What to Look For Before You Hire a Web Developer or Web Designer in 2022?

2 women talking because communication is important before you hire a web developer

Every business owner has to hire a web developer or web designer sooner or later. From someone who has been on both sides of the desk, I will use this quick guide to go over some of the key elements to look for when hiring a web designer or web developer to work on your business project.

Why do you want to hire a web developer or web designer?

What’s the main reason you want to hire a web developer or web designer? Of course, creating a website. However, there are many reasons why you might want to create a website. You might want to promote yourself as an artist, writer, or musician. You might want to sell products and services online or simply keep your friends and family in touch with what you are up to.

Photo by Ilya Pavlov

Perhaps you are simply looking for somewhere to store contact details for friends and family? Or maybe you want people to be able to buy items from your store without your presence? Or do you want people to be able to download music files? Or even just to provide a space where people can leave comments about whatever it is that they do?

Your goal will determine the kind of qualities you need before you hire a web developer or designer.

How much does it cost to hire a web developer or designer?

Before we talk about what you should look for before you wire a web developer or designer, let’s find out how much it costs to hire one.

If you are looking to hire a web developer, it is hard to know how much it will cost. There are many factors in play and the cost of hiring a web developer is not always the same.

The average hourly rate for a good web developer ranges from $50 – $80 per hour. If you have a specific project in mind, this may be all that you need for now.

Photo by Scott Graham

However, if your project needs more time or attention than one person can provide then it is best to consider hiring more than one person. This way, if one person gets sick or has personal issues then another person can take over their work until they return to work again.

If you want someone who will work on your site full-time then they will charge more money per hour than someone who only works on an hourly basis while also charging an additional fee for any special features that they provide on your sites such as installation or hosting fees.

Also, You can save money by outsourcing work overseas where labor costs are less expensive than here but keep in mind that lost cost doesn’t always mean great value.

5 Things to Look For Before You Hire a Web Developer or Web Designer

If you’re in need of someone to create your website and make it look great, here are five things to look for before you hire a web developer or web designer.

1. Look at their own website:

When looking to hire a web developer, the first thing you should do is look at their own website. Many people make the mistake of attempting to find a freelancer or company solely on the basis of price, which is a huge mistake.

Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters

You must ensure that the web developer or designer has relevant experience and skills to create the kind of website you want. and can provide you with contact information for other web developers from other fields whom you might need. This will enable you to determine the level of quality work they will provide for your company.

If you don’t like their own website, there’s a good chance they won’t be able to design something for you. If their website appears to be outdated or uninteresting, it’s time to move on!

2. Check out what their online reputation is like:

Before making any decisions to hire a web developer or web designer, see what other businesses have to say about them. Do they have a lot of good feedback? Is there anything negative said about them? People can now be more open than ever before about their business experiences.

It’s also crucial to do some background research on the company. Google can be your friend here! 

The most important thing is the experience — how many years have they been working in this field? Can they point to projects they’ve done in the past? What were their clients’ experiences like? Did they deliver on their promises?

Some websites will include information about their past projects and how they were completed. Have they designed websites for companies in your field or industry? 

If they have a portfolio available on their website, take a look at some of the things they’ve done in the past and see if they’re things that align with what you’re looking for. They won’t be able to make you anything either. If you think their reputation is a little bit off, then it’s time to move on!

3. Before you hire a Web developer or Web designer, check if they are willing and capable to work with your required web hosting service:

This is really important. If you are going to hire a web developer or designer, check if they are willing and capable of working with your web hosting service.

If your web designer is not comfortable working with your hosting service, then he or she will come up with a lot of problems in the future. This can be very frustrating for both parties involved, as well as costly.

If you have chosen a design agency that only uses one platform, such as WordPress or Drupal, then this will not be an issue at all. However, if you have chosen an agency that uses multiple platforms, then it is important that they are able to adapt to the different needs of each platform.

4. Check if the web developer/designer has good communication skills.

Communication is crucial in any business relationship; if you and the web developer or designer cannot talk to each other easily, there’ll be problems down the road.

2 women talking because communication is important before you hire a web developer
Photo by KOBU Agency

The best way to determine if a web developer has good communication skills is to have direct conversations with them. The ability to communicate well is essential when working with your website designer or developer.

If you’re not sure how to assess this aspect of their skills, here are some questions you can ask them:

  • Are they able to explain things in easy-to-understand terms?
  • Do they respond promptly and professionally when you ask them questions?
  • Do they seem like someone that you would enjoy working with?

