Finding the right person to create your online presence can be nerve-wracking – would you agree?
In the last year, I’ve found myself needing two websites built: nonprofitmarcommunity.com and the site for my course, writebetternonprofitwebsites.com. For a number of reasons, I used a different pro for each, neither one of which was my main ‘go-to’ web developer (who will soon be redesigning moflow.ca).
Both new web pros brought unique strengths to their respective projects, and the process got me thinking about how important it is to find a great match when choosing a web developer. To find someone with whom you’ll be able to work smoothly, effectively and happily, consider the following:
What are their specialties in terms of platforms and functionality?
You don’t want them to be stretching their skills on your project, so find someone who specializes in the platform (in my two examples, WordPress), functions and features (e.g. blog, ecommerce, member-only access) you need.
What level of design talent do you need?
If you know exactly what you want in terms of fonts, colours, graphic elements and general look and feel, you can work with someone who is primarily a developer. If you would like guidance on developing a look and feel for your site, you’ll want a developer who is also a designer – this can definitely be found in the same person.
Who will be managing the project?
Do you want to manage every step of the process to keep it moving along? Or do you want someone who will take this element off your plate and keep you on schedule? Think about this ahead of time. TIP: how the individual handles the quoting and briefing process can give you a glimpse of this.
How consultative do you want your developer to be?
I’ve noticed two approaches among the developers I’ve used. One approach is to start quickly, pull something together and have the client react/revise and shape it further. The other approach is to dig deep and ask many questions before starting to land as close as possible to the final version on the first mockup. The former works better for me when I know exactly what I want, the latter, when I’m looking for guidance.
Of course, there’s much more to choosing a web developer than these points. But when trusting a new person with one of my most valuable assets, I think it’s important to figure out a good match to ensure a smooth working relationship.
Do you have any additional tips on finding the right web developer, style- and personality-wise? Please share in the comments.
