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Step-by-step evaluation guide

✅ Step-by-Step Guide: What to Do Before Hiring a Developer

Step 1: Define Your Goals

  • What do you need the website for? (e.g., ecommerce, hotel booking, pharmacy, portfolio).

  • Who is your target audience?

  • What features are must-haves (online payment, booking system, product catalog, blog, etc.)?

👉 Clear goals will help you judge if the developer’s proposal matches your needs.

Step 2: Research the Developer

  • Check their website (if they don’t have one, 🚩 red flag).

  • Look at their portfolio of live sites.

  • Read client reviews/testimonials on Google, LinkedIn, or Upwork.

  • Ask for 2–3 client references you can speak with.

Step 3: Evaluate Technical Skills

  • Ask what platform/technology they plan to use (WordPress, Shopify, Laravel, etc.).

  • Check if they know about mobile responsiveness, SEO, site speed, and security.

  • Request a demo or sample of similar work they’ve done.

Step 4: Clarify Ownership

  • Make sure the domain is registered in your name.

  • Hosting should be in your account (not theirs).

  • You must have full control over the admin panel & source code after completion.

👉 This ensures you’re never locked in.

Step 5: Get a Written Proposal

  • Should include scope of work, timeline, deliverables, and costs.

  • Check for hidden fees (hosting, SSL, premium plugins).

  • Confirm if content writing, images, and SEO are included or separate.

Step 6: Payment Terms

  • Only pay in milestones (e.g., 30% upfront, 30% mid-project, 40% on completion).

  • Never agree to 100% advance payment.

  • Use contracts or invoices for every payment made.

Step 7: Communication & Project Management

  • How will they update you? (Weekly calls, emails, reports).

  • Do they use project tracking tools like Trello, Asana, or Jira?

  • Can you review progress live on a test server before final delivery?

Step 8: Post-Launch Support

  • Who handles bug fixes after launch?

  • Will they provide basic training so you can update content yourself?

  • Do they offer maintenance packages (updates, backups, security monitoring)?

Step 9: Legal & Contracts

  • Sign a service agreement covering:

    • Ownership of website, code, and content.

    • Delivery deadlines.

    • Payment milestones.

    • Confidentiality of business data.

Step 10: Trust Your Instincts

  • If the developer avoids straight answers, 🚩 red flag.

  • If they seem more focused on money than your business goals, 🚩 red flag.

  • Choose someone who explains things in a way you understand—not in jargon meant to confuse you.

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