16 Questions to Ask Your Web Developer

Questions to ask your web developer

Ask potential website developers the following 16 questions to determine if they’re the right partner for you and your business. 

1. Has the web developer worked on projects with similar goals?

Describe in detail what you want from your website, and ask the web developer to repeat it back to you. Ensure they genuinely understand what you’re looking for — and can deliver it.

Remember e-commerce websites require different developer skills than standard brochure websites. If a potential developer has little experience setting up an online store, that’s a problem. Their lack of practical knowledge could lead to long delays as they try to learn and master new skills. 

2. What’s the web developer’s research process like?

Your developer should dig deeper into your business to make certain the website can support its needs. 

Ask the following questions about their research process: 

• Do they fully understand your business? 
• Have they identified your target audience?
• Do they understand your audience’s website expectations? For example, does your audience expect to purchase items, download information, or research product types? 
• Do they understand your brand, and can they help you tell your brand’s story? 
• Can they work within your brand guidelines?

If your developer doesn’t understand your business, visitors will arrive at a site that is inconsistent with your image, mission and goals. 

Small business website design is just another form of marketing. You wouldn’t entrust your business to a marketing agency that didn’t understand your customers, so do the same with any web developer you partner with. 

3. How long does one web development project take to complete from start to finish?

If a developer doesn’t understand why meeting deadlines is critical, work with someone who does. Developers take different lengths of time to complete their tasks, and there’s nothing wrong with that. However, you must communicate to your developer that your business will face consequences if agreed-upon deadlines aren’t met.

If your developer can’t offer you a firm completion date, have them commit to a maximum price they won’t exceed if they miss important deadlines.

4. What services does the web developer provide?

Many developers package web design with related services. It’s essential to be clear on what they’ll actually provide. Consider the following possible offerings: 

• Will they write website copy? 
• Will they set up Google Analytics and Search Console? 
• Can they provide social media marketing to promote the site? 
• Will they create a mobile-friendly website?

List the services you need and determine the developer’s ability to deliver. 

5. What does the web developer’s SEO strategy look like?

Search engine optimization (SEO) involves coding, writing and designing your website so it ranks as highly as possible on Google.

Ask your developer about their SEO experience and what strategy they’ll use for your site. How will they increase your site’s visibility to search engines? If they don’t do keyword research and employ other proven technical SEO strategies, go with someone else.

A website should attract potential clients, grab their interest, and successfully convert leads. If no one can find your website, it will fail at all three goals.

6. Can I make edits without the web developer?

Websites should not be historical documents that capture an isolated moment in time. They must be dynamic and reflect business, market and industry changes.

It is impractical to pay your developer for every new page or edit. However, if they enable easy edit access, you can add new information and update existing pages independently. 

Ask a potential web developer what software or platform they’ll use to build your site. Request a demonstration of how to access and edit your site, and confirm that the platform offers the access level you’ll need. This is particularly important if you want to save on recurring developer fees for minor updates.

Aaron Henry, founder and managing director of marketing and web specialist firm FoundEast, emphasized the importance of choosing the right content management system (CMS) early in the process to enable easy updates and edits. “One of the most important issues we deal with and prepare our web development clients for is which CMS to implement — such as Adobe Experience Manager, WordPress, or a custom HTML CMS,” Henry explained. 

However, planning properly for internal website updates is crucial. Henry noted many companies fail to plan for their internal technical capabilities or the potential need for external support. “We see companies make decisions at the beginning without fully considering the implications — such as whether they have an internal team member that is technically proficient enough to use the CMS; if they do have someone proficient, are they prepared for a handoff if that person leaves; and if they don’t have a person or a team, are they prepared for the recurring cost of maintaining an outside developer or agency.”

7. Does the web developer have a content marketing package?

Ask potential developers if they provide content marketing as part of their package.

Content marketing is a successful search engine optimization technique that improves Google rankings and customer engagement levels. However, you may not need this service if you already have a content marketing strategy for your business or a social media manager who handles content marketing.

8. Can I contact the web developer’s other clients?

If you want an honest, unbiased opinion about what it’s like to work with your potential developer, talk to their references and previous clients. Additionally, check for positive customer reviews on Google or Yelp to gauge how clients view the developer. 

