What Makes Chicago Web Development Companies Unique?

Chicago is one of the most economically powerful cities in the United States. It is the third-largest metropolitan area in the U.S. by GDP, with $618 billion in 2019.

According to Statista, Illinois state, where the city is located, contributed 4% to U.S. GDP in 2020.

This makes Chicago a key player in the economic growth of a variety of industries like finance, telecommunications, engineering, publishing, food processing and more.

More than twenty Fortune 1000 companies are headquartered in the city, including:

• Boeing
• McDonald’s
• United Airlines Holdings
• Archer Daniels Midland
• Kraft Heinz
• Exelon

Chicago also offers higher education through its top schools: University of Illinois at Chicago, Illinois Institute of Technology, University of Chicago and more.

The city’s big employers and reputable universities attract high-level talent from all over the country, including web developers. In fact, Chicago is the sixth metropolitan area with the highest employment level in the web development and design field.

In 2020, Chicago had a total of 229,380 tech occupation jobs:

• 57,003 web and software developers, programmers and quality assurance specialists
• 23, 812 cybersecurity analysts and systems engineers
• 22,261 IT support specialists
• And more

These numbers indicate that web development companies in Chicago have a wide talent pool of skilled digital and IT specialists.

Plus, the major brands based in the city are likely to outsource web development in Chicago which means that local companies:

• Provide the highest quality of services
• Use premium tools and technologies
• Deliver challenging projects

What Services Do Web Developers In Chicago Specialize In?

Web developers in Chicago specialize in building websites, eCommerce stores and mobile applications. Some of them excel in developing custom websites while others focus on customizing templates or creating fully functional apps.

They tend to be more qualified in building professional websites for clients operating in the locally dominant industries.

According to Forbes, the leading sectors in Chicago are:

• Financial services
• Engineering
• Publishing
• Food processing

Just like any other web development agency, Chicago website development companies typically provide these services:

• Web design and development
• App design and development
• eCommerce design and development
• Software development
• Website maintenance and support
• Technical SEO optimization
• And more

How Much Do Chicago Website Developers Charge For Their Services?

Website developers in Chicago have an average hourly rate between $100 and $150, but you can find high-end local agencies charging up to $195 per hour.

The other billing option is the project-based fee which can range anywhere between $10,000 to $50,000 and up.

Regardless of the billing option, you would agree to, the final cost for web development in Chicago will highly depend on these factors:

• Your project’s complexity
• Number of specialists involved
• Modifications, edits and revisions
• Maintenance and support
• And more

Why Hire A Web Development Agency In Chicago?

It’s been established that Chicago is home to a large population of web developers and designers. In fact, its numbers sit right next to tech hubs like Washington and San Francisco.

This leads us to the two key reasons why you should consider hiring a Chicago web development agency:

Reason #1: Access To World-Leading Expertise

Top universities like Illinois Institute of Technology or the University of Chicago entice high-end talent from across the nation and are responsible for producing leading experts in the field of web development.

Outsourcing web development in Chicago will grant you access to a pool of highly skilled specialists who can offer internationally competitive services.

Reason #2: Expertise In Promoting Locally Dominant Industries

Operating in the same business environment for a long time, web developers in Chicago have naturally gained a deep knowledge of the local market and predominant sectors.

They are familiar with the competition, opportunities and challenges these industries may face. They know which web designs work best for these specific sectors and local audiences.

The community’s large population of experts who share a deep knowledge of the local market makes top web development companies in Chicago top contenders for high-quality, nationally competitive services.

How To Select The Right Web Development Agency In Chicago, IL

Before seeking potential partners for your upcoming project, it’s key to have a clear understanding of your business goals and what you want from an agency partner.

Follow these few steps to select the right Chicago web development company:

• Determine the services you need: Whether it’s mobile app development, website or eCommerce development, you must decide precisely what services you need so that you can pick an agency that provides the offering that you require.
• Look at their talent and expertise: Top web development companies in Chicago, IL are home to some of the country’s best senior-level specialists. This can help ensure successful results.
• Study their professional portfolio: Take the time to analyze their previous projects to understand whether they have industry experience, what areas they excel in and how long they have been around.
• Set your budget: A clearly defined budget helps filter agencies based on rates.
• Read their client reviews: Make sure to read their client feedback to learn whether these agencies are reliable, transparent, flexible and if they can demonstrate professionalism straight down the line.

10 Questions To Ask Web Developers In Chicago

It’s best to have a full understanding of their approach, processes and quality of work before signing with a web developer in Chicago. Make sure to ask them these questions:

1: What similar projects have you worked on?

A company that has already built domain knowledge is likely to have a head start on your project. This can save you time and money from all the possible trial-and-error.

2: Can you walk us through some of your best-case studies and explain how you achieved results?

The best Chicago-based web development companies have a track record of successful projects that they are eager to showcase. Asking them what strategies they developed to achieve fruitful results will give you a clear picture of their abilities and creativity.

3: How will you approach a project like ours, what is your process?

Asking prospective candidates about their strategy will give you a better idea of how much they understand your business goals and needs.

4: How much time will the project take from start to finish?

Depending on the complexity and the scope of your project, developing a website can take anywhere from six to twelve weeks, at least.

This is why you need to ask how long the development phase will take to ensure a company is ready to work on your project from start to finish and also provide an accurate launch date.

5: Who from your team will take charge of our account?

It’s important to know who the contact person is and whether or not the person is capable of communicating well.

Asking who will take charge of your account can help ensure that the agency will take leadership of your project.

6: Will our website be fully customized or template?

You need to double-check if the company you choose to build your website will use a template or will take the custom route.

Developing a fully customized website requires a different time frame and cost structure compared to using templates.

7: Do you also provide SEO services?

It’s advisable to pick a company that also offers search engine optimization as that will allow them to optimize your website for relevant keywords and help it rank higher in search.

This will increase your website’s visibility and place your business in front of the right audience.

8: How much will the entire project cost?

Ask web developers how much your project will cost from start to finish, including modifications and revisions.

You also need to consider whether you need maintenance and support post-launch, as that will incur additional costs.

9: How often will you update us on your progress?

Ask the agencies how they plan to keep you updated on the progress to ensure that everything stays on track and within the timeline.

You need to know whether they will send you daily or weekly reports with completed tasks. They can also share how often you will have to meet to discuss ongoing tasks.

10: How do you keep up with the latest trends in the industry?

The best web development companies always stay up-to-date on industry trends. They survey the latest web design trends and analyze new development solutions.

This enables them to build effective and cutting-edge websites that help their clients stay competitive in the marketplace.

Takeaways On Chicago Web Development Companies

Chicago is the sixth metro area in the US with the highest number of digital and IT experts.

Therefore, Chicago web development companies have teams of seasoned web architects, developers, designers, SEO specialists and more that can design, build, launch and maintain high-functioning websites.

These tech professionals tend to be more qualified in developing websites, mobile apps and online stores for clients within the locally dominant sectors: finance, engineering, publishing, food and more.

Web developers in Chicago typically charge between $100 and $150 per hour.

In choosing the right partner for your upcoming project, be sure to look into:

• Their core services
• Their talent and expertise
• Their previous projects
• Their client reviews

Best of luck!

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