Your website is usually the first interaction potential customers have with your business. Therefore, it has to look great and be easy to use on both mobile phones and desktop computers. If it doesn’t, visitors will leave your website before they ever become leads.

Whether you have an existing business and need a refreshed website or you have opened a new business and need to set up a website for the first time, there are three ways to go about website development in Atlanta.

You can do it yourself, but if website development isn’t your area of expertise, this route may end up taking longer and costing more. That leaves hiring a freelance developer or partnering with a web development company.

Let’s look at these options and see which has the advantage for business owners.

Advantages of Hiring a Website Development Company

When you hire a solo freelance developer it’s important to keep in mind that you are hiring one person who specializes in one area. On the other hand, a website development company makes a team of specialists available to you. They will gather your input and come up with a concept for your website that aligns with your brand. Then your agency partner will set out to work on your project and complete your website by the agreed deadline.

When it comes to deadlines, partnering with an agency offers a definite advantage over freelancers. A web development company has the resources to meet deadlines and expedite projects if deadlines need to be moved up to coincide with business opportunities.

On the flipside, a freelancer might be very diligent, but the multiple projects that they are juggling alone may keep them from getting yours done on time. Some freelancers may only work part time, making timely project completion even harder. Partnering with a web development company will save you much stress knowing that they will get the job done when you need it.

Is Your Website Developer Up to Date on Industry Trends?

With technology changing so rapidly it’s important to have a website developer who is current with the trends in their field. This can be challenging for a freelancer because they may not have the resources to pursue and adopt new technologies.

On the other hand, a web development company makes sure its developers are up on all the latest technology trends. They invest in professional development opportunities for their team that keep their developers in synch with coding, APIs, responsive design, security, and UX standards.

Technical Support for Business from a Web Development Company

A freelancer may be able to develop a website and get it to launch but what happens after the launch? Time and scope doesn’t typically allow a freelancer to go through all the quality control processes that need to happen to ensure a website continues to function after launch. Once a freelancer’s work is done they usually don’t provide continued site maintenance and security updates.

The last thing a business owner wants is a website to go down and remain offline while customers are trying to get information about a product or make a purchase. A full service website development company can include site maintenance and update schedules in their scope of work.  This allows the business owner to rest assured that their website is meeting industry standards and will continue to function long after launch date.

Plus, an agency offers the business owner the option of utilizing additional services when it makes sense for their digital marketing goals. These services include search engine optimization, pay-per-click advertising, and social media marketing.

Your website is the most important marketing tool your business possesses. Blueprint is a full service digital marketing agency that excels in website development for businesses of all sizes. Contact Blueprint today to learn more about how we can build or refresh your website.

By: Blueprint