How to pick a good web agency — 10 questions

Choosing a web agency is a decision worth thousands of zloty. A wrong call means lost money, lost time, and a website that doesn’t bring in clients. Before you sign anything, ask these 10 questions — the answers will tell you whether you’re dealing with professionals or amateurs.

1. Can I see a portfolio of real, live sites?

Not screenshots, not mockups — live sites. Click on them, check load speed (PageSpeed Insights), check how they look on a phone. If the agency cannot show 5+ working sites — run.

2. Who owns the website once the project ends?

A critical question! Some agencies build sites on their own hosting and their own accounts — and you are their hostage. Make sure: you own the domain, you have access to the hosting, you have the source code. If the agency refuses, that isn’t an agency — it’s a trap.

3. Which technology will you build with?

WordPress, Next.js, plain HTML, Wix? Every technology has its trade-offs. What matters is that the agency can explain WHY they pick a given stack for your project. “Because that’s how we always do it” is a bad answer.

4. What’s included in the price? What costs extra?

Ask for a detailed scope: design, development, copy, photos, hosting, domain, SSL, basic SEO, responsiveness, contact form. Then ask: what is NOT in the price? Updates? Content changes? Hosting after year one? Hidden costs are some agencies’ specialty.

5. What’s the timeline, and what will stretch it?

Realistic timelines: a simple company site 2–4 weeks, a large project 6–12 weeks. If an agency promises a full-blown e-commerce store in a week — they’re lying. Also ask what happens if you delay delivery of materials — does the deadline shift?

6. Will the site be optimized for SEO?

“Yes, we do SEO” isn’t enough. Drill down: do they run keyword research, optimize titles and descriptions, create sitemap and schema markup, watch Core Web Vitals, set up Google Search Console? If they don’t know what Core Web Vitals are — this is not the agency that will help your SEO.

7. What does post-launch support look like?

What happens if you find a bug a month after launch? Is there a warranty? What do post-launch changes cost? Do they offer maintenance packages? A good agency offers at least 30 days of warranty and clear support terms after launch.

8. Can we see the design before payment?

The best agencies offer a free preview or mockup before payment. Paying up front for something you haven’t seen is a risk. If an agency demands 100% up front without showing anything — move on to the next.

9. Can I see reviews from previous clients?

Google reviews, references, case studies. If an agency has been around for 3 years and has 2 reviews on Google — something is off. Ask for contact details for 2–3 previous clients — a good agency provides them without issue.

10. What’s your edge over the competition?

An agency that can’t answer this question doesn’t know its own value. Look for an agency that knows what sets it apart: speed, price, technology, industry specialization, client experience.