Finding a Web Developer to Partner With
The field of website development is unique in the sense that a website can be built for any one from an individual project, to new startup ideas and any size business.
Millions of individuals with startup ideas and small business owners have built highly successful custom web applications. How do you find a web developer for a startup to build a new website and then support it as it grows?
Consider Hiring a Freelance Web Developer
4 reasons why hiring a freelancer may be the right solution for you.
- EXPERIENCE – Freelancers often target a specific niche or service within their industry.
Many web designers or marketing companies don’t have the technical experience to code a layout and turn it into a functional website.Just like when building a house, you have subcontractors that specialize in architectural design, digging foundations, and electrical wiring, there are multiple specialized areas to build a functional and successful website.
So it makes sense for web/graphic designers and marking companies to partner with a web developer to build a functional website. Being able to offer more services means they can grow their business.
- LOCATION – Freelancer web developers work remotely. I have been working remotely since 2000 (Y2K ) –long before the pandemic. Website development really is the ideal job to work remotely, if you have the personality for it. My independence/leadership skills, communication, self-discipline, and time management skills are polished beyond my ability to be successful.
My clients are nationwide (and worldwide), I don’t only provide web development services in Virginia. I have built long term relationships (decade+) with small businesses and individuals all over the USA.
With technologies like email, cloud file sharing, screen grabbing, and recording services, it is easy to communicate remotely to get a project completed without hurdles. I am a website development partner to web designers and small marketing companies – some for close to 15 years. Both of our businesses have grown successfully because of the business partnership we have formed.
- AFFORDABLE – Compared to hiring a web development company.
It’s a no brainer. Hiring a web developer that works remotely and on a per project basis is more affordable. Most startups and small business websites only need a short-term hire to build a website, then as needed website support for code maintenance and future development.I don’t have the overhead of renting office space, hiring staff, and everything else that goes along with building a web development company.
Again, I support a niche of website development for custom websites whether it be a code a custom website design created by a web designer or custom coded functionality to create a startup website or proprietary features needed on a business website.
- COMMUNICATION – Work one on one
Most start ups are small scale. Working with a freelancer you work one on one. There is no project manager to communicate through, no “unnecessary weekly meetings”. You build a relationship with each other rather than being “the client”.
Working with a freelancer is a win-win collaboration.
Individuals partner with freelancers for startups.
If you’re trying to find a web developer for your startup project, outsourcing to a freelancer makes sense.
I am a website consultant that can help you plan, develop, and deploy your website idea. If you need ongoing maintenance or management after it’s live on the Internet, I can do that too.
I provide technical support services like hosting, DNS and domain issues, on page SEO, website speed optimization, migrating websites, dealing with SSL issues too. Anything that has to do with the back end, technical side of getting and keeping a website live with no downtime is my area of expertise.
Web designers partner with web developers for custom web development.
Graphic and web designers are often “right-brain” people. They make a website design look great, but can’t implement it. Often their services are for web design only, and it’s up to you to find a web developer to code it. This is a perfect example of what I can do for you.
Web designers are often asked by clients to create custom designs for WordPress and or build in functionality to a website like a shopping cart or custom logic. Partnering with me you can offer these types of services to grow your web design company instead of having to turn clients away.
I also get contacted by small marketing companies for the same reason. They are experts in marketing services (including marketing clients’ websites). If the client does not yet have a site, or the website needs to be redesigned, rebranded, or rebuilt they may be in over their head. Partnering with me you can offer these types of services to grow your marketing company instead of having to turn clients away.
How to Get Started?
Start a conversation. Email me. If you would like a web development quote to convert a web design into a website I need the following:
- The mock up of the design. I need to see the design to understand how complex it will be to code.
- Details of how many web pages there will be.
- Write up details of functionality to be incorporated into the website.
When quoting a web design project, I understand that the design may not be finalized yet. .jpg images of the design are OK at this point. The final approved design files need to be delivered to me as Adobe XD, Figma or layered .psd files.
The easiest way to send me files to review would be to put them on a cloud service like Box.com, Dropbox, or Google Drive and then share them with me.
If you’re looking to hire a web developer to collaborate with, I would love to discuss how we could work together. I work quietly in the background on projects taking care of all of the technical details. By this I mean I work directly through you. Most of the time I am “white label” meaning a client is not aware I am involved.
“business partner” verses “partnering with me”
To clarify, I’m not interested in becoming a partner on your startup where I do all of the work to build the website upfront at little to no cost and you offer me a share of the profits someday.
I receive many propositions like this with a (vague) idea of what they want to do, no business plan, and no funds to implement it. This is 100% risk for me, none for you. If you have a fully developed startup idea with a plan and budget, absolutely I am interested in discussing it. ( Have you seen Shark Tank? If the prospects don’t have a business plan, proof of concept, and plan how to grow their business, the investors quickly turn them away. )
