Hire the Best Outsourced Developers in Illinois

✅I'm Scott Ostrander, founder of H1 Creative Studio, based in the Chicago, Illinois suburbs. I help small service businesses strengthen their online presence with modern, conversion-focused WordPress and Webflow websites. ✅Most small business sites look fine but don't actually do anything. They don't guide visitors toward a call, a quote request, or a booking. I build sites that fix that: clean, professional designs backed by a clear process, engineered to turn visitors into leads. ✅I've spent 10 years designing and building websites for small businesses. Before web work, I spent nearly a decade as a private music teacher, which shaped how I approach client projects: patience, clear communication, and a focus on helping people understand what's happening and why, not just handing over a finished product. ✅I work solo by design. When you hire me, you work directly with me from the first conversation through launch. No account managers, no outsourced development, no handoffs between departments. /// What Sets Me Apart /// ⭐Designer-developer hybrid. One person handling strategy, design, and development, so nothing gets lost between teams. ⭐Conversion-focused design. Every layout is built with a purpose: to move visitors toward action. ⭐WordPress and Webflow expertise. I work in the platform that fits your needs, not just the one I default to. I also have experience with Shopify, Wix Studio, and Squarespace, and take on projects with those platforms on a more limited basis. ⭐Solo craftsmanship. You work directly with me from start to finish. No outsourcing, no handoffs, no runaround. ⭐SEO and analytics built in. Clean structure, proper metadata, and tracking set up from day one, not bolted on later. ⭐Clean, modern aesthetic. Professional and trustworthy design that reflects well on your business. /// Primary Services /// ✅ Full website design (Figma) and build (WordPress) - Custom-designed, fully built WordPress sites (recommend Elementor or Divi) ✅Full website design (Figma) and build (Webflow) - Custom-designed, fully built Webflow sites ✅ Landing page design and development - High-converting, single-purpose pages built for campaigns, product launches, or lead generation, in WordPress or Webflow. ✅Website updates and maintenance ✅WordPress to Webflow conversions and vice versa ✅Standalone designs using Figma /// My Process (H1 Conversion Framework): /// 1. Discovery and clarity - I start by understanding your goals, audience, and messaging before any design work begins. 2. Conversion-focused UX - Layouts are planned around the actions you want visitors to take. 3. Custom design - A clean, modern, minimal aesthetic tailored to your brand. 4. WordPress or Webflow build - Fast, reliable, and built to scale with your business. 5. On-page SEO - Structure and metadata optimized from the ground up. 6. Analytics setup - GA4 and key event tracking so you can see what's working. 7. Launch and optimization - Once live, I refine based on real user behavior, not guesswork. If you're a small service business ready for a website that looks professional and actually works for you, let's talk about your project.

Hi. My name is Rob Mendell. I'm a Top-Rated Upwork Contractor. I've been a full-time Independent since 2007. • I develop bespoke automation solutions in Word and Excel (and some PowerPoint) using VBA. • I am a Microsoft Certified Master Instructor for Microsoft Office. • I provide issue support like a Help Desk (headers and footers, formulas, whatever). • I assist with, or fully complete, special projects. —|— What do I offer? VBA Development — It's been said that if you want to really learn something, program a computer to do it. I'm a VBA Programmer. VBA -- Visual Basic for Applications -- is a language Microsoft built into some Office applications that allows Developers to create tailor-made dialog boxes and write software code that taps into the objects and power inherent within each application. I know how to create customizations and one-of-a-kind automation inside Microsoft Office using VBA (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), with a friendly yet professional user interface, when the job requires this. Most people I work with on Upwork were initially unaware of this functional possibility, especially inside Word. Training — It's also been said that if you want to really learn something, teach it. I've been teaching Microsoft Office since 1992: in classroom settings, virtually, and through on-demand deskside services such as Tier 2 and Tier 3 Support. I know what the software can do natively -- without customization -- and how to patiently and clearly present it as a learning opportunity in layman's terms: Word styles, Excel formulas, PowerPoint slide masters, templates, conditional mail merge, and so on. Very few contractors have skills as both a Developer and a Trainer. I do. That's what I offer. I typically approach training from technical awareness, and I approach automation from the user's experience. If Office already has a feature built in, we shouldn't spend time and money to develop specialized code to do the job. I can look at a project and quickly determine which service is best in your specific situation, and then provide it to you. Your deliverable may be a combination of customized development, creation of a special project that uses it, and training on working with tools already available in the software suite. I offer a strong, coherent, and unique set of professional services to companies who want to more fully leverage their investment in Microsoft Office, with workbooks, documents, presentations, and automation templates. —|— Here are examples: VBA Development — Using VBA (Visual Basic for Applications), I design customized and intelligent dialog boxes that ask the pertinent questions, acquire the required answers, and then automate the desired results. I deliver these solutions most often as macro-enabled templates (.dotm for Word, .xltm for Excel, and .potm for PowerPoint). Examples of completed projects include correspondence layouts, code-generated PowerPoint decks, report generators based on sales or survey data, time sheets that perform calculations, budget workbooks that allocate every penny based on performance and longevity ratios, documents that behave, proposal and SOW templates, and so much more. Training — I love teaching Word and Excel, from beginning topics through advanced. I've also taught Outlook, PowerPoint, OneNote, and other programs. I've been teaching Microsoft Office for 30 years. Support — Everyone gets stuck now and then, and you may need assistance. I am available to help you get a complex Word document back on track with styles and multi-section page numbering, or write that elusive set of formulas in Excel. I can work like an experienced outsourced Help Desk or write great documentation to help your employees understand and utilize functionality. Special Projects — Not everyone has the inclination or time to become a power user. I am available to help you by creating an intricate Excel workbook, designing and producing a process illustration or trail graphic in PowerPoint, or applying styles throughout your document and giving it a style-generated Table of Contents. —|— Who hires me? I've worked for 90 law firms, plus companies in a number of other industries including healthcare, manufacturing, finance (banking, capital management, credit, etc.), government, document storage, hotels and hospitality, energy and emissions, data, automotive, museum displays, order fulfillment, insurance, staffing, communication, education, software and technology, construction and renovation, personal growth and coaching, retail sales, executive search, inspections, and many others. If you want more from Microsoft Office in the form of development, training, support, or special projects, or if your document is wonky, or if you're stuck and don't know what you need, let's talk. =Rob Mendell

