Full-service marketing agencies offer web development as part of their digital marketing services. Some large agencies have in-house development teams to handle this work while others choose to outsource web design in a web development partnership. An agency partner can be particularly beneficial to smaller marketing agencies or to agencies who wish to focus on their primary areas of expertise and leave web development to the web design specialists.
While it may be tempting to keep all your services in-house to retain a certain level of control, there are several benefits to outsourcing web development to a web design agency.
1. Expertise and experience
Unlike full-service marketing agencies, a web developer’s bread and butter is in building attractive, functional and responsive websites, optimized for SEO. A web development agency typically has specialists in all relevant areas of web design that your marketing team can turn to to fulfill all the needs of your clients. A reputable web design agency will have created many websites for their own clients and brings their expertise and experience to the table as web design partners; potentially avoiding issues for your clients that they have learned to handle along the way.
2. They’re up on the latest technology standards for websites
Creating a website that doesn’t meet current technology standards or account for upcoming changes is a waste of time and money for your clients. And yet, technology is constantly evolving and keeping track of all the changes that affect websites can be time consuming. Web development agencies stay on top of changes to Google’s algorithms and security requirements that affect SEO as well as trends in web design such as the need for a responsive site so that they design effective, modern websites that will last as long as possible.
3. Outside perspective
When a team works closely together on multiple projects, its easy to get into a pattern of approving each other’s ideas. While this is good for group harmony, it can stifle the creativity needed to create unique websites. A web development partnership brings in a fresh, outside perspective; which can be better for problem solving. As a bonus, you’ll have more people invested in the success of your clients’ websites.
4. Flexibility
Because web development agencies have a range of web design experts on their team, they are often better able to handle changes in scope or design needs than an in-house team. Your project can keep rolling while the outside web development team makes adjustments instead of stopping while you scramble to find someone who can handle your clients’ adjusted needs or goals.
5. Time savings
Because web design is a web development agency’s main service, they are able to keep that part of the project moving while your team handles other aspects of your clients’ needs. With their expertise, they will also be able to assess the scope of the project and let you know a realistic time frame to get it done so you can set expectations with your client. The web design team should also be able to handle last minute edits and train you or your clients on making simple changes yourselves so website are not left sitting with typos or outdated information.
Unless you have the ability to hire a range of web design experts to handle the diverse needs and goals of your marketing clients, it is often the best choice to form a web development partnership. Your clients need never know that you have hired outside help but they will benefit from your partnership. With the right partnership, the relationships your team builds with a web design agency can feel like working with another department in your company.
Softwired provides digital solutions for our partner agencies. We’ve got you covered for web design, SEO, local online presence and optimization, digital marketing, digital sales, and digital advertising. Whether you’re interested in a silent partnership or a referral program, web design only or more; contact us today to get started!