Selecting a website partner can be very difficult. Vendors range from individuals to multimillion dollar operations. Unfortunately, the barrier of entry is very low – anyone can pick up a book, create a simple website, and call themselves a developer or web agency. The difference in cost and expertise from one end of the spectrum to the other is as vast as that between a moped and a Cadillac. Further, two seemingly identical proposals will vary in price by as much as tens of thousands of dollars. How can you be sure you’ll get the best value from your vendor? What do you look for in a web marketing company?

Begin by asking your peers and other business partners for recommendations. When seeking Michigan web development, consider contacting Automation Alley for a list of members matching your needs. When interviewing candidates, you should solicit references and samples of projects and company websites similar to what yours might include.

Don’t rely solely on a proposal to make your decision. The Request for Quote (RFQ) process assumes that you know the best solution for your needs. It also assumes that the respondent understands your needs and can accurately estimate the requirements and costs. This is a fallacy and the response will be an inaccurate bid, resulting in costly (time and money) losses. To accurately estimate a web development project’s costs, a joint discovery process and the development of a detailed statement of work is required. If you’re still unsure, consider hiring a consultant to assist you with this.