5. Do they adhere to web standards:

A good web developer adheres to web standards. Standards ensure that any website using the latest and greatest code is accessible and compatible across multiple platforms and devices. This ensures that your site is viewed properly by everyone. Good web developers understand how important it is to adhere to these standards. A good web developer adheres to web standards. Standards ensure that any website using the latest and greatest code is accessible and compatible across multiple platforms and devices. This ensures that your site is viewed properly by everyone. Good web developers understand how important it is to adhere to these standards.

Go to the W3C website validation page (www.w3.org/QA/Tools/) and run the web addresses of your shortlisted web designers through the MarkUp Validator, Link Checker, and CSS Validator. Do the sites validate as Web 2.0 compliant?

You shouldn’t necessarily discount your favorite designers because of this—but it is something else you should ask them about before making your final decision.

Where can I find web developers?

A great web developer is a rare breed. They are the most valuable assets in any business. But if you’re looking to find a good developer, it can be hard to know where to start. There are so many people out there claiming to be one thing, and then actually delivering something completely different.

Photo by Domenico Loia

Here are some tips that I have learned over the years about where to hire a web developer:

Local Meetups:

If you live in a major city, chances are there’s a local meetup group that meets regularly and offers free training sessions on web development topics like HTML and CSS.

Startup Hubs:

Startup hubs are popping up all over the world, and they’re often set up in areas with a high concentration of startups.

Skill sites:

Websites like Upwork or Fiverr can be great places to start.

Conclusion

A good web designer or developer will be able to create a website that looks great and functions perfectly on all devices. A great web designer or developer will understand how to make your website easy for visitors to navigate and find what they’re looking for.

If you want to get started on creating a website now, contact us here!

 

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Get updates and learn from the best

Share This Post

Do you want more Sales & Qualified Leads?

Hey, I’m Sunday Samuel. At Dgazelle our core focus is to help individuals and business owners grow thier business predictably & profitably. My only question is, will it be yours?

About Dgazelle

We are a full service Digital marketing, Tech & Ai Solutions Company that is registered in Nigeria and the United States. Our story originates from our experience in advertising, marketing, technology and design. Our work is inspired by art, passion, and one simple principle – To consistently deliver excellence to every individual or business we serve

