Pretty much anyone can call themselves a web developer nowadays, and it is important that you do your due diligence before working with anyone. Make the wrong choice, and you could end up with tons of hidden costs, unfinished work, or in the worst case, never hearing from them again.
However, by asking the right questions and doing your research, you should be able to find a great team that will be able to understand your vision and execute it. Here are some questions you should ask when hiring a web development team.
Have You Ever Worked on Projects Similar to Mine?
All websites have very different needs and have to be approached differently. For instance, building an e-commerce store and a portfolio site will be very different. If you need some of your employees to be able to access log in functions, for instance, or need an extensive database to be installed, not all web developers will have this kind of expertise. You may need some illustrations, graphics, or logo designs for a one-time project, in which case your best bet may be to hire a freelance graphic designer.
This is why it is very important that you know your objectives for your website, and make sure that they can show you work similar to it. Don’t take their word for it. Some will say yes to everything, only to take twice as much time once they realise how much research they have to do.
How Long Will the Project Take from Beginning to End?
This is also something that needs to be clear from the get-go. If you have a deadline for this project, then you want someone who’ll be able to get the job done within that time period. That doesn’t mean, however, that you should go for rushed work. Some people might take a little bit longer, either because of conflicting schedules or previous engagements. Make sure that you look around to check the average completion time, and go for someone who can deliver the best work as fast as possible.
What Kind of Services do You Offer?
Different development teams will offer different packages, so it’s important that you know what their actual scope of service is, and what you can expect to pay. For instance, some companies will also offer some marketing and SEO services. Some will offer social media management and promotion as well.
That’s why you should make a clear list of the services you want to be included. This way, you’ll be able to eliminate those who can’t provide a crucial service that you absolutely need.
What About Your Employees?
You want to know what type of employees they work with. Do they outsource some of their work? If so, what do they outsource?
While outsourcing is not always an issue, it’s always better to go with a web development company that has their own in house employees. Teams like Appetiser, for instance, personally hand pick their programmers and have them go through a gruelling hiring process to make sure that they’re up to par. As a matter of fact, only 1.7% of the applicants coming from major tech firms are able to make it through their coding challenges.
You want a team that will be self-sufficient so you won’t have to suffer delays. Another thing is if you need some follow up work done, it’s better if the programmer who previously worked on your website performs it. Working with another programmer will require some additional troubleshooting that you may have to pay out of pocket for.
What Technologies Are Your Specialty?
This question allows the developer to talk about what distinguishes them from the competition. If you haven’t decided what technology you’re going to use, still ask what technologies they’re specialised in. If they’ve adapted to new technologies well, they are probably qualified to help you migrate to a new one.
Ask how many developers they have that work with these technologies. You don’t want to hire a software firm that specialises in a specific area, but if that expertise resides with one person who may leave the firm at any time this is also a problem. Ask how much time it may take to scale up the team to handle your project. If you may need to accelerate your schedule, you want to know you won’t have to wait a few weeks for key people to be available.
A related question to ask is their seniority. If their entire expertise in an area is within a group of junior developers, they may not be capable of the quality of work you need. Conversely, a mixed team of junior and senior developers is certain to be able to handle any challenge.
Conclusion
Hiring a web development team is essential if you want to have a website that will show your business in the best possible light as possible. Make sure that you take your time, shop around, and find a team that can align with your goals and expectations.
