Each of us who has at least once faced the question of needing website development understands how difficult it can be. When it comes time to create a website for a business or a personal project, the first question is: where to find a reliable contractor? We live in an era of high technology, where the opportunities are huge, but the risks are also great. An important point is that this is not just a website; it is your face on the Internet, your representation, and a tool for achieving goals.
When I started, I also had to figure out the contractor selection process, and it was a real challenge. I remember sitting in front of the screen, immersed in searching, comparing, and analyzing. And here’s what I realized: It’s important not only to find a contractor but also to monitor the project properly. Without proper monitoring, you can end up in a difficult situation where your project gets stuck, and you don’t get the expected result.
In this article, I will try to share my experience with you so that you can avoid many common mistakes and painlessly go from idea to implementation of your project. I will tell you what questions you should ask the contractor, how to correctly formulate your requirements and how to control the development process so that in the end you get exactly the site you want.
Understanding your needs and goals
Before you start looking for a contractor, you need to understand clearly why you need a website development company in Dubai. This may seem obvious, but in reality, many people cannot formulate their needs precisely.
Define your website’s goals.
First, ask yourself: What goal do you want to achieve with the site? This could be creating an online store, an information portal, a blog, or a corporate site. Each of these categories implies different approaches to development. For example, if you want to create an online store, you will need certain functions, such as a shopping cart, a payment system, product management, etc.
Target audience
Analyze who your users will be, and what their preferences and needs are. For example, if you are planning to create a website for a youth audience, you will need to use a brighter and more modern design, while for a business audience, a more restrained and classic style will be suitable.
Content and structure
Develop a preliminary site structure: what pages you will need and what the navigation will look like. This will help you imagine what your site should be like. It is also important to decide what content will be placed on the site – texts, images, videos, etc. This will create a clear idea of the scope of the work and allow the contractor to estimate the project.
Search for potential performers.
Now that you understand your goals and requirements, it’s time to look for a contractor. Project control begins with choosing the right contractor.
Where to look for performers?
There are various platforms where you can find contractors for website development. These can be freelance exchanges, specialized agencies, or recommendations from friends. I recommend starting with freelance platforms. This gives you more options to choose from and allows you to compare different offers. Popular platforms include Upwork, Freelancer, and the Russian site Kwork.
Reputation check
Once you have compiled a list of potential contractors, it is important to check their reputations. Study reviews from other clients, analyze their portfolios and pay attention to the quality of their work. The personal experience of clients can say a lot about the professionalism of the contractor.
Drawing up technical specifications
Need website development – this is not just a phrase, but the need to clearly formulate what exactly you want to get in the end. Creating a technical task is one of the most important stages.
Structure of the technical task
The technical task should clearly state your goals, requirements for design, functionality, and deadlines. I recommend dividing it into several sections:
General information about the project
- Target audience
- Site structure
- Design and graphic elements
- Functionality
- Timeframe and budget
Functional requirements
This section includes all the features you want to see on your site. For example, if you want to add a contact form, you need to specify what information you want to receive and in what format.
Designer preferences
If you already have an idea of how the site should look, feel free to share your ideas. Examples of other sites that you like will help the contractor understand your preferences.
Conclusion of the contract
Once you have chosen the contractor and drawn up the technical specifications, it is time to conclude the contract. This is an important step that will help avoid misunderstandings in the future.
What should be in the contract?
The contract must spell out all the terms, including deadlines, costs, and possible penalties for missing deadlines or failing to meet the terms. I also recommend specifying the procedure for making changes to the project to avoid disputes during the work process.
Prepayment
As a rule, many contractors require prepayment. I advise not paying more than 30% of the total cost of the project before the work begins.
Control of execution
Once the contract is signed, project control becomes an important aspect . Communicate with the contractor periodically, clarify how the work is going, and do not hesitate to ask questions. This will help you avoid unpleasant surprises and ensure that the project is moving in the right direction.
Functionality testing
At this stage, it is important to check all the functions of the site. Make sure all the links work, forms send messages, and the pages load quickly. I recommend creating a checklist so that you don’t miss anything.
Search Engine Optimization
Don’t forget about SEO optimization. Correctly selected keywords will help improve the visibility of your site in search engines.
Launch of the site
Once all the tests are completed and the errors are fixed, it is time to launch the site. This is an important point worth noting.
Website support and development
Launching a website is just the beginning. To keep your website growing, you need ongoing support and content updates.
Regular updates
Update the content on the site, add new articles and information about your services. It is also important to monitor its functionality and fix any errors that arise. I recommend blogging to keep your audience interested.
Analytics and statistics
This will help you understand which sections users find interesting and which require improvement.
Feedback from users
Don’t forget about the importance of feedback. Regularly collect users’ opinions about your site, ask them what can be improved. This will help you make the site more convenient and attractive.
The results of our trip
As you can see, the process of website development is a whole chain of actions, starting from defining goals and ending with website support and development. I hope that my experience will help you avoid common mistakes and make this process smoother.
The most important things to remember are to be clear about your requirements, choose your contractor carefully, and control the process. As one famous person once said, “It’s better to do something wrong than to do nothing at all.” And that’s true. Don’t be afraid to take steps toward your goal, and you will succeed.
