Picture this: You walk into a casino, pockets full of cash, heart full of dreams. You step up to a flashy slot machine, slide a coin in, pull the lever, and wait. The wheels spin, the lights flash, but no line of cherries and no pay out.
You try again.
And again.
But all that’s happening is that the house is getting richer, and you’re getting frustrated and eventually just give up. Now, replace that slot machine with a website developer. Sound familiar?
Here’s how hiring the wrong web developer is just like gambling in Vegas, but without the complimentary drinks.
You start with excitement, hopeful that you’re about to get a sleek, high-performing website. But instead, you watch your investment disappear into the abyss of time or worse still missed deadlines, broken functionality, and a “vision” that somehow never quite materializes.
Ever met a web designer who promises you a site that will “revolutionize your brand” but never explains how? Just like that slot machine with its bright colours and catchy sounds, a bad developer dazzles you with jargon, inflated promises, and a portfolio full of sites they “built” The reality? You’re about to fund their next vacation while you’re left with an homepage that is as appearling as a hotel lobby with no lights, no music, and no front desk; visitors walk in, look around in confusion, and walk right back out.
“Just one more round,” you think as you keep pumping quarters into the machine, convinced your luck will turn. Similarly, the wrong web developer will constantly need just one more payment to fix things. A tweak here, a modification there, and suddenly, you’ve spent twice your budget on a website that still doesn’t work properly.
And watch out for the ones who blame you for accessing the back end and causing the problem which then requires another pound into the machine…
Ever noticed how the casino always knows the odds, but you don’t? A bad web developer operates the same way. They speak in cryptic code, convince you that certain features are “impossible” (even though they clearly exist elsewhere), and insist that delays are just part of the process. Before you know it, you’re nodding along, handing over more money, and still waiting for a basic contact form to work.
Want an ecommerce facility – that will cost you another £5k… Kerching!
Just like a slot machine makes you feel like you’re this close to winning, bad web developers keep stringing you along. “We’re almost ready to launch,” they say. “Just one more revision.” Weeks turn into months, and before you know it, you’re staring at a half-finished site while your competition is thriving online.
Ever had a developer go radio silent, just like some builders half way through your conservatory extension? A web developer can suddenly become impossible to reach. Emails go unanswered, calls get ignored, and your dream website? Well, it’s stuck in limbo…
Luckily, not all web developers are slot machines in disguise. A trustworthy developer will:
- Clearly outline the scope, timeline, and cost upfront.
- Speak in plain English, not just technical gibberish.
- Show you proven examples of their work and above all, let you verify with past clients (real ones).
- Be transparent about revisions and realistic about expectations.
- Actually finish the project!
It’s time to find a web developer who builds you a slot machine that keeps paying out without you even having to pull the lever!
Photo by SLNC
