Do you want to create a website for your company or want to redesign an existing website? If yes, then your biggest confusion will be whether to build it in-house or outsource web development services to an offshore development company. According to Statista, almost 63% of B2B companies decide to outsource web development projects.
The process of hiring highly-skilled offshore developers is not an easy task but if you outsource web design the right way, there are many benefits to gains. Outsourcing is a perfect solution if you want to improve your customer services and user experience. Working on web projects with an in-house team can be frustrating sometimes. The cost is high and the focus on your core business gets divided by the development process.
So, you can outsource it to the experts and gladly focus on what’s more important to you. But then again many things can go wrong in outsourcing web design. Like picking up the wrong agency as your development partner, choosing the wrong design and deployment approach, or even hiring the wrong people in an offshore development team. Such choices can lead to heavy financial damage. So if you want to outsource web design and avoid experiencing any kind of stress that might come with it then read the blog and find a pain-free way yourself.
Why Should You Outsource Web Development Services?
Developing an elegant and reliable website needs a certain amount of skills and expertise in the field of designing and programming. You might not find such talented people easily but outsourcing companies can provide you with a web development team consisting of professionals with high expertise in the arena.
Even if you hire a fresher web developer and make him/her learn how to become a master coder then it won’t only take a lot of time, effort, and other resources, the results might also not be what you were expecting. So turning to web outsourcing seems like a more plausible option to pick.
Ask yourself these 4 Critical Questions Before Outsourcing Web Development
As we discussed, hiring web development teams is a very difficult task. You have to find a company that can fulfill all your business needs and guide you through web design projects successfully. So to know whether or not the web developers will be able to deliver what you are looking for. Just ask them the following questions during the selection process and if you get satisfactory answers then know that you have got a perfect development partner.
1. Specialized or end-to-end Services provider company?
The expert web developers may have mastered any specific field like web design but they also consist of knowledge regarding other arenas like programming and web deployment. They know not only to design a website but to also make it a responsive and fully-functional website. You should outsource web design projects to a team that can manage every aspect of the development process very well.
Most web development companies specialize in programming languages as well as content management systems such as Shopify, Clickfunnels, WordPress, and Webflow. You have to speak with an experienced web developer to choose which platform would be right for your business after you need both an elegant design and an intuitive user flow. So you need to consider the areas on which your business is focused and then target them for your web project accordingly.
2. Local or Remote Web Design Agency?
Some companies prefer to work with a local agency over an offshore or remote team. But if you feel like you can trust the people whom you have met face to face then know that these are the times when business video calls are a real thing. There is no need to meet your development team to exercise control or get feedback or updates on the projects. You can use screen sharing, feedback tools, and other project management softwares to get real-time updates and control the direction of your project.
Apart from that, remote work has become ubiquitous especially after the current pandemic of Covid-19. So, never hire a candidate or a company just because they are from your locality. Even if you have a tight timeline, never hire in a hurry and take enough time to evaluate multiple candidates. Check the portfolio and references of every candidate. Talk to their previous clients if necessary. Look if they have worked on any similar project or industry of yours to check whether they have relevant experience to complete your project successfully.
3. One-time Project or Monthly Subscription Services?
Some outsourcing companies like to work on a project-to-project basis whereas some companies provide web development outsourcing services on monthly subscriptions. Although this latter approach is less popular, it has many benefits like there is no need for large upfront investment and includes an on-demand web design and technical marketing help. And there are no extra charges for it. They also offer month-over-month improvements.
Although some clients crave a project-based development model as they believe once the website is developed, there is no need for extra work on the website and the vendor already offers post-deployment support and maintenance services with regular updates.
On the other hand, many companies believe that there is no such thing as a finished website. It should be changed and updated constantly as per the market shifts and customer demands. So before you go out picking a web development partner, decide which kind of collaboration you want.
4. Pricing Models
One of the most important things you should decide with your potential partner is the terms of payment. How will the company charge you for their services? Will it be based on working hours? Or based on the entire project value? Or will it allow an entire dedicated development team to you and you have to pay them until your project is completed?
