Many times, I find myself having conversations with business leaders who are considering replacing outdated websites or building a new website for their business. This undertaking can be especially challenging for those who aren’t particularly tech savvy. As a result, I find that our discussions often need to be educational and informative in nature. It’s not about making a sale, it’s about helping a client make solid decisions that will benefit their organization well into the future. So today I’m sharing a few of the most important things you should be asking your web developer before embarking on this critical project.
Once it’s done, who will own it?
So many of the business leaders I talk to are frustrated that they’ve paid a web development company to build them a website, but they don’t actually own the site when it’s done. Every time they want a change or need an update, they have to go back to that developer and pay them to have that work done. The waiting period is often long, and it can be expensive to make even small changes. Imagine if you hired a builder to build you a house and they kept ownership of it after it was built. You’d think that was crazy. And you’d be right! Hookd believes the same is true for websites. If you pay for it, you should own it.
What about website security?
The reality is that there’s no excuse not to have a secure website, and it’s damaging to your online business if you don’t. Unsecure websites will no longer be ranked by Google, which means your SEO dollars are wasted because Google won’t drive traffic to an unsecured website. How can you tell whether your website is secure? The url will start with the letters https and an icon of a padlock will appear next to it.
Is your website developer incorporating responsive design?
Ever been to a website that doesn’t format correctly on your phone or tablet? That’s because the website isn’t utilizing responsive design. Today’s digital world displays across a myriad of different devices, and if your site isn’t built with responsive design, it won’t render correctly on most of them. And, as with security, if it isn’t responsive, Google won’t drive traffic to it, which means you’re wasting your SEO dollars. To find out whether a site is built with responsive design, try viewing it from multiple devices and see whether it renders correctly on each.
What ongoing expenses will there be?
Once you have a website, you will need someone to host it, someone to maintain it, and you might have expenses associated with plug-ins used on the site. Your web development partner should be able to provide you with all that information prior to building your website. Asking about this and having the information upfront will alleviate any surprises after the website is up and running.
How will the site be designed, and who will design it?
Never underestimate the importance of great website design! A Beautiful website with thoughtful content invites visitors to spend time, learn more about your products and services, and even convert to becoming your newest customer. Your website is your online storefront, and these days, it may be the only storefront your client will ever see. Make sure it represents your organization in the best way possible!
Want to learn more about Hookd’s website development services? Give me a call at 715-396-1661 or reach out to me with an email at [email protected]. I’m happy to chat anytime!