More To Explore

AI Sets Your Bids, You Count the Sales: Smart Bidding for Nigerian SMEs

Google Ads Smart Bidding transforms the time-consuming and unpredictable nature of manual bidding by leveraging AI technology to automate real-time bid adjustments, eliminating the guesswork of traditional campaign management while analyzing extensive data points including user behavior, device type, time of day, and past interactions to optimize ad spend and maximize conversions—a significant improvement for advertisers who have struggled with the inefficiencies of manually tweaking bids and monitoring performance to stretch their marketing budgets. For instance, let’s say you own an e-commerce store selling sneakers. With manual bidding, you might set a fixed bid of ₦800 for the keyword “running shoes in Lagos.” But Smart Bidding might automatically raise your bid to ₦1,200 at 7 PM when data suggests more buyers are actively searching, increasing your chances of making a sale. Whether you run a small business or a fast-growing startup, leveraging AI-driven bidding can help you scale your ads more efficiently—and that’s where Dgazelle comes in. We not only help businesses optimize their digital ads but also ensure their websites are designed to convert traffic into paying customers. Because what’s the point of driving clicks if your website isn’t built to convert? How Smart Bidding Works Google Smart Bidding takes the guesswork out of bid management by using AI to analyze vast amounts of data and optimize bids in real-time. Instead of manually adjusting your bids, the system evaluates multiple factors to determine the most effective bid for every auction. This ensures you’re always bidding strategically, maximizing your ad spend without constant monitoring. Here’s how Smart Bidding fine-tunes your bids: By leveraging these real-time signals, Google Ads ensures your campaigns remain adaptive and data-driven, optimizing every naira you invest. Competitive Advantage of Smart Bidding? Google Ads Smart Bidding is a game-changer for Nigerian business owners looking to improve their return on investment (ROI) and reduce manual ad management. Whether you’re running an e-commerce store, a service-based business, or a local brand, Smart Bidding helps maximize your advertising efforts with AI-powered precision. Here’s why it’s worth considering: 1. Optimized Bid Adjustments With Smart Bidding, bid optimization happens in real-time, ensuring that your ads reach the right audience at the right moment. The AI evaluates user behavior, search intent, device type, location, and even the time of day, making automatic adjustments to increase your chances of conversion. 2. Improved ROI Smart Bidding doesn’t just spend—it invests every naira where it matters most. Brands that use automated bidding have seen drastic improvements. For example, OLX experienced an 89% increase in conversions while cutting cost per conversion by 32%. That’s the kind of efficiency that translates into more leads and higher sales for your business. 3. Time Savings Manually tweaking bids can be exhausting. Smart Bidding automates the entire process, freeing you up to focus on strategy, content, and customer experience. If you’re running multiple campaigns, automation ensures your ads are performing at their best without constant monitoring. 4. Customizable to Your Business Goals Whether you’re aiming to maximize conversions, achieve a specific cost per acquisition (CPA), or optimize return on ad spend (ROAS), Smart Bidding aligns with your objectives. You set the goal, and Google’s machine learning takes care of the rest. 5. Proven Results Across Industries Businesses across different sectors are already benefiting from Smart Bidding. For example, Goibibo reported a 25% increase in hotel transactions and a 22% lower cost per conversion after making the switch. These results show that when implemented correctly, Smart Bidding is a powerful tool for driving growth. Smart Bidding is just one piece of the puzzle—your website needs to be optimized to convert the traffic you bring in. At Dgazelle, we help businesses build high-converting websites that turn ad clicks into real customers. Let’s optimize your online presence today—contact us to get started! How to Get Started with Smart Bidding Smart Bidding may seem advanced, but getting started is easier than you think. With the right setup, you can automate your Google Ads campaigns and let AI handle bid adjustments while you focus on growing your business. Follow these four steps to integrate Smart Bidding into your marketing strategy. Step 1: Set Up Your Google Ads Account Before enabling Smart Bidding, ensure your Google Ads account is properly configured. Here’s what you need to do: The more accurate and structured your data, the better your results will be. Step 2: Choose the Right Bidding Strategy Your bidding strategy should align with your business objectives. Here are the four main Smart Bidding strategies: To enable Smart Bidding, navigate to your campaign settings, click on “Bidding,” then choose “Change bid strategy” and select the one that fits your goals. Step 3: Run an A/B Test to Validate Your Strategy Before fully committing, it’s wise to test Smart Bidding against your current approach. Follow these steps: Testing allows you to fine-tune your strategy before fully switching over. Step 4: Monitor and Optimize Your Campaign Performance Once Smart Bidding is live, keep an eye on its performance. Use Google’s Bid Strategy Report to track key metrics like: To access your bid strategy performance, go to “Tools & Settings” > “Shared Library” > “Bid Strategies” in Google Ads. Smart Bidding typically improves over time as it gathers more data, so allow a few weeks before making major adjustments. Conclusion AI can analyze vast amounts of data and optimize bids in real-time, but it lacks the strategic insight needed to make informed business decisions. It doesn’t understand your brand voice, long-term objectives, or the unique nuances of your market. That’s where human oversight comes in. By combining AI’s efficiency with your strategic thinking, you can fine-tune PPC ad copy, refine targeting, and adjust campaigns based on real-world insights. Let Smart Bidding handle the numbers, but use your expertise to steer the strategy. The best results come from blending automation with human judgment. Let AI handle the bids while you focus on growing your business. Optimize your ad strategy with expert-backed automation. Get started with Dgazelle today!

