Saturday, June 13, 2009

Finding a good web developer

By Frank Carlington

The search for a good web developer can be confusing at times, and it helps to know what you're looking for. Since web developers don't have to have a license or a permit to conduct business, the market is full of fly-by-night operations. If you read a little further, you will pick up some good tips that will definitely make your search a little bit easier.

Web developers that are good at both web design and programming are very rare indeed- as these are two highly specific areas of expertise. During your search for a developer, you should know exactly who's designing the site, and who's programming it. Be wary if the same person is handling both aspects of your project.

Ask your chosen developer to see some samples of their work. Seeing some of their previous work will give you an accurate idea of their capabilities, and it may just give you some inspiration for things that you may want to add to your own site.

When the Internet first started in the nineties, all a business had to do to attract customers was to simply have a Web site. Fast forward to today, and almost every successful business has one (or more!) Web sites. Make sure that your chosen web developer is also proficient in search engine optimization, and your site will improve its ranking.

A lot of developers are selling for the hosting companies. If your developer is like this, you may run into some issues. For example, if your website encounters issues, you may not be sure who will be working to fix it. You should have a clear cut idea of who is responsible for doing what.

It's vital that you ask for references, and you should check them, too. A good amount of reliable references would seem to be a positive indicator of the web developer's expertise and reliability.

There are a couple more things that you need to consider. You should know how much you'll be charged for maintenance on your site, and when the site-building phase ends and the maintenance stage begins. If your developer is registering a domain for you, make sure that they're putting it in your name or that of your business. This will allow you to make a hosting change by yourself. Also, you should make sure that you have a copy of your site.

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