What we tell clients: hire a web design agency that can show leads or pipeline moving—not just a slick Figma file. Ask for live URLs, Search Console or PageSpeed proof, and a written scope before you compare day rates.
Checklist before you sign
- ☐ Success = leads, demos, or sales—not “new website”
- ☐ Live sites you can click through on your phone
- ☐ SEO basics in scope: metadata, schema, crawlable structure
- ☐ Core Web Vitals targets agreed upfront
- ☐ Who writes copy, who owns hosting, how many revision rounds
- ☐ Analytics and form tracking on day one
- ☐ Timeline with discovery → launch → post-launch fixes
- ☐ Reference in your industry if possible
Start with outcomes
“We need more qualified enquiries from our core markets” beats “we need a redesign.” Outcomes keep calls honest when agencies show pretty portfolios that never converted anyone.
Global delivery (if that’s you)
Serving multiple regions from one site means time zones, currencies, and tone vary. Ask who’s built for international delivery—not only a single-market template.
SEO and speed are deliverables
Architecture, schema, image discipline, and CWV should be in the statement of work. A gorgeous site that loads in six seconds is still a liability in competitive search.
Process beats vibes
You want named phases, owners, and what happens after launch. “We’ll stay in touch” isn’t support.
Price vs value
Cheap often skips analytics, SEO, and hardening. Compare what’s included, not the headline figure.
Proof we’re willing to show
oxfordsummerschools.com — our Next.js build for Oxbridge Summer Courses. Mobile PageSpeed (April 2026): Core Web Vitals Passed, LCP 1.8s, INP 139ms, CLS 0.01, FCP 1.6s, TTFB 0.6s. Details: case study. WordPress example: Travellers Autobarn.
Our own site (devcritters.com)
We eat our own cooking. Performance metrics were verified using Google PageSpeed Insights (powered by Lighthouse)—desktop, May 18, 2026 on devcritters.com: Performance 99, SEO 100, Best Practices 100, Accessibility 93; LCP 0.9s, FCP 0.2s, CLS 0, TBT 50ms, Speed Index 1.1s. CrUX may say “No Data” on newer domains—that’s normal. Screenshot: services · run it yourself.
FAQ: choosing a web agency
What is a web agency?
Team that plans, designs, builds, and often maintains your site—UX, code, SEO, sometimes hosting.
What does it cost?
Brochure vs shop vs app varies wildly—compare deliverables, not the lowest quote.
Agency vs freelancer?
Freelancer for a slice; agency when design, dev, SEO, and PM must ship together.
Questions for the first call?
CWV process, SEO in scope, revisions, hosting, timeline, success metrics at 90 days.
Can they show PageSpeed proof?
They should. We document Oxbridge at LCP 1.8s / CLS 0.01 on the case study.
Related resources
Bottom line
The right partner ships evidence and sticks around after launch—not a one-off theme install.
DevCritters builds WordPress to headless Next.js migrations for startups and SMEs worldwide. Services · Book a consultation.
