Hiring a web development company can be time-consuming, overwhelming, and downright frustrating. If you don’t know what you’re doing or who to trust, this article will help you find a good Kansas City web design agency for your business.
So, you are looking for professional web development in Kansas City. How do you find the one that will take on your project and help you create the website of your dreams?
Below are the ten things you should look out for when hiring a web development company to work with in Kansas.
Let’s get started.
1) Research the Web Development Company
When looking for a web development company, there are several factors that you should take into consideration:
- Make sure that the agency has a lot of experience with developing websites.
- Ensure they understand how to develop websites, as well as design them for the end-user.
- Make sure they have previously designed and developed websites that have a similar structure as yours.
- Determine whether or not they will be able to meet your project deadlines.
Website development in the USA is highly in demand, and it’s essential to find a company that can get your website up and running quickly without sacrificing on quality.
To do so, conduct thorough research about different companies, and make a shortlist of web development companies that fit your criteria.
2) Check their Availability and Responsiveness
Make sure you ask them upfront about their availability. Most companies will be able to give you an estimate of when they can start working on your project, but it’s best to see if that works with your schedule. Also, read online reviews for the company to see if they provide swift responses.
Once work begins, their responsiveness will be a huge factor when you have to check in on work progress.
This is especially important if your project involves content creation, as delays and lost deadlines can lead to months of missed opportunities for traffic growth, reputation management, and more.
In short, when hiring a web design agency, it’s always advisable to go for an agency that can promise a quick turnaround time.
3) Get References from Former Clients
Never hire a website development company without reaching out to their former clients. They will be able to give you in-depth details about their experiences with the company.
Use LinkedIn to get references from former clients and ask about their experience working with a particular company.
If someone has nothing but good things to say about their time working with a certain company, then you know it’s safe to hire them.
The standards for website development services in the USA are very high. So, make sure you’re hiring a company that knows what they’re doing and is willing to deliver great results.
4) Check their Portfolio
A good web development agency will have an online portfolio that’s well-organized and easy to browse. If they do, it’s much easier to understand their strengths.
Do they have high-end clients? Do they have some exciting projects you don’t see anywhere else? Can they handle your type of business?
These questions can help ensure you know what kind of company and project manager you’re working with.
Browsing portfolios will also give you some great ideas when it comes time to design your site.
Web development technology is constantly evolving, and browsing portfolios will tell you if a web development company is using modern tools and techniques or not. Go for companies that are ahead of the curve.
5) Analyze How Well they Understand your Needs and Goals
Web design agencies typically offer packages that include designing and building your website. Make sure you clearly understand what type of website you want (static, dynamic, responsive, e-commerce, etc.)
Then discuss your goals with prospective developers to ensure they understand your specific business goals.
For example: Do you want a simple online brochure, or do you need an online store selling physical products and accepting credit card payments?
Asking questions like these can save both sides from costly mistakes when it comes time to start work on your project.
If you have any questions, be sure to ask them upfront so there aren’t any surprises down the road.
6) Ask them About SEO Best Practices
SEO is an important part of any website or app development project, but it can be hard to know where to start.
Don’t know what kinds of questions to ask your designer about SEO? Try these:
- What is your approach to SEO (what technologies do you use, what’s your strategy)?
- What have been some challenges and successes that you have encountered with SEO-friendly design?
- Are there any examples of significant SEO-friendly designs/development that we can look at as references?
- How long does it typically take from when I engage your firm until we launch my site/app?
7) Understand their Approach to Security
Having your website hacked can result in monetary and information losses. It’s no fun and can hurt your reputation, so find a web development agency that takes security seriously.
A reputable web development company will have a security policy in place, but it helps to ask questions before you sign anything:
Ask about their disaster recovery plan; how often they back up your site(s); what kinds of monitoring they have set up; is there any form of penetration testing is performed; and so on.
If you’re going with WordPress (which we recommend), try to find an agency that specializes in custom WordPress website development.
This will help ensure that your site has all of its custom features built into its framework rather than being added on as add-ons down the road.
8) Clarify How They Will Handle Communication and Updates
When working with any web design firm, clarify how they’ll handle communication and updates.
Are project updates going to be given regularly?
What is their process for handling questions, comments, or concerns throughout your work?
The best web development company will inform you about any changes affecting your site and how their team works together.
They’ll also let you know how often they plan to communicate with you along the way and your role in keeping up with that communication.
Hire a website development company that can work around your schedule to create top-of-the-line websites that suit your needs and those of your customers.
9) Agree on Deliverables, Timelines, and Costs Before Hiring
Find a web development company that will outline your deliverables, timelines, and costs before starting work. Website development from scratch usually takes 3-6 months, depending on your website’s complexity. The more complex, the longer it will take.
They’ll be able to answer your questions about what specific features or functions each package includes.
Ideally, they’ll have transparent pricing on their website, but if not, ask them how much it will cost to get from start to finish.
In addition, make sure you know up front whether or not they charge hourly rates; hourly rates can add up quickly if there are technical issues later on that take more time than expected.
You don’t want any unpleasant surprises when it’s time to settle accounts. Website development packages usually include design, content creation, hosting, and maintenance.
If you need help with search engine optimization (SEO) and social media marketing (SMM), check if those services are included in your website development packages or extra.
A website development and design company should be clear about its services and prices so that clients know exactly what they’re getting into before agreeing to anything.
10) Provide Clear Feedback During the Process
Any reputable website development and design firm will want to ensure that you’re happy with their progress throughout your project.
You should be able to make sure that you give feedback on the progress so that they don’t spend hours working on something they think is perfect but isn’t a good fit for your business.
They might also provide a sample of what your website will look like as it’s being developed so that you can provide feedback at each step.
This gives both parties more time and energy to work efficiently and complete projects as quickly as possible.
When it comes time to choose between companies, always go with one that has a reputation for offering clear communication.
How Much Does Website Development Cost?
Understanding your budget is an important step when hiring a web development company.
The cost of website development and design will vary depending on your needs, but here are some baseline pricing data to help get you started.
In general, web development agencies that have worked with smaller budgets (up to $50K) have reported paying between $15-25 per hour.
Companies that work with medium-sized budgets ($50K – $500K) pay up to around $40 per hour, while high-budget websites can be as expensive as $150 per hour or more.
Those prices don’t include add-ons like custom design work or extra features (such as e-commerce software).
How Do I Hire a Web Development Company?
Hiring a new web development agency can prove to be challenging. The best way to tell if a web development agency is right for your project is by evaluating their portfolio and reading their customer’s reviews. The ideal agency must be able to communicate its process clearly and maintain clear lines of communication throughout the website development process. Make sure you agree upon the scope, deliverables, and costs associated with the project before getting started.
Key Takeaways
A website designer in Kansas City can help your business grow by developing a good website. Before hiring an agency to create or update your website, ensure you have covered the aforementioned ten points.
Website development platforms such as WordPress and Drupal have made building websites easier, so consider building them yourself before contracting with a professional. However, if you don’t have the required expertise, leaving the job to the pros is better.
If you want to work with a top-rated professional web development agency in Kansas City, then look no further than Mr. Green Marketing. We are an experienced Kansas City web design agency. We’ve helped 100+ businesses create, update and maintain their website.
We offer web design, web development, and digital marketing services to help your business grow and thrive online. We offer the best value for money; as we are reliable, result-oriented, and offer great customer service.
Get in touch today for a custom quote!
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