Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

I have spent a lot of time looking for web developers to develop my business site which needs a slick front end and a robust content management system on the back.  I live in New York City, so you`d think this would be a relatively easy thing.  On the contrary, having a lot of options makes it hard because there are so many to choose from.  My question is twofold:

1) Are there any trustworthy sites that list reputable web developers by location, areas of expertise, size, rank, etc.?  I have tried searching awards postings to figure out who the best developers are, but with limited results.  I`m looking for a CNET on web developers.  Any such thing?

2) How does one actually go about evaluating a proposal for web development?  Cost is obvious, but I`ve sent the same specs to several developers and received, in return, widely varying quotes.  Obviously, I can look at each developer’s sites and determine if I like what I see.  But how do I find out things about what it`s actually like to work with this team?  Whether they`re the best team to help me imagine all of the possibilities of what I want to do.  Whether paying them $10K less than their competitor means that I’ll be getting a seriously lesser product.  

I suppose a good answer to this is to spend time evaluating the work of each developer and then spend time getting to know them as well to see whether there is chemistry.  But that takes a lot of work, and a lot of time, when there are literally hundreds of these companies on your doorstep.  Does anyone have any specific means of evaluation to employ in this process?

There`s a recent thread about this on here ... maybe try a search?

One suggestion is to find sites like the one you desire and figure out who did it.

The other suggestion is to find some developers you like, and call all the clients off their portfolio to ask about their experiences.

Wait, here ... found the thread. Read it here.

Finding the right person or firm can be an adventure and a scarey undertaking because there are a  lot of unkowns. It is similar to finding a person or firm to perform any other job for you. 

There is really no comprehensive database with reviews on the web. There are a few "freelance" sites where you can post your project, but you are still faced with the task of selecting someone.

So, who to choose? There are basically two decisionmaking factors (aside from price):

Skill and abilities: Certainly, the person needs to have the ability (skills) to do the job. That may be fairly easy to determine through a demonstration of similar work or by asking some questions about how the person would provide for your needs.

Working relationship: How the person approaches the project, works with you (or not), enables input / review, and supports you as a client. This is more of a personal relationship evaluation and more subjective. My approach (and a quality I look for) is someone who wants to "partner" with me... so we share a common goal. I feel if my clients succeed then I succeeed. The person should take an interest in your company/you and provide continual support and interaction.

Get referrals (past and current clients) from the web developer and take to those referrals. Of course the developer is not going to give you a name of an unsatisfied client, but the idea in talking with the client is to determine how the developer is to work with, his/her approach to the project, and any pros and cons.

This does take some work (talking to various people) but in the long run it should be worth the time.

~Roland

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Web Design | Best Beef Jerky | ecommerce articles | Follow vwebworld on Twitter

Roland and Nicole, thank you both very much for responding to my post, which I accidentally placed in the wrong forum (apologies). 

Nicole, I found the thread you suggested and read through that and others in that forum as well.  Thank you for your suggestions, they`re well taken.

And Roland, thank you very much for your suggestions as well.  That gives me a great framework with which to move forward. 

I just contacted a web developer whose price is quite high but who seemed to me to be the most serious and professional I`ve yet encountered.  I asked him for a proposal and he said that he would prepare one for me, but only if I were seriously considering him and he was not one of ten others I am considering.  So I totally respect that, as it tells me that he will take my project seriously and that I can expect a serious proposal from him when the time comes. 

While I am still in this evaluation phase, surveying who is out there, at what point to I begin to ask for references?  Should I just go ahead and contact clietns whose names I see in their online portfolios now?  It feels sneaky. 

And second, if I may, what am I to make of someone who gives me a quote for $15K and another who gives a quote for $35K.  I sent the same exact proposal to each of them and can`t figure, for the life of me, how these two firms could be so wildly differ in price.  A huge variety of quotes seems to be standard in this game, and yet it`s unclear to me what I`m giving up if I go with the cheaper outfit. 

Hi,

I think you should ask references of anyone who you are considering... and I do not think it sneaky to contact clients from their portfolio. If you get a questionable response you can always ask the developer about it.

Prices for web sites can be wildly different. Pricing can vary becasue of the firm`s size, if they are busy or not, their overhead costs, their location (NYC versus a small town in a less costly location), and what they think is fair or that the market will bare.

While the quotes may be the same... are the deliverables the same? Same number of mock-ups (if any), same amount of graphic, programing, etc hours? Are the assumptions of what you are responsible to provide the same?

~Roland

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Web Design | Best Beef Jerky | ecommerce articles | Follow vwebworld on Twitter

I think that contacting past clients is only sneaky if the developer has something to hide ....  

By the way ... IMO ... that is a LOT of money unless you`re developing something really complex.

 Evaluating a proposal or company/person is not easy.    Cost is obvious in the evaluation, most other things are not.

Portfolios, skills, referrals are all very helpful in the decision making.  But the working relationship, the trust, the confidence, feeling someone will work well with you, and make your company shine, are some of the important things also.

 But as you said sdgpv, that takes time, to get to know someone or a company.  To see if you have chemistry.  And everybody is so busy these days, it`s difficult for everyone to find time, at times.

So,...how are you going to make your decision?

Thank you all for your insights.  Much appreciated.  Can I ask a follow-up question...?  The site I`m trying to create needs a nice front-end and a fairly sophisticated back-end content management system.  I`m not selling anything, other than advertising.  Basically what I have is a daily item that gets sent out to a list of subscribers.  The site functions, therefore, as 1) a place for people to sign up for the newsletter, 2) an archive for already published items, and 3) a place for users to comment on our daily items (each item will have its own discussion forum).  This is certainly nothing revolutionary and I imagine that a lot of code can be reused from other sites a designer has created.  What I primarily need is a strong back-end so that the site functions well, and then a really great designer to make sure it looks cool (I have a very, very discerning and savvy audience).  Now I`ve mentioned that I`ve received quotes from $15K to $35K and was, admittedly, most impressed by the firm with the highest quote.  I have also been approached by representatives of firms overseas, particularly in India, who promise they can do the same thing for me at half the rate or less.  In reading other posts on SN, it seems to me that the reviews of outsourcing to India are mixed – basically that if I find the right firm it can be okay, if I find the wrong one I can make a serious mistake.  Is there anyone who feels strongly, though, that my chances of success with that route are fairly slim?  In other words, am I best off trying to find something in my own back yard than spending the time and energy going down that road?  I do want to make sure I`ve explored all viable options before committing to anyone.

 

On a side note, I came home yesterday and bought the URL for “websiteMIDWIFE.com,” thinking that would be a pretty cool name/idea for a business.  I could sure use one right now!  If anyone wants to be my website midwife, I’ll gladly hand over the URL.  

 Well, if you can take the time to find your chemistry in India....

 You keep saying "in your back yard".  Sun`s right here in your home. 

Wow ... that is a fairly simple idea that can be built partially using existing code.

$15 to $35K? I would say NO WAY.

For $35K, someone better be coughing up their first born (speaking of midwives) ....