8 Mistakes Marketing Agencies or Consulting Firms Make When Outsourcing Web Development
Last updated: November 09, 2022 Read in fullscreen view



- 01 Oct 2020
Fail fast, learn faster with Agile methodology 754
- 14 Oct 2021
Advantages and Disadvantages of Time and Material Contract (T&M) 636
- 15 Oct 2022
Project-based team model for one-off and pilot software development projects 612
- 19 Oct 2021
Software development life cycles 598
- 18 Oct 2020
How to use the "Knowns" and "Unknowns" technique to manage assumptions 597
- 19 Oct 2021
Is gold plating good or bad in project management? 578
- 08 Oct 2022
KPI - The New Leadership 485
- 28 Jul 2022
POC, Prototypes, Pilots and MVP: What's the differences? 477
- 06 Mar 2021
4 things you need to do before getting an accurate quote for your software development 450
- 19 Mar 2021
Selective Outsourcing of IT Functions - a new trend in business outsourcing 417
- 18 Jul 2021
How To Ramp Up An Offshore Software Development Team Quickly 417
- 01 Sep 2022
Facts Chart: Why Do Software Projects Fail? 416
- 12 Oct 2022
14 Common Reasons Software Projects Fail (And How To Avoid Them) 397
- 16 Dec 2021
Why outsource Python development of your project? 354
- 10 May 2021
What are things you should look for in a good IT outsourcing company? 341
- 14 Dec 2021
The Top 10 Problems with Outsourcing Implementation and How to Solve Them 336
- 16 Apr 2021
Insightful Business Technology Consulting at TIGO 329
- 06 Oct 2021
Intellectual property issues with outsourcing software development 328
- 23 Sep 2021
INFOGRAPHIC: Top 9 Software Outsourcing Mistakes 324
- 13 Oct 2021
Outsourcing Software Development: MVP, Proof of Concept (POC) and Prototyping. Which is better? 317
- 12 May 2021
The Real Cost Between Outsourcing IT vs In-House: A Quick Comparison 314
- 28 Oct 2022
Build Operate Transfer (B.O.T) Model in Software Outsourcing 311
- 03 Oct 2020
Outsourcing Your MVP Development - Streamlined Solutions for future 309
- 08 Feb 2022
Software Development: Fixed Cost or Opportunity Cost? 307
- 15 Aug 2021
TIGO Rate Formula - Things the partners should know 306
- 07 Jul 2021
The 5 Levels of IT Help Desk Support 303
- 11 Jan 2024
What are the Benefits and Limitations of Augmented Intelligence? 295
- 19 Oct 2020
The hidden costs of outsourcing software development 294
- 24 Nov 2021
What is the Actual Cost of Hiring Cheap Developers? 291
- 12 Dec 2021
Zero Sum Games Agile vs. Waterfall Project Management Methods 291
- 05 Mar 2021
How do you minimize risks when you outsource software development? 290
- 10 Dec 2023
Pain points of User Acceptance Testing (UAT) 290
- 28 Dec 2021
8 types of pricing models in software development outsourcing 286
- 01 Sep 2019
Outsourcing Software To Vietnam: Facts, benefits and limitations 279
- 19 Apr 2021
7 Most Common Time-Wasters For Software Development 265
- 13 Dec 2020
Move fast, fail fast, fail-safe 253
- 31 Oct 2021
Tips to Fail Fast With Outsourcing 252
- 02 Mar 2021
Estimate the Cost of Software Development 250
- 01 Jan 2023
4 New IT Outsourcing Pricing Models to consider in 2023 249
- 31 Dec 2021
Outsourcing Software Development to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 248
- 25 Nov 2021
Low-Cost Software Development: Buy Nice or Buy Twice? 243
- 03 Nov 2021
7 phases of Odoo Implementation and Development: Can they be outsourced? 241
- 01 Mar 2022
Top 5 reasons why outsourcing to Vietnam is a smart move 232
- 05 Jan 2022
What Outsourcing Engagement Model is Right For You? 232
- 06 Feb 2021
Why fail fast and learn fast? 232
- 21 Oct 2021
Advantages and Disadvantages of IT Outsourcing 221
- 04 Jan 2021
VIETNAM AS A BIG ATTRACTIVE DESTINATION IN THE FIELD OF OUTSOURCING 221
- 12 Jan 2023
Top 10 Trustworthy IT Outsourcing Companies in Vietnam 219
- 12 Oct 2021
Vietnam outsourcing path - the silk road connecting ASEAN with the developed countries (EU, US, Japan...) 219
- 04 Oct 2021
