The Web Maverick Guide to Freelance Web Developer

Small businesses have to face with the choice of hiring an agency or a freelance developer when it comes time to design and develop a new website. It is very difficult to make this decision especially when you and your business are new to the web development process. There are plenty of benefits of working with freelance developers, as the provided businesses take the time to vet their pool of applicants thoroughly before hiring a subcontractor.

Cost effective

Web development agencies can be costly. While many agencies do turn out a great product, they also face many overhead fees, such as employee salaries, benefits, office space, travel compensation, etc. But freelance web developers are cost effective. Usually freelance web designers and programmers work from home or a very small office and typically have very few overhead expenses, allowing them to charge rates much lower than those offered by agencies.

Diverse skill set

There are all different types of freelancers and subcontractors' experience levels that can range from having decades of experience to being eager to do their first website to be sure of it. However experienced freelancers are likely to have a diverse background which may include agency experience and knowledge of many different kinds of platforms. In order to widen their client base subcontractors tend to diversify their skill sets, and a freelancer who has been developing websites for years is likely to have expertise in different code languages and platforms, such as PHP, CSS, WordPress and ecommerce-style websites. This provides their employers with flexible options for development and website capabilities.

Access to a wide network of other freelancers

It’s more than likely that freelance web developer have developed relationships with other subcontractors whose specialties compliment their own if a freelance web developer has established him or herself as a successful subcontractor. If necessary these partnerships allow freelancers to expand their capabilities to specialties outside their own by bringing other freelance team members on. For example, a developer may specialize in programming but may not be able to offer graphic design, so he may ask his one of the partners who knows designing. In this way, a small business may be able to get a full menu of graphic design, site design, search engine optimization and web development without having to go through an agency.

Tips for finding a great freelance web developer

There are an equal number of inexperienced and unprofessional subcontractors out there for every talented, experienced freelance developer. Telling the difference between these two types of subcontractors isn't impossible if you know what to look for. Firstly gather a wide pool of applicants from which to choose, and examine their resumes carefully. Be sure to ask to look at each subcontractor's portfolio of completed projects; this is often the best way to tell what their capabilities and scope of experience truly are.

Copyright © 2012