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By Emily Kassmeier

What to Look for When Hiring a Development Agency

One of the trickiest parts of starting any web project is deciding who you’re going to hire to do the work.

Hiring the right development agency is like choosing a trustworthy co-pilot to help you fly your plane.

The right partnership makes for an enjoyable journey. It doesn’t guarantee you’ll encounter only clear blue skies during the trip, but it does mean you’ll have a dependable ally at your side to navigate the course together. A great partner aims to help you land safely and successfully at your destination.

What makes for a great co-pilot? We’ve identified key characteristics below to help you evaluate partnership choices for your website project. You deserve a great web development agency, not just a good one. These characteristics will help you identify the right partnership for your team.

They tell you what you need to hear

A great development agency is honest, even when it’s not easy. They don’t just tell you what you want to hear. They tell you what you need to hear. Transparency comes natural to them, especially regarding budget, timeline, scope of work, and progress on your project. They understand your goals and are realistic about what it takes to achieve your ideal result. You can count on them to not sugarcoat the details.

They look out for your best interests

A great development agency cares about more than just a paycheck. Sure, we all want to get paid for the work we do. But moreover, a great agency wants to make sure you receive quality work that accomplishes what you need it to. They’ll keep an eye out for you. They’ll flag potential issues you might not have considered. A great agency is a partner who comes alongside you and helps propel you forward as you both move toward the same outcome.

They have a solid portfolio

A great web development agency has past projects that demonstrate their expertise and devotion to quality work. They’re happy to provide you with work examples and case studies. When you look over their portfolio, you can see some overlap between your project and their past completed projects. It’s not necessarily an exact match, but you can tell they have excellent experience in your area of need.

They understand your business rules

A great web development agency proactively seeks to learn about the internal processes, policies, and other expectations that impact your web project. They won’t have as much in-depth knowledge about how your business functions as you do, but they’ll ask questions to better understand the business rules at play.

You trust and respect them

A great web development agency has a track record that puts you at ease. Throughout the interactions you’ve had with the team prior to hiring them, you feel reassured. Relying on them to help you bring your project to fruition excites you more than it scares you. You trust them to guide you in the right direction. You’re comfortable asking them questions and feel confident they’ll tell you the truth.

With these characteristics in mind, go forth and choose your co-pilot wisely. A partnership with the right web development team will help you carry your project to a successful completion.

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By Emily Kassmeier

Project & Marketing Manager

Emily can often be found reading, enjoying the outdoors with her dog, and trying to keep her houseplants alive.