Best way to find a Web Development Company

[mconridge]

Hello All,

We are looking for a company to create a fairly basic ecommerce website. The site needs to cover normal ecommerce use but also offer a system which allows the customer to see how much we pay for the item if they have one to sell. In the past we've simply used our system development company to create our sites, but this is something different.

What's the best way of finding a company to create this? There are so many Web Development companies out there it's difficult to separate them out.

Matthew

 

[Faevilangel]

Either:

1) Get recommendations on companies who have done similar jobs before
2) Look at competitors sites and contact companies who built the site (if the details are left in the footer).

I am guessing you want something like cex.co.uk which has 2 arms, one to sell items to the customer, but also a buying function to buy the items from customers?

 

[mconridge]

Either:

1) Get recommendations on companies who have done similar jobs before
2) Look at competitors sites and contact companies who built the site (if the details are left in the footer).

I am guessing you want something like cex.co.uk which has 2 arms, one to sell items to the customer, but also a buying function to buy the items from customers?

Yes very similar to the said competitor. There seems to be so many options out there, would be great if there was a tender website that you could upload the specs of the job to.

 

[Metalfrogboss]

Hello All,

We are looking for a company to create a fairly basic ecommerce website. The site needs to cover normal ecommerce use but also offer a system which allows the customer to see how much we pay for the item if they have one to sell. In the past we've simply used our system development company to create our sites, but this is something different.

What's the best way of finding a company to create this? There are so many Web Development companies out there it's difficult to separate them out.

Matthew

Hey Matthew
Look at press release threads on here, testimonials on LinkedIn, Twitter information, Which Web Design Website, and ask around. It is difficult but one which is able to understand commercial reality, has common sense, does not talk techno-babble and has years of experience, case studies and success and can deliver everything in-house may be best.
Hope that helps
Chris

 

[Faevilangel]

Yes very similar to the said competitor. There seems to be so many options out there, would be great if there was a tender website that you could upload the specs of the job to.

There are loads of tender sites including peopleperhour, elance and freelancer.com but they are just full of developers from the growing nations (india, china etc) and is all about doing it for the cheapest price.

Only way to get a proper idea on cost is to approach developers and ask them for their opinion and a quote on the best option, get a couple of different quotes so you can make a decision based on research.

 

[Nexolutions]

Hi there,

Our company has a bespoke CMS which would have the capability to operate a 'We Buy' Section/Option, but i think a little bit more about your ideas on how it would work would be useful. IE, similar to Cex but not the same, if different how so?

And without going too much into what you sell (Unless your happy to divulge this), what scale are you thinking of product range wise?

 

[JonathanSEO]

Isn't there a tender section on here?

 

[Faevilangel]

Isn't there a tender section on here?

Yes, Tender forum

 

[spannerbox]

Word of mouth / Recommendations is usually the best. Also if you see a website design you like it quite often says at the bottom who designed it. I would also go for a company that you can call in to and have face to face contact. Good luck, it is a minefield.

 

[DaveBlack]

Try and ask for a free custom demo/ proof of concept so you can test the quality of the developers work. Getting a good developer can be like playing Russian Roulette!

 

[3dplastics]

I totally agree with spannerbox, it is a mine field.

I have worked in the industry for over 10 years and I have seen some appalling cases where companies have been badly advised and its cost them dearly.

Regards to your post, E-commerce development has change dramatically over the last 5 years with new companies offering easy to use applications which handles:

1. Hosting
2. Administration
3. Content Management
4. Payment Gateways
5. Email handling

These applications come with a monthly cost from 12 to 100 pounds. I have list a few below for you to take a look at:

1. Magento
2. Shopify
3. Volusion

There are many more but with a good web developer these can be customised to meet your requirements.

As I have said e-commerce has changed, in the past you would require a developer to create the whole shopping cart but now with the above applications you don't have to worry about hosting, email management etc....

If you need some advice PM me.

Cheers

Scott.

 

[spannerbox]

Hi
Forget to mention when I posted yesterday that my web designer was great. Although you may not get the face to face contact as you aren't local she is well worth contacting. Sandra @ indizine from Doncaster

 

[Paul Norman]

Finding a web development company can be a minefield. But I have a couple of tips.

I declare in advance that a sister company of Soleheaven is a web development company, and they supplied our site.

However, the tips do not say go to them!

I think your answer depends on the value of your site to you. If you are investing in a site which will be key to your business, you need a company with whom you can sit down, discuss your needs, wants, hopes etc, and they are willing to make utterly plain to you what they will provide, how they will provide it, and how much it will cost.

They will not mind spending the time talking through options, and the issues around those options.

And they will, during your encounters, be able to address your concearns about ongoing support - concearns that are important.

 

[thelegalstop]

I have a few suggestions
1. If you like a particular site, check which is their company
2. Ask a friend for recommendations
3. Use a website such as Whichwebdesigncompany

In any case meet a representative and make yourself familiar with how they work.

 

[OlegLola]

Hi!
Guess that the best options for rinding good software development company is to will be freelance marketplaces (oDesk, Elance, Guru, PeoplePerHour, Freelancer.com) Advice/references are also reliable sources of information after you have gathered a bulk of opinions. It's good if you have trusted friends or acquaintances who can advise you on a software development company, the experience of collaboration, etc. Otherwise you may try to gather opinions from forums.

 

[Private Detective London]

I have a few suggestions
1. If you like a particular site, check which is their company
2. Ask a friend for recommendations
3. Use a website such as Whichwebdesigncompany

In any case meet a representative and make yourself familiar with how they work.

I'd have to agree with the first two of those. Our experience with the pitching and directory sites was very poor with people not being able to deliver or live up to their 'reviews'

We were recomended a company by a colleague, liked their porfolio and work and so went with them.

 

[rachil]

Yes , I am completely agree with you. Also you can finding in web development company.

1. Client Reviews
2. Work portfolio