TL;DR
Choosing the right web development agency is a crucial decision for your business. A good agency will deliver a professional website that generates leads. A bad agency is a waste of time and money. Here's how to choose correctly.
Who this is for
- Companies looking for an agency to create a website or app
- Business owners planning a web development project
- People deciding between several agency offers
Keyword (SEO)
how to choose web development agency, choosing it agency, agency selection criteria, web agency red flags
1. Portfolio and case studies
What to check
- Real implementations – do they show working sites, not just mockups
- Project diversity – do they have experience in your industry
- Results – do they show concrete effects (traffic, conversions, performance)
- Technologies – do they use modern tools (Next.js, React, TypeScript)
Red flags
- No portfolio or only mockups
- All projects look identical
- No case studies with results
- They use outdated technologies
2. Work process and communication
What to check
- Process overview – do they have a clear plan (brief → design → development → launch)
- Communication – how often they contact, do they respond quickly
- Tools – do they use professional tools (Jira, Trello, Slack)
- Code access – will you receive source code after project completion
Red flags
- Unclear process, no plan
- Long response times (days, weeks)
- No project management tools
- They don't want to give code access
3. Technologies and competencies
What to check
- Tech stack – do they use modern tools
- SEO and performance – do they optimize for Core Web Vitals
- Security – do they care about security (HTTPS, updates)
- Responsiveness – do they create mobile-first sites
Red flags
- They use outdated technologies (jQuery, PHP 5.x)
- No knowledge of SEO and performance
- They don't care about security
- Sites are not responsive
4. Pricing and estimates
What to check
- Transparency – is the estimate detailed and understandable
- What's included – what exactly you'll get (design, development, SEO, hosting)
- Hidden costs – are there additional fees (hosting, domain, maintenance)
- Comparison – is the price reasonable compared to the market
Red flags
- Unclear estimate, no details
- Very low price (often = low quality)
- Hidden costs during the project
- No information about maintenance after launch
5. Support and maintenance
What to check
- Post-launch care – do they offer technical support
- Updates – do they update systems and security
- Backups – do they do regular backups
- Monitoring – do they monitor performance and availability
Red flags
- No support after project completion
- They don't offer maintenance
- No backups and monitoring
- After launch they "forget" about the project
6. References and reviews
What to check
- Client reviews – check Google Reviews, Clutch, LinkedIn
- References – ask for contact with previous clients
- Case studies – do they have detailed case studies with results
- Years in business – how long they've been on the market
Red flags
- No reviews or only negative ones
- They don't want to give references
- No case studies
- They've been operating recently without experience
Questions to ask the agency
- What does your work process look like? – step by step
- What technologies do you use? – tech stack
- Will I receive source code? – code access
- What's included in the price? – detailed scope
- What does post-launch support look like? – maintenance and care
- Do you optimize for SEO? – Core Web Vitals, meta tags
- How often do we communicate? – communication and reports
- Do you have case studies with results? – concrete effects
Red flags – when to run away
- Very low price – often = low quality
- No portfolio – they don't have implementations to show
- Unclear communication – long responses, no plan
- Outdated technologies – they use old tools
- No support – after launch they "forget" about the project
- Hidden costs – additional fees during the project
- No references – they don't want to give client contacts
How to choose correctly
- Check portfolio – do they have similar projects
- Ask questions – check their competencies and process
- Compare offers – don't choose only by price
- Check reviews – Google Reviews, Clutch, LinkedIn
- Ask for references – contact previous clients
- Check technologies – do they use modern tools
- Make sure about support – what after project completion
Summary
Choosing a web development agency is an investment in your business's future. A good agency will deliver a professional website that generates leads and grows business. A bad agency is a waste of time and money. Check portfolio, ask questions, compare offers and choose a partner who understands your needs.
Want professional collaboration?
- Contact – tell us about your project
- See our implementations – examples of professional projects
- Check our process – how we work