Uncategorized

The SEO Blindspot Costing Nigerian Businesses Millions: Zero Click Searches

The way people search online is changing, and Nigerian businesses that rely on SEO to drive traffic and sales may be losing out—without even realizing it. The culprit? Zero click searches. Every day, millions of Nigerians turn to Google for answers. But instead of clicking on a website, they get their answers directly on the search engine results page (SERP) and move on. No website visits. No conversions. No sales. If your business depends on organic search traffic, this trend could be silently costing you leads and revenue. But the good news? With the right SEO strategy, you can turn zero click searches into an opportunity rather than a loss. What Are Zero Click Searches? Zero click searches happen when users find the information they need directly on Google’s SERP without clicking on any website. For example, if someone searches for today’s exchange rate or “best phones under ₦100,000,” Google might display the result instantly—pulling data from third-party sources. You’ve likely done this yourself when checking football scores, flight statuses, or definitions. While zero click searches improve user experience, they reduce website traffic—which means fewer potential customers, less ad revenue, and missed sales opportunities. And with 62.41% of searches now ending with zero clicks (up from 54.11% in 2017), businesses need to adapt fast. The big question is: How do you stop losing traffic to zero click searches—and turn them in your favor? But first why is it happening Why Zero Click Searches Are Growing Zero click searches aren’t just a passing trend—they’re becoming the new normal, and businesses that rely on organic traffic need to take action. A study by SparkToro’s Rand Fishkin, using Datos’s clickstream analysis, revealed that 58.5% of U.S. searches and 59.7% of European searches resulted in zero clicks. The same pattern is growing in Nigeria as search engines evolve. So, why are clicks declining? 1. Google’s Own Features Are Taking Over Google now answers most searches directly on the results page with AI Overviews, featured snippets, and knowledge panels. Instead of clicking on a website, users get instant responses—costing businesses valuable traffic. Beyond that, Google is sending more traffic to its own platforms, like: 2. People Are Searching Beyond Google Websites aren’t just competing with Google anymore. Consumers are finding content on: How Nigerian Businesses Can Win in the Age of Zero Click Searches How users find answers directly on search engine results pages (SERPs) without clicking through to a website—are changing the SEO procedure. Businesses must adapt by focusing on structured data, local search, and multi-platform visibility to maintain traffic and brand awareness. Zero click searches aren’t going away, but the right SEO strategy ensures your business still gets noticed and converts visitors into customers. Need an SEO strategy tailored to your business? Let’s talk! 1. Implement Schema Markup Schema markup is structured data that helps search engines and AI-driven models understand and display your content effectively. By implementing the right schema types, you improve your chances of appearing in zero click search results like featured snippets and product listings. Here are key schema types to prioritize: Using schema markup increases the likelihood of Google recognizing and surfacing your content in prominent SERP positions. 2. Strengthen Local SEO For businesses with a physical presence or service area, optimizing for local search is crucial. Local SEO strategies help brands appear in search features such as map packs, knowledge panels, and local featured snippets. Here are key actions to improve local search visibility: By focusing on local SEO, businesses can improve their chances of being featured in high-visibility SERP positions for location-based searches. 3. Track and Adjust Your SEO Strategy To measure the effectiveness of your zero click search strategy, continuous monitoring is essential. Rank tracking tools provide insights into performance, showing whether content adjustments are needed. Using a tool like Ubersuggest’s Rank Tracking, businesses can: If rankings decline or stagnate, revisiting content strategies—such as improving clarity, updating information, or adding structured data—can help regain visibility. 4. Expand Beyond Google with Search Everywhere Optimization Search behavior is evolving, with users increasingly seeking answers on multiple platforms beyond traditional search engines. To maintain visibility, businesses must optimize for different channels, including: By diversifying search presence, businesses can reach audiences across multiple platforms, reducing dependence on traditional organic search traffic. Conclusion: Future-Proof Your SEO with Smart Strategies As zero click searches continue to grow, businesses must embrace a multi-faceted SEO approach. Implementing structured data, optimizing for local search, tracking performance, and expanding search visibility across platforms will ensure continued success in an evolving digital world. By adapting to these changes now, businesses can maintain relevance, increase brand awareness, and drive meaningful engagement despite the shift in search behavior. Ready to drive more organic traffic? Dgazelle’s proven SEO strategies will improve your rankings and boost conversions. Let’s elevate your website today