Product Validation: The Key to Developing the Best Product Possible 218
- 10 May 2021
Project Audit and Second Opinion Services 205
- 01 Apr 2021
IT Outsourcing to vietnam: Why It Is A Good Choice? 202
- 04 Oct 2022
Which ERP implementation strategy is right for your business? 202
- 18 Aug 2022
What are the consequences of poor requirements with software development projects? 201
- 10 Apr 2021
RFP vs POC: Why the proof of concept is replacing the request for proposal 201
- 06 Nov 2019
How to Access Software Project Size? 200
- 01 May 2023
CTO Interview Questions 196
- 03 Nov 2022
Top questions and answers you must know before ask for software outsourcing 195
- 03 Nov 2022
Top questions and answers you must know before ask for software outsourcing 195
- 01 Jan 2023
Software Development Outsourcing Trends to Watch Out for in 2023 189
- 31 Aug 2022
What are the best practices for software contract negotiations? 186
- 16 Mar 2021
Outsource Data Engineering Services - TIGO Streamlined Solutions 186
- 07 Aug 2022
Things to Consider When Choosing a Technology Partner 184
- 08 Oct 2024
Vietnam: The Rising Star in Global Outsourcing – Trends and Costs for 2025 184
- 10 Nov 2022
Poor Code Indicators and How to Improve Your Code? 177
- 11 Mar 2023
Common Pain Points in Software Development Outsourcing 168
- 04 Apr 2024
Unlock Vietnamese-Japanese outsourcing potential 164
- 02 Nov 2023
What are the pros and cons of iIT outsourcing? 162
- 01 Jan 2023
Top Software Development Challenges in 2023 162
- 26 Dec 2023
Improving Meeting Effectiveness Through the Six Thinking Hats 158
- 13 Oct 2021
Why Outsourcing Software Development Services Is Gaining Traction With Non-Technical Leaders? 157
- 17 Feb 2022
Prioritizing Software Requirements with Kano Analysis 153
- 09 Feb 2023
The Challenge of Fixed-Bid Software Projects 151
- 20 Nov 2022
Software Requirements Are A Communication Problem 150
- 01 Mar 2023
Bug Prioritization - What are the 5 levels of priority? 148
- 07 Oct 2022
Digital Transformation: Become a Technology Powerhouse 148
- 17 Oct 2020
How Outsourcing can Improve Time Management for Better Business 148
- 01 Oct 2022
Vietnam is a favorite supply of IT outsourcing services to Japan 148
- 01 Jan 2023
Why is Vietnam the Top IT Outsourcing Destination of 2023? 147
- 01 Jan 2023
Top 5 IT outsourcing countries in 2023 147
- 08 Aug 2021
Why Nearshore Software Development is better than In-House Development? 147
- 21 Oct 2022
Outsourcing Billable Rate 145
- 01 May 2023
Streamline Your Business with Outsourcing 136
- 01 Jan 2024
Tech Partnerships: Choosing the Right Software Outsourcing Firm in Vietnam 136
- 09 Jan 2021
How can outsourcing enable business agility? 136
- 09 Mar 2022
Consultant Implementation Pricing 135
- 08 Nov 2022
4 tips for meeting tough deadlines when outsourcing projects to software vendor 134
- 21 Aug 2022
Forbes: IT Outsourcing Hotspot: Vietnam, A Small But Mighty Powerhouse 130
- 10 Mar 2021
The 7 Biggest Mistakes to Avoid Before Outsourcing a Web Development Project 129
- 01 Mar 2023
How do you deal with disputes and conflicts that may arise during a software consulting project? 129
- 05 Sep 2023
The Cold Start Problem: How to Start and Scale Network Effects 128
- 01 Feb 2023
[InfoWorld] Is your outsourcer agile enough? 125
- 01 Jan 2024
12 reasons for software development outsourcing 125
- 01 Dec 2023
Laws of Project Management 124
- 01 Jan 2024
Software Outsourcing Questions for 2024 123
- 01 May 2024
Warren Buffett’s Golden Rule for Digital Transformation: Avoiding Tech Overload 123
- 01 Jan 2024
Hiring Tech Talents in Asia: An Overview of Skills, Costs, and Potential 121
- 13 Jan 2023
What are the Hourly Rates in Offshore Software Development? 120
- 08 Jan 2024
Outsourcing on an As-Needed Basis 117
- 07 Nov 2024
Outsourcing Crisis Looming: Will Trump's Policies Transform the Global IT Landscape? 116
- 17 Jan 2024
What are the benefits and challenges of using multi-sourcing or single-sourcing strategies? 115