9. What is the web developer’s expectation of my involvement?

Before starting a web design project, decide how involved you want to be. Do you want veto power over every decision, or would you rather leave it all to the professionals? Your developer must understand your preferences and tailor their approach accordingly.

Riley Williams, founder of web design firm Wolf of the Web, emphasized the importance of having clear goals for your website from the start. “Is it purely a lead-generation website? Or are you looking to improve brand awareness by having an online presence?” Williams said. “It could be multiple reasons, but knowing [that] information can help us design and optimize a website that works for their business.”

Without a clear idea of what you want or how involved you want to be, the designer or developer may struggle and require additional input. Setting expectations early helps prevent misunderstandings and keeps you both aligned throughout the project.

According to Tyneshia Dise, owner of the Innovative Design Group, mission creep is another danger in this scenario. “Without clear objectives and a way of working together, clients often request additional features or changes,” Dise explained. “This leads to delays, increased costs and client frustration.”

Dise noted that clearly defining your involvement level from the outset can help avoid these issues. “[Defining your role] allows both you and the developer to stay focused on the original plan, reducing the risk of scope changes and ensuring a smoother project outcome.”

10. What does the web developer charge for a project of this scope?

Developers charge various rates based on the job’s scope and their skills and experience. Create your website budget and determine the maximum you’re willing to pay. 

Don’t always opt for the cheapest developer. It’s better to spend more on a job well done than pay more later to raise the quality to your standards.

Peter Malick of the business development agency InboundAV emphasized the importance of determining a reliable ballpark figure when budgeting. “If your business is larger, you will be looking at a significant investment to do it right,” Malick pointed out. “Think $10,000-plus for a small website appropriate for a solopreneur and $40,000-plus for a more substantial build. Add in custom programming, and your budget will likely reach six figures.”

11. Does the web developer outsource projects or complete them in-house?

Web developers often offer multiple services beyond design and e-commerce, including content and social media marketing packages. However, some developers outsource services to third parties because they lack the experience or staff to do the job correctly.

There’s nothing wrong with a developer outsourcing tasks — you can still get excellent results. However, be aware that outsourcing may lead to project delays and extra costs if your developer and their subcontractors don’t communicate well. 

When working with a web developer that outsources projects, research their partners to determine their qualifications as well.

12. What assets must I provide to the web developer?

You must provide the web developer with your company branding assets and guidelines, including logo files, fonts and colors. Then, you and your developer must determine who will deliver additional content, photos, brand images and graphics for the website. Some web developers and agencies will create or provide specific website elements, but you’ll see this work reflected in your bill.

“Without an efficient flow of assets and feedback, your new site will suffer,” Malick cautioned. “Many design teams will include a clause in their agreements that ensures the flow of information. Ignore that requirement, and the project will be paused, and the launch will be delayed by months.”

13. What is the project timeline?

Project timelines often change amid work alterations or mid-project course changes. Remember, the longer it takes to develop a website, the more it will cost. Additionally, repeated delays will push back the launch date. And without a live website, you won’t be attracting and converting new customers online.

For best results, before signing with a developer, agree on the following: 

• Significant milestones the developer must achieve
• Milestone timelines 
• The actual launch date
• The communication tools or framework you and the developer will use to stay in touch during the process

Dylan Forde of Harmonic Designs highlighted the importance of timelines in web design and development. “We always break them down into phases, varying on project type and complexity,” Forde explained. However, Forde cautioned that waiting for a client’s answers, reviews, and content can cause significant delays. “This is why it is my opinion that a client should be ready to provide content as needed and be available for reviews when requested to ensure speedy delivery.”

Ashish Thakkar, SEO and web design lead at developer JimmyThakkar.com, requires customers to be readily available via email, WhatsApp or social media for timeline management. “We also request our clients to put up everything on email after we’ve discussed things on the phone so that we have everything on record,” Thakkar explained. “This helps keep everything clear and simple.”

Michael Lorenzana of Southtown Web Design and Digital Marketing agrees that client communication is essential to meeting project timelines. “Clients can help streamline development by setting clear objectives and delivering content and branding assets early on,” Lorenzana noted. “Regular updates keep the project on track and ensure the website aligns with their vision.”

