10 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Web Development Company in Canada

Looking for the best web design agency in Toronto, Ontario? Choosing the right web development company is the first step towards getting the perfect website for your business. However, making that choice may not be as easy or straightforward as you might think. You may have to interview several potential candidates before you find the one that you click with. If this is the first time you are hiring a web design company, chances are you need some tips for how to conduct the interviews. To know which agency would be right for you, you need to ask them the following 10 questions.

1. Have you previously worked on a website with similar goals and are you familiar with my industry?

When hiring a web development company in Canada, make sure to ask them if they have built a similar website before. It is especially important if your business belongs to a complex industry. A web designer might have tons of general experience, but if they have no knowledge of your industry, they might not be able to build the website right.

2. What type of research do you plan to do?

When the target customers visit your website, they should get a clear understanding of your image, goals, and mission. If they leave the website confused, it might be the developer’s fault. It usually happens when a website is designed without proper research. Before building the website, the web development agency must carry out independent research to get to know your brand identity and target audience. That is why asking them about their research process will help you get clarity about their process.

3. How long will it realistically take?

The length of a website design and development project can depend on several factors such as schedule, scope, and complexity. Once they understand what your project needs, the web design agency in Toronto, Ontario should be able to tell you how long it will likely take for the website to be completed. They should also be able to provide you with a schedule that tells you when certain milestones will be achieved.

4. Will you use a “customized” or fully custom theme for the website?

Many people do not know the difference between a fully custom and customized website. Simply put, a fully custom theme is designed from scratch, keeping your needs and requirements in mind. A customized theme, on the other hand, refers to a pre-built theme that has been customized for your particular needs. When you have budget limitations, customized themes can work well for you. However, if you are paying for a custom theme, you should get one! Paying that extra buck for a custom theme means that the agency will create the original design and a qualified developer will “hand code” the website.

5. How will you ensure that the website offers a consistent experience on all devices?

A reputed web development company in Canada will always recommend a responsive design to ensure that the website performs equally well on all devices. The number of mobile users is increasing every day. So, you cannot have a website that only works on desktops. Having a responsive website takes care of that. Moreover, Google prefers responsive websites when it comes to ranking them in the search results.

6. What CMS (content management system) do you plan to use and why?

When it comes to choosing a content management system for a website, most web design agencies go by their personal preference. However, as the owner of the website, it is important for you to know which CMS your web design firm recommends and why. They should be able to tell you the pros and cons of the platform they have chosen. Remember to ask them how the CMS platform of their choice serves the functionality and requirements of your website.

7. How will you optimize the website for search engines?

Search engine optimization is constantly evolving, and it has changed dramatically in the last few years. Today, you need to think about SEO right from the design and development stage of your website. A poorly designed and coded website can be extremely difficult to rank on Google. That is why a good web development company in Canada will implement the SEO-friendly qualities right from the start.

8. What is your plan for handling security, hosting, and maintenance?

Although you may not think about hosting, security, and maintenance at the start, these features are critical to the performance and success of your website. If you do not have an in-house team to deal with all this, you can rely on your web design agency in Toronto, Ontario. However, before you give them the responsibility, make sure you find out what type of hosting environment they can provide and what sort of security measures they will put in place. The threat of data theft and malicious attacks are increasing every day. That is why your website needs to be secured. Lastly, you may also need regular maintenance and periodic updates on your website, which the agency should be able to provide you.

9. How is the pricing structured?

Every web design agency will present you with a quote, based on which you will proceed. However, you should know that the pricing structure may vary from one agency to the next. That is why you need to know what the package includes and what it does not. For example, some agencies might charge you for the design and development at first, but then provide SEO as an add-on for an additional charge. That is why you should get a clear picture of what you are getting for the estimate they are giving you and what additional costs might appear later.

10. What type of tests and quality control checks will you perform before launching the website?

Testing is one of the most critical aspects that should be taken care of before the launch of the website. You cannot release the website to the public while it is still buggy or incomplete. The website should render perfectly smoothly on different devices and browsers right from the launch. The only way your web design agency can ensure that is by running cross-browser tests. They should also follow a list of quality assurance measures to cover all the bases before launching the website.

So, these are some of the basic questions that you should ask a potential web design company before hiring them. A reputed design firm such as ArjanTech Solutions will not only walk you through all your queries, but they will also provide you a detailed explanation for their process. Get in touch for further information.