How to Choose a Web Developer in Pakistan: Solo Expert vs Agency

1. The 5 Crucial Vetting Questions to Ask Every Developer

Before paying an advance deposit to any developer in Pakistan, ask these 5 technical and operational questions:

1. "Can you show me 3 live websites you personally coded that load in under 1.5 seconds?"
   Run their sample links through Google PageSpeed Insights. If their portfolio sites score in the red (below 50), they are relying on bloated commercial templates that will hurt your Google ranking.
2. "Will I own 100% of my domain, hosting, and source code from day one?"
   Some unscrupulous agencies hold client domains hostage or charge monthly fees to "release" website files. Always register your domain in your own name.
3. "Who will actually be writing the code for my project?"
   Many agencies sell you using a senior account manager, then hand the project over to an unpaid intern. Working with a dedicated senior engineer like Ali Raza guarantees expert craftsmanship.
4. "Do you implement Schema.org JSON-LD and on-page SEO?"
   A pretty website that Google search spiders and AI answer engines cannot parse is useless for generating business leads.
5. "What is your milestone schedule and post-launch bug fixing policy?"
   Never pay 100% upfront. Work on milestone stages (e.g., 50% deposit, 50% on live testing).

2. Comparing Solo Senior Developers vs Software Agencies