How to Choose the Right Web Designer – 6 Things to Consider
Posted on 9th May 2017
A new website is a big investment – which is why it’s so important that you get the right, professional support from a web design company you can depend on.
Choose the right web designer and everything else should run smoothly, leaving you with a beautiful website that delivers real returns on your investment. Make the wrong decision, and you risk wasting a lot of time, money and effort on something that simply doesn’t work for your business.
Ensure that you get the right web designer for your new website by following these top tips.mary on the main blog page.
1. Know what you want
Before you even start thinking about choosing a designer, you need to decide what you want your website to be and what you are trying to achieve.
Different websites require different approaches: an ecommerce website selling multiple products directly to customers needs to be designed very differently to one that’s educating potential clients about business services or promoting a single product.
Once you know exactly what you want your website to do, it’s much easier to work out whether an agency can deliver it.
2. Choose one that understands your business
There are hundreds of talented, creative designers out there who can create websites that look good, and hundreds of cutting-edge developers that can integrate advanced technology and functionality.
However, it doesn’t matter how good a website looks, or what it’s capable of – a great website needs to help you achieve your goals.
When choosing a web designer, make sure you select one that makes an effort to understand your business, and what you want – so you get a website that doesn’t just look great, but also works in the real world.
3. Shop around and do your due diligence
A good website designer will have a good website, and it should be the first port of call when checking credentials. Do some homework, and make yourself a shortlist of potential options – speak to a few different people before making any decisions.
When researching potential designers, look out for genuine customer testimonials and previous examples of work they’ve completed. If you can’t find a website they’ve done that you like, or any happy customers willing to recommend their services then walk away.
4. Value for money
Websites range massively in price – from free, DIY template sites, to those costing tens of thousands of pounds. Your website should be an investment, and needs to provide returns.
Your web designer should be able to provide you with a full, clear breakdown of how much your website will cost, and what the ongoing costs will be. Make sure you know and understand exactly what your quote covers – hidden costs like hosting, domains, and monthly maintenance can quickly add up.
A great web designer will also be able to provide some evidence to back up their quote in terms of what you can expect back for your investment.
5. Capacity and capability
Time is money, and making sure that your web designer has the capacity and skills needed to manage your project is essential if it’s going to get done on schedule, and to the required standard.
‘One-man-band’ designers do have a place – but be conscious that they may not have the capacity to provide you with the levels of customer service you want. They may also struggle to deliver your project in a reasonable timescale, or to handle all the aspects of the web build in-house.
Choosing a company that has all the necessary skills in house; designers, developers and account handlers – will improve the likelihood that your project runs smoothly, and that you get exactly what you want.
6. Look for Customer Service
Having a web designer you can rely on to deliver responsive, personal customer service is really important. It’s easy for web projects to fall behind schedule, and for your wishes to be ignored if you don’t have access to a single point of contact.
The best web design companies will have a dedicated, knowledgeable account handler, who will:
• Meet with you in person
• Answer your calls and respond to your emails
• Encourage you to take the steps you need to do
• Be accessible – and won’t go missing for weeks at a time!
Websites that work from it’seeze Ryedale
Ensure you benefit from a fantastic website that’s right for your business – with professional support from it’seeze Ryedale.
We’re here to help drive your business performance online with a beautiful, custom-designed website that you can edit yourself. You won’t find industry jargon or tech speak here – just beautiful websites designed to work in the modern world.
Set up your free, no obligation meeting with Rob Davies from it’seeze Ryedale today by calling 01653 690 982, or by emailing rob.davies@itseeze.co.uk.
Tagged as: Online Marketing
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