Choosing a Web
Design
Company
You have
less than eight seconds to create an impression on your visitor
when visiting your website. Be very selective when it comes
time to choose the web firm for your website design. Here are
ten guidelines and pointers to help you choose the right
designers:
1. Do
they have a portfolio?
Make sure they have some
experience under their belts and unless you want to be a
designer's test subject, make sure they have some experience
behind them.
2. Can
they cater to any type of
business?
Look through the portfolio for
variety. Do their client's websites all look similar in format
and structure? Make sure you are paying for a custom web design
service, not a cheap template.
3. How
is their response time?
This is vital to the success of
your website. Take note of their choice of response (e-mail,
phone, fax, instant messenger, chat) and how quickly they can
respond to your inquiries. If you prefer to do business over
the phone and the designer doesn't, then it's probably best to
move on to your next choice.
4. Do
they have a contract?
If it's not written - it's not
true. Everything should always be put down in writing. Before
you sign anything, make sure you read the entire contract,
including all the fine print. If you have any questions on
anything: ASK! Don't sign a contract unless you understand
everything in it. If the company's representative makes you
feel awkward or uncomfortable with your "bothersome" questions,
then end discussions and find another designer.
5. How
reasonable are their prices?
Make sure you get what you pay
for and if you are on a budget, that the designer you choose
won't exceed it. But it is also important to insure you put
plan for extras and have a plan to continually invest into the
website's construction. Your website is going to the link
between you and your customers, so make sure it is the best it
can be. Nowadays, you can find websites for $500, or "package
deals" that will "save" you money. You'll soon find that these
kinds of deals are like going to McDonald's when you should be
going to the grocery's healthy foods section.
If you can't afford for
everything you feel your website should have then settle for a
smaller website and create it in stages. Don't settle for a
cheaper designer. You get what you pay for.
6. Can they
help you market your
website?
Online marketing is key to your
website's success It is best to find a designer that knows how
to promote the sites they work on whether it be through search
engine optimization, pay-per-click marketing, viral marketing
or another method. Ask your design firm what they feel is best
for your company. You should feel comfortable in their
explanation and reasoning, otherwise ask some other firms what
they'd recommend.
7. Are
their clients
satisfied?
Can you find client testimonials
on the site? Don't hesitate to contact their clients to ask for
opinions and get their feedback on how their service with that
company went. It's your money after all. It's better to spend
15 minutes on the phone than months of hassle and pain with the
wrong developer.
8. Are
they able to meet all your
needs?
Do you want an e-commerce store,
Flash elements or a custom web application? Can they do
everything you want? The last thing you want is different
companies meddling with your website's design. Choose a firm
that has the full corporate solution for your needs - whether
it's Flash intros or database-driven websites.
9. Can
they deliver on time
?
Are they willing to meet reasonable
deadlines? If you need your site done by a certain date,
can the designer you choose get it done by then? Be sure
to ask about delivery times when you're on Step
#7.
10. Do
they take a personal and friendly
approach?
Is the designer willing to help
and suggest his/her own ideas, or do they robotically go along
hoping they got everything you want? It's always best to find a
designer that has some ideas of their own, with fresh ideas and
that knows their limits and won't insist something be done a
certain way if that's not what you want.
Although this article can seem
like a no-brainer to some, many companies will often run into
difficulties and conflicts within their design process. These
are simple yet often overlooked steps, and can be the
difference between a rough or smooth design process. Keep this
list in mind when looking for a web designer and you should
find the right one to create your website!
If you are able to answer yes to at
least 8 of the questions above, you may well be ready to have a
website created by Cosmic Web Design!
Contact
us:
cosmicwd@cosmicwd.com
Cosmic Web Design
Copyright © 2008 Cosmic Web Design, LLC
Atlanta, GA 30349
Tel and Fax (404) 519 7365
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