With Detroit being one of the top cities for small business growth, it’s no wonder more businesses are looking for web development companies in Detroit. Whether you are building an e-commerce business, or you want to expand your brand’s reach online, having a visually stunning, user friendly website will do wonders for your business. The problem arises with choosing which of the many e-commerce web development services out there to work with. And there are a lot. Not all web development companies are the same. So, the trick is to find which one will best fit your company’s values and goals.
The web development industry is jam-packed with both new developers and experienced developers and agencies. Not all experienced web development companies are good and not all up and coming web developers are bad. You need to know the fundamental principles on choosing the most reliable web development company for your brand.
Ask these questions when narrowing down your search for a web development company in Detroit.
First and foremost, you need to know what exactly it is the purpose of your website? Most businesses offering professional services want to build trust, inform, educate, and convert visitors into customers or clients.
Are you selling physical products or a service? Are you looking to have a brand new website built from scratch or are you looking to have your website redesigned in-platform?
Next, determine if you want to seek a local web development team or national. Finding a local web developer in Detroit who understands the cultural aspect of your local target audience could prove to be great for your business, especially if you have a brick and mortar business and are extending your business online.
What services does the Detroit web development company offer?
Is this a full-service web development agency? Will specific services be outsourced, or will you have to find someone else for additional services like SEO and marketing? Most website development companies will charge something for hosting. Remember, you want your website to be online 24/7.
Full-service website development agencies typically include design, development, mobile application, quality assurance, SEO, and marketing teams as well as continuous maintenance.
Will they offer ongoing technical support? Which platform and CMS will they be using, and do they offer training on using that platform’s CMS so that you can easily upload and edit content? Knowing exactly which platform they will use for custom web development is an absolute must. You and your staff need to know how to access your content to keep your customers and clients up to date on the latest happenings in your business.
Do they use templates or build from the ground up?
Many web developers use platform templates as a base to work with. While that may be fine for some, if you want a custom website that will set you apart from the competition in your industry, you need to make that a priority. What do I mean by template? A template is an HTML and CSS prebuilt design where anyone can insert text and images to create a website.
You want to work with a web development agency in Detroit who specializes in custom-built websites. That is, build a website from scratch with your requirements. Remember, when you hire a web development company, you are essentially hiring a partner and your partner should want the best for your business.
How is their payment set up?
Most web development projects cost a minimum of $5,000 and typically charge about $75 per hour and up. Some developers will charge by project while others may charge hourly. Will they charge by the hour or per project? Payments can be set up in installments based on milestones. Discuss payment options with your potential technology partner so that you can budget accordingly.
How do they measure success?
The best web developers use rigorous tests to ensure their code works as intended. But measuring success is more than just measuring the functionality of the website in the lab. Success includes customer/client retention. How do customers find the usability of the website? For example, if a developer has created an e-commerce store for a client yet the client’s customer retention rate is below 60%, that could indicate a very poor user experience.
Here’s what to look for in finding a great web development company.
Finding a reliable web development company in Detroit takes a little bit of time, but it’s worth it to get what you want.
View the developer’s live portfolio.
Every working developer should have a portfolio of live websites. By live, we mean currently up and running. Visit the websites in their portfolio. Don’t just look at the pretty design. Click on buttons, test out the user experience and pay attention to load times and responsiveness.
Pay attention to the developer’s own website.
How does the developer’s own website measure up? Just like the websites in the developer’s portfolio, play around with the developer’s own website. How is the user experience for you? Visit their website on your mobile phone to test whether or not its mobile friendly.
Read client reviews and testimonials.
One of the best ways to learn about a web development company’s competency is through reviews on Clutch. Clutch gathers information about IT companies including reviews and stats. Other great sites for checking out client reviews is UpCity and GoodFirms.
Do they value communication?
Communication is more than just contacting a client during milestones. Top web development agencies will often assign a point of contact to their clients and keep them abreast of the progress of the website. Regular communication is paramount to any relationship and working partnerships is no different.
While there is no exact blueprint or definitive guide for finding a reliable web developer for your company, these steps are sure to help you. All it takes to find the best website development agency is a little bit of research and knowing what you want. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. And listen to your gut. If you don’t feel as if the company you are vetting is a good fit, it’s okay to walk away. What’s important is getting what you know is the best web development service for your brand.
Call KitelyTech on (800) 274 2908 today for more information.
