Working with a remote developer: meetings, progress updates and day-to-day contact
Working with a remote developer works when each channel has a job: video calls to decide, clickable progress links to test, and WhatsApp or email for day-to-day questions. That's how I work from Buenos Aires, Argentina (UTC−3), in English or Spanish.
Working with a remote developer goes smoothly when each channel has a clear job: video calls to make decisions, progress links to test things, and WhatsApp or email for everyday questions. That's how I work from Buenos Aires, Argentina (UTC−3), in English or Spanish, with businesses that don't need to be in the same city as me, or the same country.
If you've never hired someone remotely, the doubts make sense. Will they answer? Will I know where the project stands? Will I get what I asked for? Here's what it looks like in practice, from the first call to handover.
What each channel is for
| Channel | What it's for | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Video call | Kicking off, making big decisions and reviewing deliveries | The first call, closing out each phase |
| Progress link | Seeing and trying what's being built | You open the new site on your phone before it goes live |
| Quick questions, photos, voice notes, day-to-day stuff | “Should this text go above or below?” | |
| Anything that needs to be on record | The proposal, each phase's checklist, logins |
What the first call is like
It's a no-strings video call. You tell me what your business does, what's slowing you down and what you have in mind. I ask a lot of questions: who will use what we build, how things work today, what absolutely can't break. I don't show up with a ready-made proposal, because I don't know your business yet.
Afterwards I email you a proposal: what I'd build, in what order and what each part costs. If the project is big, I split it into phases, which I explain in building software in phases.
You see progress, you don't just hear about it
This is what puts first-time remote clients at ease. You don't have to take my word that “it's going well.” You see it. Every so often I send you a link with what I've built so far. You open it on your phone or laptop, click around, and tell me what you'd change.
That means nobody has to sit in front of a shared screen. You try it when you have time, at night or on a Sunday if you like, and send feedback on WhatsApp with screenshots or a voice note. I gather it, work through it and let you know when the next version is up.
Time zones, in practice
Argentina is on UTC−3 all year, with no daylight saving time. With most of North America there's a decent overlap for a call; with Europe, my mornings are your afternoons. Everything else happens in writing, so we don't need to be online at the same time.
Time difference with Buenos Aires
| If you're in… | Compared to Argentina |
|---|---|
| US and Canada east (New York, Miami, Toronto) | 1 to 2 hours behind, depending on the time of year |
| US central (Texas, the Midwest) | 2 to 3 hours behind, depending on the time of year |
| US and Canada west (California, Vancouver) | 4 to 5 hours behind, depending on the time of year |
| UK, Ireland, Portugal | 3 to 4 hours ahead, depending on the time of year |
| Spain and central Europe | 4 to 5 hours ahead, depending on the time of year |
| Australia east (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane) | 13 to 14 hours ahead, depending on the time of year |
What to send me to get started
You don't need all of it on day one, but each of these speeds things up:
- One person who makes the call. If changes need three partners to agree, it helps to know who has the final word.
- What you already have: logo, photos, copy, the spreadsheet you use, screenshots of your current software. It all helps, even if it's messy.
- Examples you like, from your industry or any other, and some you don't like.
- Any existing logins: your domain, current website, social accounts. If you don't know where they are, we'll track them down together.
- A bit of time each week to try the progress links and answer questions. It's not much, but without it the project stalls.
What you keep when the project ends: Boca de Lobo
Working remotely also means that once we're done, you shouldn't need me for everyday changes. Boca de Lobo, a steakhouse with two locations in Buenos Aires, has a website with a QR menu of more than 250 items, promotions and locations, plus its own admin dashboard where the team changes prices, dishes and promotions without depending on the developer.
That's the goal of any remote project done right: you handle what changes often, and you call me only when you want something new.
See the Boca de Lobo caseSigns a remote project is on track
With me or anyone else, look for these: replies within a reasonable time, progress you can try regularly, important decisions in writing, and your domain and accounts registered to your business. If any of those is missing, ask about it.
If you're a manufacturer in the US looking at a developer outside the country, I wrote a longer piece on hiring a remote 3D configurator developer from the US. You can also browse what I build in services.
Frequently asked questions
Will we ever meet in person?
Only if you're near me, south of Buenos Aires. Otherwise everything happens over video calls, and in practice nothing gets lost: decisions are written down and you see what's being built through a link.
What if something is urgent?
Message me on WhatsApp. If something on your site or software is broken, it takes priority over whatever I'm working on. If it's a new change, we talk it through and agree on when it fits in.
Do you work in English?
Yes. I work in English and Spanish, both on calls and in writing. If your site needs another language, I can build it with copy you provide.
How do I make sure everything ends up in my name?
Ask for it from the start: your domain, accounts and key logins should be registered to your business. That's how I set things up, and at the end I hand everything over in order.
If you'd like to see what working together would look like, we start with a no-strings video call. Message me on WhatsApp at +54 9 11 6193-3176, email contacto@facundocampo.com.ar or use the [contact page](/en/contacto). I answer in English and Spanish.