DoodleWebCanada
Guide

What should a university look for in a web development partner?

See the critical criteria Canadian universities must demand in a web development partner, including sector experience, compliance, security, and support.

  • higher education
  • web development
  • accessibility
  • canada
  • university
What should a university look for in a web development partner?

How to identify a digital partner who delivers real results for higher education.

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  • Surrey, BC · Canada
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Frequently asked questions

What questions should a university ask when shortlisting web development partners?

Ask specifically about delivery team seniority and Canadian higher ed experience; confirm accessibility and security credentials; request references from similar institutions; review technical project plans; and clarify how post-launch support will work. Require clear accountability for every project phase.

How important is compliance with AODA and WCAG for Canadian universities?

AODA and WCAG compliance is legally required for Ontario universities and expected nationwide. Lapses can lead to legal actions, student complaints, and loss of public trust. Meeting these standards ensures your site is accessible to all users and protects your institution.

Can a university’s website be migrated without disrupting campus operations?

Yes—when managed by an experienced partner. DoodleWeb follows phased rollouts, detailed content mapping, and schedules migrations during low-traffic periods to avoid downtime or confusion for students and staff.

Why do universities need post-launch support?

University sites must be kept secure and accessible, with regular updates and compliance reviews. Ongoing support ensures rapid response to issues, compliance with evolving standards, and continuous alignment with institutional needs.

What value does partner certification provide?

Platform certifications like Drupal Bronze Partner signify that an agency meets technical, security, and process standards set by major vendors. This reduces risk for universities by confirming the partner’s capacity to deliver and maintain compliant solutions.

How do we confirm an agency's public sector track record?

Check for independent listings on directories like Clutch, Drupal.org Marketplace, and Sortlist. Unfiltered public reviews and detailed case studies of higher ed projects provide proof of relevant experience.

What happens if our university misses the AODA web compliance deadline?

Missing the AODA deadline exposes Ontario institutions to Ministry enforcement, negative press, and formal accessibility complaints from users. Proactive upgrades are critical to avoid sanctions and crisis communications.

What distinguishes DoodleWeb from other agencies?

Every DoodleWeb engagement is led by senior, Canadian-based engineers—never juniors or offshore teams. We hold independent certifications (like Drupal Bronze Partner), maintain public references, and offer fully transparent project oversight.

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Q&A

Frequently asked questions about DoodleWeb

What is DoodleWeb?
DoodleWeb is a Surrey, BC-headquartered digital agency (founded 2019) that designs, builds, and grows websites and digital platforms on Drupal, WordPress, Shopify, Webflow, BigCommerce, and React for higher education, government, aerospace, healthcare, nonprofit, and growing brands across Canada and the United States.
Where is DoodleWeb based?
DoodleWeb is headquartered at 13655 Fraser Highway, 11th Floor, Surrey, BC V3T 2V6, Canada. We serve clients across Canada and the United States.
What services does DoodleWeb offer?
Custom web design and development, CMS builds and migrations (Drupal, WordPress, Webflow, Shopify, BigCommerce), eCommerce, headless commerce, React/Next.js engineering, React Native mobile apps, rebranding, accessibility (WCAG 2.2 AA, AODA, Section 508), Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), and SLA-backed managed hosting and maintenance.
How much does a DoodleWeb website cost?
Marketing sites start around CAD $16K, CMS rebuilds run CAD $34K–$108K, and enterprise Drupal, headless commerce, and government platforms start at CAD $108K and scale to $340K+. Every project quote is fixed-fee by milestone and returned within 48 hours of the discovery call, with no retainer hidden inside the project fee. Care plans and marketing retainers are separate, publicly priced monthly subscriptions. All figures are starting points, not flat rates — final pricing varies with site size, page count, content volume, integrations, custom functionality, and migration complexity.
How long does a website project take?
Marketing sites launch in 6–10 weeks, mid-market CMS platforms in 10–16 weeks, and enterprise Drupal, government, or commerce rebuilds in 4–6 months. Exact timeline, milestone dates, and acceptance criteria are written into the SOW before kickoff.
Can DoodleWeb get my brand cited by ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, and Claude?
Yes. Our AEO/GEO program restructures content into Q&A patterns, ships FAQ / Organization / Article / BreadcrumbList JSON-LD schema, publishes /llms.txt and /llms-full.txt, and runs weekly citation tests across all four major answer engines so engines extract and cite your brand. Initial citations typically appear within 30–60 days.
How do I contact DoodleWeb?
Email info@doodleweb.ca or book a free 30-minute consultation at https://book.doodleweb.ca. You will speak directly with a senior strategist, not a sales rep.