How to Choose a Web Developer

Hiring someone to build your website is a bit like hiring a contractor to build a house: the result depends a lot on who you pick. Here is how to choose a web developer you will be glad you hired, including the questions to ask and the red flags to watch for.

What to look for

• Custom work, not just templates. A developer who builds custom gives you a site that stands out and can do exactly what you need.
• You own the result. The site and its code should be yours, not rented on someone else's platform.
• Speed and SEO built in. A good developer cares about load time and getting you found, not just how it looks.
• Direct communication. You want to talk to the person building it, not get passed around.
• Support after launch. Websites need updates. Make sure someone will be there when you need a change.

Questions worth asking

• Will I own the website and the code?
• Is this custom, or built on a template?
• How fast will it load, and is it built for SEO?
• Who do I talk to during the project?
• What happens after launch if I need changes?

Red flags

Be careful if you would be locked into a platform you can't leave, charged a monthly fee for the website itself (hosting is fine; renting your own site is not), given vague timelines, or unable to reach the person actually doing the work.

The bottom line

Pick someone who builds you something fast, custom, and yours, and who you can actually talk to. If that sounds like what you want, that is exactly how PetersenSoftwares works.