Checklist: What to Ask Your Website Developer

Invest in Quality for Long-Term Success

To make sure you’re hiring the right person for the job, here are some key questions you should ask any web developer or designer before you commit. This will ensure they’re experienced, understand your business needs, and will create a website that’s optimized for success:

  1. Do you have a portfolio of previous work?
    A professional developer should have a diverse portfolio showcasing websites they've built. This will give you an idea of their style, experience, and capabilities.

  2. Do you understand SEO best practices?
    Ask how they incorporate on-page SEO, mobile optimization, and technical SEO into their website builds. A beautiful website is pointless if it’s not optimized for search engines.

  3. How will you ensure the site is mobile-friendly?
    Mobile traffic now accounts for a large portion of web visits. Make sure they know how to design responsive websites that perform well on smartphones and tablets.

  4. Will my website be fast and secure?
    Ask about how they optimize for speed and security. Page load speed and site security are critical both for user experience and search engine rankings.

  5. What CMS (Content Management System) do you recommend, and why?
    Whether it’s WordPress, Shopify, or a custom solution, ask why they recommend that platform for your business and whether you’ll be able to easily update content.

  6. Will my site be easy for me to manage?
    Ensure that once the site is built, you can make simple updates (like adding blog posts or new content) without needing to hire a developer every time.

  7. What is your process for ongoing maintenance and updates?
    Websites need ongoing maintenance. Make sure they offer post-launch support, updates, and troubleshooting as part of their services.

  8. How will you integrate my business goals into the design?
    A good developer should understand your business objectives and design a website that helps achieve them — whether it’s driving sales, building brand awareness, or capturing leads.

  9. What kind of testing will you do before launch?
    Ask about their process for testing the site across different browsers, devices, and screen sizes to ensure a smooth user experience.

  10. Can you provide references or testimonials from past clients?
    A reliable developer should have happy clients who can vouch for their work. Follow up with these references to learn about their experience.