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When you contact a web development
company, you may be asked a couple of
questions, which can help the company to
understand you and your needs better.
But, isn’t it important for you as well, to
obtain more information about the
company? After all, your money as well as
your online presence is at stake. So here
are some questions that you should ask
(not necessarily in this order), before
choosing a company for website
development:

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Q1: How big is the team? Does it work in-house? How much experience
does the team have?
A: Start by finding out the size of the team. Make sure that there are at
least 5-6 developers. If there aren’t enough developers, the company may
take forever to complete the project. Furthermore, if the company has an in-
house team, you may not have to deal with the risks associated with
outsourcing. Of course, the experience of the team is of paramount
importance if you want the best talent to work on your website.
The only source of knowledge is experience. – Albert Einstein

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Q2: What all technologies are to be used?
A: Ask the company to provide you with a list of technologies that it is
likely to use for website development. Match the list against the latest
technologies such as CSS3 and HTML5 to ensure that the company can
develop a contemporary website for you. It is also important to find out if
the technologies are suitable for your unique requirements.

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Q3: Which CMS does the company intend to use? How much it would cost
you?
A: If the company is planning to use an open-source CMS, instead of some
proprietary software, you may be able to save money in terms of
development costs because you might not have to pay the licensing fee.
Therefore, always insist on open-source CMS. Another benefit of open-
source CMS is that you need not depend on the company for post-
development support. In fact, you can hire any other cheap web developer if
he/she is an active member of the relevant community, has the necessary
skills, and more importantly, knows how to update a site and/or fix the
issues.

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Q4: Can the company develop a responsive website for you?
A: With mobile traffic accounting for 16% of all web traffic, it is now more
important than ever to have a responsive website. So you must ensure that
the company can develop a site that your visitors can easily browse even
when they are using handheld devices.

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Q5: Can the website development company also maintain your site?
A: If you find a one-stop destination for development and maintenance,
then you can focus on your business and leave the website related tasks to
the company. No matter how good your site is, it must be updated and
maintained at regular intervals. However, the maintenance costs can run in
thousands of dollars. So it is better if you ask the company for a package
that doesn’t cost you a fortune.

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Q6: How much time does the company need to develop the site?
A: Talk to the company and settle for a deadline
that’s acceptable to both the parties.
But can the company meet the deadline?
If the company doesn’t have too many developers,
isn’t well-versed in useful technologies, and
outsources its work, chances are that it won’t be able
to meet your deadline. In this case, even if the
deadline is met, you may be handed over a site that’s
full of bugs which are yet to be fixed.

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Q7: How much does the company charge? Is there a pricing policy in
place?
A: It is a good idea to ask about all the costs upfront. You may think that
you have found a cheap website developer but then the company might ask
you to pay an additional amount later on. So when you ask the company
about the price of development, it is important for you to get a detailed
quote. If the company charges on hourly basis, you must find out how many
hours are needed to finish the work on your website.

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Q8: Can the company help you in understanding the development
process?
A: If the company tells you about the
different steps that it usually follows, you
can actively participate in the development
process.
Make sure that you have this information
before the company starts working on your
project.

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Q9: Would you get complete control?
A: When the project ends, the company must hand over all the relevant
files to you so that you can use them as and when you need to. Ideally, the
company should not claim to have any right over these files.

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Q10: Can the company ensure that your website is a success?
A: No company can guarantee the success of your site, but if enough
measures are taken during the development process to ensure that is easy
for you to attract traffic and convert the visitors into customers, your
chances of succeeding may increase.

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Q11: Can you get some references?
A: If you are investing in a website, you have the right to know if the
company can do justice to your project. References can help you in finding
out more about the company’s capabilities.

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Q12: Would you get a dedicated project manager?
A: A dedicated manager can ensure that there are minimal delays. He/she
can also pass on your feedback to the developers so that they can make the
necessary changes. Also, if you do not want to handle minor issues on your
own, then always make sure that a dedicated manager is assigned to your
project. The manager must try to resolve the issues before they are escalated
to you.

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Q13: For how long the company has been in business?
A: If the company has been there for at least 5-6 years, you can be sure it is
not going anywhere. Startups or relatively new companies may leave you in
the lurch. So it is better to avoid such companies.

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1300 760 363
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