Why You Need a Website Development Consultant in 2023

In 2023‘s digital-first business world, simply having a website is no longer enough. With customers increasingly turning to the internet for everything from product research to purchases to customer service, your website needs to offer a flawless user experience while driving measurable business results. In fact, studies show that 57% of internet users say they won‘t recommend a business with a poorly designed website on mobile (socPub, 2021).

As we move further into the 2020s, the gulf between businesses with optimized, high-performing websites and those with outdated, underperforming ones will only continue to widen. This is where a website development consultant comes in. These experienced professionals provide the technical expertise and strategic guidance to build websites that don‘t just meet the standards of today‘s digital landscape, but are equipped to evolve and succeed in the future.

The Benefits of Partnering With a Website Development Consultant

What exactly makes a website development consultant such a valuable partner? Let‘s explore some of the key benefits they offer.

1. Expert Strategic Guidance

Developing a high-performing website requires much more than just technical skills. A website development consultant brings a deep understanding of the strategic elements that separate average websites from exceptional ones. Some key areas where they can lend their expertise include:

• User Experience (UX) Design: A consultant will optimize your site‘s user flows and design to create a seamless, intuitive experience for visitors. According to Forrester, a well-designed UI can raise a website‘s conversion rate by up to 200%, while a better UX design can yield conversion rates up to 400%.

• Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Consultants stay on top of the latest SEO best practices to help your site rank higher in search results. This includes extensive keyword research, on-page optimization, technical SEO improvements, and more. Considering that 68% of online experiences begin with a search engine (BrightEdge, 2019), this is critical for driving traffic to your site.

• Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO): A consultant will employ proven tactics to turn more of your website visitors into leads and customers. This can include A/B testing different page designs, personalizing content, optimizing lead capture forms, and more. Even a small increase in conversion rate can have a huge impact on revenue over time.

• Accessibility: With web accessibility lawsuits on the rise, it‘s crucial that your site is usable for people with disabilities. A consultant will ensure your site meets the latest accessibility guidelines, such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

• Performance Optimization: Site speed and performance has a major impact on user experience and SEO. A consultant will use various techniques to improve your site‘s performance, from optimizing images and code to leveraging caching and content delivery networks (CDNs). Even a 1 second delay in page load time can result in a 7% reduction in conversions (Portent, 2019).

2. Efficient, Results-Driven Development

Building a complex website from the ground up is no small undertaking. If your in-house team doesn‘t have extensive web development experience, the process can easily become long, arduous, and fraught with missteps.

A seasoned website development consultant, on the other hand, will have a wealth of experience to draw upon to guide the project smoothly from start to finish. Some of the benefits of their expertise include:

• Streamlined Development Processes: Having worked on numerous web development projects, consultants have fine-tuned processes for every stage of the development lifecycle. This allows them to anticipate challenges, avoid common pitfalls, and work much more efficiently than a less experienced team.

• Knowledge of the Latest Tools and Technologies: The web development field is constantly evolving, with new frameworks, tools, and best practices emerging all the time. Consultants make it their job to stay on the cutting edge of these technologies and leverage them to create better-performing, more scalable websites.

• Agile Methodology: Many consultants employ an Agile development approach, which emphasizes collaboration, flexibility, and rapid iteration. This allows them to incorporate feedback and make changes quickly throughout the development process, rather than waiting until the end when it may be too late.

So what does this mean in terms of actual development time? While every project is unique, a survey of software development firms found that the average time to build a website with a professional team was 12-16 weeks, while a website built by a less experienced in-house team took 24+ weeks on average.

3. Cost-Effective Compared to In-House

For many organizations, particularly small and midsize businesses, hiring a full-time in-house web developer or development team simply isn‘t feasible from a budget standpoint. And even for larger companies with more resources, it may not make financial sense to add full-time employees for what is essentially a one-time project.

Hiring a website development consultant, on the other hand, is often much more cost-effective. Rather than committing to a full-time salary and benefits package, you only pay for the specific services you need for the duration of the project.

Let‘s break down some numbers. According to Glassdoor, the average base pay for a web developer in the United States is $86,375. Factor in benefits, and the total cost of employing that developer full-time comes to around $124,400 per year.

Now, let‘s say your website development project takes the average of 12-16 weeks to complete. Assuming a typical consultant fee of $100-150 per hour, the total cost of the project would come out to $48,000-$96,000. That‘s a savings of $28,000-$76,000 – and that‘s not even factoring in the additional revenue you could be bringing in by getting your site to market 8+ weeks faster with a consultant.

