Programming is the last stop in the development of your website.

The last thing you want to do is to pass a well thought out design you’ve worked hard on into the hands of a developer who doesn’t know what they are doing or will cut corners every step of the way.

Having had a lot of experience with developers I decided to write a post about some of the characteristics I look for in a developer before I bring them on to my team. Beyond knowing the programming languages necessary to do the job, there are certain requirements that are essential in hiring the right programmer.

• Technology is always evolving and the programming skills a developer has today will likely be outdated in a couple of years. It’s important to find a programmer who has an interest in following the latest trends, and is interested in learning what the future will hold when it comes to the latest technology and the downfalls that could occur.  Using shortcuts does not work in any situation as it will come back to haunt you.
• Implementing code to make a website function well is only part of a programmer’s job. When things don’t work as expected, a programmer is expected to get to the root of the problem quickly and effectively instead of spending hours blindly making changes and testing costing the client money and time.
• A good programmer will always find ways to make something work. There is nothing worse then hearing “That can’t be done,” every time you ask for a change to be made on your website.  You also don’t want a developer who will take “shortcuts” to make the changes you’ve requested only to have the website stop working in the future because of those shortcuts.
• Programming is a stressful profession and you absolutely need to respect that. When deadlines are tight and nothing seems to be working, the situation can become tense. You need a developer who can figure things out in a calm manner, a developer who will work with you to find the right solution.
• Programmers generally are not expected to have a direct relationship with the client.  In my experience they just don’t want to get involved. They like staying behind the computer and doing there job. However, sometimes it is important for the programmer to occasionally participate in client meetings and explain how a system works to give the client a better understanding especially if their website is a complicated one.
• Programmers don’t always get it right on the first try, but it’s important to find a programmer who is up for the challenge rather than giving up and implementing a solution that is only a bandaid that will cause problems later.

Working with a programmer that cares about his or her work is important as it will only lead to success.

If you are hiring a programmer on your own make sure they don’t use a lot of shortcuts that will come back to haunt you in the future. Don’t look for a programmer that is the cheapest around (YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR).  A good developer will cost you more but the payoff is a website that functions the way it is meant to.

Educate yourself on website development, the pitfalls of plugins, the platforms.  Get to know your developer before you start a project, ask for samples of work, ask about the challenges for a particular project, and do get references.

Good communication between you and your developer is a must.

Wieting Design | Website Development Fairfield County CT

Wieting Design is a full-service, graphic and website design agency based in Fairfield County, CT and serving all of Connecticut (CT). We are committed to sharing our experience and expertise in website design, graphic design, social media marketing, search engine marketing (SEO), and video production to help build powerful tools and campaigns that work for your Connecticut business. Whether your objective is to grow your reputation, create client loyalty, drive traffic to your website or set up a marketing strategy, we will adapt our approach to get you the results you need with the services we provide.