I need to outsource the development of my website. Need it good quality (clean code) on a small budget.
I consult with clients who are looking for the right outsourcing situation all the time, and the best way to get started is to figure out what kind of outsourcing partner will be the best 'fit' for your needs. After that, it's easy to find out where that type of outsourcing partner/contractor/freelance hangs out and pick a winner.
Try writing up some notes about things like:
1) You mentioned you had a small budget - how small? If your budget is $1500 your options are going to be very different than if it's $25,000. Both of those could be considered 'small budgets' in the right context, so try to put a number out there.
2) You also mentioned that you wanted 'good quality, clean code'. What does this mean and are you willing to pay for that? If you are building an MVP and are really short on funds, you might have to use a less senior developer/team and take the risk of getting sloppier code - but sometimes with an MVP that's ok! If you are building a production app, that's a different story.
3) What is your technical and management expertise? Can you create specifications and manage a developer on your own (not easy to do)? If so, you can save money by using a freelancer, etc. If you are very non-technical and will need PM support, you might consider a small group or agency.
4) What does 'website development' involve, in your vision? Design? Copywriting? QA? Server migration and admin? ui/ux?
5) What is your tolerance for going offshore? You will hear lots of people saying that offshore teams all suck, and lots of people saying that they did it and it went fine. Like most software projects, there is a high failure rate but lots of success with offshore. You can save a ton of money, but you can also take a bath so you need to consider whether you are up to the challenge or not - going offshore takes much more patience, attention, documentation, etc. but it can work.
6) What are the skills/tech that you will need? It's best to get a team that is great at the skills you need. If you want a ruby site, hire a ruby shop. If you want a augmented reality site, find a team that is great at that. Watch out for the generalists :)
By thinking through questions like the above, you can change your statement from "Where do you go for outsourcing website development" to something like this:
"I am looking for an outsourcing partner who would be interested in a 15k-20k project that will be build in python. This application will be evolved into our production app so the quality must be good. I am a good project manager and will work with the developer on the requirements/spec side, and help test. We will need application/db design and development, server administration, and technical support but all design, content, copy, ui/ux will be provided. We will consider offshore teams but you must have excellent spoken english."
When you expand your 'what we're looking for' paragraph, the whole search for outsourcing partner gets much easier! If you like, feel free to give me a call and share your 'vendor profile' with me and I can help point you in the right direction.
I have used two very reliable websites: http://Guru.com and http://www.freelancer.com
You asked what to look for? Both websites offer reviews on all hired companies, so you can read the reviews and feedback.
Also, very important: Look for a company who actually answers your request and responds "personally" to your project. What I mean by that statement is that some people paste a canned response which they use for all responses. That does not tell me that they can do the job. Make people tell you how they will accomplish YOUR project and not just anyone's.
I also have used other sites, but these two were the best to me.
Bruce
Website dev? or Web Application?
If web site you can build it yourself or see your local Craig/Kijiji list to find a person/company. As well as using oDesk.
As for WebApp.. well this is a whole other story. This typically take a lot of planning and logic to be figured out and setting end goal results and milestones.
I have used companies from Odesk Freelancer as well as local. I had problems with all.
If you can find local you will be more happy as timezone does play an important roll. Just because you think you can get it build for $6k in India will not mean that it is what you want and good code.
You have to find a reputable company and that is done by research or trial and error which cost time and money.
The other advice is spot-on.
I have been partnered with an offshore development center in India for four years on behalf of a couple clients. I have also used elance and managed development projects with developers from Pakistan, Guatemala, Romania, and China. I would not use any of them again except the ODC in India.
They provide outsource, offshore developers that work directly with you or your onshore team leader while you work directly with me to make the arrangements and make sure the relationship and work runs smoothly.
If you are looking for development on a budget, give me a free call using the link below.
https://clarity.fm/kevinmccarthy/FreeConsult
Best regards,
Kevin McCarthy
www.KevinMcCarthy.com
1. Choose the location (Gartner reveals TOP 30 locations for offshore software development services, including Belarus (Eastern Europe)).
2. Find reviews about this services at Clutch https://clutch.co/developers/belarus
3. Most vendors will have a portfolio you can check out to see examples of their past work. https://belitsoft.com/offshore-software-development-company/portfolio
4. Your vendors should also have a list of satisfied past clients that can vouch for the quality and dependability of their service.
So, you can take a look at the offshore software development company Belitsoft from Minsk (Belarus) https://belitsoft.com
If you are interested in outsourcing your website development, keep the following point in mind:
1. Know what you want. Find the right company: Outsourcing to either web development companies or freelancers can be a huge pain if you do not have a basic idea of what you want to achieve. There are different kinds of web development tasks and each one needs to be approached strategically. Some companies specialize in mobile development and they do a tremendous job developing mobile software components. Others are good with WordPress and web design. Now, the most important thing you want to do is to take a close look at what they have created in the past and who they have worked with. You can then decide if their previous projects have a similar or compatible design style of what you had in mind. However, in the prospecting phase of finding a web development company, it is just a matter of talking to a few companies and seeing which one is best suited for you.
2. Communication is key: The tricky aspect of outsourcing is communication. Different time zones, work schedules, and availability are just three hard-to-control elements when outsourcing web development projects. The good news is that with a little effort and with the right tools on your side, communication can be improved tremendously. A few tools that we have used in the past, that improved the overall workflow and communication, are GitHub, InVision, Moqups, Slack and of course, Toggl Plan. You can track your project’s progress using Toggl Plan, communicate via Slack and share design work and code using GitHub, InVision, and Moqups. Using these tools, you can set expectations right away, be clear, and make sure everyone is on the same page. Communication is the key to successfully outsourcing web development tasks and projects, and ultimately, for taking your business to the next level.
