Creating a website is not just about downloading a Wordpress installation package and uploading a free graphic template. The process of making a website is much more complex. Let’s discuss what to watch out for during Web development or the development of any application.
First and foremost, we must realize that website creation is defined by standards from Google, social networks, and other major portals. A DIY website will never include the advanced technologies required by Google simply because the creator might not even be aware of them. One must also ask the question upfront: What if the creator dies? Who will replace them? What if the company goes bankrupt? How will I retrieve my data?
Let’s evaluate the different options for web development:
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DIY Website
If the creator understands programming at least a little, at the level of HTML, it is possible to create somewhat graphically interesting websites on CMS Joomla, WordPress, or Prestashop. If the creator does not understand programming at all and relies solely on online editors of content management systems, they can create a website, but it won’t be very attractive. In both cases, these websites often lack basic SEO technologies, are not optimized for speed, have responsiveness issues, and security problems that are a whole different chapter.
At MyDreams, we often take over these websites from clients for management. We usually need to clean the website from viruses, secure it, and redesign it to a standard form. Clients can then turn to us for additional features and fine-tuning of graphic elements.
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Website from a Student
A student is cheap, fast, and the websites do not look bad. They usually have basic SEO elements, and the web design may be pleasing. Websites are often on Joomla, WordPress, or written in Nette. The student typically creates the website part-time. They create it, deliver it, and move on. They do not handle much of the service, do not answer calls, and usually do not return to this activity after finishing their studies, leaving you with a big problem finding someone to manage the website. These websites are often infected because the student’s knowledge is not yet deep enough. However, it is an ideal choice for mini-websites, static and dead websites.
At MyDreams, we also take over these websites from clients for management. We usually need to clean the website from viruses, secure it, and add some SEO elements.
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Developer from India, Vietnam, or Ukraine
It might sound daunting, but if you manage to find a reliable person, they can create an excellent website in excellent time for a fraction of the cost charged elsewhere. From our own experience, we can say that several Prestashops, banking applications, complex applications of various kinds, and technologies run on our servers, and their quality of processing is quite high. And again, from our experience, these people usually also provide subsequent service. It might take a few days, but it’s there. The biggest downside is the language barrier and time difference, but the price wins.
We rarely take over these websites and applications at MyDreams because they are complex systems of various technologies. We can usually provide management services as well.
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Mid-Sized Companies
Since 2004, when MyDreams was founded, we have encountered numerous companies that provide web and application development. From companies with excellent development and perfect service to literally crazy firms.
Common problems with these companies:
- They charge for literally everything.
- Fraudulent work contracts.
- Long development times.
- Long response times for service.
- The person who created the website no longer works there, and there is no one to modify the website.
- They do not answer your calls.
- Work hours are 8/5.
- The price may be disproportionate to the quality of the development.
- Development is extremely specific to the server environment. Subsequent migration to another server is almost impossible.
- The website is built on bleeding-edge technology. Bleeding edge refers to technologies so new and risky that adopting them may come with the risk of unreliability, high costs, and losses. But hey, it’s cool. :-(
Common advantages with these companies:
- Detailed analysis.
- Web management can be included in the annual maintenance fee, and it may not be a large amount.
- If the company is serious, development and service do not take weeks.
- The company has more people than just one “student,” so someone within the company can potentially take over the management.
- They answer your calls and can have 24/7 operation.
- The price can be lower than the high quality of the development.
- The website can be built universally and modularly, making it easy to develop or migrate.
- Proven technologies are used even on older server environments because the most important things are security, reliability, speed, and stability of the website.
With these companies, price is definitely not a deciding criterion. Unfortunately, you have no way to verify the companies, so the best option is a recommendation.
At MyDreams, we often take over these websites and applications from clients for management. These companies usually work very strangely and slowly, and the website often remains unfinished. It often ends in a legal dispute over the return of the development deposit. In these cases, we often write expert opinions for the court.
To not be completely negative, we can say from experience that more than half of the companies do a really good job, and the service is provided within a week. Websites from these good companies never need to be taken into management, and the developers communicate directly with our technical support. They provide complete services to the client.
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Large Companies
When you hear about a large company for web development, the first thought you might have is that the price will be high. And yes, it is. Large companies usually do not create websites on WordPress but write them from scratch according to agreed technical specifications and wireframes. The development is highly customized, so it takes a longer time and usually involves a whole team of developers. The development is expensive because it is specific, and you need to pay many people. These companies usually have a dedicated server or a more complex solution with us. Each of their clients typically has a virtual server.
For comparison: A Prestashop that needs 16xCPU, 32 GB RAM for its operation might correspond to a custom-made e-shop from a large company with 2x CPU and 4GB RAM.
At MyDreams, we never take over these websites and applications. Throughout our company’s existence, we have not encountered a single unreliable large company. Every firm did an excellent job and serviced clients according to the level of paid management. Occasionally, you hear in the news about problems with large companies on state contracts, but these are rare exceptions, and the background of the contract is usually not known.
Conclusion:
Choosing the right web developer is not easy. You have to choose between quality and price. You need to find out all the information and references about the developer. And most importantly, you must determine in detail what kind of service you will get and how much the service will cost. It is also important to find a developer who has someone to replace them so that you do not wait months for adjustments or lose your website.
Good luck!