Order a Website: How to Choose Freelancer vs. Agency

Many people can't make a website themselves, but it is a necessity nowadays, especially for businesses, including small ones. Fortunately, you can order a website from an agency or from a freelancer. Let's compare and make suggestions on which option to choose to get a reasonably priced and high-quality product.

Order a Website: Platforms

There are quite a lot of specialists who create websites on freelance platforms. Just go to any of them, for example, Insolvo. On Insolvo, you can post a task with an exact description and cost. On some other platforms, freelancers create job descriptions and offers of what they can do. It may be a good idea to try different platforms to see what works for you. 

There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.

Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

How to Select a Freelancer on a Platform?

It is necessary to approach the choice of a freelancer responsibly since the final result of the work will depend on them. 

• First, look at the reviews of other customers. Most platforms offer the opportunity to check what other people who have worked with the freelancer say about them. It is part of why platforms are so useful! 
• If the reviews are fine, consider the portfolio. Examine the examples of the freelancer’s work with care. If there are no works available, be sure to ask the freelancer why. They might be a beginner, and that complicates the selection process, but it might be a good idea to give a newbie a chance. However, keep in mind that for website development, a portfolio can include personal projects. Even an inexperienced website developer can and should offer examples of their work, including samples that did not have a client.
• Then, discuss the project with the freelancer. Most platforms allow you to talk to a freelancer before appointing them. Some things to consider are the deadline, the freelancer’s approach to your task, and the price they would require to complete it. You can negotiate the price, too, but remember that money improves motivation. Additional questions might be required if you need to discuss the details of your task.

Why Choose a Platform to Order a Website?

There are a few benefits to selecting a freelancer platform for your website task.

• The main advantage of a specialist from the freelance platform is that the cost of their work will be much more flexible than the cost of a specialist from an agency. Freelancers work for themselves and most often from home, so they do not need to pay office rent or the salary of employees. 
• Doing a good job is in the freelancer’s interest since their earnings depend on their reputation. On the platforms, you can usually see the rating of a remote employee. It can include the number of completed tasks and positive and negative ratings from buyers.
• Moreover, if you order a website from a freelancer, they will make it fast enough. After all, the money earned by a freelancer depends on their speed of work.

Of course, there is a risk of encountering scammers. To avoid this, never agree if the chosen candidate offers you to leave the platform and work directly. In this case, they can easily deceive you, and you will no longer have any guarantees. It is safer to work on the platform where your funds are protected and you have the opportunity to complain if you are not satisfied with the results.

How to Select a Developer Using an Agency? 

You do not typically select who you work with if you choose to task an agency with your project. It does not mean that you cannot change the person you were assigned. You can explain to the agency that your developer is not a good fit, and they will probably let you work with someone else. But you do not need to vet them like you would a freelancer.

Agency Advantages and Disadvantages

Among other advantages of agencies are a full package of services, official contracts, and a competent specialist. Of course, many people trust an official agency more than a freelance platform. However, keep in mind that agencies are all different, and not all of them propose good results for the substantial sums they charge. There is also a risk of running into scammers who will take money from you and then disappear.

To avoid such issues, you have to vet the agency itself. Check their reputation and portfolio and negotiate until you are certain that they can handle your task. Testimonials from previous customers should also help.

A website from an agency will be much more expensive than that done by a remote employee. Additionally, due to bureaucratic features of an agency, the delivery time may be longer. However, the official nature of working with an agency still appeals to buyers. 

In Conclusion

The choice of where to order a website is always yours; everyone makes it based on their needs. Freelancers will be cheaper. Besides, a reliable freelance platform protects the interests of the buyer. If you are not satisfied with something, you can always ask the freelancer to modify or redo it. However, it can be difficult to find a specialist for particularly complex projects.

In agencies, on the contrary, you can order a website of any complexity, and they will make it for you. You will have a contract protecting your interests as well. But the cost will be higher, and it will take longer.