The internet is filled with solutions to your wants, needs, and questions. There are so many websites to help you with whatever you need. However, there is still plenty of room for more information and options. You may have a business you want to create a website for or maybe you want to create an online-only business. No matter what the reason is, you want to make sure you have the most beautiful website that works flawlessly. Once you are ready to find help creating or updating your website you need to do some research to find a website development company that is right for you. It can seem overwhelming with the number of companies out there, so here are some pointers to help guide you. 1. Know What You Want Before you start calling around it’s good to know what you want for your website. Have examples of websites you really like handy. Make sure the websites you like are not just about what it does, but also how it looks. The key to any website is a beautiful balance of the UI and the UX. You can learn more about UI/UX here. These examples will help your conversation so that the development company can understand what you are looking for. 2. Providing Details and Advice When you call a good website development company they should be able to have a full conversation with you. If they provide you advice and ideas about how to make your website even better that is a good sign. Once you finish discussing your project details the company should also inform you of how they operate. They should tell you the flow of how they start and finish your project and everything in between. If they don’t have any advice to give and/or they just tell you about how to pay that is not a good sign and you should move on to another company. 3. There are Variables in Every Project Be sure to mention everything you want and need at the beginning. The development company should provide you a detailed document that lays out all the functions and features your website will have. Professional developers know that things can change and you may have additional things you want to add or change. Although that is not a problem, you have to know that with every addition/change timelines and costs change as well. It’s best to ask about how that process works in the beginning so you have an idea of what to expect. 4. Don’t Expect Top Quality Work for a Low Cost You can’t expect to get your website completed the way you want for pennies. A great website developer costs a little more. Don’t worry if you don’t have a huge budget as companies like SDI will be able to provide you with options based on your budget. They will understand your wants and needs then determine the best plan for you. Do note that if the price seems really inexpensive, be sure to really listen to what information they give you and if they can provide thoughtful answers to your questions. 5. Examples of Their Work This is usually a pretty obvious one but sometimes people forget to ask for examples. Sometime during that initial conversation, you should simply ask for examples of websites they have created. Keep in mind its ok if they haven’t created a website that is about the same subject matter. Focus more on quality. If the examples are beautiful, fresh, and new that is the most important part. You can ask them questions about it too so that you understand the process of creating that website and why certain elements are there. This will help you understand the process they will go through when creating your website. 6. Ensure an After Launch Plan It’s good to have an idea of where you want your website to go. Once it’s live or updated, what are your goals? Discuss this with your development partner. The development company should be able to provide support after your project is completed. Technology changes and things need to be updated and fixed. If they can’t do that then its a waste of time having them build it for you. A big plus is if the company you hire offers marketing. Not all companies have this and that is ok but it definitely helps to have a partner that is well rounded and can stay with you for a long period of time. Be smart about the company you choose. Don’t just go with someone because they are the cheapest because you will end up with a website you don’t want. To learn more about how to develop a website you can call us on 408.805.0495 or contact us at team@sdi.la