I worked on startups, entrepreneurs, and growing businesses transform ideas into scalable digital products. I have 5+ years of experience in software development, I can build custom web applications, mobile applications, SaaS platforms, ERP systems, CRM solutions, AI-powered tools, and business automation workflows. If your are launching an MVP, modernizing internal operations, or building a customer-facing platform, I can handle the complete development lifecycle, from planning and UI/UX design to development, deployment, and ongoing support. I am expert with: • Custom Web Application Development • SaaS Platform Development • ERP & CRM Systems • Mobile Application Development (iOS & Android) • MVP Development for Startups • AI Integrations & Automation • API Development & Third-Party Integrations • Dashboard & Admin Portal Development • Business Process Automation • Cloud-Based Applications I also provide creative support where needed, including: • UI/UX Design • Wireframing & Prototyping • Landing Page Design • Product Illustrations • Motion Graphics & Video Editing • Brand Asset Design TechStack: • React.js • Next.js • Node.js • .NET Core •PHP • Laravel • JavaScript / TypeScript • Flutter • ReactNative • MySQL / PostgreSQL • Supabase • REST APIs • OpenAI & AI Agents Why work with me? • 5+ years of development experience • 50+ successful projects delivered • Strong communication and project ownership • Focus on scalable, maintainable solutions • Long-term support and collaboration If you're looking for a developer who can build more than just a website and help bring your product vision to life, let's discuss your project.

Is your website generating leads and sales, or just sitting online? I work with businesses that want their website to be an actual revenue channel, not just a digital brochure After 190+ completed projects and 1,700+ hours of work, I've noticed one pattern: most websites underperform for the same reason, they don't represent the business clearly and they fail to convert visitors into customers. That's exactly what I fix. Here's what I deliver: • WooCommerce & Shopify stores, fast, structured, and optimized for sales • Business & service websites that encourage visitors to take action • High-converting landing pages built around clear CTAs • Website redesigns & migrations, with zero downtime • Page speed, on-page SEO & UX improvements that move the needle Recent results: • Improved a client's GTmetrix score from 38 → 91, bounce rate dropped by 34% • Restructured a service website's UX, lead form conversions increased by 2.1x I work across WordPress, Shopify, WooCommerce, Elementor, Webflow, Wix, and Squarespace platforms. If you want your website to not just look good but actually perform, let’s discuss your project today.

