A fresh guide from Workspace and CMS Magazine that may be useful to anyone who needs website design and development. Let’s make it clear right away – the story begins from the moment when the customer has already realised that it is impossible to implement the project on their own, for example, using SaaS (website builder), there are no in-house web development specialists, and the need to involve third-party contractors is obvious.

A lot of material has already been written on this topic, but we:

— First, we will try to present this information to you as briefly and concisely as possible;

— Second, we will take into account various updates, new trends, and realities.

— Thirdly, we will take into account the relevant capabilities of our portal.

1. Primary description of the project

If you don’t fully understand all the intricacies of web development, it’s not scary. That’s what web studios are for – not only to make a website but also to help you squeeze the maximum efficiency out of it. Especially when it comes to projects in the mid-price segment and above. The main thing is to find an advertising company in the UAE that specializes in developing websites of the type and subject you need.

In the beginning, you need to do some work yourself. Today, the main thing is not visuals and “frills” but the site’s compliance with user expectations and the fulfillment of business tasks. Therefore, you need to immediately ask yourself the following questions:

• How will this website benefit my business?
• What will be the benefits of the site for users?
• How can I effectively present the appeal of my offer to website visitors?
• What actions do I expect from my site users?
• What functionality does my website need to achieve my business goals?
• How can you increase conversions (the ratio between visits and target actions of users)?
• Am I missing any obvious monetization opportunities?
• Are there any sites in mind that I can show the developer as an example of what I want?

The answers to these questions need to be captured in writing. Your team may need flow charts or other ways to capture steps and categories to help them understand all of this.

2. Clear formulation of the task for the contractor

The next step is to write a brief.

Many studios expect the brief to be filled out according to their template – some even have a corresponding feedback form. This is normal and correct. But in any case, you should have your brief at the beginning. Firstly, it is a draft for filling out the corresponding online forms, and secondly, it is for sending to companies that you think may be suitable for you as a contractor.

An example of a brief can be downloaded here.

The main points that a future contractor will want to know about your project:

• What is your business like? (Size, industry, sales algorithm, competitive environment, novelty, etc.)

• Who is your target audience?
• What is the development time frame, and when is the project planned to be launched?
• What are the goals and objectives of the future website for your business?
• What specific actions do you expect from users?
• Do you need a responsive design or a mobile version?
• What budget do you have for the project?
• What are your preferences regarding the style of the site?
• Have you already decided on the CMS on which your website should be developed?
• How do you see the first and main steps to promote a website (it is especially important to think about SEO right away. The reality is that it is too late to do it after the website has been launched. Many important aspects need to be taken into account at the development stage)?

It is important to take into account as many details as possible while clearly structuring the document and systematizing the information provided in it. The better the work you do at this stage, the more you reduce the risks of receiving a product whose quality or functionality you will be dissatisfied with.

3. Formulate your requirements for the developer of your future website

Now that you have decided what your future website should be, it is important to choose the web development company in Dubai that best suits your needs.

Usually, almost any call from a client is immediately answered by several market players willing to accept the order. But even if many studios responded, this does not mean that each of them has the competencies you need. Today, there are thousands of officially registered web studios and tens of thousands of freelancers in Russia, and your task is to choose not those that are cheaper but those that can squeeze the maximum out of your technical specifications and provide you with not just a website, but a real business tool. About 50% of the success of your project depends on who exactly you choose, taking into account a thoroughly developed brief.

Let us repeat: the banal ratio of price and expected quality does not work here. It is important to make sure that your future contractor at least:

• Have first-hand knowledge of the specifics of the industry you represent;
• Has extensive experience in developing exactly the type of website you need (business card, promo site, online store, showcase, information portal, etc.);
• I am ready to assign you a competent and punctual manager who will promptly report on the work done and remind you of the actions that need to be taken by your side.
• Has been present in the web development market for many years and has at least 20 projects in its portfolio.

If you immediately understand that your project is complex, large-scale or unusual, you should immediately put forward higher requirements for developers. In particular, it would not be superfluous to rely on the following metrics:

• Positions in authoritative web developer ratings. For example, web studio rating, online store developer rating ;
• Availability of prize places in various website competitions. Example of a competition.

Such information is either the result of the objective work of a robot/automatic algorithm or an assessment of the professional community.

Unfortunately, such an obvious step as search queries in Yandex or Google do not have any value in themselves. Often, the first lines of the search results display data on companies developing typical, and sometimes not the highest quality, sites. Unlike ratings, there is no direct relationship between the line in the search results and the quality of the work.

Therefore, no matter what stage you are at when choosing a contractor, in addition to everything else, it is always extremely important to study the reviews of previous clients of the studios you like. And if you use search engines to choose a contractor, then only read reviews.