14. Does the web developer offer custom and template websites?

Your web developer may offer the choice between a custom website and a template website.

• Template websites. Template websites are cheap. However, because they’re designed to be generic, they often contain extra, clunky code that can negatively impact page load speed. If a template requires multiple plug-ins to operate, you risk your site not working if one or more plug-ins malfunction. Also, many template websites have a cookie-cutter feel that visitors may notice.
• Custom websites. In contrast, custom websites are purpose-built for your needs and should only include necessary code. Talented web developers deliver custom sites with clean, efficient coding, which leads to better performance. However, custom websites cost more and take longer to build. 

Whichever option you choose, your web developer needs to be comfortable creating templates and custom websites.

15. How many design revisions does the web developer allow?

A developer’s job is to interpret your input and turn it into a design. Often, their first version won’t quite match yours. It’s no one’s fault — conveying these ideas is challenging.

Many web developers and design agencies allow a set number of revisions during the approval process. Before signing an agreement, agree on how many changes you’re entitled to and the cost of subsequent revisions.

16. Does the web developer charge by milestone, hourly, or a fixed fee?

Without a firm fee agreement, a reasonable initial quote could turn into a massive invoice if the project is poorly managed. Consider the following options:

• Charging hourly. You have greater flexibility if you work with someone who charges by the hour. However, hourly changes increase the likelihood of cost overruns, particularly if you change your mind frequently.
• Fixed fees. Working with a web developer who charges a fixed price can help you stay on budget and on time. However, because the developer is watching the clock, they may spend less time on specific aspects of your website so they hit their time and budget targets. They may have scheduled another project to start right after yours.
• Charging by milestone. Charging by milestone is a happy medium between hourly and fixed fees. You can be a little more flexible with the project’s scope while keeping an eye on your budget.

Forde’s agency provides two different numbers: a target price and a “be prepared for price.” 

“We have only ever approached the ‘be prepared for’ side twice,” Forde shared. “The latter pricing is to account for unexpected complications on our own end (on very custom projects, it’s possible we could simply underestimate the time required to build a feature or other costs, such as API access and hosting), as well as some scope creep. Other than that, once we have the finalized work order, we make it clear that any additions or changes need to be quoted separately.”

The pros and cons of hiring a web developer

Web developers create stunning websites that add genuine value to your business. However, there are risks whenever you outsource work to another person or company. Here’s a look at the advantages and disadvantages of working with a web developer.

Pros

• Developers know more than you. They may have years of experience creating high-quality interactive websites that customers appreciate.
• Developers take less time. Compared with the time it would take to learn website development yourself — let alone the complementary skills of copywriting and SEO — a developer could complete your website in a few weeks or months.
• Developers handle technical problems. If something goes wrong with your site, as happens with nearly every website, web developers can diagnose and fix the problem quickly. Less downtime means fewer missed opportunities to convert visitors.
• Developers bring creative expertise. They stay current with the latest design trends and usability best practices so your site will look modern and appealing.
• Developers can integrate more complex features. If you require more complex functionality on your website, such as CRM integrations, e-commerce capabilities and custom forms, developers can add these so you can capture the visitor details you need to drive engagement and follow-up effectively.
• You can focus on running your business. From concept to launch and beyond, working with a developer allows you to spend your time more productively building the business instead of building your website.

Cons

• Developers cost more. WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) drag-and-drop editors can help you design and create your own websites for a fraction of the cost of a web developer. The best website builders are also intuitive, even if you have no experience building sites.
• You’re just one client for a developer. You may not even be your web developer’s most valuable client. Just because you want something done quickly doesn’t mean you’re the developer’s top priority. You may have to wait days or weeks for them to make relatively minor changes to your website.
• It’s harder to retain creative control. In your mind’s eye, you might see exactly how your site looks and operates. However, communicating that to a third person is difficult. Your developer may recommend compromises in certain situations, meaning the finished result is different from your original concept.
• Your developer could go out of business. It may be hard to retrieve your website files if your developer goes out of business. Your site may experience excessive downtime as you try to rebuild.