Why the choice matters more than the price
A badly built website costs you twice: once when you pay for it and once when you rebuild it. And in between, months of lost clients. Here are the questions that separate a real agency from a nice-looking invoice.
1. Can I see projects similar to mine?
A portfolio of five landing pages does not prove they can build an online store. Ask for live links, not screenshots - and open them on your phone.
2. Who exactly will work on my project?
Many agencies sell you a senior team and deliver an intern. Ask who designs, who codes, and who you will talk to when something goes wrong.
3. What does the price include - and what does it not?
Get it in writing: design, development, SEO, training, revisions. The most common unpleasant surprise is the "revision fee" that appears after you have paid the deposit.
4. What happens after launch?
Ask directly: do I get all the access credentials? Is the code mine? Who fixes bugs in the first month? An agency that hesitates here is holding your website hostage.
5. How do you handle SEO?
"The website will be SEO optimised" means nothing. Ask concretely: is speed optimised? Is the heading structure correct? Do I get proper meta tags? Is a sitemap generated?
6. What is the realistic timeline?
An agency that promises a complex website in one week is either lying or using a template. A brochure site takes 2-4 weeks; an online store 4-8.
7. Can I edit the content myself?
If the answer is "call us for every change", you have just signed up for an unwanted subscription.
Red flags that should make you run
- Prices far below the market with no explanation
- No written contract
- Refusal to give you access to the code or hosting
- Guarantees of "position 1 in Google" - nobody can promise that
- Communication only through one channel, with slow replies before you have even paid
The best test
Ask them what they would do if your website turned out to need less than they proposed. An honest agency will tell you. We do - and sometimes we recommend the cheaper option.
Want an honest opinion on your project? Write to us.