All too often, small-business owners are caught between wanting a digital product and struggling to find someone who can do the job well and within their budget. In recent times, digital marketing has taken off. It’s certainly an important space to be in, but for small businesses, it can seem unattainable.
To commission an experienced Australia-based web development agency, business owners can be looking at up to $290 an hour. For projects that take months to complete, this quickly adds up, and for many, the investment is just too large. So, what’s the solution?
The offshore perception and why it’s incorrect
With budget as a barrier, offshore development is often recommended as a solution. However, interestingly, “offshore development” has a bit of a negative stigma in Australia. It’s typically dismissed as a cheap way to outsource and the perception of the work produced is that it’s lacklustre in quality. There are certainly times where this has been the case, this has been our experience with certain brands too, but we need to be asking why. To be fair, crappy developers can be found anywhere. To write this off as an “offshore thing” is simply ignorant.
In fact, offshore developers represent a huge opportunity for small-business owners. It allows them to commission a valuable skill set at a much more affordable rate than what’s available locally, providing opportunity business owners otherwise would not have had. To mitigate the risk of having an unsatisfactory experience with an offshore web developer, be sure to check their portfolio, reviews, previous clients, levels of experience and if they’ve got any kind of local presence or contact.
Offshore developers are a small business’s secret weapon
To be clear, offshore development should not be seen as a way of saving money. Instead, it should be understood as a way of getting more for the amount spent. If you’ve got a budget of $10K, you’ll still spend it regardless of where you go, it’s just a matter of what you get for that spend. If you need a fully functional digital product developed for that spend, then offshoring is certainly a viable option to consider.
Commissioning an offshore developer not only allows SMEs access to a specific skill set at an affordable rate, it’s also the gateway to a bigger pool of talent that previously seemed out of reach. If you’re unable to find a local developer who has the skills you need at a rate you can afford, then looking overseas widens the talent pool without having to stretch the budget. The outcome is simple; this provides a middle ground where talented staff are producing quality work that is delivered on your timeline of choice, within a tight budget.
This option is perfect for SMEs who are digitising their business, need to set up an e-commerce store, want to build an app or simply develop a landing page. It’s a fantastic way to ensure value for money while achieving the business’ digital and marketing objectives.
It’s no secret that small-business owners are time poor and pulled in a million different directions. Often, there is a sea of tasks on the “to-do” list but they’re either one-off and short-term projects, or it simply isn’t something that warrants an entire salary. In instances like these, relying on an offshore team can be a logical and rewarding approach. Take the time to find the right offshore developer because there is an array of value to be found in the services they can offer to small businesses.
Andrew Cornale, Co-Founder and Technical Director, beshore
