Three Tips You Should Know Before Hiring a Developer in South Africa

Starting or growing a business in South Africa today almost always involves having a strong online presence. A website isn’t just a “nice-to-have” anymore  it’s where your customers first meet you, learn about your products or services, and decide whether or not they can trust your brand. But here’s the challenge: hiring the right website developer can be overwhelming.

At Insly Digital, we’ve seen many businesses struggle with finding the right fit. Some business owners end up with websites that don’t reflect their brand, while others get locked into projects with hidden costs or unfinished work. To help you avoid the stress, we’ve put together three important tips every South African business owner should know before hiring a developer.

1. Check Their Portfolio and Previous Work

When you’re looking for a website developer, the first thing you need to do is review their past work. A solid portfolio shows you the style, quality, and versatility of the developer. It also tells you if they’ve worked with businesses similar to yours.

For example, if you run an e-commerce shop in Johannesburg, you’ll want to see if the developer has experience building online stores that are easy to navigate, secure, and mobile-friendly. If they’ve only built personal blogs or simple landing pages, they might not be the right choice for your type of project.

At Insly Digital, we always showcase our client projects openly, so you know what to expect. From sleek business websites to robust e-commerce stores, our portfolio reflects what we can deliver.

Tip: Ask the developer for links to live websites they’ve created  not just screenshots. That way, you can test the site’s speed, design, and overall usability yourself.

 

2. Understand Their Communication and Process

One of the biggest challenges South African businesses face when working with developers is poor communication. Sometimes you’ll give instructions, but the final product looks nothing like what you asked for. Other times, the developer takes weeks to respond to a simple query.

Before you commit, ask questions like:

• How do you manage projects?
• Will I get regular updates?
• Do you use project management tools or direct WhatsApp/Email communication?
• How long will the process take?

A good developer should be transparent about timelines, progress, and changes.

At Insly Digital, we make sure our clients are never left in the dark. We give regular updates, explain technical details in simple English, and walk you through every stage of the project  from planning to final launch.

Tip: Choose a developer who listens first, then builds. If they rush to sell you a template without understanding your business, that’s a red flag.

3. Look Beyond the Price Tag

It’s tempting to go for the cheapest option, especially if you’re running a small business or just starting out. But remember, a website is an investment it’s often the first impression people have of your business.

The cheapest developer might save you money upfront, but in the long run, you could end up paying more for fixes, redesigns, or even starting over. Instead of focusing only on price, look at the value:

• Do they offer responsive design (mobile and desktop)?
• Will they optimize the site for SEO so you can be found on Google?
• Do they provide support after the site goes live?

At Insly Digital, we believe in offering value that lasts. Our websites aren’t just “pretty designs”  they are optimized for performance, SEO, and long-term growth. That means your website doesn’t just look good, it also works hard to bring in traffic and customers.

Tip: Always ask what’s included in the package. Hidden costs like hosting, maintenance, or domain renewals can add up quickly.

Final Thoughts

Hiring a website developer in South Africa doesn’t have to be stressful. By checking their portfolio, understanding their process, and looking beyond the price tag, you’ll set yourself up for success.

At Insly Digital, we’re here to make the journey easier. Whether you’re a start-up in Cape Town, an e-commerce store in Durban, or a growing business in Johannesburg, our team is ready to build a website that truly represents your brand.

Ready to get started? Contact Insly Digital today and let’s turn your vision into a website that works.