A website is one of the most important elements of your business. It’s an invaluable asset, allowing your service or product to reach and attract innumerable customers as well as managing and controlling information and even distribution. So. you’ve weighed up the options of transforming your ideas or design into a site, you’ve thought about the options, templates, freelancers, even having a go yourself, and then you’ve taken the decision that the best option for you is WordPress. A great platform, giving you control and versatility as well as plenty of options. So now you need to choose a WordPress development company, and there are plenty to choose from. One thing you will not be limited by is the sheer number of choices out there, but this in itself can present difficulties. So the next decision you’ve got to contemplate is which company to choose?
It doesn’t matter if this is your first website for your start-up or a redesign for your established company. The right WordPress developer to code your WordPress site is an important decision to make. There are many things to consider, so let’s have the conversation; what do you want, who do you need and where do you find them.
1. What do you want to accomplish?
1.1. What are your goals
1.2. Clear up the details
2. Factors to consider
2.1. Location
2.2. Price
2.3. Size
3. Where to find the right developer agency for you
3.1. Directories
3.2. Platforms
3.3. Approved Experts
1. What do you want to accomplish?
First off, have a real think about what exactly you are looking to achieve.
What are your goals?
- Increase traffic over time.
- Converts my visitors to customers.
- Gather information about our subscribers.
- Sell more products.
- Build a brand.
- Attract more customers.
- Inform.
If you can answer these questions, and explain them to your potential company of choice when you’re starting off on the right foot and giving the professionals something to work with.
Once you’ve established what you want, now is the time to start looking around for the right company for you. You don’t want to go in blind, even before you make contact with a company that you fancy, why not sit back and take a little time to think about the things you really need to know before you embark on the journey. It’s so much better for both sides to get these out in the open before you go ahead worth the project. For you, it gives you a clear idea of exactly what you are getting into and starts to establish a relationship and test the communication of the developer, for the potential Web development company it means they don’t have the problem of having to break things you at a later date and creating possible conflict. Here are some of the things you might like to ask.
Clear up the details
Some questions to think about asking the potential developer. You may want to answer these questions before you decide on a WordPress developing company:
How long will it take to get my website up and live?
How much will it cost after the initial outlay for the build?
Does the developer charge extra if I need to change anything, and I mean ANYTHING, on my website? Remember, you want full control!
Does the developer provide ongoing support and if so, by what means?
How extensive is the CMS?
Will this site actually generate my business and be found in search engines?
How much does it cost to redesign the site if needed?
How much is Web Hosting?
Do I have to pay for upgrades and/or new functionality?
What’s the total cost?
As well as the answers to your key questions there are going to be some important further considerations.
2. Factors to consider
2.1. Location
As there are thousands of web development companies, there are thousands of different locations. There will be ones almost on your doorstep, ones in your country, and ones abroad. The web widens your search, so let’s have a look at the benefits of each choice.
Local Developers Benefits
- Face-to-face meetings – the closer you are, the easier it is to physically meet the project managers who are working on your site. You may value this ease of communication. However, physical meetings take up time on both sides and need scheduling at mutually convenient times. It’s very easy and common to use web-based tools such as Skype or Viber, to fulfill the need to meet.
- Language – the likelihood is that if your developer is local they will speak your language. Theoretically at least, this should ease communication and limit misunderstandings. However, most international companies will have advanced English speakers, as it is the standard international language in their specialist area.
- Same timezone – again for convenient scheduling of meetings, but also swift replies to emails or messages it is worth considering the time differences that could be involved.
Offshore Developers benefits
- Cheaper alternatives – depending on where you are based, there is a decent chance that the costs involved when employing a company in another country are considerably cheaper. Costs of living, labor costs, and overheads are significantly different around the world and international companies can offer tremendous value for money.
- Experienced specialists – the broader your search, the better your chances of finding the right developer for your project. Not all companies are specialists in all areas, widen your scope and you could find exactly what you want and need.
- Experience in dealing with international clients – most companies have an international client list and have experience dealing with any potential timezone issues as well as online meetings, etc.
2.2. Price
The price for your site could vary significantly, depending on the company and its physical base. Your budget range will obviously affect your decision but it is worth bearing in mind that your website is an investment, and as with most investments the cheapest short-term solution isn’t always the cheapest long-term solution.
We’ll split our ranges into three very basic areas to help but clearly, there are huge cost differentials even within our categories.
Cheap
Cost is always a consideration. There are cheap options out there if you extend your search, often perfect for a tight budget – so what do you get
- Cheaper price – your initial outlay is relatively low
- Low Quality – unfortunately, as with most things, usually when you cut the overall all you are cutting the overall quality
- Fewer changes possible – these less costly solutions are usually very limited regarding changes once they have got the spec. It’s not unusual to change your mind part way through a build or to extend your vision.
- Longer deadlines – one of the trade-offs for a lower price is frequently a longer timeframe. So if you want something up and running, this might not be the best option.
Reasonable
So what about the slightly more expensive developers out there. What are the advantages and what extras do you get for your money. The aim, of course, is a balance between price and quality.
- Middle Range Price – it might push the budget a bit, but it should break the bank.
- Good quality – you are paying for more professional work, experience, and specialists. The higher standard of a coder, the greater the quality.
- Changes possible – usual there are free changes that can be made during and even after the project.
- Optimized speed – more often than not these companies will offer you different time scales for different prices. Faster speed equates to a more expensive site but once your site is out there it can start creating revenue. At least you have the option.
- Search Engines Friendly – of course, you want your site to be easily found. Better, experienced developers can remove barriers that stop search engines from finding your site and indexing your content.
