Advice In Choosing A Website DesignerChoosing a website designer can be a frustrating process. There are thousands of them on google.
The designer will be creating your on-line image, which is something that is quite important and can either make or break you.
Choosing a web design company that is ‘right’ for you is important. Not just in terms of having the best site, but in also in arriving at it by means of the best value for your money.
Choosing a website design agency is not easy, we have tried to put together some web design tips to help you make the right decision.
Your website is basically your shop window, get it right and people will want to come in and buy, get it wrong and you may push them away. Some good web design advice would be to take your time before choosing an agency.
Building a website takes time, it takes experience and it takes a knowledge of layout and presentation.
There are web building websites that anyone can use that offer free or cheap web design platforms. However you only have a few seconds to grab someones attention, if your website does not have the right look or feel then people will come and then go, resulting in no enquiries.
You can design a website yourself on a free web building platform, but will it convert web traffic into web enquiries?
If you are not experienced in web layout, where to put CTA’s then you could well spend a lot of valuable time treading water. Best to bring in a professional web designer that does web build for a living.
This sounds a bit complicated, but standing out and fitting in is different in every industry sector.
All industries are different, and it is important that you fit into your industry by the style and type of website you have, but you also stand out in your industry.
Your website should reflect your brand, your history and what your mission statement is.
We are all used to looking at websites, so your website does need to look modern and attracting, and in particular, mobile friendly.
A web design budget is important, not just what you can afford, but what is possible.
The more complicated the features you ‘need’ on your website (such as a payment gateway or a chat facility), this would need to be coded in.
It all comes down to what you want your website for. Do you just want a basic website that shows your products or services, or do you need an all singing all dancing website that has all the bells and whistles?
There are different types of web designer to choose from, again, it does back to what you want your website to do. Do you just want it as a point of reference, or do you need it in order to run your business (like Amazon needs its website to sell its products)?
Freelancers will generally be the cheapest option, excluding certain well-known designers that are constantly sought after. Working with a freelancer is usually more of an informal process, which is both good and bad. You will normally not meet them, as they work remotely, but Zoom calls can put a face to a name.
Good freelancers will be communicative, accommodating, and adhere to typical turnaround times on design work. On the other hand, there are plenty of unprofessional freelancers that will do just the opposite.
Design agencies will usually be more expensive than freelancers because you’re paying for pooled expertise. They have higher overheads and staff costs, which need to be factored into the overall cost of your website.
Full-service agencies are more expensive than freelancers, and may or may not be more expensive than specialised design agencies. Full service agencies are a great bet if you think you’ll be interested in digital marketing services beyond just website design. Marketing of your website both digitally and traditionally.
Choosing the right type of web designer is important, and will effect the overall cost you will be paying them depending on the amount of marketing support you need.
Website design is an evolving market as technology moves forwards.
Many aspects of web design can be hard to understand if you’re not familiar with the industry.
The very best web design agencies and freelancers will have no problem sitting down and explaining exactly what they do, how they do it, and why it’s beneficial to your business. If you require SEO work done, again, asking them exactly what they are doing, to give you a feel for what they are doing and how hard they are working.
If they are using terminology you are unfamiliar with and spouting wild promises, tell them to slow down and explain in more detail. Failure to do so is a big indicator that you should be cautious moving forward with that specific web design option.
It is always suggested choosing someone that is local if possible.
The reason being that you can meet with them and talk through your ideas and plans face to face. A face to face meeting is always recommended as you will get a better idea of who the agency is, what their background is, and what the designer is like. Also you can get an understanding of how they see your company and interpret your brief.
Since COVID has curbed the opportunity to meet face to face, a ZOOM meeting is another option.
Choosing a website designer that already knows your industry is very important. If a designer is going to produce a site for you, then they need a clear understanding of what your company does, what your market is about, and how best to communicate you, and what you have to offer, to your prospective clients.
They should know how your industry works and what keywords your website wants to rank for.
All industries are different, so working with someone that knows your market brings many advantages, rather than merely knocking up a site that looks good. If you are a medical business, use an agency that has done web design for medical companies.
Again as above, your website needs to fit into your industry, yet stand out in the crowd.
Once you find several who are local and already have experience in your industry, and provided them with the outline or brief, it is good to obtain their quotes and compare them.
All agencies are different and all web design pricing varies. To ensure that you get the most value for your money it is advisable to shop around and compare prices to find the best package. We can help you choosing a web design expert if you just fill in the form above.
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