Are you looking to develop a new website for your business? When it comes to building a new site or redesigning an existing one, most businesses find it challenging to decide whether to hire a web design agency or a freelancer.
As a business owner, it’s crucial for you to have a successful online presence. However, you cannot achieve your target goals by simply having a website. If you want to be successful online, you need a website which is a perfect combination of great usability, attractive visual design, and engaging content. In addition to this, you will also need to implement SEO and paid marketing tactics to outshine your competitors. That being said, developing a functional business website requires experience, knowledge, and skills. Now you might be wondering how to hire the right professional to design and develop your website.
When it comes to website creation, you have two options:
Hire a Freelance Web Developer or Web Design/Development Company.
If you’re ready to start a website development or re-design project for your business, the first decision that you will need to make is whether to work with a freelancer or a web design agency. Choosing the right professional for creating a website can be an incredibly important decision for any business. To make the right decision, you need to consider these pros and cons of each option. But before we start figuring out all the pros and cons of these two options, let’s first understand the fundamental differences between the two main types of web developers.
Difference between a Freelancer and Web Development Agency
The process of creating a website is quite complex, involving several phases such as web design, web development, content creation, SEO, and more. A freelancer is a self-employed individual who isn’t committed to a certain company or agency. These professionals work as a web designer, developer, content writer, and even a blogger. A freelancer usually works from home and take on several projects for different entities at a time.
A website development agency, on the other hand, is a full-service company that specializes in developing websites. This company employs a team of professionals who work towards a common goal of designing and building your website. A web designing agency has professionals who specialize in different aspects of web development such as graphic designers, web developers, copywriters, SEO specialist, and more. Now let’s find out the pros and cons of hiring a freelancer or a web design agency.
Pros and Cons of Hiring a Freelancer
The major benefit of working with a freelancer is the low cost. Many small businesses prefer to hire a freelancer because it’s cheaper than working with web design agency. Freelance web developers set their own rates and are often more flexible with the price. Freelancers charge less because they don’t have to manage overhead costs like staff salaries, office rent, and maintenance. Besides this, working with a freelancer allows you to get more involved in the creative process. A reliable freelancer can also devote more time and attention solely to your project. However, there are also some serious disadvantages of hiring a freelancer for your project.
A freelancer is a single individual who don’t have a large team with different specialists. Unlike an agency that has a team working on different aspects of your site, freelancers work solo which means that you are at the mercy of their schedule. It is also possible that you will need to hire multiple freelancers specializing in different aspects of web design and development. Most freelancers have slow turn-around times because they juggle multiple projects at a time. Moreover, a freelancer is less credible than an agency because they are registered professional and you can rarely any public reviews online of individual freelancers.
Pros and Cons of Working with a Web Development Agency
Web Design Agencies enjoy more reputation in the industry. This is because full-fledged companies are registered with authentic organizations like BBB and they have a reputation to uphold within their community and among their industry peers. These agencies are listed on the top review sites like Yelp that hold them accountable for their work. A full-service web development and digital marketing agency will have their own content writers, web developers & designers, and SEO experts- all under one roof. Even if you have to pay more than a freelancer, you can save the cost of hiring multiple people to complete one project. When different specialists work together on your project you get better results in less time. These agencies have access to the advanced technology and better design materials to provide you better support.
The only drawback of working with an agency is the cost. These agencies have a physical office space and employ multiple specialists so of course, their rates will likely be higher.
The Verdict: Freelancer vs. Web Agency
As mentioned above, both options have some pros and cons. The decision of hiring a freelancer or agency largely depends on factors like the services you need, your budget, and time-frame that best suit your project. If you consider the pros and cons to both options, clearly hiring a web development agency is a better option. As compared to a freelance web designer, website design agencies have the resources and support to take on a full-scale web development project. You don’t need to hire multiple freelancers for your project. The agency will take care of everything- from planning through deployment. Most web development agencies also provide digital marketing services and can manage your website for years to come.
