Choosing the best web developer in Long Island can be a daunting task sometimes. You not only have to find a strong, established developer with a rich portfolio and proven abilities, you also have to find one who is willing to take the time to understand your vision and target for the project.
And then of course you also have to be willing to take the time to get familiar with what he has in mind and how he intends to carry out the task at hand.
So in short, communication is key, and to secure the best web developer in Long Island for your projects, you have to make sure it is someone with whom you’re able to communicate smoothly, and that possesses the above attributes, qualifications, and more.
So how exactly does one go about this and how do you choose the best web developer on Long Island? Below is a detailed guide on the overt and subtle signs to look for to help you make the perfect design among a pool of options.
5 Steps To Choosing The Best Web Developer on Long Island
1. Communicate and Ask Questions
It shouldn’t be surprising to learn that the very first step to choosing the best web developer is to communicate and ask questions. If you have any prior knowledge on the subject, communication will make it easier to ascertain whether or not the person you’re talking to is the right developer for the job.
For those without prior knowledge, there are certain [questions you should always ask you Long Island web developer](insert link) before proceeding. These questions will not only help you get closer to making a decision, it will also give you numerous key insights regarding who you’re working with, and what you’re going to get.
For instance through these questions you’ll be able to understand whether or not you’re working with a specialist who works in certain niche areas, a web designer who specialises in only design, or a web developer like me who is versatile in all areas.
2. Compare Past Projects and Portfolio
After asking the preliminary questions, and receiving satisfactory answers, the next step is to carry out further detailed assessment of your prospective Long Island web developer’s abilities. And how do you assess a developer’s abilities? You go through their previous projects and their portfolios.
Any developer worth your time will already have a portfolio provided whether they showcase their best works. Through these you get to determine just how good they are, whether their design visions are in line with yours, and of course you also get to see for yourself what kind of niches they specialize in and are good at.
Once you take a look at all of these, and are satisfied enough to believe they can do just as good a job on your own project, you can move on to the other vetting steps below.
3. Consider Additional Service Features
The next step to choosing the best web developer for your projects, after communication and examining past projects, is to take a good look at the service features. For some people, the most important thing is to have someone to help you create your website or any other specific project.
For most, however, the task goes way beyond just creating a website and calling it a day. There are still certain quality assurance steps and further optimizations that must be done before the project is closed and considered a successful one.
For instance, there are speed optimizations that make the website load as fast as possible; search engine optimization for additional search engine traffic, and even certain security and privacy additions.
In cases where you’re choosing between two competent Long Island web developers, your best bet would be to go with the one that offers the best value with additional features and services, just like I do at my design company, Famous Internet Solutions.
4. Compare Budget Flexibility
Budget flexibility is another factor that can help you choose between the best web developers in and around Long Island. What do I mean by budget flexibility, you ask? Well, some developers tend to set rigid budgets for their services, which are non-negotiable. This is great, of course, for those who have a comprehensive service in mind.
But if you’re interested in only a few facets of the service, you may end up overpaying, and that is where flexibility comes in. At Famous Internet Solutions, I offer a hybrid arrangement with a set of rigid service features along with a more flexible system that allows you to negotiate and pick your desired service feature.
This way, you can ensure that what you’ll be getting is the perfect value for your money, not less.
5. Trust Your Guts
Finally, in the end, if you’ve gone through all the steps above and still can’t decide which Long Island web developer to go with, the next thing to do is to trust your instincts and go with it.
Any developer that passes the tests above is already a great fit for you. You’ll already be sure of getting an experienced expert with tons of quality and flexibility. You might as well roll a dice to make your decision. In the end, though, you might not have to.
From your communication and examinations, there is a likely chance that your guts would have already made a decision. You might as well stick to it already!
In Conclusion
So there you have it – the steps to choosing the best and most perfect Long Island web developer for your projects. As mentioned earlier, making a decision between the very best may be a bit tedious, but having gone through these steps, you can at least rest assured that whoever you end up going with will be a seasoned professional with lots of experience and capabilities.
To recap, the basic five steps to doing this are: communication, portfolio examination, additional features comparison, budget flexibility, and in the end if all checks out, going with your gut feeling!
Working with a web developer for the first time can be an overwhelming process. There are so many steps to figure out before the project Itself begins, and what’s more, you have to ensure that you not only communicate all your preferences to the developer, but that you also understand their visions too.
The question, then, is how do you do this in the most optimal way? Through communication, of course. Through questions and answers that get you both to understand each other fully, and ensure that the project is carried out in the most optimal way possible.
