If you are in need of website designer, hiring the right company can be overwhelming.All you have to do is type in a few words in a search engine and boom; you are overwhelmed with results with thousands of options for designers.
However, finding the best web designer to meet your company needs, that is a different story. It’s no secret that most businesses require a top-notch site to attract customers as they make their search queries online.
Did you know that most users leave a web page within ten to twenty seconds if the content fails to grab hold of their attention? For this reason, it is imperative that your website draws users in a while remaining user-friendly and providing them a reason to want to linger longer than the regular visit.
If your current website contains bland content and users find it hard to navigate through, you are cutting yourself short of potential sales beings many consumers may find your site, but they will leave just as fast due to lack of interest.
Finding the best web designer that you can trust and rely on can be a difficult task. However, that is not to say it can’t happen. With this much at stake, it’s imperative that you have a full understanding of the importance of having a great website with a strong online presence and what it can do for you.
Your website is simply an extension of your organization. Would you send a boring salesperson to meet your most influential customers? I guess probably not. So why settle for a dull, boring website?
They ALL Claim Building a New Website Will be Fast and Easy
Most website and e-commerce platforms claim to be so easy to maneuver around that even those that aren’t “tech savvy” will have no problems creating an attractive, creative website. However, if you are like most, you will still find yourself needing assistance with designing if you don’t want your site to be “just another site” that everyone else has.
The bottom line is, the best ways get a fantastic looking functional website that is simple to maneuver is by hiring a creative, professional design team that can take your website to the next level. How does a business decide what would be the best web designer to use when the Internet ripples with hundreds of thousands of options?
Most people tend to follow an easy, three-step process when searching for the best web designer for their business. These are:
- Visit several websites
- Search through the online portfolio
- Decide their work looks great
Don’t feel bad if you saw yourself in the above scenario; most people do the same as you because they just do not know where to start. It is an ok place to begin, but there is so much more involved in finding and hiring the best web designer for your industry. Your website is just like your company, too important to leave in just anyone’s hands.
How Do You Find the Best Web Design Company?
So, how do you find the best website builders for your business? And, by “best” we mean the agency or individual that has an excellent portfolio with examples of professional internet sites, experience in your desired platform, understands your goals and business and can accomplish all this within your budget?
Here are 8 Tips For Finding the Best Web Designer For Your Business with advice and suggestions to assist you along the way.
1). Find examples of sites that you like:
Before you put the cart before the horse and hire a web designer, you should know what it is you want with and from your website.
For example, are you an e-commerce business whose focus should be on ROI, establishing a customer base, with higher conversion rates? Or, are you a business wanting to promote your brand where you should focus on informative content and visibility?
You should also have a fixed budget established before your first meeting with a designer. That way you and the designer are on the same page with the amount you can afford to spend.
Invest some time in researching other websites you admire and note why you like it.
Make a top 10 list of websites you like
Pick several for their aesthetics, some for their workflow, and others for the functionality. By doing this, you have in mind some designs you like as wells as assisting the designer with your likes and dislikes.
Also, take note of what style you are hoping for. Is the site a conservative, traditional, or trendy site? You should also have in mind if you expect there to be numerous edits of the content on a regular basis or will your site only require updates yearly or so.
Once you have a complete understanding of what you want and how you expect the maintenance of your site to be, you can much easier screen developers/designers based on your preferences to establish a long-term scope of your project.
2). Get A Good Understanding of The Designer’s Work and Portfolio:
By analyzing a web designers portfolio as well as their current work in progress, you can get a good idea if their work met your taste and matched what it is you are searching for in a website.
While you are looking through the portfolio of the companies you admire, check to see who played a significant role in its existence. Write these names down with email addresses to contact for future communications.
The company that designed the website is usually at the end of or the bottom of the site. If not, ask the company who designed their site for them.Get testimonies to see if they are satisfied with the designing company. Ask for current work in progress to get a feel for how current the company keeps up with the latest technology.
Once you begin interviewing companies, ask for references and testimonies from their present and past clients. Be sure to ask if they have experience in the industry you serve. Most web designers fall into one of the following categories:
- Those that created websites as a one-size-fits-all, known as “cookie cutters or website templates.”
- Those that customize each website to fit the company through responsive website design
Another reason it is imperative that you invest time into checking out the designer’s portfolio, once you do, you will quickly spot the difference of the two. The first type dwells on two things; copy/paste type commands and templates. These type portfolios typically lack in variety.
However, on the other hand, the second category designer is just as easily spotted. Their collections are rich with creative innovations along with a vast range of projects. Each site is garnishing its signature style. Knowing the difference will assist you in finding the best web designer for your company.
