The most useful questions to ask a website developer cover five areas: past work, process, platform, cost and ownership, and support after launch. This will help you determine if the developer can complete your project and collaborate with your team.
Many people sign up after a nice portfolio and a friendly call, and discover additional fees and/or ownership issues once they begin work. This guide provides you with 15 questions, discusses the importance of each question, and provides a description of a good answer. It is designed for startups, small business and growing companies, whether you are hiring for the first time or switching providers.
Why Should You Ask Questions Before Hiring a Website Developer?
Questions enable you to compare developers on facts, not impressions. Two developers may appear to be equally proficient in a pitch, but work very differently once the project starts.
A website is also a business asset. It impacts on how customers discover you and their trust in you. Taking the time to ask some thoughtful questions is a small price to pay for the cost of rebuilding a site that was not a good fit. The following suggestions are editorial guidelines and may be modified to suit your project.
Questions to Ask a Website Developer About Experience and Past Work
1. Can you show me websites similar to mine?
Request examples of live projects that are similar in size and type to your project. Open them up and see how quickly they load, how they appear on a phone, and how they can be carried around. If you’re looking to sell online, request to view online stores, not brochure sites.
2. What was your role in those projects?
Not all portfolios reveal the author of the work. Some sites are constructed by teams, and the individual you are speaking with may have only done one aspect. Determine if the developer designed, coded, managed or all three, so you can be sure you’re hiring the skills you need.
3. Who will work on my project?
Determine if you will be working with a person or a team and who you will be working with the most. A clear answer helps you to plan. If work will be delegated, inquire about the developer’s quality assurance measures.
Questions About Process and Platform
4. How do you plan a project before building it?
The key steps a good developer takes are: Begin with your goals, your audience, and the pages you need to build, then proceed to design, development, testing, and launch. Beware of anyone who immediately goes to the pictures without asking why you need the website.
5. Which platform would you use, and why?
Developers use various tools like WordPress, Shopify, OpenCart, or custom-built. It is not as important what platform it is as why they chose it. A good answer relates the platform to your objectives, your budget and how you intend to keep the site updated.
6. Will my website work well on mobile devices?
The layout should be responsive (adapt to any screen size). Inquire about how the developer tests on phones and tablets, not just if the site is “mobile friendly.
7. How will the site support search visibility?
The search visibility begins during the build, with page structure, titles, loading speed and clean navigation. These foundations can be properly set up by a developer. Beware of guarantees of high rankings as no one can control search results.
Questions About Cost and Ownership
8. What exactly is included in the quote?
Request an itemized quote that includes pages, features, design changes, testing, and content set up. Two quotations of the same amount can be for very different services. They can only be fairly compared in terms of detail.
9. Which costs are not included?
The cost of domain name registration, hosting, maintenance and paid tools are usually charged separately. The quote may also not include content, including text and product photos. Request a detailed quote to avoid any unexpected expenses.
10. How are payments and changes handled?
Determine the due date for payments and the conditions of the payments, e.g. project stages. What if you want to change the scope midway? This is a good time to agree this upfront and in writing.
11. Who owns the website, files, and accounts?
You should be able to access your domain, hosting, admin login and website files. One of the most essential questions to ask a website developer is who owns the site, as if the ownership isn’t clear, you may find that you can’t move or update your site later. Get the answer in writing.
Questions About Launch and Support
12. How long will the project take, and what do you need from me?
Request a time line with phases. Then ask what the developer is expecting of you, for example, text, images, and feedback. Content and approvals are typically late, not the build itself, which causes projects to slow down.
13. How will we communicate during the project?
Set up a schedule for updates, how you will communicate, and who will respond to your questions. During the sales stage, the speed of reply is a good indicator of how communication will be in the future.
14. What testing happens before launch?
A careful developer tests links, forms, checkout steps (if you sell online), loading speed and how pages look on various devices. Inquire about who is testing and if you have the opportunity to look over the site before it goes live.
15. What support do you offer after launch?
Inquire about the included features, like bug fixes, updates, and basic training, and what is extra. Websites require regular maintenance; make sure you know who will be taking care of your website after the project is complete.
What Answers Should Worry You?
Some answers indicate that you should continue to search. For example, guarantees of rankings or sales are not always the case, as results are influenced by competition, content and many other factors. Others are vague quotes, unwilling to demonstrate actual work, or ambiguous responses to ownership.
Another sign to watch for is a rush to make a decision. A good developer will be okay with you looking at alternatives. If an answer seems too tidy or doesn’t address the question, rephrase the question and repeat the answer to determine if it remains the same.
How Can You Use These Questions in Practice?
Have each developer answer the same set of questions and record their responses. It’s easy to compare the experience, process, cost, ownership and support for each one with a simple note.
Suppose a small retailer is considering two developers, for instance. One displays similar online stores, describes the platform selection, and provides a list of what is not part of the quote. The other provides a cheaper rate but lacks ownership and post-launch support. The first answers more of the questions to ask a website developer clearly, which makes it the safer choice even if the price is higher.
How Does Zoom Into Web Handle Website Projects?
Zoom Into Web is a digital services agency based in New Delhi, India and Mississauga, Canada. According to its website, it has over 16 years of experience.
The agency highlights custom websites, e-commerce websites, responsive design, web applications, and WordPress, Shopify, and OpenCart builds for website projects. It also provides SEO and other digital marketing services, which allows businesses to strategize the way customers will discover the website during construction. It takes a customised, collaborative and research-based approach, as stated.
When looking around for providers, take this list with you. You can write your needs to the Zoom Into Web team and ask the same questions to see their responses.
FAQs
How many developers should I speak to?
Two or three is a good number, because it’s an editorial suggestion. It provides you with enough to compare and not too much to make it too lengthy.
Can a developer guarantee first-page search rankings?
No. Rankings are based on numerous factors beyond the developer’s control. A developer can create a site that has good search foundations, but should not guarantee a position.
Is it fine to discuss budget on the first call?
Yes. If you have an approximate budget, they can make recommendations that will fit. It also provides a fast answer to whether your expectations and their services are in sync.
Which platforms does Zoom Into Web work with?
It is mentioned on its website that it offers WordPress, Shopify, OpenCart, custom websites, e-commerce websites and web applications.
What should I prepare before contacting a developer?
Make a main goal, a list of pages and features, examples of sites you like and a rough timeline.
Final Thoughts
The right questions to ask a website developer transform a first impression into a comparison. Inquire about the work, process, platform, cost, ownership and support, and record specific and vague responses.
Whether you’re building a new site or redesigning an existing one, Zoom Into Web can help you discuss your requirements. Schedule a consultation to talk about your project.
Written by the Zoom Into Web Team
This content was written by the Zoom Into Web team, combining hands-on experience in web development, software solutions, and digital marketing. We create accurate, practical, and up-to-date content to help businesses make informed technology decisions.
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