I'm Brandon, a full-stack developer who builds websites, web applications, and SaaS products for B2B companies that want a developer who thinks like an operator, not just an order-taker. Most of my work falls into three areas: Custom web applications and SaaS products. Full-stack builds from MVP through scale, including the database design, integrations, and infrastructure decisions that determine whether a product survives its first 100 customers. I've built complete vertical SaaS products solo, including product, marketing site, payments, and the entire stack, so I understand what it takes to ship something that actually works in the real world. WordPress development for B2B and marketing-driven businesses. Custom themes and plugins, third-party API integrations, performance optimization, and the kind of technical SEO work that actually moves rankings instead of checking boxes. I've worked on everything from professional services sites and lead-generation builds to 5,000+ product eCommerce solutions, and I've spent enough time inside WordPress to know when it's the right tool and when you're better off with something else. Technology that supports sales, marketing, and operations. CRM integrations, marketing automation, analytics dashboards, internal tools, and the connective tissue that lets non-technical teams move faster. This is where my background really pays off, because I've run marketing for a B2B SaaS company while shipping the code, so I understand both sides of the conversation. Beyond the build: What makes me different from most developers on Upwork is that I haven't only built products. I've been responsible for the business outcomes they drive. I've led marketing and sales growth for companies across multiple industries (both B2B and B2C), owned operational technology end-to-end, and personally set up and managed the email campaigns, paid ad campaigns, and marketing automation that the systems I build are meant to support. That experience changes how I approach client work. When you describe a feature, I'm thinking about how it affects your conversion rate, your sales cycle, your support load, and your operational overhead, because I've been the person responsible for all of those numbers. When you ask me to build a landing page or a CRM integration or an email-capture flow, I'm not guessing what marketers need. I've been the marketer. Most developers can build what you ask for. Fewer can tell you whether you're asking for the right thing. What clients tell me sets me apart: I think about why we're building something before I write code. When you describe a business problem, I'm not waiting for you to translate it into a spec. I'll often push back on the spec. That makes me a better fit for founders and operators who want a technical partner, and a worse fit for clients who want a pair of hands to execute exactly what's in the ticket. I'm also unusual in that I can talk shop with both the marketing team and the engineering team, which matters more than people realize on projects where the two have to actually work together. Who I work best with: Small to mid-sized B2B companies, with particular strength in SaaS, professional services, and compliance-heavy industries Founders building their first or second product Marketing, sales, and operations leaders who need a technical partner who can also think strategically B2B teams that have tried to hire a "WordPress person" and realized they actually need someone more senior Tech I work in daily: PHP, JavaScript, jQuery, WordPress (deep), MongoDB, MySQL, REST APIs, and the various platforms and integrations that connect them. How I work: I take on a small number of clients at a time so each project gets real attention. Most start as a defined project and grow into something longer-term once we've built trust. That's the model I'm built for. If your project is a strong fit, I can usually start within a week. If you're looking for the cheapest developer on Upwork, I'm not the right person. If you want a technical partner who'll treat your business like one, push back when it matters, and ship work that holds up, let's talk.

I am a Northwestern University educated freelance full stack developer with 13 years of professional experience. Recently I’ve worked as director of engineering for a multimillion dollar company that serviced hundreds of thousands of users a day. As a result of my work, my clients have garnered thousands of new users, taken their industries by storm, improved internal employee satisfaction, and launched with investor capital based on MVPs I built. Quality code is my passion. I write DRY, scalable, maintainable, thoroughly tested, performant code. I have extensive experience working with React, Ruby on Rails, SQL, MySQL, Postgres, Javascript, JQuery, HTML, HAML, SCSS, CSS, and Git, GraphQL, and Apollo. I'm well versed in integrating applications with any needed third party APIs such as Facebook, Twitter, Google, Twilio, or Stripe. And I have dev ops experience deploying and maintaining applications on Heroku, AWS, and Digital Ocean. When working on a complex web application, communication is key. I pair with my clients to understand their long term goals and develop the design and features they need to attract the users they want. I am absolutely one of the best valued Rails developers you will find working freelance and I have a host of happy clients with positive recommendations to prove it. "Will is a talented developer that takes the appropriate time to fully analyze, develop, and test solid application solutions while also considering the balance between time, effort and cost to deliver. He's become a fully integrated part of our team, goes above and beyond to ensure reliability of an app, and is completely dedicated to the success of his clients." -- Criss, CEO of Propel "Will worked with us on with number of projects. His ability to communicate, to empathize with the needs of the client, and his quality of code, assisted with success of each project. I would not hesitate to hire Will again." -- Glen, CTO of ChatterHigh "The most important part of any project is being able to communicate your requirements and know that your development team understands them. The Armont team is personable and they are effective verbal communicators." -- Zach, Software Project Manager at Omron “The team at Armont Development not only did a great job on the re-design of our web site, they made our life a lot easier by suggesting and implementing several changes that greatly enhanced the site functionality. I was very impressed with their professionalism, creativity and problem solving skills. The team members are a pleasure to work with and we look forward to working with them again on future projects.” -- Dan, CEO of CQA