As millions of websites continue to go online all around the world, have you ever thought to ask yourself whether or not you have in fact bought a dud website?

The internet is still quite fairly new in the scheme of things and this brings about great flaws, especially when it comes to getting what you’ve been promised.

Some web developers (not all) are continuing to overcharge and under deliver on the picture perfect website they choose to paint for their customers. I myself have had to turn off a previous website that cost me over $6,000 due to a lack of customer service (or no customer service as a matter of fact) and functionality that in today’s terms was still locked into the prehistoric ages.

So what are you meant to look for when buying a website? Here are a few useful tips that you’ll need to consider when purchasing or transferring over an existing site.

Web Developers you can work with

Your first port of call when assessing the purchase of a new website is simple, can you work with the web developers and will they support you long after the site has been up?

I have heard many a horror story about web developers that have put a new site online only to offer no follow up support after the site has been completed or alternatively, offer follow up support that has a massive price tag! The site going online is only the first step in the process and needs to be assessed at regular intervals to check how effective it’s been and the results it’s producing.

It’s like every other marketing campaign that you run, if it’s not working, fix it!

Web Developers with practical business experience

Considering the website is literally your shopfront, you’ll want it to be able to sell your products and services to your target market and expand and develop as your business evolves.

If the website developer isn’t asking you questions about your business objectives/plans, how many products/services you need to sell and what your sales process will be through the website, run the other way and don’t look back!

Find a website designer that looks at your entire business model, not just what you want seen online. Also look for someone that has had practical hands on business experience and who understands how vital it is to get the sales process and opt in strategies on your site implemented strategically and right from the word go.

Warning Signs of a bad developer

· Does not build your site around generating leads

· Does not take search engine optimisation techniques into account

· Does not ask you probing questions about your business and future goals/objectives

· Can’t provide you with previous case studies/success stories and phone numbers you can ring up to further qualify

Signs of a good website developer

· Will look at your future business goals above everything else and assist you work a strategy into your website to assist you achieve these

· Focuses on how to generate new leads from your website and convert them into paying customers

· Provides follow up meetings to assess the success of the site to date and offer practical solutions for future advances

· Educates you on realistic goals and brings your idea into a working plan

Ultimately at the end of the day, you’re forking over a lot of money; you want to make an educated decision. The whole objective of having a website is to generate sales and build your database so you can promote to them at a later date, if it doesn’t do this then you may have a dud site on your hands!!!

Ben Angel
Founding Director
Nationwide Networking