands how your business runs, they will be better positioned to deliver projects that bring you and your customers more value.
Pay attention to the web developers who ask questions about your business, your customers, and how the things they build will help your business grow. You don't need to tell them everything single detail, but you do want to know that people you hire care as much about your business as you do.
Find someone who communicates clearly and in a timely manner.
Any online business thrives on clear, effective communication with customers and stakeholders, but many web developers get so focused on the code that they often forget to look up to explain to their clients what's going on. Sometimes, an email won't get a response for days while issues pile up on the website. This makes things frustrating for customers, business owners, and web developers.
Does your potential web developer reply to requests quickly? Do they explain how long a task will take? Do they help you understand how complex a project is? A web developer with good communication skills will make your life so much easier, so be sure to watch out for this when reserching potential hires.
Find someone who gets the work done.
No web developer worth their money should leave a project unfinished and yet so many do. Time and again we hear horror stories from new clients who have had their web developers up and leave in the middle of a major project, or who have had their web developers shift schedules as a deadline approaches. If your web developer cannot deliver, then it's time to find one who can.
To lower the risk to your business, you can set aside a small budget to pay a potentional web developer to complete a trial project for your company. This way you can test out their knowledge of your website's technology, their ability to communicate, and their ability to complete a project in a timely manner.
Find someone who leaves your business better than they found it.
Anyone you hire should add value to your business. From their technical knowledge to their ability to execute a project for you, your web developer should be continually improving your business, not making it harder for you to do business.
Why hire one web developer when you can hire a team? If you're looking for technically savvy, value-driven web developers with a proven track record of delivering amazing products with great value, then you're in the right place. Your friendly, communicative concierge technicians are standing by.