Website Outsourcing

To outsource or not to outsource, that is the question.

This is a topic that is constantly thrown around in organizations today, and unfortunately there is no "right" answer. A great deal depends on what the organization's needs are. Here are a few questions to ask:

• First, does the organization have the headcount to allocate people to the development of the site?
• Does someone on staff have the technical training to execute the web site being envisioned?
• Does an internal designer or staff member have the level of design expertise this project will require - have they designed a successful web site presence before?

Based on the planning for the site, it may be appropriate to hire a person full time to build the initial site - but what happens with that person afterwards?

Is an Interactive agency what is needed or would a freelance developer be appropriate?

While a freelance developer may be less expensive at the start, what kind of long term expenses might result from that individual leaving town or taking a job that prevents the individual from working on the site in the future?

An interactive agency should be able to provide references, success stories, and advise on pitfalls to be avoided. Unlike a freelance individual or an internal resource, and interactive agency will have developers and designers on staff as well as be able to provide Quality Assurance testing and usability studies.

What are the post launch needs going to be for the web site? Is the web site going to continue to grow and evolve? If so, while planning and developing the site, things can be done to reduce the need of an experienced web developer to make updates to the site.

It is highly recommended to develop a strong relationship with an interactive agency that specializes in the development of web identities, which will reduce any potential headaches from the start.