Why hire a freelance web developer?

When it comes time to design and develop a new website, small businesses are faced with a choice: hire an agency or a freelance web developer? This can be a very difficult decision to make, especially if you and your company are new to the web development process. While agency web development makes sense for many businesses, small businesses with tight marketing budgets can often get more for their money, not to mention a great product, by hiring an independent outsourcer. As long as the company takes the time to thoroughly vet its applicant pool before hiring a subcontractor, there are many benefits to working with independent developers.

Freelance web developers are more profitable.

Let’s face it: web development agencies can be expensive! While many agencies produce a great product, they also face a lot of overhead, such as employee salaries, benefits, 401K plans, office space, travel compensation, and so on. Freelance web designers and programmers often work from home or in a very small office and typically have very little overhead, which allows them to charge much lower rates than agencies offer.

Many freelance designers and programmers have a diverse skill set.

There are certainly different types of freelancers, and outsourcers’ experience levels can range from having decades of experience to eager to get their first website done. However, experienced freelancers are likely to have diverse backgrounds that may include agency experience and knowledge of many different types of platforms. Outsourcers tend to diversify their skill sets to broaden their client base, and a freelancer who has been developing websites for years is likely to have experience in different coding languages ​​and platforms, such as PHP, CSS, WordPress, and styling. electronic commerce. Websites This provides your employers with flexible options for website development and capabilities.

Subcontractors often have access to a wide network of other freelancers.

If a freelance web developer has established himself as a successful outsourcer, it is more than likely that he has developed relationships with other outsourcers whose specialties complement his own. These partnerships allow freelancers to expand their skills into specialties other than their own by bringing in other freelance team members, if necessary. For example, a developer may specialize in programming but be able to offer graphic design through one of their partners. This way, a small business can get a full menu of graphic design, site design, search engine optimization, and web development without going through an agency.

Tips for finding a great freelance web developer.

For every talented and experienced freelance developer “out there”, there are an equal number of inexperienced and unprofessional subcontractors. However, knowing the difference between these two types of subcontractors is not impossible if you know what to look for. First, assemble a wide pool of candidates to choose from and examine their resumes carefully. Be sure to ask to see each subcontractor’s portfolio of completed projects; this is often the best way to find out what your capabilities and the extent of your experience really are. Then ask for references and contact each one. Ask not only about the references’ completed projects, but also how they felt about the subcontractor’s professionalism, billing, and timely completion of the project.