Freelance Magento Developer vs. Magento Development Agency
eCommerce businesses on Magento often have to decide between hiring a Magento freelancer or Magento development agency. Making the right choice is crucial.
5 min read
Jeff Zoldy : July 27, 2023
If you’re reading this, you’re probably looking for a strong Magento development team to help take your eCommerce business to the next level. Reasons for this search vary from business to business, but it could be that you’ve lost faith in your current team's skills, or you’ve simply outgrown their capabilities, or perhaps they went out of business or dropped their support of Magento. We’ve been contacted by companies in all of these situations and we recognize the difficulty and importance of making your next agency selection the right one. In this blog post, we'll explore what sets a top Magento agency apart from the rest — along with some insights from the IronPlane team.
A skilled and experienced Magento agency brings immense value to your eCommerce business. The best Magento agencies possess in-depth knowledge of the Magento platform and can leverage it to address your unique eCommerce needs, competitive strategies, and innovative marketing initiatives.
While the agency selection process is not an exact science, there are several factors we believe are the most important to consider. Here are our top five recommended considerations.
While you may be attracted to agencies with Silver, Gold, or Platinum Adobe partnership badges, we find that the more important factor is the team of developers and their certifications. Regardless of partner level, you want an agency staffed with officially certified Adobe developers and solutions specialists.
In 2018, Adobe replaced the Magento certification program with their Adobe Commerce certification program. Magento certifications remained valid through their scheduled end date, but by now, any skilled Magento developer will have their Adobe Commerce certifications.
These are the current Adobe Commerce certifications available:
In particular, we recommend seeking out an agency with mostly expert level certifications who have demonstrated their expertise and understanding of Magento's architecture, its administrative configurations, advanced features, security protocols, and development best practices.
While not a guarantee of a perfect agency fit for your business, this is a good starting point.
Finding an agency to tailor solutions to your business’ needs is crucial in the eCommerce space — allowing you to stand out from your competition and cater to your target audience, whoever they might be.
Every eCommerce venture possesses distinct goals, products, and customer demographics, making a one-size-fits-all approach inadequate. Partnering with a Magento agency that understands your business allows you to design and build an online shopping experience that resonates with your with your best customers and sets you apart from the competition. This type of tailored solution streamlines internal processes, and optimizes user journeys — resulting in increased operational efficiency, improved customer satisfaction, and higher conversion rates.
A good Magento agency will not only deliver excellent quality code that is designed to your specific business needs, that agency will also understand the overlay of SEO importance across all of the work they do. While many of the items below might seem like they are the responsibilities of a marketing team, they should remain top of mind as your developers design and code your specific solutions.
All agencies are excited by the potential of technology design and development to solve your business problems. However every solution directly impacts your available resources in terms of both staff and finances. The best Magento agency partners will help you weigh the value of each task, make the trade-offs and prioritize those activities with the greatest potential to improve your business.
A top Magento agency doesn't just deliver a website and disappear. The best agencies believe in forging lasting partnerships with their clients. They offer ongoing support, security updates, and maintenance services, guaranteeing your online store remains secure and running smoothly.
At IronPlane, we have a proven track record of guiding businesses through the complex process of eCommerce development. With our team’s combined decades of experience, we understand the challenges and intricacies of creating successful online stores. We’ve honed our skills in delivering tailored solutions for various business models, including:
We believe that a top Magento agency should be flexible, responsive, and results-driven. As exemplified in our case studies above, we set out to be just that with every client and every project — every time.
Choosing the right Magento agency can be the cornerstone of your eCommerce store’s success. Be sure to seek out an agency with expertise, commitment to personalized solutions, and long-term support — and then make them a partner for your online business. If you choose wisely, the rewards will be substantial.
Magento development agencies typically offer a comprehensive range of services including website development, custom module creation, theme design and customization, third-party system integrations, performance optimization, SEO services, security enhancements, and ongoing maintenance and support. These services are designed to ensure your eCommerce site operates smoothly and effectively.
A Magento development agency can significantly enhance your online store’s performance by optimizing site speed, improving user experience, implementing best practices for SEO, and ensuring the platform is scalable and secure. They use their expertise to fine-tune every aspect of your site, from the backend infrastructure to the frontend design, ensuring optimal performance and customer satisfaction.
When selecting a Magento development agency, consider their experience with Magento projects, technical expertise, client portfolio, reviews and testimonials, and the range of services offered. It's also crucial to evaluate their communication and project management skills, as well as their ability to understand and align with your business goals and vision.
Certification indicates that a Magento development agency has met Magento’s rigorous standards for expertise and performance. Certified agencies have proven their proficiency in using the Magento platform and are up-to-date with the latest developments and best practices. This ensures that they can deliver high-quality, reliable solutions that meet industry standards.
A Magento development agency can support the growth of your eCommerce business by providing scalable solutions that evolve with your business needs. They can help you implement new features, expand your site’s capabilities, and ensure it remains competitive in the marketplace. Their strategic insights and technical expertise enable you to enhance customer experience, increase sales, and achieve long-term business success.
eCommerce businesses on Magento often have to decide between hiring a Magento freelancer or Magento development agency. Making the right choice is crucial.
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