How to Hire the Best Web Developer

In our last post, we took a look at some first steps to hiring a great web developer. First, you need to understand the difference between a developer and a designer. Second, you need to thoroughly assess your project. Now we will take a look at in-house versus freelance developers and offer some specific tips for hiring the best web developer for your project.

In-House or Freelance Developers?

The decision to hire a full time developer or contracting out to a freelancer depends on many variables. You will find excellent freelance web developers, but if your business needs to continually update and adjust your website, you may benefit more from hiring someone.

One key difference between a freelancer and in-house developers is flexibility. If your business needs to quickly add or update a site, a freelancer may be a better option than bringing someone on full time. You have more flexibility with cost and length of engagement, and this may be the best option if you have a specific project to accomplish.

However if you have a large enterprise, such as ecommerce, your website might need continual investment and a dedicated, in-house developer.

Tips for hiring

Even after a thorough assessment of your project, it can be daunting to wade through information on hiring web developers and making the right decision. These tips will help with finding a great web developer.

• Look through a candidate’s past projects. This will demonstrate their talents, what their work is like, and if their style suits your business needs.
• Ask the developer to let you assess live work as well. You want to use your website and determine its functionality. Therefore, you want a developer who has knowledge about user experience and conversion optimization. Aesthetics is only a small part of an excellent website. It also needs to function intuitively and offer easy navigation.
• Follow up with references. Get a comprehensive list and actually call them. Ask about the work, the developer’s reliability, communication, and skills.
• Be realistic about cost. The cost will vary greatly depending on who you hire, what work is done, and features you want. Most developers will quote an hourly rate. Some developers charge per project.
• The cost of a good web developer should be viewed as a company investment – you are investing in a website that will draw users to your business. This service, when done right, can be invaluable.
• A four-year college degree isn’t a guarantee. In today’s marketplace, you can find successful web developers who will emphasize prior work instead of an impressive resume or educational accomplishments. You can also find excellent developers who skipped college and went straight into the field. In these cases, it’s about their past projects and your business needs.
• You may want to also consider other characteristics, such as life skills, resilience in the face of deadlines, natural abilities, and a predilection for learning.
• Overall, a great web developer will have a body of work that showcases the necessary experience to be able to build your website in the way that you want it. That is why following up with references and viewing previous projects are two essential practices when hiring a developer.

Of course, the easiest way to hire an excellent web developer is to call us at NOYO Web Development. Check out our portfolio and testimonies. We have a highly experienced team and have built WordPress sites for a wide array of businesses including global enterprises.
A quote is free. Call today for more information.