8 Must Ask Questions For Your New Website Meeting!
If you’re starting the process of approaching a few web developers to quote for your new website then here are 8 must ask questions for you to ask other than ‘how much is it going to cost?’.
1 – What is your design process?
Some web designers will give you a flat design on a PDF, some will give it to you on a test link so that you can see the page in action as you scroll and hover over items, and some developers don’t give you a say and you simply get what you’re given. It’s good to know the design process and how many design revisions you get with your quote before choosing the right web designer for you.
2 – Who owns the copyright after the website is live?
If the answer is anything other than you then this is a serious red flag. Do you really want to be building your online business on someone else’s land?
3 – What are the ongoing costs?
Website hosting is a must for your website to be able to run, but it’s good to know what the hosting options are before you commit to a web developer, and whether or not you actually have to host it with your chosen developer or if you have the freedom to host it elsewhere. It makes sense to keep the hosting with your developer where possible, but only once you know the full extent of their ongoing charges and what’s included. Also ask for the hourly rate for ongoing improvements to your website and whether or not your developer offers an optional retainer or hourly bundle for you to consider.
4 – Will I be able to carry out ongoing content updates to the website myself?
Ideally, your web developer should provide you with access to your website’s Content Management System so that you have the ability to update content on your website after it’s been launched. Your website should ‘always be under construction’ to continuously improve your user’s experience so not having the ability to update website content yourselves can prove to be costly. If you are going to be given CMS access, then ask what CMS software is being used to build your website (e.g. WordPress, Umbraco, Shopify, GoDaddy etc) and what level of training you’ll be given. Also ask whether that training charge is covered in the website project quote or if it’s additional.
5 – Can you help us to market the website?
A brand spanking new website isn’t any use if it doesn’t get an audience. Ask your developer if they provide any ongoing digital marketing services such as SEO, PPC or social media management or if they only design and develop the website and leave the rest to you. If it’s the latter then that is fine so long as you’ve factored the ongoing marketing into your decision making process.
6 – Will you add Google Analytics and Search Console?
Google Analytics and Google Search Console or equivalent performance data tools should ideally be added to your website as standard before it launches so that you can measure the ongoing performance of your website. This will help you to spend your marketing resources more wisely as you use the data to inform you what works for you and what doesn’t.
7 – Do you have any client testimonials?
Ask your developer to provide you with recent testimonials and/or case studies, or even go as far as asking for contact details from a recent client so that you can contact them to ask for their project experience. ‘Recent’ being the keyword here – Website construction continues to evolve at a fast-pace and web agencies have developers come and go over the years so be cautious of those living off distant past glories.
8 – Why should we choose you?
This is a great question and one that isn’t asked enough in our opinion. Don’t be afraid to ask web developers why you should choose them and just let them do the talking.. a bit like Alan Sugar asking why you should be his next apprentice. This is your developers chance to really brag about why they’re great, and they might even highlight some important qualities that make you want to choose them.
Why choose Oaks Digital for your next website project?
We have a client-first approach. This means that we provide custom designed websites with revisions and signed off before we move onto the coding so that you’re guaranteed to be happy with the overall look and feel of your new website.
Each of our client’s own the copyright to their website, we provide our optional ongoing support costs upfront so that you can factor them in, and we can even help to market your website after it’s launched to reach a wider audience to generate more enquiries and sales. We even provide ongoing marketing training for FREE as added value in case you’d prefer to market your new website yourselves.
Although Oaks Digital was only recently established, our design and development team all have over 10-years worth of experience in designing and developing great websites. We’re proud to have a 5* rating on Google, and treat every website project as our next case study and next 5-star review.
If you’re interested in getting a quote for your next website project then feel free to complete our online website questionnaire, call us on 02921 158426 or complete our contact form to arrange a call back.