In our first blog post about choosing a web developer, we highlighted the importance of communication and experience. In our last blog post about choosing a web developer, we covered the importance of working with a company that has high technical proficiency and business acumen. In this blog post we will look at what differentiates a company from others and how to tell if they will be around to support you down the line.
What makes this company different?
Not all companies are created equal and there are a few elements that you can focus on to make sure you are picking the one that stands out for you in the right way. Along with the elements that we covered in our previous blog posts; communication, experience, technical proficiency and business acumen it is also wise to consider the attention that you will be receiving, flexibility and results.
Sure it can be enticing to sign up with the big name agency, but you may need more attention than they may be able to offer you. No one wants to be just another account number and ensuring that the company you work with can give you the attention you need to feel comfortable is important. Also, big ships tend to move slow and your business may need some turn on a dime flexibility. Quite commonly, as with any creative processes, something will come up on our clients’ end that completely changes the game, our ability to restructure and re-strategize based on new information makes us very flexible.
At the end of the day, the reason why you want to establish a web presence, have a beautifully designed and developed site that is also secure and performing well, is to get results. If the company you are thinking of working with has been in the arena for a long time, it is quite likely that they have a proven track record and can share with you how they helped other clients achieve the results they were looking for. Of course, a quick peek at their portfolio is always a good idea also.
If in doubt, a great way to get clear on how a company stand outs from the pack is just to ask! Most companies will be happy that you did so and will highlight what they think makes them different from the rest.
How to tell if a company will be there for me?
Websites are a living thing and they need care and attention to keep delivering and help you hit your goals, for most people that means relying on a web dev team to help you handle general maintenance, security, performance and business growth. There a few general elements to focus on to know that a company will be there if you need support, how long the company has been in business is one of them. Most likely if a company has been around for a while, they have ironed out the kinks of business, are viable, and will be there for the long run. Being in business for a long time also means having the had had a chance and the experience to develop a support strategy for one’s client base. A good company will be interested in a long term relationship with their client rather than a one and done type of approach. As an example, Watermelon Web Works has been in the Portland and Denver areas since 2002 and we still have and maintain some of our day 1 clients’ sites, something we are very proud of.
Over the last 16 years that we have been in business, we have developed a specific maintenance and growth plan that we recommend to all our clients, new and old. That plan keeps your website current, safe, ticking along nicely and ensures that it keeps you hitting your targets. That process is constantly evolving with the times and takes away all the potential stresses that inevitably come with having a web presence. Coupled with our passion for communication and ensuring that we keep our clients abreast of any developments gives peace of mind to our clients who can dedicate their energy and attention on all the other parts of running a business.
We hope that this blog post series will help you cut through the fog of choosing a web development team! Please feel free to contact us at any time if you have questions or check out our portfolio to see if you like what we have to offer.
