If you’re considering the decision to outsource web development for your small business (or actually want to but don’t know where to start), bear in mind that there are a lot of ways to make this possible. There are many variables that go in to play when considering web developer outsourcing and because of this, it is our job in this article to inform you about the different options to decide which way is right for you and make the best choice possible.
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What are the benefits of outsourcing web development?
When you decide to invest in a web designer so you don’t have to build the website yourself, typically the benefits for you will be alleviation about confusing technical concepts, quicker time to get your website up and running, expert knowledge in web hosting and support, among much more.
What types of web development outsourcing companies are there?
Not all website management, design and development services are made the same. Each business and individual web designer will have a different process.
Some individuals or companies are more skilled in certain aspects in web design than others like designing payment gateway systems. Others may be more expensive for your current budget, provide poor customer service, and/or not be willing to negotiate a price to do business.
Comprehending all of this then, where do you begin when looking for web developer outsourcing? Below are just 3 types of web design and development solutions that are common in the marketplace today:
1. Web Design Agencies
Pros of Web Design Agencies
Full Service Model
A full-service agency in the digital marketing industry is one that offers services such as social media management, email marketing, paid advertising on search engines like Google, and other marketing mediums. This is very attractive for medium to large size employers with over 100 employees looking for maximum help across their entire professional web presence.
Experience Across a Wide Range of Industries
Web design agencies tend to have worked with a lot of clients and projects, where they may have accumulated a lot of experience about certain industries such as financial services, e-commerce and health & beauty. You may find a agency to be beneficial if you own more than one business or are having plans to do so.
Cons of Web Design Agencies
Price Packages for Web Design
It is important to note that web design agencies typically require a larger investment to develop and get your small business website up and running.
Learn more about the types of web design pricing
Work Culture
It is important to consider how the web development outsourcing will be done from a workload viewpoint.
Web design agencies typically are fast-paced work cultures, where a large portion of their success is derived from a high volume of work being done, more so than individual freelancers or consultants.
The busier the agency, the more projects they tend to have on and the more clients they tend to have. This can mean their employees can burn out quickly and call in sick. Agency-life particularly in digital marketing agencies typically is very high.
Unfortunately, this means not all projects (including yours) will always be as carefully curated and attended to.
2. Freelancers on Fiverr or Upwork
Pros of Fiverr or Upwork Freelancers
Wide Variety Of Choice
On freelancing websites, you have a large quantity of people offering web design services. This might appeal to you if you prefer to work with a certain type of person eg. a female over a male, someone with a specific background in your industry… What’s more is you can also filter by certain conditions for example if the seller has 5 star reviews, if they’re active now, and much more.
Security
Freelancing platforms like the above have large customer support departments and security with your funds in case things get tricky with negative aspects like undelivered work or disputes. You can get in touch with these departments and gain resolutions quickly.
Cons of Fiverr or Upwork Freelancers
Upselling
It is very common on platforms like Fiverr for sellers to bundle in add-ons and promote them to you whereas in reality, your project may not require such expensive add-ons.
For example, they may offer a add on for quicker delivery of service than what’s currently offered (ie 2 days over 7 days), with this add-on costing an extra $50 or more.
Poor Service
Despite the security of customer support teams and the ability to pay with PayPal on these platforms (the safest way to pay), there are a lot of sellers from our experience who are not experienced in customer service themselves. They may not reply promptly to your questions and they most likely won’t maintain your website afterward.
3. Experts or Consultants
Pros of Experts
No Cookie Cutter Solutions
Experts in web installation and design (particularly for local businesses) believe in tailored services, transparent pricing and excellent service.
Save Time
Time is of the essence when you are busy running your own business. Especially if you are a self-employed contractor like a plumber or landscaper. You don’t want to overwhelm yourself significantly about technical processes.
Cons of Experts
Over-Ambition
No one is 100% perfect and people do make mistakes. Sometimes experts may underestimate how long a certain project or feature design could take, but this can be alleviated by ensuring all parties are on the same page to begin with.
Experienced In Certain Sectors Only
If you’re looking for a service that has a wide range of experience in different industries and sectors (this could be if you have multiple businesses), then a single expert may not be a good fit for you. The same applies for if you want to take your company public or require a service that handles PR as well as your digital marketing.
MaestroSites – Your Web Development Outsourcing Service
If you’re getting ready to take the decision and choose a web design outsourcing service, consider MaestroSites for your next project. We will be happy to hear from you and will offer our insight into how we can help.