- Good communication – last but not definitely not least. This is vital to understand the process and where your developer is within that process, address issues that will arise, and discuss potential options and solutions. A good developer can also offer invaluable advice on what works and what doesn’t.
Hi-End
Ideal for big companies, and clients with a larger budget who are looking for perfection or something more unusual. More time spent on communication to ensure the project is exactly as you perceived it would be.
- Expensive – This is the kind of high-end, boutique service that requires a bigger outlay.
- Excellent Quality – top quality should be guaranteed
- Unlimited changes – there will be an amount of toing and froing in order to get exactly what you envisaged.
- Optimized speed – although you are looking for top quality the timeline should be both speedy and defined.
- Search Engines Friendly – as above.
- Good communication – you should expect a high level of communication before, during, and after the process.
2.3. Size
Exactly what type of developer company you are looking for may well depend not just on the company and what they can or can’t offer but on you and what your company can and can’t afford needs, or envisions for the future.
Startup
For startups, more so than anybody, you have to be looking at value for money. It may involve spending a little more to get the product exactly right, or making a few compromises. Take a step back and decide how important to you certain elements are, are you prepared to wait a bit longer for your much-anticipated site in order to save cash, or is it vitally important to grab the bull by the horns and get things moving? Are you looking for a company that fits with the vision for your company long-term or someone who can just get the job done?
Growth business
What exactly are you looking for? Value of money of course, but what else? Is your website an extension of your business or a vital cog, how much time and effort does it warrant? You’ve got a bit of extra cash in the budget, is it worth paying for the extras you get with higher-level developing companies or can it be better spent? Decisions, decisions.
Large enterprise
Your website represents you, your image, your philosophy, and how much care and attention you put into not only the design but the standards by which it operates will reflect back onto you. It’s worth thinking about the value you place on your site within your business model, and the potential pitfalls of not giving it enough attention.
Agency
If you are an agency, you know very well how important it is to find a good quality reliable company to work with.
Your business is inevitably tied to that of the coders who put the sites together. The better quality and higher coding standards will mean fewer problems down the line. The level of communication will mean fewer issues throughout the process, before, during, and after. Are you looking, and therefore going to keep looking for one of the solutions or are you more interested in a long-term reliable partner?
3. Where to find the right developer agency for you
One of the best ways of finding an agency is to have a look at your competitors or other websites that you like and trust. Sometimes it is possible to find information through their footers and search for links to the web development companies that built their websites. Or do a search on the web and try to find who built their websites (looking for a portfolio case study, for example). This can help you get started with names However, you need to bear in mind that your competitors will potentially have non-disclosure agreements or non-compete ones with their WordPress companies. If a WordPress development company works with another reputable business provider in your space, they may be unable to help you. Of course, this is what you would expect from good business practices.
Having said that. It is still possible to look for listings and relevant companies on LinkedIn or by searching through tools like SEMrush, Ahrefs, and Serpstat. Such sites are pretty good at outlining competitive companies
Of course, you could also ask around, colleagues, other friendly companies, and friends. If someone has a good experience they are often willing to share it unless, of course, they want to keep their secrets to themselves.
3.1. Directories
Recommendations go a long way in all areas of life. The same goes for finding a WordPress company for your web property.
Search for web directories or magazines listing a compilation of WordPress development companies. While conducting a simple Google search, you will come across WP Mayor’s Best WordPress Companies, Agencies, and Studios or the compilation of WordPress development companies on Clutch.co.
Working with a larger pool of potential companies allows you to research several of them and send your RFP to multiple companies at once. A good way to approach this is by reaching out and asking a number of strategic questions:
- How long have you been providing WordPress development services?
- How many contributors work for your WordPress company?
- Can you showcase work samples of projects with a similar scope to mine?
- What are the most challenging WordPress development projects that you have tackled to date?
- How would you assess your expertise in handling WordPress stability, security, and performance problems?
This way you are going to get some really useful information about their communication style and responsiveness. Professional WordPress companies have an established presales pattern that works for them. If you don’t get direct answers it is a pretty good indication that the ongoing development process may be flawed.
You can search for development companies on GoodFirms, Clutch, TheManifest, 99Firms, or WPhired.
3.2. Platforms
Upwork.com
Let’s take a look at another great place to hire WordPress developers. The platforms contain WordPress-specific developers. In these platforms there are conditions for developers who are screened, so satisfaction should be guaranteed.
Toptal.com
Toptal is a network covering top freelance software developers, as well as designers, and finance experts in the world. Their screening is particularly strict. As such hiring, a freelancer from Toptal will cost you more than normal.
Youteam.io
Here is a site that specializes in remote software development teams. The aim is to put your mind at rest as far as risk is concerned and to make the process easy. It concentrates on Eastern Europe and South America where the talent is often very high quality at a reasonable cost. The site vets all developers provide a customer manager and handles contracts and payments.
3.3. WordPress Approved Experts
Search for developers who are acknowledged experts in the WordPress field. There are certain certificates covering the key elements such as;
- Installation & CMS Basics
- Themes Development & Customization
- Users & Permissions
- Core Functions, Hooks, Taxonomies
- Plugins Development
- Multisite Setup
- Speed & Performance
Final words
It is clear that even once you have made the decision to get or update a website and then decide that the ever-popular WordPress is the way to go, then you are just dipping your toe into the water. This guide aims to give you some sort of idea of the options you have when choosing the right development company for your baby, the decisions you have to make, and the options you have with those decisions. Hopefully, it also gives you an idea of the questions you have to ask yourself before making the choice and the questions you should be asking your potential partner in this project. The big decisions are never easy but the more you put into them the more likely you are to have a positive outcome. Good luck.
Do you know where to look for a good web design agency? Check out The Best 15 Places to Find Web Design Agencies
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