These days, business owners can find attractive advertisements for web development on social media that often enticed them to get the service. Businesses should be careful in making decisions especially when the agenda involves the development of the website of their business. There’s no better way to know if you’re in the right hands than doing a consultation with several IT companies. This will help you understand what you need for your business website and choose the best possible option for it.

Of course, IT companies will only pitch to you the advantages of hiring them but not tell you their dark sides. This is why it is important to have a consultation with them so they can answer your questions first-hand.

We compiled several questions that you can use during your consultation with them.

  1. 1. What services do you offer?

    Some IT companies offer a variety of services that can also be useful for your business and your new website. This can also save you time hiring another company for another service that is provided by your web development company already.

  2. 2. What’s your process?

    Each company has a different flow in how they develop websites. You must have an idea of their process for you to have an idea of what to expect already in a specific timeline.

  3. 3. How long will it take to get my site online?

    Time is of the essence for some websites, especially e-commerce websites. Having an idea of the duration of website development will also let you, as an entrepreneur, to plan ahead.

  4. 4. What do you need from me? How much input will I have during the project?

    Setting expectations on what the developer should need from you is necessary. This will let you allot time for them regularly and prepare necessary contents to be included in your website.

  5. 5. Do you also research my business, industry, and competitors? If yes, how much time are you spending on it?

    Research about your business is as important as developing your website. Through this, developers can also provide you with valuable inputs for your website that you might have missed.

  6. 6. What is the expected cost?

    This is usually one of the top questions. This question will determine how much can you allocate for the development of your website. Of course, your budget is also a big factor in the overall result of your business website.

  7. 7. Will the website be fully editable?

    This question is especially important to informational and e-commerce websites. As the user, you need to know if you can easily use the website by yourself or if you still need assistance from the IT company.

  8. 8. Can I easily get support even after the project is done?

    Customer support is an often overlooked service in website development. You need to make sure that assistance is still available after the project is done and your website is deployed. Though IT companies usually do regular maintenance, it’s better to be prepared for a worst-case scenario.

  9. 9. Who will own my website?

    You will think that since you already paid in full, you will own everything on your website. The answer will vary. Some companies will let you have everything, including the source code of the website, some don’t. This is a sensitive topic to discuss with your IT company but you need to be clear on this and have the stipulations stated in your contract.

  10. 10. How about the website maintenance?

    Maintenance is often a package deal when you outsource your website development. You only have to be clear on the duration and what they usually do during maintenance.

The most effective IT companies will be able to go above and beyond simple web design, focusing instead on your business’s overall marketing strategy. Asking questions allows you to evaluate what exactly they are willing to do for your business.

Grow Forward is currently offering a free consultation for your website needs. Click here to book an appointment with us.