3. Do not be afraid to speak your mind: For any outsourcing company or freelancer, the customer’s input is one of the most valuable resources. The feedback enables the company to know when a customer is unsatisfied and when there is something that needs more attention. Complaints serve as an early warning system that helps prevent service failures by allowing them to fix small problems before they become big ones. For your outsourced project to go well, you should not be afraid to speak your mind.
4. Ask questions: Envision the project from start to finish and try to imagine any difficulties which may arise. Make sure you are covering all the bases and getting straightforward answers. You do not want any surprises once you have committed. The easiest way to do this is by having a list of questions. Do not settle with just a proposal, ask questions and try to know the company you are working with and what is their value proposition. In order to avoid the empty promises and get the answers that will bring forward the people behind the company, you can squeeze in some tricky questions.
5. Have a project manager: An outsourced project should always have a project manager that oversees all the moving parts and makes sure that everyone is kept in the loop. It is crucial for the project manager to be involved all the outsourced work and over communicate with the outsourcing company. Some teams spend too much time and energy dealing with problems because they do not know how to resolve the problems. Having a proactive issues management process helps ensure that problems are resolved as quickly as possible.
6. Start with small tasks: Some tasks are more suitable for outsourcing than others. A rooky mistake that most people do when they are outsourcing their web development projects is to start big. Start with a project that’s relatively small and simple in scope, to give you a better idea of the company’s capabilities. Move slowly and commit gradually. Also, you can tie payment to clearly define project milestones.
7. Have a contract
An aspect that helps to justify the cost of outsourcing firms is that they will support you and have a record of your work, even if the developer on your project leaves. If your freelancer quits, you will have to start from scratch and have no support during the transition. A tremendous benefit that I see with outsourcing web development projects to a firm, is that you can require them to have insurance for the code. This way, if something crashes, you will be covered financially. Without a formal contract, the risk of disagreements and messy battles goes up exponentially.
You can find help in the following websites:
1. Upwork
2. Freelancer.com
3. Guru
4. Amazon’s Mechanical Turk
5. DesignHill
6. Fiverr
Besides if you do have any questions give me a call: https://clarity.fm/joy-brotonath
Outsourcing website development can be a cost-effective way to get a high-quality website built. Here are some steps and tips on where to go and what to look for when selecting the right developer or agency:
### Where to Go
1. **Freelance Platforms**
- **Upwork**: A popular platform for finding freelance developers with various skill sets and experience levels.
- **Freelancer**: Similar to Upwork, it allows you to post projects and receive bids from freelancers.
- **Fiverr**: Good for smaller projects or specific tasks; many web developers offer their services here.
2. **Dedicated Job Boards**
- **Toptal**: Known for connecting businesses with top-tier freelancers, including web developers.
- **Guru**: Another platform for finding freelance developers, often with flexible pricing.
3. **Development Agencies**
- **Clutch.co**: A directory of development agencies with reviews and ratings.
- **GoodFirms**: Similar to Clutch, it lists agencies along with client reviews and portfolios.
4. **Local and Online Communities**
- **LinkedIn**: Post a job or search for developers and agencies.
- **Reddit (r/webdev, r/forhire)**: Communities where you can find freelance developers.
### What to Look For
1. **Portfolio and Experience**
- **Relevant Experience**: Look for developers or agencies with experience in the type of website you need (e.g., e-commerce, portfolio, blog).
- **Quality of Work**: Check their portfolio for examples of past work to gauge their design sensibility and code quality.
2. **Client Reviews and Testimonials**
- **Feedback**: Look for reviews on platforms like Upwork, Clutch, or Google Reviews. Positive feedback from previous clients is a good indicator of reliability and quality.
3. **Technical Expertise**
- **Skills**: Ensure they have expertise in the required technologies (e.g., HTML, CSS, JavaScript, specific frameworks like React or Angular, CMS like WordPress).
- **Clean Code**: Look for developers who follow best practices in coding, ensuring clean, maintainable, and scalable code.
4. **Communication Skills**
- **Responsiveness**: The ability to communicate effectively and respond promptly is crucial for a successful project.
- **Language Proficiency**: Ensure there are no language barriers that could lead to misunderstandings.
5. **Cost and Budget**
- **Transparent Pricing**: Look for clear and upfront pricing. Be wary of too-good-to-be-true low bids, which might indicate lower quality.
- **Budget**: Ensure they can work within your budget without compromising on quality.
6. **Project Management**
- **Process**: Ask about their development process, timelines, and how they manage projects.
- **Tools**: Check if they use project management tools like Trello, Jira, or Asana to keep track of progress and milestones.
7. **Support and Maintenance**
- **After-Launch Support**: Ensure they offer support and maintenance services post-launch.
- **Training**: Check if they provide training on how to use and maintain the website if you plan to manage it yourself.
### Steps to Follow
1. **Define Your Requirements**
- Clearly outline your website’s features, design preferences, and any specific functionalities you need.
2. **Research and Shortlist**
- Based on the above criteria, shortlist a few developers or agencies.
3. **Request Proposals**
- Contact the shortlisted candidates, provide them with your requirements, and ask for detailed proposals including timelines and cost estimates.
4. **Conduct Interviews**
- Have video or phone interviews to assess their communication skills, technical expertise, and understanding of your project.
5. **Check References**
- Ask for references from past clients and contact them to get feedback on their experience.
By following these guidelines, you can find a reliable and skilled developer or agency to create a high-quality website within your budget.
