Besides technical prowess, there are a handful of less obvious signs to look for when investing in a web developer to partner with your company. Look for the following qualities for choosing a web developer, or a web development team, who will build you a great website, but also create a positive experience along the way:
Unity
Web development is a multifaceted animal. When one aspect of the process breaks down, it has a negative impact for everybody involved. A web team should be unified in a common goal. If the communication between you (the client), developers, designers, and marketers is clear and efficient, projects will flow seamlessly to completion. It’s a win-win for everybody involved! A dysfunctional combination of these specialties ultimately leads to mistakes and delays. Not awesome.
Culture
Culture shock should be experienced when you’re traveling and exploring new lands, not in the workplace. When you just hired a web developer and soon discover that the basic elements of your company culture are clashing, it’s no good for them, and especially no good for you. A startup company, for example, will be fast-paced, dynamic, and a little bit more willing to take risks. Their needs will be different than the needs of a long-standing, large company. The style and skill-sets of your web development partner should reflect these differences.
Adaptability
Let’s face it, tech skills become obsolete every few years. A web company should always be adapting, updating, and learning. When choosing a web firm, find out what they use as a source to keep up with the latest software, trends, and technology news. They should be able to actively advise you according to what is relevant, and they should never be afraid to steer you away from an idea that is outdated. That’s what you’re paying them to do!
Communication
The most common reason that projects break down is bad communication. If a company is not responding to you in a timely manner, and ignoring your requests and questions, consider it a major red flag. Good web developers understand that projects can change direction fairly frequently, and if they’re not actively listening and communicating with you, they’re not truly invested in your goals.
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