So what questions should you be asking your Long Island web developer to ensure that you both understand each other and are absolutely on the same page? I provide a detailed answer below with 8 important questions you should ask your Long Island web designer before you proceed.
8 Questions To Ask a Long Island Web Developer
1. Do You Have Any Experience With Similar Niches Websites?
First thing you want to ask a web developer you want to hire for a project in Long Island is whether or not they have experience related to your niche. Web development covers a wide array of niches. A developer proficient in building blog websites may not be so with e-commerce stores.
So to this end, you must first ascertain that they indeed are comfortable working with your niche, and ideally have some experience doing so in the past.
Another related question to this one is, “are you a specialist?” This is important because some web developers specialize in certain niches. You may find a developer you connect with but that isn’t specialized in your niche.
Before you waste time with other questions, it is important that you ask this first to ensure that you’re on the same page right from the start.
2. Will My Project Be Outsourced it Performed In-House?
Lots of web developers have their own operation strategies. Now this isn’t to say that any one is greater or better than the other. It’s all about preferences and openness. As a web developer, they owe you transparency in letting you know whether or not their projects are outsourced.
Personally, every web development project that I handle is completed in-house, through my development company, Famous Internet Solutions.
We do not outsource any aspect of our design, and as such are able to generate more constancy and more control – two qualities which, of course, you should always be on the lookout for in a web developer.
3. WILL My Project Be Custom or CMS?
I’ve been a software engineer in Long Island for decades now, and all through the journey new methods and new modes of operations keep popping out. One of this, is the emergence of really powerful CMS that are capable of looking as though they are custom made websites.
What is a CMS? CMS is short for content management systems, examples of which are WordPress, Wix and so on. Now as mentioned earlier, making use of a CMS isn’t bad at all, but transparency is important, so as to verify if it fits your preference.
Personally, every website that I build is custom made and not customized (as in the case of using CMS). Of course sometimes you may prefer CMS in some peculiar situations. In that case, I can do that. But generally, this is a question you should ask and a clear picture you should get before the project begins.
4. What Is Your TAT?
This is a pretty basic yet very important question that you should always ask a Long Island web developer. What’s your turnaround time? How long does it take till we hit the demo stage? How long does it take till the website is live and fully functioning?
This helps you set a clear target, and also gives you a clear path. And in case the turnaround time is breached, you’re able to clearly ascertain that a term of agreement has been breached.
5. What Other Optimizations Will Be Carried Out?
Being a Long Island web developer is more than just building a website and getting all the elements ready and functional. Sometimes, it is also about optimizing the website in various little, but highly important, aspects.
For example at Famous Internet Solutions, we not only build your websites and meticulously design its UI/UX and backends, we also optimize for speed, for search engine friendliness, and numerous technical capabilities that will prove invaluable in the future.
So, before you proceed with a web developer always understand what you’re paying for and what their services entail – further optimization, or no further optimization.
6. How About Testing and Security?
Testing and securing your website from malicious attacks is as important at the moment than any other design modes. Certain web developers such as myself help you with testing your website features and making sure they have everything required to prevent hackers and other individuals with malicious intent.
I also make sure your site is equipped with all the scripts and certificates that help protect user data, among others.
Some web developers, though, do not include this service as part of their overall packages. This is another thing you must ascertain before you proceed.
7. What Features Are Included in Your Budget?
Apropos to the two points above, this question is sort of a completion of the other two, to get the full picture of the service range you’ll be getting. For instance, having clarified whether or not further optimizations would be carried out on the website, and having understood whether not there will be testing and security measures installed, next thing you want to know is what other features are included in the service.
Are there link building services if possible? Content writing services? Marketing strategies? Outreach? Copywriting? Will you be supplying stock photographs, and so on.
8. Are You a Web Designer, Web Developer, or Both?
Lastly, another important question that you simply have to ask is about the job description. “Web developer” is a term that is thrown around a lot, and even co-opted by ‘web designers’, and as such many people assume them to be the same thing. Well, they’re not. So what is the difference, you ask?
You see, while a web designer is only focused on designing the outlook of your website, that is arranging the front-end elements and so on, a web developer is responsible for both the outlook on the front-end, and exactly how the website itself works as programmed on the backend.
It is important that you know which you’re dealing with right from the get go, so that further disagreements don’t arise down the road due to unspecified job descriptions.
I’m Ken Key, a Long Island Web designer and web developer. Thank you for reading my blog. Stick around for more!
I’ve been a software engineer in Long Island for decades. I’ve taken on all sorts of projects with great results, and most importantly, I gained lots of experience and lessons learnt in the process.