- 09 Jan 2022
How to Bridge the Gap Between Business and IT? 115
- 28 Oct 2022
Expect the unexpected in 2023 - How Outsourcing Can Help? 115
- 15 Nov 2023
IT Staff Augmentation Types and the Best Choice for Your Business 112
- 16 Feb 2021
Choose Outsourcing for Your Non Disclosure Agreement (NDA) 109
- 09 Sep 2022
Close Collaboration and Communication Can Overcome the Challenges of Distributed Teams 105
- 05 Jan 2024
Easy ASANA tips & tricks for you and your team 105
- 03 Jan 2023
IT Outsourcing Costs: Is outsourcing really cost-effective? 103
- 06 Mar 2024
[SemRush] What Are LSI Keywords & Why They Don‘t Matter 102
- 10 Jan 2024
Facts Chart: Reasons for outsourcing 98
- 12 Mar 2024
How do you create FOMO in software prospects? 79
- 01 Jan 2024
What The World Is Flat Means to IT Outsourcing 76
- 02 May 2021
Outsourcing Software Development: Avoid 8 Mistakes 68
- 14 Mar 2024
Why should you opt for software localization from a professional agency? 64
- 12 Aug 2024
Understanding Google Analytics in Mumbai: A Beginner's Guide 53
- 10 Jul 2025
Building AI-Driven Knowledge Graphs from Unstructured Data 44
- 17 Mar 2025
IT Consultants in Digital Transformation 39
Web development is an essential need for practically any business. After all, your online presence is often the first thing people will see when looking into your business. Whether you’re looking to build a website or web application or want some upkeep and maintenance, outsourcing is a great solution, especially if you don’t need full-time, round-the-clock services.
But all too frequently, businesses make fatal errors when outsourcing — errors that could be avoided. So, what are common pitfalls when you outsource web development, and how can you make sure you don’t fall into their trap?
For marketing and digital advertising agencies, offering Web development services is one of the best ways to stand out in a crowded field. A well designed, good working website with quality content that is regularly updated is often a starting point for any business's online success. If you are unfamiliar with working with web development companies, you may fall prey to some of the common mistakes made by many agencies.
Picking the Cheapest Option
From the tiniest startup to the most massive multinational firms, every company needs a website for their customers to find them and do business with them. Web development services are highly sought after skill these days. While it might seem like a pleasant surprise to receive a bid lower than you expected, you should also be a bit wary.
Offering a low bid may signify that your potential partner is inexperienced or isn't familiar with the market. It might also be a clue that they use developers overseas to cut costs, which can produce variable or shoddy quality work.
You compromise quality for price: When you first start to source your outsource projects, you’ll collect a variety of quotes with a variety of ranges. You may get a fixed price quote, you may get an hourly rate with a projected timeline. Whatever you receive, undoubtedly the price that will stand out will be the cheapest. You’ve probably heard this before, but do not compromise quality for price, get reviews, requests portfolios, lean towards developers who are experts/specialize in the type of development you need. There is no value, in under par work.
Instead of doing one-offs for every single deal, you land, do some due diligence, and pick a long-term partner that fits with your agency's philosophy and vision. Do a test project eventually to understand the quality and the capabilities of the partner of choice.
Using Freelancers
Using freelancers isn't necessarily bad; many of them are quite talented and produce quality work. However, it's also fair to say that you'll be taking a much more significant risk by going with a freelancer, especially one without a robust portfolio and references.
