ExecutiveChronicles | 7 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Hiring a Web Developer | When you have your own business, one of the best ways to spread the word is through a website. If you are like most business owners though, you probably do not have the time to build a site by yourself.
For this reason, it can be a smart idea to hire a web developer who can take care of everything for you. With that said, you should not just hire the first one that comes up in your online search results. Instead, you should take some time to do your research so you can avoid the most common mistakes that people make when hiring web developers.
1. Not Knowing the Scope or Timeline
Because many web developers work at a daily rate, it can be helpful to have a clear scope of your project. To get a better idea of this, create a plan with a timeline. Doing so is not only helpful for brainstorming purposes, but it is essential if you want any potential developer to give you accurate quotes.
2. Expecting Miracles
When planning your project, ask yourself what you need for it to be successful. Thinking about your overall vision for success can help guide you, but be careful not to hope for miracles. Although there are many services that a professional web developer can provide, there are also limits. Also, specialties can vary among developers.
3. Spending Too Much or Too Little
Everyone has heard the saying, “You get what you pay for,” and there is some truth to it when it comes to web development services. While you do not want to break your company’s budget on an unnecessarily fancy service, you also do not want to be too cheap. The most important thing is to find someone who meets your unique needs.
4. Ignoring Communication
Communication matters. Sometimes, people will hire a web developer and think that is it, but that is far from how it works. Building a website is a process, and even though hiring a professional takes significant work off your plate, you still need to involve yourself in the project by staying on top of communication. However, it is also a two-way street. Never settle for a web developer with poor communication skills.
5. Not Setting a Budget
Another mistake that people commonly make when hiring web developers is failing to set a budget. If you do not know where to start, ask people who have had experience with similar web projects. In most cases, the high-end of many web services falls between $2000 and $5000, but you can probably find cheaper options if you need to.
6. Hiring Someone Without Knowing What They Do
Before hiring anyone, make sure you know what they do. While most web developers build websites to some degree, what their services include can vary. Clarifying what a potential developer does before you spend money can help you avoid costly mistakes if that person does not end up meeting your expectations. In turn, this can also save everyone significant frustration. In some cases, it may be worth building the website yourself. You can also find tons of website builders offering themes and templates to make the process quick and easy. There are even specific builders that can assist with the organization of the website based on what the products or services are. For instance, if your company is looking to create a website for a restaurant franchise, a multi location website builder would produce the best results.
7. Not Understanding Your Needs
Because finding the right web developer depends on communicating your needs, it is important for you to know what those needs are. If you are in this situation, you are not alone. This problem is common. It is easy to come up with a great website idea, but finding the right ways to implement it can be more challenging. Creating a project plan can also help with this.
Hiring someone to build your company’s website should not be a decision that you make on a whim. Instead, use this list to help you find the right developer without making expensive errors.
