Start with what the website must do
Before comparing developers, write down the website's job in one line. For most local businesses in Ghaziabad it's something like "get calls and WhatsApp enquiries from people nearby" or "let customers see our work and book a visit". Every decision about design, pages and features should support that job.
1. Who owns the domain, hosting and website?
The domain (yourbusiness.com) and the hosting account should be registered in your name, with the developer given access. Ask for the login details and the website files at handover. If the relationship ends, you should be able to move the site without asking permission.
2. Is it fast on a phone, on mobile data?
Most visitors will open your site on a phone, often on a busy 4G connection. Ask to see previous sites and test them yourself with Google PageSpeed Insights using the mobile score. A slow site loses visitors before they read anything.
3. Can visitors contact you in one tap?
The most common reason a website doesn't bring enquiries is that contacting the business is hard. Check for:
- A click-to-call button and a WhatsApp button visible on every page, on mobile
- Short enquiry forms that work, with a clear thank-you message
- Your address, a map link and opening hours that match your Google Business Profile
4. Are SEO basics included?
SEO shouldn't be an expensive add-on later. A well-built site includes the foundations from day one:
- A unique title and description for every page, with your service and city
- One clear main heading per page and descriptive image alt text
- An XML sitemap, robots.txt and HTTPS
- Structured data (schema) for your business, services and FAQs
- Google Search Console set up and the sitemap submitted
5. Will you know which pages bring enquiries?
Ask whether Google Analytics 4 will be set up with calls, forms and WhatsApp clicks tracked as conversions. Without tracking you can't tell whether the website, or the ads sending people to it, are working.
6. Can you update it yourself?
Ask how you'll change prices, photos, timings and offers after launch. Either the site should be easy for your team to edit, or the developer should offer quick, clearly priced updates.
7. What happens after launch?
Websites need care: security updates, backups, fixing broken links and renewing the domain and SSL. Ask what support is included, how fast they respond, and who renews the domain each year so it never expires by accident.
Questions to ask on the first call
Take these to every developer you speak to and compare the answers:
- Can I see three websites you've built, and can I contact those clients?
- Will the domain, hosting and files be in my name?
- How fast will the site load on mobile, and how will you check it?
- What SEO setup is included at launch?
- What does support cost after launch?
