Choosing a web agency: 10 questions to ask first

Before choosing a web agency: know what you want

The better you know what you need, the easier it is to compare agencies. You do not need a technical plan. A few answers on paper are enough.

• What should the site deliver? For example enquiries, bookings, sales or fewer phone calls.
• Who are your customers and what are they looking for?
• Which features do you really need, and which are nice but not necessary?
• What is your budget, for the build and for the years after?
• When does the site need to be ready, and why then?

Not sure yet whether you need a regular site or something with more features? Then first read website or web application.

Web agency or freelancer: what suits you?

You can choose a large agency, a small studio or a freelancer. It is not a question of better or worse, but of what fits your project.

• Large agency: lots of specialists, suited to large or complex projects. Often more expensive, and you sometimes have more contact with an account manager than with the people doing the work.
• Small studio: direct contact with whoever does the work, often flexible and personal. Do ask how cover is arranged during illness or holidays.
• Freelancer: affordable, but often specialised in one thing, such as design or development. Check who does the rest.

10 questions to ask any web agency

• What do you ask me in the first conversation? A good agency first wants to understand your goal and your customers.
• Who does the work, and who is my regular point of contact?
• What exactly is included in the price? Think of design, build, copy, SEO basics, CMS, training and hosting.
• Do I get a fixed price, or is it billed by the hour? What happens with extra work?
• What does the schedule look like, and at which points do I sign things off?
• Can I change copy and photos myself, and will I get a walkthrough?
• Who owns the site, the code, the domain and the content?
• Can I move to another provider later, and how does that work?
• What does maintenance cost per month and what does it include, such as updates, backups and security?
• Can I see sites you have made recently, and may I look at them on my phone?

Do not just pay attention to the answers, but also to how they are given. Do you get clear, honest explanations in plain language? Or lots of jargon and vague promises? That often says a lot about how the collaboration will go later.

Warning signs when choosing a web agency

• Guarantees about rankings in Google. Nobody can promise a fixed position in Google.
• A price without any questions about your goal.
• Lack of clarity about who owns your site and your domain.
• Long contracts without a clear explanation of what you get for them.
• No recent work at all that you can look at yourself.
• Pressure to sign quickly, for example with a temporary discount.
• A site only the agency can change, without that being explained up front.

If you see one of these signs, it does not have to mean an immediate no. Just ask about it. A reliable agency calmly explains how things work and then puts it in writing. If you get an evasive answer, or have to keep asking, you know enough. Always put important agreements, such as ownership, notice periods and what maintenance covers, in the quote or contract. Agreements made only verbally often lead to disputes later.

Comparing web agency quotes

Ask two or three providers for a quote and put them side by side. Compare them on content, not just on the final amount. A quote that is much cheaper often leaves something out: no CMS, no SEO basics, no training or no maintenance. You end up paying for that later anyway.

Also look at the total cost over a few years, not just the build. Hosting, maintenance and small changes add up. You can find a detailed approach in our article on comparing web agency quotes. Want to know what is realistic? Read website development costs.

Checklist: choosing a good web agency

• The agency understands your goal and asks good questions.
• You know who does the work and who your point of contact is.
• The price is clear and fixed, or you know exactly how extra work is handled.
• You become the owner of your site, domain and content.
• You can change the most important things yourself.
• Maintenance and costs after launch are clear.
• Recent work looks good and works well on a phone.
• It feels good to work with this partner.

How Violexa works as a web agency

Violexa is a small studio with Hisham as founder. You talk directly to the person who designs and builds your site. We work from Amsterdam, for businesses across the Netherlands.

• A custom website or web application starts from €1,799 excl. VAT (€2,177 incl. VAT) per project, with design, build, a design that works on every screen, SEO basics, Google Analytics, a CMS and training.
• Larger projects get a fixed price in writing up front.
• Maintenance is available with a plan from €179 excl. VAT (€217 incl. VAT) per month.
• You can see examples of our work on our work.

Read more about our approach under websites and apps.

Want to see first whether we are a good fit? Request a free quickscan. It is a 30-minute conversation, online or on site. Afterwards you get short written advice with a price estimate, with no obligation. That way you can simply compare us with other providers.

Frequently asked questions