Okay, so you’ve got this new website all planned out. You’re feeling confident about it. Now you just need to find the right web developer to make it a reality.
Where do you go about finding one?
That is the million dollar question. Well, if you’re a small business, it’s probably less than a million dollars, but it is the most pressing question. And it’s a difficult one.
Finding the right developer is the difference between smooth sailing and a headache. And when you’re starting this process, it can be difficult to know where to begin.
So, here are some places to go to find the right developer for your new website.
Referrals
The first thing you should do to find a developer or agency for your new website is to find referrals. Ask your neighbors around your business and your home if they have someone they recommend. If you’re part of a group, ask others there if they can recommend a person.
The point of this is to ask people who you trust to tell you the truth. You want someone who’s going to be honest with you about their experience with a developer, either good or bad. That way you know what you’re getting yourself into.
Nothing beats the word-of-mouth referrals you can get from friends. They’ve been through the experience of working with the developer and know as good as anyone else if it’s worth it or not. As long as you can trust the person giving you the referral, you’ll know exactly what to expect from that developer.
Tell the Story of Your Small Business With a Website
Every small business has a story. And every small business needs a website to help tell it. A website allows people to find you online, serves as a home base for any marketing effort and can help you tell the story of your business. So if you’re ready to give your business its first website or are ready to take your site to the next level, let’s get started on making that happen.
Let’s Get Started on Telling Your Story With a WebsiteUpwork, Alignable, social media
Now, maybe you want to do a bit more research to see the other developers out there, and that’s perfectly fine. It never hurts to do more research. The bigger your net, the more likely you’ll find the developer that works the best with you.
But the problem becomes where do you begin to search online for developers. Well, there are a few key places I have in mind.
First, I would join Alignable. This is a social network for business owners that does a lot more than look for web developers. You can connect with other business owners in your area. And more importantly, you can ask questions . Your odds are good that you’ll find a reputable web development agency there.
Next you could post a job posting on Upwork. This is a website where you post a job and have freelancers apply to work for you. It’s similar to a lot of other job boards, but I’ve found it to be a bit more selective, and they have ways for you to weed out people who aren’t helpful for you. Full disclosure here: I’m a freelance on Upwork and have a good experience with it.
And if those don’t work for you, you can also check out LinkedIn and any other social network to find the developer for you.
What to Look for in a Web Developer (and Where to Find One)
Google search
As a last resort, a simple Google search can help. There’s nothing wrong with running a simple search online to see what your options might be there as well. Like I said, it’s okay to cast a wide net.
The one thing here is that you’ll probably want to keep your search local. So if I were in your position, I would likely search for “small business website developer Mansfield Texas” so that I would get the local results. Finding someone who’s local will be a big help for you, especially if tech is not your thing.
Also, be sure to keep in mind some of the criteria I laid out about what to look for in a web developer. This works for the other methods as well, but it’s extremely important when you’re searching blind. You really need to make sure that you’re hiring someone who’s competent and will get the job done. So review their portfolio and check their experience before going any further.
Finding the right web developer for your new website can be a tricky challenge. But if you look for one in these places, you’ll have a much more successful search.
