8/17/2008
A Client’s Guide to Selecting a Web Developer – Proximity
The Internet allows us to collaborate with people all around the globe, and this has permanently transformed business. Web development, being digital in nature, certainly lends itself to long distance project work. It’s not unusual for American companies and entrepreneurs to have their Web sites and blogs built by out of state or foreign firms, no matter how far flung. Expertise seems to have trumped physical proximity once and for all.
Still, there are cases when selecting a local Web development firm makes sense.
- Consider your own style of doing business, and that of members of your internal team. Do you or they prefer face to face meetings over conducting business over the phone or through email? Be honest – it’s not a sin to feel that way. Complex projects, in particular, require a lot of back and forth discussion. If you want the ability to deal with some of that live, factor it into your selection decision.
- Along the same lines, make sure you understand how a remote Web development firm handles project management, file transfers, and the like. Are you and your team comfortable with their project management software? Are you ready, willing, and able to adapt to unfamiliar Web-based communication tools? It may seem like a minor consideration during the selection process, but is exactly the sort of thing that drives a project team crazy once the project is underway.
- For large scale, big budget projects, a local firm, if you can find the right one, will give you a better sense of security. If a project extends over many months, the need for face to face meetings will be inevitable. If a crucial deadline is threatened, or a crisis rears its head, you will want to see someone NOW. If your Web development firm is halfway across the globe, budget and time restrictions may prevent them from responding quickly enough, no matter how well intended they may be.
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