Find Top Web Developers Near You

Web Developers

You’d be hard-pressed to find a successful business without a website nowadays. Consumers are spending more time online than ever, and they will make a lot of judgments about whether they want to engage with you based on your website.

Does it load fast enough? Can they find what they’re looking for? Is it easy to contact you? These are just some of the issues to consider. The best websites are easy to navigate, beautiful to look at and work 24/7 as a lead and sales agent for your business.

You may already have a website and want to improve its existing functionality and user experience to facilitate growth. Or you may be looking to build a website from scratch. 

If you don’t have the knowledge or time to build a website yourself, you should consider hiring a professional web developer.

The aim of this page is to introduce you to the basics of hiring a web developer. If you decide it’s the right option for you, we can also connect you with web developers in your area.

What is a website developer?

A website developer is an expert in creating, building and maintaining websites and web applications. They design the code to build an elegant website using languages such as HTML, Java, C++ and PHP. Good web developers can create a fast, responsive and user-friendly website that integrates seamlessly with other business software. 

What are the different types of web developers?

Web development is a vast field and encompasses a long list of different professionals. However, there are generally three main categories of web developers:

1. Front end developers: Full stack developers are responsible for the aesthetic and interactive elements of a website. They make sure that all of the design components that users see are functioning and visually pleasing. 
2. Back end developers: Back end developers are responsible for all of the components you can’t see, or in other words, the stuff that keeps your website running smoothly. They ensure everything on the server is speaking the same language as what’s on the front end.
3. Full stack developers: Full stack developers can work on both front and back end development, making them highly sought after. They have the capabilities to build a complete website from the ground up.

What is the difference between a web developer and a web designer?

It’s easy to get confused between web designers and web developers as they both help build websites. While web designers and developers share similar skills, the key difference is their area of expertise. 

Put simply, a web designer’s role is more visual and user-focused to create the overall look and feel for a page, whereas a web developer focuses on programming and internal site structure so that the design elements can come to life.

Why should I hire a web developer?

Building a website can be complex and time-consuming, and unless you have the skills (or time to learn), web development is usually best left to professionals. You can easily find affordable web development services online. 

What services do web developers offer?

Some of the services offered by web developers include:

• Domain name registration
• Web hosting
• Email hosting
• Website data storage and security
• Website strategy and planning
• Web development
• User interface design 
• User experience 
• Website testing

How do I hire a web developer?

Not all web designers are the same or have the same approach to working. That said, here is a quick checklist to help you choose and hire the best web developers:

• Good reputation: Can they show you a solid portfolio of previous projects they’ve worked on? What is their own website like? Dig into online reviews and client testimonials for honest feedback.
• Review their service area: It’s important to check whether they have worked with businesses similar to yours. For example, the website requirements for a startup are very different from a large corporate company. 
• Support and maintenance services: The nature of websites means there’s often a large number of things that can go wrong including crashed servers, browser compatibility issues and 404 errors among others. How much after sales support do they offer? Hire a developer that offers ongoing support once the site goes live.
• Fees and charges: A good web developer is transparent about the costs involved and there’ll be no nasty surprises at the end of a job. Look for developers that provide a cost breakdown, are honest about what you do and don’t need and offer alternative solutions where applicable. 
• Transparent, reliable and easy to communicate with: How will they communicate with you along the project lifecycle? Will they use a task management software to collaborate and share updates? A good developer should clearly outline how they will communicate with you from the start. 

What questions should you ask a web developer?

Here are some questions to help you in the hiring process:

• How long will my project take?
• Can you provide a cost breakdown?
• Can you show me your portfolio of similar sites you’ve developed?
• Which platform is most appropriate for my site?
• Do I need a content management system (CMS)?
• Are you well-trained in search engine optimisation (SEO)?
• What files and assets do I need to provide you?
• Which features will you implement for website security?
• Will I have complete ownership/admin access to the site once it’s live?

How much does website development cost?

Every website is different and has different requirements based on the purpose of the site, audience, type of business, etc. There is no one-size-fits-all model for pricing, but some of the factors that can affect the cost include:

• Number of web pages
• CMS requirements 
• Video and flash animations 
• Web hosting
• Payment functionalities 
• Web design requirements 

To give you a rough idea, a simple business website typically costs up to $2,500. An ecommerce site usually costs $3,000+ and a custom website with a more complex backend system starts from around $10,000.

Whether you need a simple website that works like an online brochure or a huge ecommerce store that automates your entire business, SavvySME can connect you with the professionals that are right for you. Simply give us a few details about your project and we’ll introduce you to the right professionals that can help.

If you’re looking to create a relatively simple website, then you may want to opt for web development and design tools. These online website building platforms make it easy to build your own website (which can also be reviewed and optimised by a web developer at a later date).