There might be pros and cons of every pricing model for both clients and web developers. But it is the one that’s more feasible than you should choose based on your business requirements.
10 steps to remove stress when you are Outsourcing web design projects
When you outsource projects or some specific tasks to experts out there, it can boost your business productivity. Sometimes large companies and enterprises also take this road. But in such a complicated process, there are chances that you may get overwhelmed with the work or feel stressed if something doesn’t go as expected. So here is the list of a few things that you have to do to make sure that you outsource web design right.
1. Writing a Clear project Brief
You have to provide a project brief for your web design outsourcing. But it needs to clarify all the important points. Writing a project brief poorly can cause too many problems later on. No one could read your mind so it is better to convey what you are expecting to a project manager so that you can avoid any type of misunderstandings.
You can also add a customer profile, some design examples for references, and most importantly your web design goals. And if your team members ask for any more details, give them so that you can set a website to attract your targeted audience. Give your web designer all the information she needs to set up a website that attracts the right audience.
2. Start with a Small Task
Don’t make the mistake of outsourcing a big project right away to the vendor from the start. Instead, it will be better if you start small and then work your way to the big ones. Because if you directly start working on bigger projects with the outsourcing companies and they didn’t prove to be quite up to the task. So to avoid being disappointed or wasting your time, money, and other resources in such a way, start by outsourcing small assignments and then see how it works out. If you like the results then and only then gradually make the transition to the bigger assignments related to a web or mobile application.
3. Establish a Communication Channel
Communication is the key to successful collaboration. It is also one of the most important aspects to consider when you outsource. You must establish a channel that could allow both parties to have clear communication. And you have to do this before the website development process gets started. But keep one thing in mind, whatever channel you choose for communication must be easy to access and reliable.
Now if you opt to outsource your web application development projects then there are chances that the product owner and the team on the other side might be working in two different time zones. There can be possible language barriers too. So you need to find an approach that can work for both.
When companies outsource their projects they invite their partner on a project management tool that allows them to maintain complete transparency about the progress on websites. This will enhance the working relationship as both parties would know what is approved for work, what tasks are still on, and which ones are completed.
4. Select an appropriate approach for Business Collaboration
Like we discussed this before in one of the critical questions to ask your web designer. What kind of model will you choose for collaboration? One-off project or monthly subscription. Clear this out with your partner beforehand so that they can work smoothly on creating a site for you.
5. Provide a constructive feedback
Whether it’s small businesses or large enterprises, every company wishes to have an ultimate product that works as per their expectations. But more often, due to many reasons, outsourcing companies can’t deliver what you exactly have in your mind. So giving constructive feedback or comments will help build the site you want.
If you complain or simply tell them that you don’t like it then it isn’t going to help you either and will create a rift between both parties. So it is highly recommended that you provide specific feedback. Add some references if you deem necessary.
6. Ask Questions And Answer Questions
If you want to avoid any setbacks or pitfalls then you must anticipate them early on in a mobile app development process. It is obvious, customers don’t like to walk halfway in just to be surprised with tons of problems. So before going all in, ask as many questions as you want and don’t hold back to clear all your doubts.
Along with it, also be ready to answer the questions of your outsourcing partner. Having mutual clarity enables both of you to be on the same page and understand each other’s expectations. Also, when you satisfactorily answer the questions when you outsource web design, it helps them understand the objectives of their customers which will provide them more leads on how to approach your project and what kind of resources to use for it.
7. Appointing a Project Manager
When you’re outsourcing web development, it is necessary to have a project manager that can supervise the team and the entire project. The project managers are hired to monitor, ensure that the team is working as per the schedule, and resolve conflicts when they arise. Anyone with enough core competencies and experience in designing, deploying, or marketing the websites is eligible to be placed as the head of the assignment.
8. Set Milestones for the Team
Depending upon the phases of web development and your expectations, you can set some milestones that can indicate the progress of your web projects. You have to set some measures for your own team upon which you can define the milestones of your projects. These measures can be related to the ideation, web design, development, tests, quality assurance, and deployment.
