A Guide To Adding Web Developers To Your Network

Achieving a successful online presence requires a number of people performing a number of different tasks, from the web designers who create a company’s website to the online marketers who attract visitors. It is for this reason that many online-based companies find it useful to create a network of contacts that they can call upon whenever they need particular services. These are some things to look for when looking for web developers to add to your network:

• Great portfolio: Development does not really have anything do with how a website looks, so you should be looking for projects that are user-friendly and work effortlessly. You should also find out what the exact role of the developer was in that particular project.
• Well-written blog: Whilst this does not have much to do with the skills or aptitude of the web developer in question, it does show that they are passionate about what they do and are willing to put in the (unpaid) time to hone their craft further.
• Industry presence: Look for developers that have high profile clients (such as well known brands or individuals), published works, guest speeches and even books; these are all the marks of a talented and dedicated individual.
• Professionalism and reliability: Is the web developer a person who is going to turn up to meetings on time or return phone calls in a timely manner? You would be surprised at how many people are highly talented but lack basic professionalism.
• Collaborative compatibility: When meeting with developers, take special note of the types of questions that they ask you, as this shows that they want to understand your work and collaborate with you. Will their style compliment yours or that of the other members of your network?
• Work logistics: Find out what the web developer’s working hours are and what their availability for meetings and phone conferences is like. Do you mind if they work in a different state or country to you (keeping in mind that this could mean a difference in time zone)?

When putting together your network of talented online individuals, it is important to keep in mind that this is, predominately, a professional relationship. Whilst it is beneficial to get along with the people that you work with, at the end of the day, it is not a requirement or a deciding factor when choosing which web developers you add to your address book and which one’s details will be ‘accidentally’ misplaced.