Freelancers tend to overpromise and underdeliver in terms of their skillset and capabilities. If your freelancer doesn't meet your expectations, you aren't able to meet your clients' expectations—and that's what matters for the bottom line. In other words, going with the wrong freelancers could harm your own company's reputation.
Outsourcing development to freelancers is also a risk because there's usually only a single person at the other end of the line. If your freelancer goes on vacation or gets sick, then you're left without options for the time being.
Not Doing Research
Choosing a custom web development partner is a significant business decision, so you need to do your research well in advance. Start by looking into each firm under consideration:
- What do they do? What technologies do they use, and what kind of clients do they usually work for in terms of industry, size, etc.?
- How do previous clients feel about their work? Do they have reviews, testimonials, or case studies that can demonstrate their success with similar projects?
- Are they able to scale to meet growing levels of demand as necessary? Can they provide ongoing support and maintenance after the project is complete?
By asking the right questions beforehand, you can get a clear idea of how each potential partner operates and how trustworthy and reliable they are. Be sure to ask them for references for similar projects.
Not Hammering Out the Terms of Your Contract
If you haven’t laid out service level agreements, the requirements for the project, and other factors in your contract, you could be looking at disappointment and a failure to meet expectations down the road. Make sure you have this and other important information explained in a contract signed by both parties.
For example, if you encounter hiccups that lengthen the timeline, as is a common occurrence, how will that extension affect the pricing of your project? That’s something that should be clearly stated in your contract to avoid surprises later on.
Ignoring the importance of project objective and requirements elicitation
If you haven’t established clear goals for the project, you should wait until you have nailed down objectives that you can articulate to the web development team. Otherwise, you’re bound to be dissatisfied with the results since you won’t be able to give your developers clear directions.
A web development project needs to have an end goal. How do you want your audience to use it? What takeaways do you hope that they have from the experience? How will you determine and measure outcomes?
Think in terms of both short and long terms. Not only will this allow you to evaluate the product in the end, but it will also guide your strategy and collaboration with the outsourcing team. The goals should also complement your overall business strategy — they shouldn’t be confined to the specific project itself.
Thinking of the Project as a One-Off
You may be outsourcing a single website or app right now, but who knows what you’ll need in the future? Rather than dismissing this project as a one-time occurrence, try to lay the foundation for a potentially longer-term partnership. If you build a solid working relationship now, the web development provider could become your go-to vendor, which will be beneficial for both of you — for one, you won’t have to search for the right fit again.
Taking strides to avoid these pitfalls will allow you, your team, and your outsourcing partner to work better together and complete your project more successfully. Ultimately, that’s the goal of any web development undertaking.
Partners with No Agency Experience
Working with a marketing agency and helping them execute campaigns is an entirely different experience than projects such as creating an e-commerce website. It's vital to prioritize partners that have already worked with marketing agencies in the past, for the following reasons.
- If your partner isn't aware that working with a marketing agency will be different than usual, they'll likely have a harder time adapting to the changes. You need an outsourcing partner who can seamlessly fit into your organization.
- From PPC to ROI, there's a lot of marketing jargon and terminology that can pass over an outsider's head. Choosing an experienced marketing partner helps avoid these issues.
- Marketing agencies often have faster turnaround times—they need a campaign finished ASAP to capitalize on a recent event. Your partner needs to be aware of these needs and willing to help you meet these tight deadlines.
As a result, it's common for marketing agencies to have some "fires" that they need to put out and projects that need rescuing. Development partners need to be comfortable with a certain degree of spontaneity and unpredictability.'
Partners Who Don't Ask Questions
One major red flag is a web development company that asks very few questions during the negotiation process. Two causes: they're inexperienced and don't know the right questions to ask, or they simply don't care about what you need from the partnership.
If a partner accepts your offer right off the bat, you might not be able to share your clients' expectations for the final product. Without understanding your requirements during the sales process, how can you hope for your partner to deliver a satisfactory final product?
Final Thoughts
While the 5 issues above are all too common when it comes to finding a web development partner, the good news is that they’re largely avoidable. By taking the time to do your research and thoroughly vet the development companies on your list, you’ll be much more likely to find a partner that fits well with your business needs and objectives.