Your team members should also know about these milestones clearly so that they can actively work towards achieving them. You can set these milestones in your project management tool and it will be marked successful when it is completed by the web development team.
9. Prepare a Project Plan in Advance
A project plan is a critical aspect of any project. It not only indicates the scope of work but also represents the solid agreement about each element including the cost for your website. If you haven’t prepared a detailed project plan, many problems can arise. You have to explain the specifications of the product in this plan and make sure that both you and your outsourcing partner agree on it.
10. Pick a Final Decision Maker
When it comes to taking an important decision about the site, most of the team members are involved in the decision-making process. And these are the same people who are also involved in the design and development of the website. It means that everybody on the team is asked to give their suggestions while making an important decision.
Multiple suggestions can give birth to another conflict and a designer can’t meet everyone’s expectations. So, appoint someone that could take the final decision in such times, and who is more ideal than someone for whom you are building this website? – your users.
So, don’t get overwhelmed with building a perfect version of your website. Instead, launch the initial version as soon as possible and then ask the users to give feedback and suggestions for any changes they would like to see on the site or services provided to them. Decisions are taken in such a way that never fails.
Where Can You Find Your Ideal Web Design Partner?
You can find your web designer from many places offline and online. Every option discussed here has its pros and cons. So I would hope that by now you have a better understanding of what kind of web development agency you are seeking to hire for your next project. So, without any further ado, let’s start with your quest.
1. Web Design Companies
If you are looking for a long-term business relationship then working with web development companies is the best option for you. Such agencies have professionals that can start working on your website right away. They also help you expand your operations and team of developers whenever you need it. You can find such companies from trusted platforms like Clutch that rate top software development companies based on customer review and other standards in the IT industry.
2. Freelancer Marketplaces
A small business owner would certainly think of hiring freelancers to reduce costs of the project. But it is not necessary that only small businesses can hire freelancers. Large companies can also hire them if they match the necessary criteria and have the experience to successfully deliver the desired results.
Most companies hire freelancers on small or simple projects like when the UX design concept of a website is already completed. You can find freelance designers and developers from online marketplaces like Upwork and Freelancer. Similar to an agency, a freelance web designer also works with different types of pricing models. Choose whichever suits both of your needs.
- Part-time
- Full-time
- Hourly rate
- Project price
Before you hire any company or freelancer, keep one thing in mind that there is a lot of competition in the IT industry and sometimes these companies and freelancers will tell clients everything they want to hear just to win the deal but you must test whether they possess the quality they brag about or not.
3. Design Networks
There are a few platforms such as Dribble and Behance on the internet where creative people like designers love to display their work to the world. Some companies use such platforms to find talented web designers. But this happens when a person has clear objectives in mind and just needs someone to execute their ideas as per their wish.
The designers you find here might be more expensive than the ones you find on freelancer marketplaces. But if you have a big budget then you no longer have to worry about the cost of the project because this is the place from where you can find skilled people that can deliver a top-notch quality product.
4. Crowdsourcing Sites
If you don’t have a budget problem or didn’t want to commit to a single vendor then what you can do is start a contest on one of those crowdsourcing websites like DEsignCrowd or 99Designs. All you have to do is:
- Submit the design brief where you describe what are your requirements and expectations.
- Collect the suggestions from various web designers
- Pick a designer whose work you liked the most and collaborate with him/her on the platform to start working on your website.
The higher budget always attracts the most skilled and experienced designers.
What now?
The experience of building a new website or redesigning an existing one does not necessarily have to be painful. When you outsource web design, you get access to a global pool of talents and experts, the latest technologies, and other resources. Your website will be constantly updated according to customer requirements, design trends, and market shifts.
But never forget to create a detailed brief with cost estimation and clear objectives for your project before its beginning. Also, invest enough time in finding and hiring a high-skilled development team that can deliver the expected results.
Outsourcing is one of the most powerful tools a business can use to scale its growth. Yes, anyone can do it but the more important thing is how you do it. So, I hope you have got that answer in this article, still if you have any queries, please share them in the comments section below. I will get back to you on them as soon as possible.