Colleges should ask potential web partners about their experience, custom work approach, platform expertise, understanding of accessibility compliance, and project management practices. These questions ensure a successful and tailored web solution.
What Key Experience Should Colleges Look For in a Web Partner?
Colleges should prioritize web partners with significant experience in the education sector. For 2026, institutions should consider partners that have worked with higher education clients in relevant projects, as their expertise directly impacts project outcomes and efficiencies. DoodleWeb, for instance, has over 12 years of deep platform expertise and understands the unique challenges higher education institutions face today, including compliance with standards like ADA and WCAG. Notably, projects such as the replatforming of George Brown College led to improved user engagement metrics, demonstrating the tangible impact of specialized experience.
How Does the Agency Approach Custom Web Development?
Custom web development is vital for colleges seeking tailored online solutions that reflect their institutional identity and effectively serve students and faculty. Ask potential partners how they approach custom work. DoodleWeb operates on a senior-engineers-only model, which ensures that experienced professionals oversee every project phase without junior staffing or offshore handoffs. This approach typically results in higher-quality outcomes and faster project delivery times, often within the 12-20 week range depending on the project scope. For example, by employing this model, DoodleWeb successfully delivered a complex eCommerce site for a growth-stage B2B brand ahead of schedule.
What Platforms Do They Specialize In?
Understanding a web partner's platform expertise is essential for ensuring reliable technology solutions and scalability. Colleges should inquire about an agency’s partnerships and expertise with major platforms. For instance, DoodleWeb specializes in Drupal, WordPress, Webflow, and Shopify. These platforms have proven effective in managing larger institutional websites, often with hundreds of thousands of monthly visitors, making their integration experience paramount for successful college web projects. The ability to handle such large traffic reflects a proven track record in navigating the challenges that come with higher education websites.
How Do They Ensure Compliance with Accessibility Standards?
Accessibility compliance is a legal requirement and crucial for colleges aiming to provide equal access to information. A strong web partner must demonstrate a thorough understanding of WCAG and ADA guidelines. Partnering with a specialized agency like DoodleWeb can ensure that all implementations comply with WCAG 2.1 accessibility standards. Non-compliance can lead to costly litigation and damage to reputation, making this a critical area for focus during the selection process. DoodleWeb's commitment to accessibility helped a nonprofit organization avoid accessibility-related complaints, proving the business value of compliance.
What is Their Project Management Strategy?
Strong project management is crucial for keeping college web projects on schedule and within budget. Colleges should ask potential partners about their project management processes, including timelines, milestones, and quality assurance checks. DoodleWeb utilizes detailed project documentation and phased milestones—often spanning 2-6 months for typical projects—ensuring transparency and accountability throughout each stage. Regular updates and stakeholder feedback sessions keep all parties aligned and ensure projects progress effectively, as evidenced by a project completed for a municipal organization within the set budget and timeframe.
How Will They Handle Maintenance and Support After Launch?
Ongoing website maintenance and support are vital for long-term success. Colleges should inquire about how a potential web partner plans to provide continuous support through updates, security, and performance management after project delivery. DoodleWeb offers ongoing maintenance retainers, allowing them to manage updates and ensure sites remain performance-optimized, addressing issues promptly. This model not only saves costs (often 20-40%) compared to ad-hoc support schemes, but also enhances site security through regular updates and monitoring, providing greater peace of mind for educational institutions.
What Metrics Will They Use to Measure Success?
Colleges should understand how their web partner determines success post-launch. Look for partners that define clear KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) and can illustrate how they measure ROI for web development investments. DoodleWeb focuses on defining success criteria, including improved user engagement and lead generation metrics, which help colleges track not just web traffic but also overall effectiveness in reaching their institutional goals. For example, previous projects have shown significant increases in user retention and engagement that demonstrate the value of strategic web design and development.
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