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How to choose a web developer in Nigeria: 7 things to check before you hire
Your website is often the first thing a customer sees. Whether you run a business, a school or a personal brand, the developer you choose decides if it brings in customers or just sits online. Here are seven checks to make before you hire.
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01Look at real, live projects
Ask to see websites the developer has actually built, and open them yourself. Do they load, look clear and work on your phone? Screenshots can be edited, but a live link shows the real result. Better still, contact one of their clients and ask how the process went.
02Test it on a phone
A large share of visitors in Nigeria browse on their phones, often on slow or limited data. A good web developer designs for small screens first. Open the developer's sample sites on your phone and check that the text is readable, the buttons are easy to tap, and nothing slides off the screen.
03Ask about speed
Slow websites lose visitors, and speed is part of how Google judges a page. Ask how the developer keeps sites fast: compressed images, clean code and sensible hosting. You can test any live site for free with Google PageSpeed Insights.
04Get the scope and timeline in writing
Most disagreements between clients and developers come from unclear expectations. Before work starts, agree in writing on:
- The pages and features you will get
- How many rounds of changes are included
- The delivery date and how payment is split
05Understand what the price includes
The cheapest quote is rarely the best value. Ask exactly what is covered: design, development, content setup, domain name, hosting and basic search-engine setup. A clear quote protects you from surprise costs later.
06Make sure you own your website
Your domain name, hosting account and website files should be registered in your name or handed over to you at the end. If a developer keeps control of them, moving your site later can become difficult.
07Ask about support after launch
Websites need updates, fixes and security checks. Ask what happens after launch: who changes your content, how fast they reply, and whether maintenance is included or paid separately.
Quick hiring checklist
- I opened their live projects and they work well
- The sites look good on my phone
- Loading speed is acceptable
- Scope, timeline and payment are written down
- I know exactly what the price covers
- I will own my domain, hosting and files
- Support after launch is clear
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Akinjobi Abdurrahman Olanrewaju
Freelance web developer based in Nigeria, building websites for people and brands ready to move forward. See my work.