Five Steps to the Right Web Developer
May 15, 2007
Kelowna, BC
An article to guide you in partnering with a winner
Acro Media Inc. presents:
Five Steps to the Right Web Developer
There are a gazillion ways to make the Internet work for your business. Here’s how to find a quality Web developer who can make them happen.
What do you want to do on the Web? Profile your company? Promote your brand, products and services? Sell? Support existing clients? Drive site traffic? Give birth to an online community?
Grab a pen and document these: 1. Goal 2. Audience 3.Budget 4.Project’s role within your bigger marketing picture. There! That's Step One done.
Step Two: seek referrals, peruse portfolios, search the Web and trust your eyeballs.
Some caveats: Referrals are welcome, but may not pertain to your market or industry in the least. Address your unique needs, not others’. Portfolios are useful. Evaluate actual client sites. Portfolio inconsistency may indicate staff turnover – are your favored creators still available?
Work your peepers and your digits: find Web sites that you admire – in your own and in unrelated industries. Play with functionality to experience what they can do. Note what wows you and turns you off. Imagine which functionality, looks or special features will set you apart from your competition.
Step Three: short-list 3-5 firms. Ignore the following at your peril: Breadth of experience. Has the firm met challenges like yours? In your industry? Trust they’ll be there for you in six months? A year later? Five?
Clients. Who and where are they? Serving a broad, international clientele demands superior communication and project management. The best firms serve clients across the globe as effectively as they do ones across the street.
Technical competence. Does the firm have the requisite processes, skills and resources? Do they conform to industry standards? Provide secure hosting, long-term maintenance and actual support?
Commitment to the long haul. See your Web site as a living, marketing organism. Superior developers ensure sites are easily updateable to meet new needs and conditions. Plus, they have the resources to make changes – even large ones – when you want them. Relying on an individual or mini-firm means you risk getting hooped if something happens to them, or they lack the time or enthusiasm to help when you need it.
Step Four: request a proposal – from each – that includes your requirements, their solution and development process and price breakdown of each component. Show no mercy in your evaluation! The winner’s presenting you to the world. They must communicate flawlessly in digital documents, on their Web site and in conversation. Weigh each firm’s suitability as a long-term partner helping you achieve present aims and enable an ambitious future.
Your decision made, contact the losers and give feedback on their proposals. Tell them why you chose the winner.
Lastly (whew!), tell the top Web development firm the good news and take pride in your thoroughness.
(Adapted from an article published in ‘Business Thompson Okanagan’ May ’07.)
Any questions, comments or insights? Can we help you at all with your Internet-based business needs? Please contact:
Duane Bentley, Marketing Manager
Tel +1.250.763.8884
Free +1.877.763.8844
media@acromediainc.com
About Acro Media
Acro Media is a professional Web design company and full service Web marketing firm delivering:
- Branding, logo designs, & identity packages
- Corporate marketing & communication
- Web site design & implementation
- Web site promotion & Internet marketing
- Ecommerce software solutions & Web site hosting
- Custom software & Web applications
- Multimedia/Flash design & development
The privately held interactive agency is BC's second largest, and very likely, the world's friendliest. Our team of 31 eagerly await your Web-based mission. Standing by.