3). What Core Services Does The Company Provide:
This section may be the hardest to understand. However, it is one that plays a huge role in the performance of a web designer. Most design companies offer a variety of services that assist you with customizing and creating the perfect online platform for you.
Regardless of the industry you serve, there are a few necessary core services every professional web design company must include.
- Custom Web Design: Have the ability to create a style and feel of your site that will attract and capture your projected audience.
- Custom Site Development: Have the capacity to take a graphic outline and code it employing the latest in tools and technology to optimize the website to be fast-loading and straightforward to navigate.
- Responsive Design: Be able to create a site that looks and functions the same regardless of what device or browser the end user is using.
- Professional Content: Let’s face it, not everyone is a skilled writer. It is important that the company has their writers on staff that can tailor content that targets your audience is imperative for your success.
- Search Engine Optimization: Have the ability to design a website with content that search engines such as Google can quickly discover.
There are many core service that will be unique to the various type of business, however, be certain any web design company you find attractive offers the above before proceeding.
4). Understand Who is Doing The Websites Development Work:
Just because there is a local web design company doesn’t necessarily mean that is the one you should hire. More than location, a successful website requires consistent and comfortable communication. Limiting your options to just “the guy down the street” can turn out to be a massive disaster.
You should also ask if their design team is local, in-house, or abroad? It can be quite difficult to communicate with an agency whose team is across the world due to time zone gaps that can deter quick web fixes.
5). Discuss How Website Design Services Are Priced:
Some companies offer package deals for a set price.While this may look attractive in the beginning, in reality, the most efficient and best web design companies will price to fit the customer’s budget and needs.
Because of this is why you should avoid at all cost the “cookie cutter packages.”Remember, you get what you pay for even with your website design. If you want a professional, vibrant, successful website, this is not the place to pinch pennies.
Do not make the mistake of hiring one of those giant website design firms that advertise cheap websites all over google and elsewhere. If you search online, you’ll come across many generic looking design agencies who promise a custom website for under $1,000. You will end up with a template, that 100 other people are using.
Consider your website an investment in your company. According to Forbes, “A custom site provides a unique identity for your business. “
The truth is, your website is the window for the world to see inside your business. You can make this view a stunning place to visit and one they will want to return and send others, or you can cut corners and have the view one that is pretty dull and non-exciting, with very few visitors. It’s your call.
6). Do They Have The Ability To Meet Project Deadlines:
Project deadlines are very important to consider
Be certain the web design company understands your timeline and milestones required for completion. Any good, professional developer will provide you with milestones and goals. These include the following:
- Design
- Development
- Content Creation
- Optimization
- Beta Testing
- Support after the sale
Narrowing down the best professional website designer can be difficult. Be sure to confirm that they can commit to completing your project within your timeline. Make sure you are clear and upfront with the scope of what details will be delivered, the number of changes you will be able to request, the requirements for you to provide information to the designing team, and the timeline for delivery.
7). Choose a website design company that provides long-term support options:
Just like any of business, your website will need constant growth to be successful. While choosing the best web design company, it is important that the firm you want will continue to work on your site even after it’s launch.
You will want a company that will work with you continuously by providing content to enhance your site. Whether this is with adding creative blogs and posting fresh, crisp content or working to develop new sections and including optimization for increasing search engine results; a professional web designer remains part of the team for the long-run. Remeber, support after the sale is key.
8). Check Their Track Record and Online Reviews To Find The Best:
To become an expert in designing websites an individual must invest years of learning the different strategies that go hand -in- hand with perfecting collaborative work. It takes many years of time and investing in learning the ever changing structure of the internet.
For this reason, it is important that you find out how many years the firm has been working together. How many years experience does the company have? For a designing team cover all your bases, they should have at least five or more members. It would be even better if the company spent all those years focusing and developing the same set of core technology.
Conclusion, Hire a Professional Website Design Agency
When you are searching for the best web design developer to re-brand or create your online presence, the best advice is to make sure you feel 100% confident in their ability and devotion to take you step-by-step through this process. A professional development firm will be a pleasure to work with and will make sure you remain confident about your choice.
Ensure that they have what it takes to meet or exceed your expectations. The firm needs to have the background, experience, and the latest tools and technology.
Two decades of experience combined with a passion for creating stunning websites that work their magic to make your site shine brighter than the others. Contact us today for a consultation. Thank you for considering our Website Design and Development Services.
What tips would you give to someone looking to hire one? Share your thoughts in the comments.
