Selecting a web development company in Qatar can be a frustrating process. You have to consider dozens of agencies that offer vaguely-differing services and claim to be excellent at their work. Websites are more than just an online presence – they’re a place for potential clients to discover your company, check out your services and then decide whether to get in touch.
The best web development companies will understand what your website needs to do for your business. They’ll build a website that looks great, but also one that gets results.
Rather than looking at price alone, businesses should focus on what each web agency offers – their expertise, approach and how they view the website’s purpose.
Know What You Need From Your Web Development Agency
Before you speak to any web development agencies, work out what you need your website to do.
A small service business might simply want a company website with a couple of pages. A web development company can build an e-commerce site with product pages, payment options, shopping baskets and order tracking. Another business might need a landing page for a marketing campaign. Some companies have completely different needs, depending on what they sell or offer.
Decide on the main goal of your website and what you want to achieve by the end of the project.
Some of the main aims for a business website include:
• Getting new customers
• Selling products online
• Booking appointments
• Offering information about your service
• Building trust with potential clients
• Supporting a marketing campaign
Having specific aims will help you find the best web development agency for your needs
See Their Portfolio
One of the simplest ways to judge a web agency is their portfolio.
Their past clients’ websites will give you an idea of the company’s strengths and what kind of websites they can build. See what kind of businesses they work with and whether their design and approach suits your own.
But, avoid being blinded by beautiful websites. Instead, look at their overall usability. Does the site work on mobile devices? Do they have clear CTAs (calls to action)? Are there any obvious problems with the layout or navigation?
A great website design is important, but it doesn’t matter if the website isn’t easy to use and doesn’t encourage visitors to get in touch
Do They Understand Your Industry?
Every single industry has different needs. A restaurant, for instance, will have completely different requirements to a real estate agency. An eCommerce business will have wildly differing needs to a professional services business. The best web agencies will understand your industry and plan your website around your specific needs.
In short, ask them whether they’ll actually take the time to research your business before they start work.
Ask them about your potential customers, the competition, your own services and why you need the website. This will help you to understand if they’re committed to building a website that will suit your company rather than just doing the same thing for every client
Are They Familiar with WordPress, Shopify and Other Platforms?
The platform your website is built on can significantly impact your options in the future.
WordPress is great for company websites, blogs and sites that need a lot of customization. Shopify is ideal for businesses that want to sell their products online. Both options have their pros and cons, but you need to pick the one that fits your needs rather than the one that seems the most impressive.
A good development agency will be able to advise you on the best platform for your project and explain why they chose it.
Is Mobile Responsiveness Part of the Package?
A responsive design is a must for any modern website, but not all web agencies seem to realise this.
Websites need to perform just as well on mobile as they do on desktop computers. If your website is difficult to navigate on a smartphone, then you’ll lose customers who get frustrated with the experience. Ask your development agency about responsive website design and ensure that it’s part of the deal.
Mobile responsiveness should be taken into account right from the design stage rather than an afterthought.
How Do They View Website Speed?
Websites can load slowly for several reasons – large images, slow hosting, unnecessary plugins and poor developer practices. A slow-loading website puts off customers, who will click away and go to a competitor’s site instead. Ask your web agency how they intend to improve the speed and performance of your website.
Website speed can be handled by optimizing images, clean coding practice, good hosting and minimizing the use of speed-hampering tools and methods.
Should SEO Be Part of the Discussion?
Search engine optimization should be considered from the outset rather than an add-on at the end of the project.
SEO (search engine optimization) has a significant impact on your website’s performance in Google searches. It’s not the only factor, but your website’s technical performance, page structure, URLs, content and organization will all influence how easily your site can be found. A good web agency will be able to advise you on search engine optimization techniques and ensure that your website is built in a way that supports it.
The technical side of SEO is only part of the equation. Search engine marketing still requires content, ongoing effort and research to get the best results. That said, an experienced development agency will be able to set you up for success and reduce the technical challenges of SEO.
What’s Included in the Quotation?
Price is obviously a consideration when it comes to building a website, but businesses should pay close attention to what they get for their money. Two web agencies may offer broadly similar prices, but one might include design, development and basic SEO while another leaves out some fundamental website elements.
Before you accept a, ask for an itemized bill that shows what you’re getting for your money. It’s also a good idea to make sure that it’s clear what is and isn’t included and whether you’ll be charged extra for any optional extras. This can save you confusion and disappointment later on
Can They Communicate Effectively and Tell Me About the Timeline?
Web development projects involve several stages – from planning and design through to coding, testing and finally launching the website. The whole process can be confusing, especially if you don’t have any prior experience. Your web agency should be able to discuss the project timeline and let you know what to expect.
It’s also worth asking about communication. Make sure that you know who will be dealing with your queries and how often you can expect to hear from them. A clearly-defined project plan can make things much simpler for everyone involved.
Do They Offer Post-Launch Support?
Websites rarely remain the same once they go live. Businesses often require ongoing support, including content updates, design changes and technical maintenance. Ask your web agency whether post-launch support is included in your quotation and what kind of ongoing support you can expect. This is especially important for companies that don’t have an in-house web developer
Don’t Always Go With the Cheapest Option
It can be tempting to jump at the cheapest quotation, particularly if you have several similar offers. However, you need to think about what you’re really getting. A poorly-built website can incur additional costs down the line if it needs to be redesigned, repaired or completely rebuilt. It can also damage your reputation if your website performs poorly or looks unprofessional.
Rather than focusing on the price alone, ask yourself what the website will do for your business and what is included in the quotation.
Ask the Right Questions Before You Hire a Web Development Agency
Before you hire a web development agency in Qatar, make sure that you ask the right questions.
Some of the most important things to ask include:
• What platform do you recommend for my business?
• Can you build similar websites to the one I need?
• What’s included in the quotation?
• Will the website be mobile responsive?
• How will you increase the speed of my website?
• Will you consider search engine optimization?
• Who will provide the content and images?
• How long will the project take to complete?
• What happens when the website launches?
• Do you offer any post-launch support?
These questions will help you to understand exactly what you’re getting and whether the company is the right choice for your needs.
Final Thoughts
Hiring the right web development agency in Qatar isn’t as simple as picking the cheapest option. The best agencies understand your business, customers and the website’s purpose. They’ll build a website that looks great, but one that also gets results. Always see examples of their past work and ask them about the process. Make sure that you know what platform your website will be on, how it will perform on mobile devices and what is included in the quotation. A great website can be a powerful marketing tool that helps your business to grow. But you need to make sure that you get the right kind of website that meets your needs and achieves your goals.
A website that suits your business will be easier to use, more likely to convert and will provide a stable foundation for future growth.
Ready to Get Started?
Ready to get started? Orbition X builds WordPress websites, Shopify stores and landing pages from Doha. View our web development service or book a call and we’ll scope your project and provide you with an itemized quotation