Selecting a decent web services provider for your business may be a non-trivial and vague thing to do. The following short guide may help ease the task.

1. Request to review some portfolios

Many things you can find by reviewing previous projects done by a web service provider, such as their work quality, design style & aesthetic, capability, technical competence. Compare their portfolios with the fine websites you found elsewhere on the web.

2. Applying web standards?

In particular you may want to check if they apply the industry standard in web development (HTML 4.01 or XHTML) that allow websites constructed load quicker, lean & slim in (X)HTML code, render more consistently in current browsers, ready for the next modern medium (PDAs, smart phones, kiosks, screen readers, etc.) beyond common web browsers.

3. Years of professional experience

Some quality years of experience will certainly bring to the table more options, better solutions in doing things, for example what platform & system to deploy for your particular needs, how to design with better readability, typography, usability & accessibilty, how to construct web pages which render consistently in various web browsers, what about search engines optimization consideration.

4. Ask a consultation session discussing the solution offered

After priorly describing clearly what your needs and asking for a solution they can offer (if necessary in writing). Ask the web services provider to review and explain the solution they’re offering. Or if there’s any other options you can have in searching the suitable solution for your requirements. Use this occassion to ask them questions on things you’re not clear yet. This session should bring you confidence if you’re offered the right suitable solution.

5. Cost consideration

Cost may vary greatly between web firms. It depends on various things, such as: level of expertise, project experience, depth of specialty, more values brought to the services, number of designers / developers deployed and also availability. Way too low cost may indicate poor quality, while higher cost & charges don’t always mean better quality & services. The main consideration here certainly will be your budget, and if the cost offered sound about right.

6. Availability

Of course this thing put into account as what is the good in a fine web services provider if they don’t have time nor chance to work on your own project as they’re being tied with the many projects on progress.

Good luck & happy hunting!