No matter the services that your business offers, it is essential to have an online presence. As over 80% of U.S. shoppers do online research before shopping in a store, all businesses must have a well-developed website to gain the trust of consumers.
However, web development is not something that just anybody can do. In order for any website to remain up to date as well as high-quality and customized to your business’s image, outsourcing a professional third-party provider helps businesses to do just that. Communications Strategy Group (CSG®) is a resource for businesses across all different industries to outsource web development.
Business owners may decide to outsource web development for a series of reasons. Oftentimes, a company’s internal team may not have the diverse talents required to create an engaging and seamless online experience for users. When it comes to any step of the development process, outsourcing gives business owners the ability to tap into a pool of professionals that are well-versed in the most recent technologies and industry trends that will give them a competitive edge.
Benefits of Outsourcing Web Development
Outsourcing web development offers many advantages that can significantly boost your businesses online presence.
Cost Savings
Simply put, it is expensive to hire and train a team of in-house web developers if it is not a service that your business regularly provides. When that is the case, it is more cost-effective to hire an outside professional to develop your website. This provides business owners with a seamless web development experience without having to invest in training a current employee or hiring a team.
Expertise and Skills
Outsourcing web development allows you to access a pool of vetted professionals with diverse expertise. These experts stay current with the latest industry trends, ensuring your website is built using cutting-edge technologies and proven strategies.
Access to Latest Technologies
Just like any technology, web development is constantly evolving as new best practices are discovered. By outsourcing web development, you can rest assured that yours is being optimized with technologies that are proven to drive the best results for your business and the best experience for your customers.
Improved Focus on User Experience
The user experience directly impacts customer satisfaction, engagement and the overall usability of a website. In fact, 88% of consumers are unlikely to return to a site with bad UX design. Innovative and seamless UX designs increase user satisfaction, improve conversion rates and sales, enhance brand reputation and loyalty and reduce bounce rates.
Outsourcing Web Development: Advantages and Challenges
As with any decision, there are pros and cons that you must consider before committing to outsourcing. One of the most important decisions you will have to make is choosing who you want to trust with the development of your website, online presence and brand identity.
What is Outsourcing Web Development?
Outsourcing web development is when a business hires an external professional for its web development needs rather than doing it in-house. This allows businesses to hand over all web development responsibilities to an expert so they can focus on the primary functions of their business.
Why Outsource Your Web Development?
Outsourcing web development is a great way to tap into the larger network of seasoned professionals. Additionally, many businesses don’t have an in-house team specifically for web development, making hiring a third-party resource the best way to execute a web development project.
Advantages of Outsource Web Development
There are many advantages that come along with outsourcing web development. The broader talent pool and increased flexibility are the primary reasons as to why so many professionals choose to outsource highly skilled tasks rather than carrying them out in-house.
Access a Broader Talent Pool
Outsourcing web development allows companies access to a more diverse pool and global network of talent. Hiring to fill an internal spot on your team may limit the expertise you have access to based on your geographic location. By outsourcing, you have a larger variety of candidates to choose from based on who will be the best match for your business.
Increase Flexibility and Scalability
When outsourcing to a third-party expert, companies have access to more flexible timelines and can more easily expand projects along the way if they decide to do so. Working with a professional who already has the capabilities and experience to develop exactly what you want provides scalability as the project is developed.
Web Development Challenges and Considerations
While there are many advantages to outsourcing web development, there are also challenges that come along with the task. These challenges highlight the importance of taking the time to search for a web development partner to ensure they can meet your company’s web development needs.
- Communication and Collaboration
Clear communication and collaboration are key to the success of any project — outsourced or not. These aspects reduce misunderstandings and help align the project with your company’s expectations, ensuring a high-quality end product. Expectations for communication should be set ahead of time when vetting a third-party developer so each party is on the same page.
- Quality Control and Standards
Quality control and standards are essential components in successfully outsourcing web development because they ensure that the third-party team delivers a website that meets your specific requirements, functions and expectations. The experience that customers have on your online website is one of the most important impressions your business makes, which is why you need to hire a professional who can provide a reliable and positive user experience. Ultimately, these elements will directly impact your company’s reputation.
- Technical Expertise and Skill Set
Technical expertise allows a professional to offer your company specialized skills and knowledge that may not be readily available from within. Importantly, this ensures that your company’s newly developed website is fully updated with the latest technical advancements that lead to a fully optimized end product.
- Data Security and Intellectual Property Protection
When you choose to outsource any project, you are sharing sensitive information such as customer and internal data, which if handled without caution could expose your business assets, potentially risking unauthorized access, misuse, or even theft. Proper security measures and legal agreements are necessary to protect your company’s reputation and competitive advantage.
