No relationship is perfect all the time, but the best ones stand the test of time. For nearly 30 years, Bert and Ernie have been depicted as best friends on Sesame Street, and while it hasn’t always been perfect, their longevity is definitely something admirable. In the same way, we think that your relationship with your HubSpot CMS developer should be no different. But all too often - that just isn’t the case.

When it comes to relationships with web developers, we’ve heard and seen it all. We’ve seen so many agencies and clients that have been ghosted by their web developer, we’ve seen order takers that treat your website like they’re making a sandwich for you, we’ve seen what happens when HubSpot agencies grow *too* quickly, and we’ve told you many times what you deserve when you’re developing a website.

We’ve decided we need to draw some parallels to make the comparison make more sense for you and it doesn’t get more wholesome or relatable than the friendship or Bert and Ernie. Here are a few reasons why when it comes to your relationship with your HubSpot CMS developer, Bert and Ernie are the goal:

They have different opinions, but they still care

You’re not always going to see eye to eye with your developer and that’s important. Bert and Ernie are a great example of this. Ernie is more fun-loving and easygoing while Bert is more serious and pensive. You can see what I mean in the video embedded below. Can Ernie be a little much sometimes? Absolutely. But Ernie very clearly tells him, he’ll be his friend no matter what.

Your developer doesn’t have to be a carbon copy of everything you believe, want and aspire to, they just have to understand you, let you be you, and get things done. Knowing that they’re there no matter what happens is important. They should be responsive, prioritize your needs and have the care and talent to deliver on your behalf. This sounds like such a basic list of items, but good developers that treat you well and know what they’re doing in HubSpot are very hard to find.

They're consistent

Bert and Ernie have been going on Sesame Street for almost 30 years and they’re still besties - that’s a relationship with staying power. While it’s not necessarily important when your relationship begins with your developer, you need to know that they have the necessary skills and expertise to be consistent in the delivery of your projects. Ask the right questions (we’ve got a great series of blogs with HubSpot CMS developer interview questions) in the interview process when you’re vetting your candidates to ensure that you’ll have someone with a history of consistently delivering awesome projects for their clients.

They go above and beyond

There is nothing more adorable than this “Gift of the Magi” scene with Bert and Ernie.

In the video (embedded above), Bert and Ernie give up their most prized possessions to barter for a gift that helps out with the other’s most prized possession. This is a great example of going above and beyond - and finding the kind of developer that honors your relationship enough to do that is rare. Many are lucky to even locate a qualified and responsive HubSpot developer, so to find a developer that will go above and beyond is pretty rare, but they’re out there!

While any skilled, experienced developer will have hard boundaries and not allow themselves to be taken advantage of, a developer that goes above and beyond will act as a consultant of sorts. They’ll look out for your best interests and let you know when there are aspects of your website that are problematic for you. They’ll spend time with you to lay out your strategy and really provide valuable insight on the best course of action.

Bert and Ernie are an iconic pair whose close friendship continually has them referenced as a dynamic duo. There’s no reason you shouldn’t have the same close relationship with your developer. While you don’t necessarily have to be *best* friends, it’s still the little things that make your relationship with your HubSpot CMS developer really great. Find a partner that is consistent, continually over delivers and really cares about you and your business enough to give it to you straight. While it might feel like developer partners are hard to come by, when you’re willing to pay for better service, experience and care, you’ll foster the right dynamic and longevity in your relationship with your HubSpot developer.