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Business Growth
1 min read
March 24, 2025

How to Hire a Web Developer: A Business Owner's Guide

What to look for when hiring a web developer — freelancer vs agency, evaluating portfolios, and setting expectations.

Ryel Banfield

Founder & Lead Developer

What to look for when hiring a web developer — freelancer vs agency, evaluating portfolios, and setting expectations.

1. In-House vs Freelancer vs Agency

The right partner understands your business, not just technology. Look for a track record in your industry, clear communication, and transparent pricing. Ask for references and follow up with them. The cheapest option almost never delivers the best value — focus on total cost of ownership and long-term partnership potential.

2. Evaluating Portfolios

The right partner understands your business, not just technology. Look for a track record in your industry, clear communication, and transparent pricing. Ask for references and follow up with them. The cheapest option almost never delivers the best value — focus on total cost of ownership and long-term partnership potential.

3. Technical Interview for Non-Technical People

Focus on fundamentals before chasing trends. The businesses that grow consistently are the ones that execute basics exceptionally well. Start with the highest-impact actions, measure everything, and iterate based on data rather than intuition.

4. Contracts and Scope

Focus on fundamentals before chasing trends. The businesses that grow consistently are the ones that execute basics exceptionally well. Start with the highest-impact actions, measure everything, and iterate based on data rather than intuition.

5. Communication Expectations

Every page on your website should have a clear next step for the visitor. Match the call-to-action to the visitor's intent — someone reading a blog post is not ready for the same CTA as someone on your pricing page. Reduce form fields to the minimum needed, use progressive disclosure for complex forms, and make sure every conversion path works on mobile.

6. Red Flags to Watch For

Focus on fundamentals before chasing trends. The businesses that grow consistently are the ones that execute basics exceptionally well. Start with the highest-impact actions, measure everything, and iterate based on data rather than intuition.

Take Action

The best strategy is one you actually execute. Start with the highest-impact items and build from there. Contact us if you need help implementing any of these strategies.

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