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Tips for finding a perfect web developer and/or designer?

by online only
9 replies
I've been involved with internet marketing for the past 3-4 years, yet the one thing that I'm still truly struggling with is outsourcing website development & design.

I've outsourced a lot of web development work from PeoplePerHour, Elance and Freelancer, yet I haven't been truly satisfied with any of them. I've also lurked around google to find great agencies, UI/UX designers and professional web designers - no luck.

I once paid $20k for re-designing my site and this ended up loss in conversions (those folks claimed to be conversion specialized design team )

I set my budget usually higher than average (to attract very good designers and developers), yet I'm still out of luck.

I'm describing my needs (work process) very in-depth to avoid any miscommunication.

I bring out examples that I like

etc...

Yet, nothing to be satisfied with.

I might be too perfectionist, but IMHO your website is your main asset and thus it has to be the best. I didn't make this thread to find possible developers/designer from WF. I just thought that perhaps some of you who have been invested some $$$ in web dev/design could point out some places/sites, where I could find really good agencies or freelancers to work with in the long-run.

Of course, in that scenario the best solution is to learn designing and developing by myself, but I just don't have this time. I'm involved with other aspects of internet marketing and that's just not my cup of tea. I mean I know the basics of dev/design, I know how to tweak and edit WP theme, I also know something about Drupal and Joomla, but I don't have time to learn everything from scratch.

Thanks all.
#and or or #designer #developer #finding #perfect #tips #web
  • Profile picture of the author Brent Stangel
    Ofcourse, in that scenario the best solution is to learn designing and developing by myself, but I just don't have this time.
    I once paid $20k for re-designing my site and this ended up loss in conversions
    How much is your time worth, exactly?
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  • Profile picture of the author kk075
    My advice would be to start locally...there's nothing like being able to look a developer in the face and explain your issues with their design. So reach out to all your local web developers and ask them specific questions to the specific design you're hoping to implement, and then ask to see some samples of where they've done that in the past.

    If you are forced to go the Elance/Freelancer route, then spend some time looking through the highest rated profiles until a few catch your eye. Invite those freelancers to apply and hold them to the same high standard by asking for proof of concept before starting the project. If none meet your criteria, then don't hire the best out of the bunch....just don't hire anyone.

    I feel your pain though because I go through the exact same thing on a monthly basis. It is very hard to find qualified hep that has the right mindset and is willing to commit to your vision. All I can say is keep looking and get as much face-time as possible with the candidates.
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  • Profile picture of the author quadagon
    I always recommende the following

    Ask them their background. The vast majority of web designers are graphic artists or coders who know nothing about marketing.

    Listen to who they talk about. If its about them get out. If its about you (ie what websites do you like?) Get out. If its about your customers prick your ears up.
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    • Profile picture of the author jkruger
      Originally Posted by quadagon View Post

      The vast majority of web designers are graphic artists or coders who know nothing about marketing.
      Best thing I have read today!

      The short answer to the OP question is: hire us.
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      • Profile picture of the author BigFrank
        Banned
        There is no such thing as a "perfect" web developer and/or designer. You'll have an easier time finding unicorn poop.

        Cheers. - Frank
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  • Profile picture of the author Tom Addams
    I feel your pain.

    It took me close to 15 years to finally end up with staff that I know, without a doubt, I can entirely rely on to get the job done. In fact, they're so good, it's often a case of me being on the ball enough to stay up to their high standards.

    What I tend to do now is get the ideas, structure what I need, and farm it out to them. And I know, every single time, that the work will be in accordance with my strict specifications.

    How did I get to this situation?

    Networking - online and offline. I wont give you the entire, boring story. Just let me throw some pointers your way. Maybe you'll find some useful:

    1. Network offline. This is the best route. You'll learn more about a person over a Starbucks than you will from a month chatting on Skype.

    2. Failing the above, network on places like WF. Ask key members - who seem trustworthy - if they can point you in the right direction. Then approach and begin to develop a relationship of sorts. Email exchanges. Skype. Whatever. It's a slower route than the above, but it works.

    Tom
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  • Profile picture of the author quinng123
    A designer, developer, and internet marketer all have different directions when creating a website generally. I don't even think it is about any one particular designer, but rather the process of creation when explaining what you want.

    No one person can reach inside a person's head and extract the ideas verbatim so either trust must be in the hands of the developer/designer or you must make a mock-up the design yourself before even articulating what you want.

    I have clients for music for commercial and documentaries. Although they can describe what they want, it is just 1000 times easier if they give me a handful of song references.

    If you are able to look at a wide variety of sites and extract certain pieces from each and then make a rough design of the site yourself then hand it to someone I think you might reach more success
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  • Profile picture of the author kilgore
    Originally Posted by online only View Post

    I once paid $20k for re-designing my site and this ended up loss in conversions (those folks claimed to be conversion specialized design team )
    Before staring my business, I was a web developer for over 15 years and I can tell you that if someone offered me $20/hour I would have laughed them out of the room.

    Right now it's a very tight market for quality web developers (with emphasis on quality -- crappy developers, as you noticed, are easy to find). Thus, these days if I were looking for web development work, I'd simply post my resume somewhere like Dice.com and wait for the unending flood of calls and emails from recruiters trying to get me to apply for their jobs.

    None of them would be offering less than $50/hour -- and that's for a medium-to-long term, full-time contract -- and quite frankly I'd most likely be turning down the $50/hour jobs unless the projects were something either very interesting or something I cared a lot about (I've done a lot of work for non-profits at below market rates). And you should also note that if the work was part-time or short-term, I'd want even more -- the time I have to spend searching or interviewing for jobs is worth something too, after all.

    As for how to find good developers, I very much echo GRM's recommendation: network offline. Really it's your only shot of competing against recruiters, especially if you're not offering top pay for long-term work. Maybe you can convince a friend or a friend of a friend to help you out because your project is interesting or maybe they want some extra money, but don't want a barrage of recruiter calls.

    Alternatively, keep finding crappy developers -- though as you are well aware by now, you get what you pay for!
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  • Profile picture of the author Rich Lowe
    Hi,

    I feel your pain too. The amount of time and money I lost in the process of finding someone good doesn't bear thinking about.

    Most designers' I have seen are not as good as they say they are and I would go as far in saying that It wouldn't surprise if they 'steal' other designers work and put it in their portfolio claiming it to be their own work. It used to always astonish me that when I came across someone who seemed to be good, they had a good looking site for their own business but when they came to show me what they had done for me I would end up with something that had no resemblance to the quality, look and feel of their own companies website.

    You are also fighting against the fact that some just walk away half way through the project and yes, although you might be able to get your money back, you are still losing valuable time. Reliability is a big factor too.

    I really don't know what the solution is other than keep plugging away, trawl the Warrior for hire section, post on 99 designs.com etc and just hope you get sort of lucky.

    To help you out, I'm going to send you a PM with some names of designers who might be what you are looking for. These are people from my own private rolodex.

    Hope it helps.

    Rich
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