You need a website. You go to Google, ask around, get a few recommendations, and receive quotes ranging from ₦150,000 to ₦2,500,000 for what sounds like the same thing. How do you know who to trust? How do you know what you are actually buying?
Here are seven questions that will reveal whether a web development company is worth hiring.
1. Can I See Examples of Websites You Have Built — With Similar Goals to Mine?
A portfolio is not just about aesthetics. You want to see websites built for businesses similar to yours — in industry, in complexity, in purpose. Ask what results those clients experienced. If a developer cannot point to real examples and real outcomes, that is a red flag.
2. How Will You Handle SEO?
If the answer is "we will add some keywords", walk away. A professionally built website should include: proper heading structure, optimised page titles and meta descriptions, schema markup, fast load times, mobile responsiveness, and clean URL structure — all as standard. Ask specifically what they include. A blank stare means they are building you a pretty brochure that Google will never find.
3. Who Will Actually Build My Website?
Some "agencies" are one person outsourcing to contractors. Others have in-house teams with defined roles. Neither is automatically better, but you should know who is working on your project. Ask about the team structure, who your point of contact is, and how communication works during the project.
4. What Happens After Launch?
A website is not a one-time purchase. It needs hosting, security updates, occasional fixes, and ongoing improvements. Ask what post-launch support looks like: Is there a maintenance plan? What are the costs? What is the response time if something breaks? A company with no answer here will be unreachable the moment you have a problem.
5. What Platform Are You Building On, and Why?
Whether it is WordPress, Next.js, Webflow, or something else — they should be able to explain the choice in terms of your specific needs. A developer who always uses the same platform regardless of the project has not actually thought about your situation.
6. What Do You Need From Me, and What Does the Timeline Look Like?
Professional developers have clear processes. They will need content, branding materials, and your input at defined points. They will give you a realistic timeline with milestones. Vague answers here often mean a vague project that runs months over schedule.
7. What Does Success Look Like for This Project?
This is the most revealing question. A developer who answers in terms of design — "a beautiful website" — is thinking about their output. A developer who answers in terms of your business — "more qualified leads", "reduced customer service enquiries", "faster product discovery" — is thinking about your outcome. You want the latter.
Why This Matters
A poorly built website is worse than no website in some respects. It reflects badly on your business, performs poorly on search engines, and requires expensive rebuilding down the line. Investing in the right partner from the start saves money and time.
At Harzotech, we are happy to answer all seven of these questions before you commit to anything. Start a conversation — no obligation, just clarity on what you need and whether we are the right fit.