A great website can help provide a competitive advantage. It can draw more visitors to your website and turn them into repeat customers. 48% of consumers consider a website’s design to be a top factor when assessing a business’ credibility. This makes it essential to have a robust website, both in terms of functionality and design.
With a vested interest in controlling every part of the process, most business owners default to conducting their web design in-house. However, choosing to outsource web development could be as beneficial as working with an in-house team, if not more. Have you been struggling with the dilemma of choosing between the two?
Here are some reasons why you should outsource web development to another company:
Benefits of Outsourcing Web Development
- Save Time and Money
Hiring an in-house team requires both time and money. The costs can mainly be divided into separation, recruitment, and productivity costs. You’ll also need to manage your employees effectively to avoid common legal issues.
On the flip side, outsourcing will save you money and time in a variety of ways. Besides not having to worry about staffing, you can hire a team from anywhere in the world. Some countries have web development companies that charge half what you would get at home and provide the same level of quality. Deciding to outsource web development will allow you to focus on your core business processes as your partner does the heavy lifting.
- Flexibility and Scalability
A great partner will offer you more scalability and flexibility than when working with an in-house team. In case you want your project delivered faster, most partners will have more developers available to work on the project. With an in-house staff, you are restricted to working with your own team, unless you start the hiring process all over again.
If you aren’t satisfied with your partner’s work, you can always end your web development contract. In comparison, letting go of employees has a lot of complexities, and hiring more personnel takes even longer.
- Unmatched Skills and Tools
To maintain a competitive advantage, most web development companies keep tabs on the latest industry trends. For instance, in 2021, the best agencies know how to weave personalization into any website, considering that 80% of customers are drawn to buying from brands that offer personalized experiences.
By choosing to outsource web development, you can also work with agencies that invest in the latest tools, which could cost you an arm and a leg to own in-house. Keeping your in-house team informed about the latest trends in the industry requires a lot of commitment and effort, from attending workshops to retraining employees.
- Get More Than Web Development
Web development is only a piece of the puzzle when it comes to making your website great. When you’re looking to outsource, web development companies should also offer you more than just web development. For instance, having a secure website is essential in an age when 43% of cyber attacks are targeted at small businesses. Deciding to outsource web development to a partner that guarantees the security of your website is essential. Other skills that most developers offer on the side include web design, SEO, content marketing, and on-site optimization.
- Enjoy Post-Service Support
Most agencies will offer their support post-service. This includes website maintenance, making optimizations, and dealing with bugs. Such services can be especially useful in an age where even a slight site downtime could have a significant impact on your bottom line. While your in-house team could do the same, it is reassuring to know that you have a professional team ready to resolve any problems.
Reasons You Might Hesitate to Outsource Web Development
Despite having many benefits, working with an agency comes with some risks. Luckily, most of these risks can be mitigated by working with a great company and setting up the right control measures. Here are two disadvantages you can expect when you outsource:
- Lack of Control
You’ll be ceding a certain degree of control to the agency you choose. This means that you don’t have as much control over certain issues, such as delivery timelines and the choice of elements and features. The risk lies in having your project fail or reach bottlenecks that are out of your control. Whenever you outsource web development, the trick is to sign a comprehensive contract that covers all your expectations and clearly defines roles.
- Language and Cultural Barriers
If you are collaborating with an overseas company, you might speak different languages or have communication issues. The difference in your cultures could also bring about misalignment. For instance, the fact that the agency’s home country operates in a different timezone and has different holidays might make syncing schedules tough. Circumvent this by embracing strong communication practices with the outsource web development company you choose. Learning more about the agency’s culture could help smooth things out too.
Controlling the Success of Your Web Development in Three Steps
With the right level of preparation, you can outsource your web development tasks while maintaining high levels of quality. Success trickles down to the agency you pick and how you define your goals and control outcomes.
- Start by Defining Your Needs
Before even approaching a web development company, ensure you understand what you need from your development project. Is it a simple addition of a feature, or do you need to build the project from scratch? What features will you need to have the agency add to your website? Every detail matters, including the demographic your website will be targeting.
- Pick a Reliable Agency
Ensure that you have at least five agencies to assess before you outsource web development. Each agency should have great reviews, meet your requirements, be situated at an ideal location, and offer valuable services at a reasonable price. You can ask them a few questions to test their reliability and talk to past clients too. Case studies and online reviews can be invaluable when it comes to identifying the right company to work with.
- Monitor Your Web Development Process Remotely
Set the tone for the project by communicating your expectations with the company you choose. You should talk about delivery schedules, preliminary project details, reporting frequency, and the approximate project budget. Also, ensure that you include an NDA in your contract to enhance the confidentiality of any sensitive information you share with the web development company you outsource to.
The Benefits Outweigh the Risks
As long as you find a reliable agency, deciding to outsource web development can be quite beneficial. You just need to maintain control of the relationship you have with the agency. If anything doesn’t sit right with you as you’re preparing your contract, feel free to voice your concerns. The stronger your relationship with your agency is, the likelier it is that they’ll be able to deliver a website you can be proud of.