A massive part of digital marketing is web development.

While you probably have a vision of how you would like your page to look and work, it’s less likely that you have the tools or the know-how to build it yourself. Luckily, there are plenty of web developers out there who are equipped with the tools and the know-how to make your vision a reality.

But just like any line of work, there are good ones and bad ones. The goal is to find a good one right away, but sometimes we get duped by a promising face or a shiny business card and end up with a lemon. If you’re on the fence about your experience with your web developer then check these 10 signs that you may have hired a dud.

1. 1. • The “Headset Hottie” The Headset Hottie is a running gag amongst web development people for that cookie-cutter stock photo of the attractive woman wearing a headset that you see on some websites. They’re trying to push the thought that there is someone waiting to accept a customer’s call. Really, this is a hacky move. It’s been done so many times that it has become off-putting to customers. If your web development man or woman has put this image on your page get rid of them. Don’t feel too bad about it. They seem to have someone to call and talk it out with.

1. 1. • No Communication If your web developer stops talking to you, that means they stopped caring about your project. If they are making something that they are proud of and that they think you will be excited about, they will be calling or emailing you with updates.

1. 1. • The Copywriting Issue Sure, they can make a beautiful, functional website, but who’s going to put the words on it? You can’t present your website as an interpretive art piece, after all. So if your web development guy or girl doesn’t have a solution in mind, whether it’s that they have a copywriter on staff, or they’re going to hire a freelancer doesn’t matter. As long is they have an answer for the copywriting issue.

1. 1. • Being Artistic is Their #1 Concern Look, we all want our sites to look pretty, but the bottom line has to be functionality. So if our web developer is insistent on their artistic mission, just dump ‘em. Never forget that the customer has to know exactly what to do and where to go on your site, so a basic look with great functionality is better than a Picasso with no focus.

1. 1. • They’re Overworked This is really just a nice way to say that YOU  shouldn’t be worrying about your web development. If you’re trying to run a business, handle employees, secure new clients, etc., you don’t have time to worry about building your site. And if you’re not professionally trained you should really just leave it to the pros. Trust me, it’ll be worth it.

1. 1. • They Use Negative Language At risk of sounding like an afterschool special, don’t let anyone tell you that something is impossible. Especially in web development. If they’re really good at what they do they will have a strategy, or at the very least an idea, to accomplish what you want with your website. Anything within budget and the limits of technology should be achievable by whoever you hire to do this project.

1. 1. • They Can’t Code Hear me out here. Building a website can be done using entirely WordPress and plugins, but to hire a web developer who has no clue how to code is a suspicious practice. Using a high volume of plugins limits functionality and makes pages take forever (as far as the internet is concerned) to load. Not knowing how to code also means that they may not know all that much about how websites work to begin with. So keep tabs on the inner workings of the site they’re building for you.

1. 1. • They Work For Cheap I’m all about finding a good deal in all aspects of life, but there are somethings that you just can’t skimp on. On that list of things you shouldn’t skimp on, right up there with a doctor and a mechanic is a web developer. If someone offers to build you an entire website, complete with all the trimmings for less than $1,000 then you should pass.

1. 1. • You’re Too Close This may sound cliche, but trust me when I say that you shouldn’t hire your family. This line of work requires a that the developer can give in to what the client wants, even if they don’t necessarily agree with it. And that kind of cooperation is a lot more difficult when the person is too close to their boss. So it’s probably best not to give your nephew this job and send him an extra $10 on his birthday instead.

1. 1. • No Scope The scope of work outlines everything that the developer needs to do in order for the project to go smoothly. An experienced developer, or just a good one, will have a good scope of work that you can refer to and check up on as the project goes along. If they aren’t talking about, making, and showing you the scope of work, they need to catch a pink slip, and fast.In the current business landscape everyone needs good web development because everyone needs a good website. Point blank. Obvious. It’s clear.

1. 1. • Will They Try Or Will The Do? This one’s a little more subtle but it’s something that you need to pay attention to. When you ask your web development guy or girl about getting something done, do they tell you that they’re going to try it or that they’re going to do it? If they don’t convey 100% certainty that they’re going to get the job done, don’t let them waste their time and your money on something that they aren’t sure that they can do.

1. 1. • They Don’t Know The Difference Between Java And Javascript Java, aside from being a caffeinated beverage, is an Object Oriented Programming language. Javascript is is also an OOP language but is only distantly related to Java. Javascript has a much simpler set of commands than does Java and is pretty easy to understand. If your developer talks about these two programs as one, you know they have no idea what they’re talking about.

1. 1. • They Think They’re A 10 
        It’s a common interview question to ask someone how they would rate their skills in relevant subjects. If you ask a web developer, or any prospective employee for that matter, how they would rate their skills and they claim to be a 10, just go ahead and disregard everything that they’ve said. A good developer knows that it’s nearly impossible to be perfect at this job. When you consider the constantly changing technological landscape and the sheer amount of knowledge and ability someone would have to have to be perfect in every way you’ll realize this person is a fraud.

1. 1. • How About That Portfolio? 
        Everyone needs a good resume, but for a person in web development it might be more important to have a good portfolio. Their portfolio will show you exactly what they’ve done and how it turned out. No BS. So if they can’t supply you one of those, why are you even talking to them?

1. 1. • The Graphic Design Issue Just like copywriting, the web developer needs to have a plan in place to take care of the graphic design. Nine times out of ten if you have a web developer who tells you that they can do the graphic design work themselves, they’re exaggerating their abilities. So if you have someone tell you they can do it all, ask for examples of their design work. If they can back it up  then you’ve found yourself something special. If they can’t then you’ve just saved yourself a bunch of money by not hiring that dope.

So look after yourself and your business by doing your homework on the situation and the individual before diving in the deep end with them. It’s all about making sure that your business is represented in the right way. A way that your customer will understand without having to wait 10 minutes while a page loads or having to solve The Da Vinci Code.

There are aspects of your website, though, that you can likely handle yourself. There are templates out there that you can use to guide you through the process of applying the right copy and graphics on your page. We have one. It’s called The Perfect Homepage Template, and we’re not alone in our belief that the homepage is one of the more important aspects of your digital marketing plan. Heck, even that deeply artistic, pessimistic nephew of your who’s willing to build ten websites for a hot meal would tell you that.