How to Choose a Web Development Agency
Hiring the wrong agency costs time, money, and momentum. Here's a framework for making the right choice.
What to Evaluate
Portfolio quality: Do their previous projects look professional and perform well? Visit live sites, not just screenshots.
Technical expertise: Do they specialize in the technology you need (WordPress, Shopify, Laravel)? Generalists who do everything often do nothing exceptionally.
Communication: How responsive are they during the sales process? That's the best communication you'll ever get from them.
Process: Do they have a clear, documented development process? Discovery → design → develop → test → launch should be defined with milestones.
Post-launch support: What happens after your site goes live? Ongoing maintenance and support is as important as the initial build.
Red Flags
No portfolio or NDA-protected portfolio only. Dramatically lower pricing than other quotes. Promising #1 Google rankings. No clear timeline or milestones. Resistance to providing references.
The Right Questions
1. Can I speak to 2-3 recent clients?
2. Who will actually work on my project?
3. What does your post-launch support include?
4. How do you handle scope changes?
5. Will I own all code and assets?