How to choose a web agency: 10 questions that will protect you
The web development market is overflowing with offers — from student freelancers to large studios with teams of 50+ people. How do you avoid making the wrong choice and losing money, time, and your sanity? Here are 10 questions to ask any agency before you sign a contract.
1. Can I see a real portfolio of similar projects?
Not just “we’ve built websites,” but specific projects in your niche or a similar one. Pay attention: does the portfolio include live websites (not just screenshots)? Visit those sites — check their speed, their mobile versions, and how logically they’re structured.
2. Who exactly will be working on my project?
A major pitfall: the agency shows you an experienced senior designer, and then a junior builds your site. Ask directly: who’s the designer, who’s the developer, who’s the project manager? Talk to them in person — it will give you a sense of the team’s level of expertise.
3. What does “turnkey development” include?
This term can mean very different things. Clarify whether it includes copywriting, SEO structure, integrations (CRM, analytics, chatbots), admin training, and technical support after launch. Ask for a detailed technical specification or scope of work before signing the contract.
4. What metrics do you track after launch?
A good agency thinks about results, not just about handing over the site. If the answer to this question is “well, we’ll hook up Google Analytics,” that’s a red flag. The right answer includes conversion goals, event tracking setup, A/B testing, and a plan for analyzing the first 30 days.
5. How long will development really take?
The average development time is 2–3 weeks for a landing page and 4–8 weeks for a corporate website. If you hear “we’ll build any website in a week” or “development will take six months,” both should set off alarm bells. Ask for a detailed plan with deadlines for each stage.
6. How do revisions work, and how many are included?
Revisions are the most common source of conflict between a client and an agency. Clarify how many rounds of revisions are included at each stage, what counts as a “revision” and what counts as “additional scope,” and how final design versions are locked in.
7. Do you have your own SEO team?
Even if you’re not planning any SEO work right now, a site’s technical SEO structure is laid down during development. Proper meta tags, URL structure, speed, schema.org markup — all of this affects your search rankings. An agency without SEO expertise builds in problems from day one.
8. What happens after launch?
Many agencies “disappear” once the project is handed over. Clarify the terms of technical support: what’s included in warranty support, how much ongoing support costs, and how quickly they respond to critical bugs.
9. Do you have real client reviews, and can I contact those clients?
Ask for the contact details of 2–3 clients the agency has already worked with. A legitimate agency won’t refuse. Call or message these clients — find out what working with the agency was really like, whether deadlines were met, and how good the result was.
10. What are the payment terms, and what happens if I’m not satisfied with the result?
A “100% prepayment” scheme is a warning sign. Standard practice: 30–50% upfront, the rest after the final result is approved. Also clarify what happens in case of a dispute, whether there’s an arbitration mechanism, and how money is refunded for work that wasn’t done.
The bottom line
The right agency won’t be scared off by any of these questions. On the contrary — it will answer them clearly and gladly. At Theonebly, we’re ready to answer every one of them at the very first free consultation. Send us a request — and see for yourself.