Google Ads

Understanding Ad Impressions: The Key to Smarter Marketing for Nigerian SMEs

Ad impressions are more than just numbers—they’re a critical measure of how far your brand message is reaching. But as a Nigerian SME owner, how do you ensure these impressions translate into actual business growth? Simply put, an ad impression is counted every time your ad appears on a website, social media feed, or mobile app. It tells you how often your ad is displayed, but here’s the catch: visibility doesn’t always mean engagement or conversions. However, seeing an ad doesn’t always mean a potential customer notices or interacts with it. So, how can you make ad impressions work for your Nigerian business? Stick with me—I’ll break it down and show you how to use this data effectively to drive real marketing results. Understanding Ad Impressions: The Visibility Metric That Drives Awareness An impression, also called an ad view, measures how often an advertisement is displayed. But not all impressions are created equal—understanding the difference between Served Impressions and Viewable Impressions is crucial for Nigerian business owners looking to maximize their digital marketing impact. Understanding impressions is important, if you are looking to improve ad performance. Different types of impressions give you insights into reach, engagement, and effectiveness. 1. Served Impressions – Ads Delivered, But Not Always Seen A served impression counts every time an ad appears in a user’s browser. However, it doesn’t confirm if someone actually saw or engaged with it. Think of it like putting up a billboard in a low-traffic area—it’s there, but how many people really notice it? 2. Verified Impressions – Ensuring Real Views A verified impression confirms whether an ad reached a real person instead of bots or fraudulent traffic. This is especially useful in Nigeria’s growing digital ad space, where ad fraud can drain marketing budgets. 3. Viewable Impressions – Ads That Get Noticed Defined by the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB), a viewable impression happens when at least 50% of an ad is visible on a user’s screen. Unlike served impressions, this metric ensures your ads have a higher chance of making an impact. 4. Clickable Impressions – Measuring Interest A clickable impression tracks how often users click on your ad, offering a direct measure of interest. If you’re running ads for your business in Nigeria, this helps you gauge which campaigns drive traffic and potential leads. 5. Engagement Impressions – Beyond Clicks This type of impression measures user interaction beyond clicks. If someone expands, hovers, or interacts with your campaign, it gets counted. For SMEs, this insight helps fine-tune campaigns to understand what resonates most with the audience. Clarifying Ad Impressions vs. Ad Clicks: What Really Drives Engagement? It’s easy to assume that a high number of impressions means your campaign is working—but impressions alone don’t guarantee engagement or conversions. To get real results, you have to understand the difference between impressions, clicks, and reach. Ad Impression vs. Clicks vs. Reach At Dgazelle, we help Nigerian businesses go beyond impressions—ensuring that every ad serves a purpose and reaches the right audience for real results. How Ad Impressions Work For business owners running digital ads, understanding how ad impressions work is key to maximizing visibility and conversions. How to Optimize Ad Impressions for Better Results Getting a high number of impressions is beneficial, but if those impressions are not translating into engagement or conversions, your campaign may not be as effective as it could be. Optimizing impressions involves refining strategies to ensure your campaign reach the right audience, appear in the best placements, and encourage interactions. Here’s how you can improve the effectiveness of your ad impressions: 1. Target the Right Keywords Using relevant keywords in your campaigns ensures your ads appear to users who are actively searching for products or services like yours. This increases the likelihood of engagement rather than just passive exposure. Choosing the right keywords helps in: To find high-performing keywords, use research tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ubersuggest, or SEMrush. These tools provide insights into search volume, competition, and keyword variations that can enhance your targeting strategy. 2. Create Engaging and Clear Ad Copy For display and banner ads, space is limited, so your messaging must be clear and compelling. A well-crafted ad should: Ads that fail to communicate their message in a few seconds tend to get ignored, even if they generate impressions. Testing different ad creatives and copy variations can help determine which versions resonate most with your audience. 3. Optimize Ad Placement and Bidding Strategy Where your ads appear and how much you bid for placements significantly impact your impressions’ effectiveness. Consider these strategies: Strategic bidding and placement adjustments can improve the chances of your ads being seen by the right audience rather than just generating empty impressions. 4. Track and Analyze Ad Performance Regularly monitoring campaign and its metrics is essential to determine their impact. Platforms like Google Ads Manager and Facebook Ads Manager provide detailed reports on: Using these insights, you can identify trends and make necessary adjustments. For example, if an ad is getting many impressions but few clicks, the issue may lie in the ad copy, design, or targeting. Additionally, tools like Google Ads Grader can provide a performance breakdown, highlighting areas where you can improve cost efficiency, ad placement, and engagement strategies. Conclusion Impressions are a vital metric for measuring ad visibility, but their true value lies in how well they contribute to engagement and conversions. Simply generating high impressions without targeting the right audience or optimizing ad performance can result in wasted ad spend. To maximize the impact of your impressions, focus on strategic keyword targeting, compelling ad copy, optimized ad placements, and continuous performance tracking. By refining these elements, you can ensure that your campaign are not only seen but also resonate with the right audience, ultimately driving better results for your campaign. At Dgazelle, we don’t just focus on getting your ads seen—we ensure they get clicked and converted. With data-driven strategies tailored to SMEs, we help businesses like yours make every ad count.

Do You Want To Boost Your Business?

drop us a line and keep in touch