Process of Outsourcing Web Development
- Determine Your Goals
Clearly communicating your business goals and desired outcome is essential to ensure your and your web development partners are on the same page. By explicitly defining the desired end result of the website, including the target audience, desired functionality, consumer experience and key performance indicators (KPIs), whoever you decide to partner with will have a clear idea of the end result you are looking for. - Define the Project Scope
To define the project scope of your web development project, outline the specific requirements and goals of the website. Detailed features, functionalities, design preferences and technical specifications create transparency with your outsourcing partner. - Estimate Budget and Timeline
The budget and timeline of any project will be directly related to the scope and desired results of the project. Once project and business goals are set and clearly defined, break the project down into manageable tasks. This will help to create a comprehensive timeline that will consider factors such as design needs, project complexity and the type of technology needed. - Select Outsourcing Model
There are multiple types of outsourcing models that companies can choose from depending on who they want to work with and the type of project they want done.-
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Onshore Outsourcing
Onshore outsourcing — also referred to as domestic outsourcing — is when a company hires a service provider from outside of the company but still within the same country. One of the primary advantages of onshore outsourcing is communication. Collaborating with local third-party developers in the same time zone and language makes communication more straight-forward and efficient. -
Nearshore Outsourcing
Nearshore outsourcing is when a company hires people in a neighboring country to complete a project. Most commonly, this term refers to when US companies outsource to Latin American countries. With this model, companies typically save on labor costs while still maintaining some similarities in language and culture. - Offshore Outsourcing
Offshore outsourcing is when a company hires a third-party supplier in a foreign country. Labor costs are typically lower in developing countries than in developed countries such as the U.S, so companies typically seek out this model of outsourcing if they are looking to cut costs.
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- Research Vendors
There are a variety of resources that companies can use to research and vet vendors. Asking for referrals from other industry connections is a great way to start, as you will be able to find third-party developers who have already been vetted by a mutual connection. Online research is a great second step to gauge if they will be a good fit for your company’s web development needs. Aspects such as certifications, awards and industry publications are key indicators to look out for. - Interview Potential Vendors
Schedule an interview with any potential vendors before committing to working with them. An in depth conversation will help you gauge the vendors expertise as well as what it will be like working with them through the website development process.
Choosing an Outsourcing Company
So, how do you choose an outsourcing company? It’s clear there are many different aspects that must be considered before diving into the project.
Select a Vendor
Once you know the type of vendor you want to hire and the specifics of the project you want completed, you can go ahead and select a vendor. At this point in the process, you should have spoken with the vendor a few times to discuss the specifics of the web development project including expectations as well as timeline and budget considerations.
Maintain Clear Communication
Selecting a vendor is only the first step of the process. In order to remain aligned throughout the project, ensure your company maintains clear and consistent communication with the vendor to ensure the project is on track.
When to Outsource Web Development
Outsourcing web development is a good option for any business if you feel your team lacks the technical skills and expertise — or even time — to carry it out on their own. With there being no shortage of third-party resources who specialize in web development, it’s never a bad idea to hire outside help.
The Cost Of Outsourcing Web Development
The cost of outsourcing web development depends on the type of website you want created as well as the features and technology you would like it to have. The more complex the website, the more expensive it will be to outsource the project.
Basic Website
A basic website is a functional website that uses a preset appearance and with the use of advanced features. Basic websites are typically inexpensive and have low maintenance costs.
E-commerce Website
An e-commerce website is an online store that allows companies to sell products and services over the internet. It’s a virtual equivalent of a physical store, where customers can browse product offerings, add them to their cart, and check out.
Custom Web Application
Custom web applications are personalized software solutions crafted to address the specific needs and challenges of a business. They are meticulously designed to streamline processes, centralize data, and optimize the customer’s online experience.
Mobile App Development
Mobile application development is the process of making online platforms available for smartphones, tablets and digital assistants. Many modern day consumers primarily use their phones to browse the internet, making mobile app development a great way to improve the customer experience.
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FAQs About Outsource Web Development
Can web development be outsourced?
Yes, web development can be outsourced. This is when a company hires a third-party to complete their website development rather than creating an in-house role for the project.
What is outsourcing web design?
Outsourcing web development and design allows companies to hand over any website related projects so they can prioritize in-house tasks. When hiring a third-party, business owners can ensure their website is being developed with the latest technology, trends and expertise.
How to outsource a website?
To successfully outsource a website, follow these steps:
- Create a project objective and outline. Clearly define project and business goals, expectations, timeline and budget.
- Choose your third-party vendor. Before committing to a third-party vendor, always ensure you have done your research and compared multiple options. This will give you the necessary information to make the right decision based on how you want your website developed.
- Create a contract. To protect yourself, the company and the third-party vendor, create a contract that lays out all expectations and terms for the project.
- Work together. Complex projects like web design and development are never linear. It will take a series of conversations before and during the process to ensure the project is on the right track.
What are the risks of outsourcing web development?
Just like collaborating on any type of project, there are risks that you will have to consider. Miscommunication and quality control are the most common, but by fully vetting all your options, you can find a third-party resource that meets all your needs and expectations. Whether it’s onshore outsourcing, offshore outsourcing or nearshore outsourcing, each type has its own risks and advantages.
How do I find a reputable outsourcing partner?
Look for an outsourcing partner that has a good reputation, a portfolio that matches your project goals and has expertise that aligns with the project you would like completed.
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