4. Future-Proofed for Lasting Performance

The average lifespan of a website is 2 years and 7 months. After that, it either needs a major overhaul or a complete rebuild to keep up with changing web standards and user expectations. However, a website built by an experienced development consultant can often last significantly longer without needing substantial changes.

This longevity is thanks to a few key things:

• Adherence to Web Standards: Consultants build websites according to the latest web standards and best practices from the W3C and other governing bodies. This helps ensure that the site remains compatible with new browser versions and devices over time.

• Flexibility and Scalability: A skilled consultant will select a tech stack and architecture that allows for flexibility and scalability as your business grows and evolves. This may include leveraging a headless CMS, building a progressive web app (PWA), or using a modular design system.

• Clean, Maintainable Code: An experienced developer will write clean, well-organized code that‘s easier to update and maintain over time. They‘ll also provide comprehensive documentation so that any developer can pick up where they left off.

• Regular Maintenance and Updates: Many consultants offer ongoing website maintenance as a service to their clients. This includes tasks like monitoring site performance, installing security updates, and making small enhancements and bug fixes as needed.

According to a survey by HubSpot, 82% of businesses that invest in ongoing site maintenance report a positive ROI. Moreover, sites that are regularly updated tend to see 55% more traffic than those that remain static (HubSpot, 2020).

What to Look for in a Website Development Consultant

As you can see, partnering with a website development consultant can provide immense value to your business. But with so many consultants and agencies out there, how do you choose the right one? Here are some of the top skills and characteristics to look for:

Technical Skills

• Proficiency in modern front-end languages and frameworks (e.g., HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, React)
• Experience with back-end languages and frameworks (e.g., PHP, Python, Ruby on Rails)
• Knowledge of content management systems (e.g., WordPress, Drupal)
• Familiarity with databases (e.g., MySQL, MongoDB)
• Understanding of responsive and mobile-first design
• Knowledge of SEO best practices
• Experience with version control systems (e.g., Git)
• Understanding of web security and performance optimization

Soft Skills

• Strong communication skills
• Ability to translate technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders
• Project management experience
• Creative problem-solving abilities
• Attention to detail
• Adaptability and willingness to learn

Other Factors to Consider

• Portfolio of past work
• Client testimonials and case studies
• Industry experience and specialization
• Pricing and contract terms
• Cultural fit and alignment with your company‘s values

Choosing a website development consultant is a significant decision that can have a major impact on your business, so it‘s worth taking the time to thoroughly vet potential partners. Don‘t be afraid to ask for references, review code samples, and have in-depth conversations about their process and approach.

The Case for a Website Development Consultant in 2023

As the digital landscape continues to evolve at a rapid pace, the need for businesses to have a robust, high-performing website is only going to increase. Consider that:

• Ecommerce sales are projected to reach $6.3 trillion by 2023 (Statista, 2021)
• 75% of people judge a company‘s credibility based on its website design (Stanford)
• Slow-loading websites cost retailers $2.6 billion in lost sales each year (Classy)
• 97% of a website‘s first impressions are design-related (Northumbria University)

In other words, your website is often the first (and sometimes only) chance you have to make a good impression on potential customers. In a world where customers have endless options at their fingertips, a subpar website can quickly send them into the arms of a competitor.

This is why investing in a skilled website development consultant is more important than ever in 2023. These professionals have the technical chops and strategic know-how to build websites that don‘t just meet the baseline standards, but truly stand out and drive results.

Make 2023 the Year You Prioritize Your Website

Your website is one of your most powerful business assets. It‘s your 24/7 salesperson, your customer service rep, and your brand ambassador all rolled into one. Investing in a high-quality, high-performing website isn‘t just a nice-to-have – it‘s a business imperative.

Partnering with a website development consultant is one of the most effective ways to achieve that high-performing site. From expert strategic guidance to efficient development to future-proofed performance, a skilled consultant can provide immense value to your business.

But don‘t just take our word for it. A study by Forrester found that on average, every dollar invested in UX brings 100 dollars in return. That‘s an ROI of 9,900%.

If leveling up your web presence is a priority for your business this year (and it should be), consider reaching out to a website development consultant. Take the time to find a partner who understands your business, aligns with your goals, and has the skills to execute your vision. With the right consultant by your side, you can head into 2023 with a powerful, revenue-driving website ready to take your business to new heights.