15 Questions You Need to Ask your Web Developer
By Bob Wynyard, Dip. Hort., CNP Business Skills Development Officer, NGINA
“What should you ask a web developer when you first meet them?”
During a seminar held by TAFE teacher Robert Potter with 20 of his web students we brain stormed topics the average person should ask a web developer at their first meeting. Here’s what they came up with.
Please note: These questions are based on the opinion that you already have a strong and well presented logo for your business. If you don’t, another question (and one of the first) should be about developing your brand recognition…
- Do I need a website?
This may sound like a pretty silly question, but depending on the type of business you have and your goals you may not need to have a dedicated website and may be able to get away with something as simple as a free blog or type of social media to help promote your business. - What type of website do I need?
This is one of the most important questions to ask because there are so many different types of web solutions available. Picking the right one is a crucial step to creating a successful website and once the web developer has learnt about your business and its goals, they should be able to recommend the right solution. - What packages and services do you offer?
A lot of web developers will package together and offer additional services that complement design and development of a website. If this is the case, ask them what the package contains and what it costs so you can see if it meets your needs and your budget. - What domain name should I use?
The right domain name is vital to the success of your website and people finding you. Ideally it should include one or more keywords relating to your business and be registered for the appropriate country. A web developer should be able to guide you through the available options and ensure you select the best domain name possible! - Who will host my website?
Every website needs to be on a server to allow worldwide internet access. This is what we refer to as ‘hosting’. By estimating the approximate size of your website and the amount of traffic it generates, your hosting requirements can be worked out. Some web developers will offer hosting as an in-house service and others will seek a 3rd party provider. - Do I need a Content Management System (CMS)?
A CMS is a way to quickly and easily maintain the content of a website without needing to keep harassing (and paying for) a web developer to do it. Consider carefully whether you have time to maintain the website, as well as your ability to write quality, relevant content, before committing to CMS. It may be a handy feature, but remember your time is also a cost! - How can I attract visitors to my website?
This is a key question. No matter how wonderful your website is, if nobody visits, it is a waste of time and money. There are many ways to bring traffic to a website like search engine optimisation, search engine marketing, social media, blogging, etc. A strategy to build visitors to your website is essential. - What is Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?
Discuss this thoroughly with your developer. The aim of SEO is to bring up your website on the first page of a search engine like Google, Yahoo, Bing, etc, without paying to be there. There are many ways to achieve this, including targeting the right keywords, regular updates with topical comment, encouraging other websites to link to yours, etc. Ensure your developer provides information and cost and gives you a better understanding of what needs to be done to improve your website’s search capability. - Can I monitor the traffic that comes to my website?
While your aim is to improve the traffic flow to your website, it is important to monitor it to prove that online strategies are working. For example Google Analytics allows website traffic monitoring, and is easy to install and use. Ask the developer if they can include this when building the website. - How can I use Social Media to help promote my website?
Social Media is an effective way for people to stay connected but also a great way for businesses to connect with clients. Chances are your company may already have a social media avenue (eg a Facebook fan page) or are looking at setting one up. Ask advice on how to use Social Media channels to promote and integrate with your website. It can be an effective way of building rapport with your clients as well as bringing them back to your website. - Which images can I use?
Avoid at all costs finding any old image on the internet and using it on your website in the hope nobody will notice. The right permissions to use various images, music, fonts and videos within your website will ensure you are not breaching any copyright laws. It may be cheaper to hire your own photographer to capture the desired photos, or purchasing photos online from a website like www.istockphoto.com. - Will the website be mobile and tablet compatible?
Huge numbers of people view websites on smart phone or tablets. Having a website that allows easy viewing on any of these devices can simplify user options to source information without leaving your website. However this feature may require additional cost, depending on the level of compatibility you wanting for your site and work involved by the developer. - How much will it cost and how long will it take?
Many factors come into play when answering these leading questions. Most developers will not give you a quote straight away, unless they have a package that suits your needs and matches your budget. Usually they will take the information you provided away with them and come back with various solutions and costs to build. - Can I get training?
If you do go ahead and decide to build the website then you are going to need to know how to use and update it (especially if you do get some sort of CMS and/or shopping cart) once completed. Most developers will offer training, but ask anyway. - Ask to see a portfolio of work?
Just like hiring any contractor, it is wise to check the developer’s credentials. More than that, each designer will have a specific look, style and expertise (shopping cart, blog, etc) that they have developed, so it is important that the solution provided matches your brand.
Conclusion
Hopefully these questions will help you and the developer to build an amazing website. However don’t speak to just one web developer, talk to several and ensure you receive the best information, price and solution. Please feel free to leave us your feedback or questions about this article.