10 Things to Look for When Choosing a Website Designer
October 3, 2008
10 Things to Look for When Choosing a Website Designer
Choosing someone to design and develop your website may seem overwhelming at the least. With more and more people getting into the web design business, your options grow more by the day. And not all designers are equal in price or services. You can pay as much or as little as you want for a website, and get as many or as few features as you want. So how do you know who to choose for your website designer and what services to go with?
There are a few basic things you can look for, and questions you can ask when choosing a designer to do your website.
-
Remember who is in control. It is your website and your business. Ultimate, it is you who must be happy with it, not the designer. This does not mean you shouldn’t listen to their suggestions, but it does mean that you make the decision about who will design your website. If you are overwhelmed and don’t know where to start, or how it all works, it may be tempting to just go with the first person you find, or to let someone convince you that they are the ones who should do your site, but be careful and take your time. It will be well worth the extra consideration to get a website that you are happy with and works well for your business.
-
Ask to see the designers portfolio. Any designer who is experienced enough to charge for their services, will have examples of other work they have done for you to see. If it is not readily available on their website, ask to see it. Look over what they have done and see if you like their overall style. Take note of designs and features that you would like to see on your own website.
-
Look for customer testimonials. Find out what their previous customers are saying about their work! If you want to take it a step further, visit some of the sites they have done for other companies, and email the site owner and ask for their feedback. If they were happy with the work and the service, they will likely be more than glad to tell you about it!
-
Visit the designer's site. How does their own site look? Are their layouts broken, do they have typos or broken links? Do they present their own site in a professional and attractive manner? If not, beware. If they can’t take the time and effort to make their own site good, how much effort do you think they will spend on yours?
-
Look at their prices. While price shouldn’t be the only deciding factor, it can shed a fair bit of light on the design company. Does the price seem reasonable to you? Is it too high? Too low? You don’t have to pay huge amounts of money for a website, but you also should be wary of companies that only charge a very small amount – you get what you pay for! You may not know much about how a website is built or what is involved, but you may have a fairly good idea of what you want on your website. Is it ecommerce? You can generally expect it to cost a little more. Do you just want something simple, with some text, photos, contact form? Then it shouldn’t cost you over $1000 – if that! Think about the kind of features you want, the size of your site, and guess your costs accordingly. If the price seems to high or too low, ask them why they are charging that. It may be that they are charging less because they are new in business themselves, in which case, if their work is good and they seem trustworthy and good to deal with, it may be an excellent way to save some money, and help them build their portfolio. If they are charging a lot and it seems expensive, it may be because they are a big company and have several employees working for them, have been in business for years and are at the top of the field. In this case, you are paying for their experience.
-
Find out what is included. Many web design companies will offer you a package – you get the website designed, along with a domain name, email address and web hosting for a certain period of time. They may have other benefits and features that they offer with a package as well. This can take a lot of the hassle out of the process for you. If the domain name, email and hosting are all included, it means you don’t have to try to set it up yourself or find it somewhere else.
-
Do they do website updates? Updating your website on a regular basis is important, as it keeps it fresh and new, and gives your customers a reason to keep visiting! I recommend that you find a web designer who can do the updates for you, at a reasonable monthly/yearly fee. Some will even include the first weeks, months or year of website updates with the package. This is another way to take the hassle out of it for you, so that you can focus on your business.
-
How fast do they respond to your emails and messages? Be reasonable, and remember they are busy people as well, but at the same time, if they value your business, they should respond quickly, within a day or two at the most. If they take a long time getting back to you, consider it a warning. You don’t want to be stuck with a web designer who does not pay attention to your concerns about your own website. You want someone who will respond quickly and have the work done quickly.
-
Beware of templates. While they are quick and easy to use, and usually cheaper, they are still templates, which means that anyone else can also use them. It is far better to get a custom design, one that is unique and created for your business and brand.
-
Look at their overall attitude and professionalism. Pay attention to your first impression. Do they seem shifty and untrustworthy? Is their appearance shabby or rough? Do they seem to know what they are talking about, or doing? Do they talk down at you, or do they treat you with respect and explain things in everyday language? You want a designer who respects you and your business and is going to put their very best effort into your website and ensuring that you are happy with it.
If you keep these tips in mind, you will be more likely to find a web designer that you will be happy with and that will create a website that will compliment and work for your business.
About the author: Advantage Website Solutions is a web design company that specializes in custom web design and development for small businesses. For more tips on developing, perfecting and promoting your professional online image, from building a website to marketing online, visit Tips by Advantage, where you will find more articles and practical advice.