Finding a contractor
Where to look for a website contractor and how to compare offers
You can look for a website contractor through Useme, Fixly, Oferia, Upwork, a recommendation or a direct company website. The important part is not only where you find them, but whether they understand what the website has to do.
Start with referrals, search and portfolios
Recommendations can shorten the search, but they should still be checked against the kind of project you need. A contractor who was perfect for a simple landing page may not be the right choice for ecommerce or a larger migration.
Google results, portfolios and agency websites are useful for building a shortlist when you compare actual project types rather than only visual style.
- recommendations with context
- Google and portfolio research
- project type match
- recent examples
Freelancer, studio or agency
The right setup depends on scope and coordination. A freelancer can be efficient for a focused project, while a studio or agency can be safer when copy, design, development, SEO and support need to happen together.
The size of the supplier matters less than whether responsibilities are clear and the required skills are actually covered.
- scope before team size
- clear responsibilities
- skills matched to the project
- one accountable contact
What to ask before discussing a project
Prepare the business goal, important pages, content status, integrations and target launch window. This gives contractors enough information to explain scope instead of sending a generic package.
Ask who writes the copy, how mobile is tested, what SEO basics are included and what happens after publication.
- business goal
- page and integration scope
- content responsibility
- launch and support expectations
How to compare two offers
Put both proposals into the same categories: discovery, copy, design, development, mobile QA, SEO, analytics, redirects and support. This makes missing work visible.
A smaller scope can be completely reasonable; the problem is only when it is presented as if it includes everything.
- compare deliverables
- separate optional work
- check post-launch support
- identify missing scope
Red flags
Be careful when the proposal never explains process, ownership or what happens after launch. Another warning sign is a portfolio with attractive screenshots but no indication of the business problem or project scope.
The contractor should be able to explain the first practical decisions they would make for your website without hiding behind buzzwords.
- no clear process
- unclear ownership
- portfolio without context
- generic answers to specific questions
Questions
Are agency directories reliable?
They are useful as one source, but they should be checked against the agency website, portfolio, reviews and direct communication.
Is a recommendation always the best option?
No. A recommendation is helpful, but the contractor still has to fit your project, budget and expected process.
What should I send to get a useful proposal?
Send the goal, number of pages, examples, current website if it exists, offer description, deadline, budget range and what you expect after launch.
Should I contact several contractors at once?
Yes, but compare them fairly by giving them the same brief.
Is a very small project scope risky?
It is risky when the scope is unclear. A smaller scope can be fine if it is described honestly.
Ready to talk about your project?