Questions for your prospective website developer

Hootville develops websites and we've managed website development for clients so we see such projects from both sides. Thus our sympathies are divided.

Website development is a big deal - a major opportunity to leap ahead in your communications. It's also a major hassle hugely dependent on the wise selection of an external website developer.

Be an assertive, interested, curious prospective client. That starts before the first contact with prospective developers.

If you can't be bothered to write out a page or two outlining what you think you want and a rough sitemap at the very outset you are sending a very clear message to the developer.

That message is: we are rubes. We are lazy. We are not serious. We don't know what we want but we are ready to be ripped off and are likely to be a pain to deal with.?

So here's some questions to ask:

Q: Can we see some sites that you've developed for clients in our sector?

Naturally you want?multiple examples of sites for clients similar to you.

Naturally the developer will show off their portfolio but it's one thing to deliver e-commerce sites or portfolio-based sites for professionals but if you are a complex, multi-faceted organisation with various services and programs you are more complex.

Ideally they'll have experience with your type of business.

Q: What's your process?

There are still a lot of very small operators out there - especially those working with the nonprofit sector. Some have a very vague methodology. No process =?no contract, OK?

We typically send a survey to help us scope out the project very early on.?

I'd like to see a process beginning with a genuine planning session where you?plot out what we might need, understand our audiences and business needs. They should lead this process. It'll get everyone on the same hymn sheet.

The developer should also want to clarify whom they'll be working with and your decision making process. (Clients often expect to not-make, vaguely-make, then belatedly-unmake decisions. This is hell for the developer.)?

Then there should be a phase?based around creating the look and feel of the various page types, choosing photography and other aesthetic / design matters.

There should be a couple of presentations of the design concepts for feedback after which it should be 95% locked in.

Another early consideration is the sitemap - what information will the site contain and in what categories?

Then there's finalisation of all the bells and whistles the site has - email sign ups,?payment, database?and appointment integrations etc.

Will you be creating videos, downloadable resources etc??That stuff may require a lot of discussion,?decision making and time.?

Once the copy, images and content is provided and decisions made it's time to build?the site - creating pages, inserting copy and navigation. This might take weeks but not more than a month unless your site is huge.

Then there should be a formal presentation of the site almost ready to launch with pages built and features installed. More feedback and tweaking.

Finally it's time to test and launch.

Q: Do you advise on content?

They'll say that they do but many web developers are tech-based - not communications or marketing. Their priority is on building a site that looks OK and works well. As for creating a tool to sell, persuade and impress - not so much. Many website developers are really graphic designers with a focus on appearances.

Q: What platforms do you use to develop your websites?

If they say Joomla, Drupal or - heaven forbid - their own proprietary content management system thank them for their time and back out of the room. Don't lose eye contact for a moment.

Wordpress is still OK - though increasingly complex. Do they use SquareSpace? That's a simpler site for you to manage and faster (and cheaper) for them to build.

Q: What's your approach to deadlines??

Developers often get burnt by clients who fail to meet - or even create - deadlines, leaving them to twiddle their thumbs.

Good developers state and keep deadlines and you should do your utmost to meet them.

If your developer is too?laid back to create and enforce deadlines they may be too laid back to deliver your site in a reasonable timeframe. You've been warned.

We've occasionally imposed 'fines' for missed deadlines written into our contract. It works.

Q: are we a typical sized project for you??

You want them to be familiar and comfortable with the scale and complexity of your project. You do NOT want to be the smaller-than-average client because you are likely to get smaller-than-average service quality.

Being far bigger than their typical project is also a concern. Being more complex a project than typical is a red flag blowing in the wind.

Q: are you a one-person operation??

Smaller projects will typically be handled by sole traders or small teams.

A team increases the likelhood of specialised skills - say design and development. A sole trader situation does come with a risk of the project falling prey to illness, holidays or plain neglect.

You may want the security that comes with a big developer but you'll have to pay for it. A client of Hootville recently met with a big developer that impressed on paper and was informed that their projects start at about $65,000. The Zoom was curtailed shortly thereafter.

Q: can we get some referrals?

They should have a bunch. Ask the referees if the developer was a proactive asker of questions and constant communicator. Were they flexible and did they share advice readily?

Q: what do you know about us?

They should do some research and have given you some thought.

Q: will you help us with the launch / hosting / emails / domain redirects?

A lot can go SNAFU when you launch. The right developer will cancel their four o'clock and guide you through.?

Q: Do you take SEO into account?

SEO is vital of you want Google to refer people to your site and there is a LOT that developers can do to help you get better rankings including crafting clever URLs?for each page, inserting ALT tags into images and uploading sitemaps to Google?etc.?

That said, few smaller developers bother, even if it could add to their invoice. After all, the site looks the same and works?as well for clients either way and SEO adds workload and complexity.

SEO entails a LOT of explaining and endless back and forth with clients. Many people find it boring - especially those who will not benefit from the results.

Q: what's the back-up service like?

You want someone who cleans up any messes they make, some of which only become apparent after launch.?

Q: what's the capital of Brazil?

If they know that the capital is Brasilia, hire?them immediately.