Having a strong online presence should be fundamental for any business and print businesses are no different. A well-designed and functional website can help you showcase your products, attract new customers, and ultimately boost your sales. Even just a basic but great looking and well-structured website is an essential way for customers to find you. Finding the right web developer for printing website design, however, could be a daunting task. We have identified some key steps in the process of selecting a web developer who can understand the unique needs of your print business and create an ecommerce printing website with a great user experience.
Defining your goals and requirements
Before you start searching for a web developer, it’s important to clearly define your goals and requirements. Consider what you want to achieve with your website. Do you want to sell products online and have an ecommerce printing website? Or do you want to simply provide information about your services to generate leads? Understanding your objectives will help you communicate your needs effectively to potential web developers. Many businesses begin their search for a web developer believing that they can simply hand the task over to the developers without much collaboration. The truth is, the more collaboration a web developer has from their client, the more successful the build will be. Having an idea of what type of content you’d like, how you want the website to look and feel, how you want the user to be guided through the website will be essential factors for any web developer and designer.
Look for relevant experience
When choosing a web developer for your print business, look for someone with experience in designing websites for similar industries. An experienced developer will have a better understanding of the unique challenges, pains and requirements of a print business. They should be able to showcase their previous work and provide references or case studies that demonstrate their expertise in the field. This is particularly true for any print business looking to have a website developed that is intended to be an ecommerce print shop. An ecommerce printing website is a more complex project than a simple portfolio or catalogue website. An ecommerce printing website employs the utilisation of web to print software which is more specialist. So, ensure you do your research before selecting a web developer, even if this is just something you might want your website to evolve to at a later date. A web developer with expertise in both printing website design and ecommerce printing websites will help your business evolve, should you want this, over time.
Technical skills and expertise
A successful web developer should possess a range of technical skills necessary for building and maintaining a website. They should be proficient in web development languages such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Additionally, they should have knowledge of content management systems (CMS) such as WordPress or Shopify, as these platforms are commonly used for building websites. Make sure to discuss the technical aspects of your project with potential developers to ensure they have the necessary expertise.
Communication and collaboration
Effective communication is key to any successful business relationship. When evaluating web developers, consider their responsiveness, clarity in communication, and willingness to listen to your ideas and requirements. A company with the right skills should be able to translate your vision into a functional website while providing guidance and suggestions to enhance its effectiveness. Look for someone who is open to collaboration and values your input throughout the development process. Indeed, your input, as the business, is absolutely essential for the most successful build possible so any web design business who doesn’t encourage this should be given a wide birth!
Understand their support and maintenance offerings
Building a website is not a one-time task. Testing and re-evaluation should be part of the build, when nearing completion. Then again once the build is complete, to make any necessary revisions and amendments. Then ongoing support and maintenance should be offered to ensure its smooth functioning. Enquire about the developer’s support and maintenance services. Will they be available for updates, bug fixes, and technical support after the website is launched? Clarify the terms and duration of their support to ensure a long-term partnership.
Know your budget and timeline
Discuss your budget and timeline with potential web developers. While it’s important to find a developer who can work within your budget, remember that quality should not be compromised solely for the sake of cost. Be transparent about your financial constraints, and look for developers who can provide a cost-effective solution without compromising on the quality of work. Also worth factoring in is how you might want your business to evolve over time. Whilst you might only have the immediate budget for a catalogue or enquiry only website, you might in the end want it to grow into an ecommerce printing website. If your developer is aware of this, they may be able to put together a structured approach to updating it and making manageable changes over time.
Flex4 OPS – The Ecommerce Print Shop Specialists
At Flex4 OPS, we are experts in web to print, print ecommerce and printer website design. With over 15 years’ experience working closely with print businesses, developing their websites, creating web to print solutions for them and understanding their pains, we can confidently work with any size business. If you are a print business, looking for a web developer to help elevate your presence online and create some new enquiries, talk to us today. We offer a variety of packages to suit a range of budgets and can help scale your website over time. We have a friendly UK based team who will be happy to listen to your requirements.