Almost every entrepreneur knows someone who paid for a website and ended up with half of one. Or with a site they can't change without the person who built it.
It's rarely bad intent. Usually, the important things were never discussed at the start.
Agency vs freelancer: which one fits you
Neither is better by default. It depends on the project.
A good freelancer is a good choice for a clear, well-defined project. You talk directly to the person doing the work, and communication is simple.
The risk: you depend on one person. If they get sick, get overbooked or change careers, your project stands still.
An agency brings several skills under one roof (design, development, copy, SEO) and continuity, because the project doesn't hang on a single person.
The risk: you talk to someone in sales, and the work lands with someone else you've never met. Ask who will actually work on your project.
Look at what they delivered, not at what they promise
Everyone's portfolio looks good. What matters is what's behind it.
Open the portfolio sites on your phone. Do they load fast? Are they still online? Do they still look cared for today?
Ask to speak with one or two past clients. People who do good work have no problem with that.
A good proposal starts with questions about your business, not with a list of pages.
If you get a price before anyone asks what you sell and to whom, you received a template, not a proposal.
The questions to ask before you sign
Ask them directly and get the answers in writing.
- In whose name are the domain, the hosting and the accounts?
- What exactly does the offer include, and what is billed separately?
- How many rounds of revisions are included?
- Can I change text and photos myself after launch?
- Who writes the copy and who provides the photos?
- What happens after launch: maintenance, updates, errors?
- If we part ways, do I get everything related to the site?
The first and the last matter most. The website has to be yours, not quietly rented.
Signs you should keep looking
Promises like "first place on Google, guaranteed." Nobody controls Google, so nobody can honestly guarantee that.
No contract, or a half-page contract with no deadlines and no clear deliverables.
Replies that come slowly even before signing. They don't get faster afterwards.
And a price far below the other offers, with no explanation. The difference usually gets paid later, in lost time or in work that has to be redone.
How to compare offers and choose
Don't compare only the bottom line. Compare what you get for it.
Two offers for "a company website" can mean completely different things: one with copy, optimization and maintenance included, the other just an installed template.
Ask each side to explain what they do and why. People who know their craft explain it simply.
Choose someone who is easy to talk to. You'll work together for months, and a good website comes out of many small conversations.
If you'd like to see how we would approach your project, ask us exactly the questions above. We'll answer all of them, in writing.