Now all through the years, one of the questions I’ve been confronted with more than any other is this – is it easy to get a job as a web designer on Long Island?
Well, first of all, like most fascinating questions worth asking, the answer isn’t as simple as blurting out a yes or no. Because, again, the question is so fascinating and so subjective, that the answer to this can be a yes or no, or even both at the same time.
To put it more succinctly, it can be a yes for some, while being a no for some. It used to be a yes for me, too, back in the early days. But as time goes on, you start to understand the nuances involved, study the market more, and hopefully attain some knowledge and experience that make the task easier.
Getting through all of these steps took a significant amount of time in my case. It doesn’t have to be so for you. This post was written to make sure that you don’t have to go through it the hard way like I did.
Keep reading below to find out how getting a job as a web designer on Long Island can be a smooth task for you, instead of a tough one.
The Difference Between Yes and No
The difference between the answer to the question being a yes or a no for you comes down to a handful of factors, the most significant of them being experience, tenacity, proper planning and research.
It is all too easy to make the mistake of banking on your abilities alone as a Long Island freelance web designer. I mean, don’t get me wrong, abilities do matter. But sadly, nowadays, abilities alone won’t get you jobs on a consistent basis.
Believe it or not, there are thousands of software developers in Long Island that are just as good, and a lot that are even better. To set yourself apart, you have to go the extra mile.
And how exactly do you do this? Here are 6 steps through which you can separate yourself from the pack and ensure that you experience huge success as a software developer in Long Island.
6 Steps to Ensure You Get a Job as a Long Island Web Designer
1. Create a Comprehensive Portfolio
Your portfolio is your special weapon. It is what you display to prospective clients to show them what you’re made of. You have to make a portfolio of your most amazing projects.
Now this doesn’t signify that they have to be absolutely perfect or out of this world. I mean if they can, sure, go for it. Truth is, though, nobody’s perfect and I wouldn’t like you to take the implication from this that you have to be.
Perfection is not the aim. Meticulousness is. It has to showcase YOUR best. In your best area, and you should be good to move on to the next step.
2. Market Yourself
As mentioned earlier, marketing is just essential to a web designer as the actual designing itself. To make it in the highly competitive market, you must learn and understand how to promote yourself the way most can.
And how do you successfully stand out in practically any field? You brand yourself of course. Take my situation, for example. You’re here reading the Ken Key blog on a Ken Key website with a Ken Key brand. Automatically, I’m no longer just a website designer or software developer. The name speaks for itself.
You also have to make your name mean something. Over time you will build trust and consistency, but first you have to set your name apart.
3. Think About Specializing
As a Long Island web developer, there is already a degree of specialization in your approach, which is great. Sometimes, though, to stand out you have to consider specialization even further.
Now, specialization as a web designer doesn’t have to mean restricting yourself to one design method or one language. No. On the other hand, by specialization I mean considering targeting a particular niche.
For instance, you may choose to specialize in E-commerce, mobile applications, or building websites for particular kinds of organizations and businesses.
All of these go a long way in carving out a niche for yourself, where you can further build trust and consistency.
4. Stay Updated
Just like any other field in the 21st century, or perhaps with even more frequency, the field of web design is a constantly evolving one. As a web designer, you have to stay on top of this constantly changing field.
You have to familiarize yourself with new design methods, learn and practice your own skills, confirm to see if there have been any updates, and so on.
The reason for this is still the same as I’ve been talking about earlier – to stand out. Learning new skills and staying more updated than your peers allow you to add skills to your arsenal that haven’t been saturated yet.
5. Make Use of Available Resources
There are numerous resources and platforms out there where you can secure gigs as a freelance Long Island web designer. Apart from websites such as Upwork and Peopleperhour, you can also make use of lesser known ones such as Glassdoor and Simplyhired, that are just as easy to find with a quick Google search.
Some web designers from Long Island set out with six figures in mind. This isn’t unachievable, but you should also learn to start small. It is a mistake to close your mind freelancing. Here you just might make the proper connections that help you secure that six figure deal.
6. Outreach and Networking
Speaking of connections, another important step that will help you find success as a Long Island web developer is developing an adept networking and outreach skill. Sure, you’ve done the difficult part – attain proficiency in numerous languages and become an expert at it. Sadly, this doesn’t guarantee anything.
Again, people don’t usually throw money at you for a task they can get numerous options for. You have to be willing to carry out outreaches to brands, and form a network.
Join forums, speak with people who have come before. Do these, and you just might be through to setting yourself up for success as a Long Island web designer.
