If you’re a small to medium business owner, chances are you’ve either worked with a web developer in the past or you’re considering doing so in the future. While working with a web developer can be a great way to improve your online presence and drive more traffic to your website, it’s important to know what to expect before you dive in.
In this post, we’ll take a look at 10 things you can expect when you work with a web developer.
1. Communication is key
The first thing to expect when working with a web developer is that communication will be key. Your developer will need to understand your business and your goals, so be prepared to have open and honest conversations about what you want to achieve with your website.
At SL Creative, we go through a Discovery Call to identify the vision for your website and ensure your main priorities for the look, feel and purpose of the site are heard.
2. You will need to provide content for your website
While your developer will handle the design, optimization and technical aspects of your website, you will need to provide the content. This includes text for each page, images, logos, and videos.
We offer copywriting and image sourcing as an add-on service at SL Creative. Ask us about it!
3. Your website takes time to build
Building a website can take anywhere from a month, to up to 6 months or more. Trust the process – a well-designed website is worth the wait.
At SL Creative, we are very clear with our deadlines and use a project management tool that gives you visibility into the status of your website development. There are no surprises here!
We also offer a 1 Day Website program where you can get your website developed and ready for use in 1 day. Visit this page to learn more.
4. Your website will need ongoing maintenance
Once your website is up and running, it will require ongoing maintenance to keep it running smoothly. This can include updates to plugins and security features, as well as content updates.
We consider owning a website to be similar to owning a car – it needs consistent maintenance. We build security updates, content updates and optimization into our optional monthly maintenance packages.
5. Your website will need to be optimized for search engines
Search engine optimization (SEO) is an important aspect of any website. Your developer should be well-versed in SEO best practices and will work to ensure that your site is optimized for search engines.
6. Your website will need to be mobile-friendly
With more and more people accessing the internet on their mobile devices, it’s important that your website is mobile-friendly. Your developer should ensure that your site looks great on any device.
At SL Creative, we build our websites to be mobile-first. This means that (depending on the industry) we start with the design on the mobile layout before we develop it for desktop computers. It’s just a fact that more people are looking at websites on their phones now.
7. Your website will need to be user-friendly
A user-friendly website is key to keeping visitors on your site. Your developer should work to create a site that is easy to navigate and understand.
Not only this, but Google prioritizes websites that are optimized for human interaction. We keep this top of mind at SL Creative!
8. You might want your website integrated with social media
Social media is a great way to drive traffic to your website. Your developer should be able to integrate your website with your social media accounts.
This is optional, of course. But – it makes for a great, integrated marketing strategy when you can track leads from your website.
9. Investing in a website is like getting a new tattoo... you get what you pay for.
While there are many web developers out there who offer their services at cheaper rates, you get what you pay for. If you want quality work that will help your business succeed online, be prepared to pay for it. A website can cost anywhere from $3000 to $10k+.
We offer a more affordable program for small business owners at SL Creative called the 1 Day Website. Check it out here.
10. Your website will be a valuable asset to your business
That’s the point, right?! when you work with a web developer, you can expect your website to be a valuable asset to your business! A well-designed website can help you reach new customers, increase brand awareness, and drive more sales.
In conclusion, working with a web developer can be a great way to improve your online presence and drive more traffic to your website. Just remember to communicate openly, be prepared to pay for quality work, and understand that building and maintaining a website takes time. With these things in mind, you can create a website that is a valuable asset to your business.
