Is your business website designed as per your goals? Does it engage properly with your target audience? Just a good looking home page may not always convert a prospect. An experienced web design company will always plan content and their elements first, before starting the design. With new agencies, its the other way round. But how do you know which design company is the right fit for your brand? With millions of options out there, choosing the right web design company can be a daunting task. To help you with this problem, we have compiled eighteen essential tips for choosing the right web design company for you. If you wish to save weeks or months with trial and error by going with the wrong agency, continue reading for 10 minutes.
1. Define your goals and requirements:
Before you type “web design company” on google, clearly define your scope of work. Have an internal session with your partner or stakeholders on the following:
- Purpose of your website (eg. Get more leads or sales, generate more traffic, brand awareness)
- Features & functionality (eg. appointment booking online)
- Target audience (demographics, etc.)
This will help you communicate your expectations effectively and find a company that aligns with your vision.
2. Assess their portfolio and experience:
Review every website that is included in their portfolio to evaluate their expertise and experience. Look for a diverse range of projects that demonstrate their versatility and ability to create visually appealing, mobile ready and user-friendly websites. Ensure you use your mobile to browse through their portfolio, as 85% of your traffic will come from mobile devices.
3. Check for client testimonials and reviews:
You might get valuable insights from their reviews and how they correspond to those reviews publicly. Reviews are more than just star ratings. They help you understand specific problems and how they were addressed.
Some situations can get out of control with just small misunderstandings. Benefit of doubt should largely go with the agency, as they want to hold on to their reputation.
Positive feedback is certainly important, but owning responsibility by handling difficult situations is even more crucial when choosing your digital partner.
4. Understand their design process:
Design approach is critical. Involving stakeholders for their likes and ideas, right from the start is a good sign. Ensure that their process aligns with your expectations.
Sending you a few templated home pages without a detailed brief can be hazardous. A good design methodology involves:
- Understanding brand guidelines (fonts, colors, spacing, alignments)
- Image selection (eg. with people, graphic elements, symbolic, nature etc.)
- Mobile prototyping
- Content language
- Iconography
5. Consider their expertise in responsive design and SEO:
In 2023, 85% of users search for products and services on google using their mobile. Hence the web design company you choose must have deep expertise in responsive design, ensuring your site looks and functions flawlessly across various mobile devices. Moreover, inquire about their knowledge of SEO best practices to ensure your website will be easily discoverable by search engines.
6. Evaluate their post-launch support and maintenance:
Building a website is an ongoing process, and a web design company that is committed to offer post-launch support and maintenance service, is an advantage. Inquire about their policies regarding updates, bug fixes, security measures, and ongoing support. Most importantly know their turnaround times so you can expect accurate delivery timelines for content or functionality updates.
7. Consider their communication and project management:
Clarity in communication is paramount for any web design project big or small. Assess how the company communicates and collaborates with clients. Do they respond promptly to inquiries? Do they assign a dedicated project manager to ensure smooth coordination? Look for a company that values timely communication, over commercial gains.
8. Discuss pricing and budget:
With technology, there can be a lot of hidden costs. Especially when you are novice to the tech area. Its wise to discuss itemized pricing with your web design company upfront. While it’s tempting to opt for the lowest price, prioritize value for money and the quality of service. Key things to consider:
- Transparency in costs for main scope
- Additional fees
- Potential future expenses will help you make an informed decision and avoid any surprises down the line
- License or hardware costs if applicable
- Hosting charges (fixed or variable)
- Purchase of stock assets (images, videos, patterns)
9. Consider their long-term relationship approach:
A website is a long-term investment, and your relationship with the web design company should extend beyond the initial project deployment. Inquire about their approach to long-term partnerships and ongoing support. A company that values client relationships and offers additional services like digital marketing or website updates can be a valuable asset for your future needs. Things to consider:
- How big is their core team
- Since how long is their core team associated with them
- Get references of long term customers. Have a word with them.
- Domain registry (check on whois look up, on the date when their domain was registered. Older the better)
10. Evaluate their technical expertise:
A web design company should possess strong technical skills and stay updated with the latest industry trends and technologies. Inquire about the programming languages, content management systems (CMS), and frameworks they use. Ensure they have the expertise to implement the functionality you require and provide scalable solutions for future growth.
11. Assess their design aesthetics:
A good design sense is required when you want to create an impactful website. Evaluate the web design company’s ability to create visually appealing and engaging designs. Look for a company that understands your brand’s aesthetic preferences and can incorporate them into the website, email signature, emailers and other digital identities effectively. Their design style should align with your vision and resonate with your target audience.
12. Seek a company that offers customization:
Avoid web design companies that rely heavily on pre-made templates or generic designs. Your website should be unique and tailored to your specific needs. Look for a company that offers customization options and can create a website that stands out from your competitors. Custom designs allow for greater flexibility, branding opportunities, and a personalized user experience.
13. Consider their content strategy and copywriting skills:
Engaging and persuasive content is crucial for capturing and retaining your audience’s attention. Inquire about the web design company’s content strategy and copywriting skills. A company that offers content creation services or collaborates with skilled copywriters can help develop compelling and search engine-friendly content for your website.
14. Look for ongoing optimization and analytics capabilities:
A successful website requires continuous improvement and optimization. Inquire whether the web design company provides services such as search engine optimization (SEO), conversion rate optimization (CRO), and website analytics. Ongoing optimization ensures your website remains competitive, performs well in search engine rankings, and delivers a positive user experience.
15. Assess their ability to meet deadlines:
Timely delivery is essential when launching a new website or redesigning an existing one. Inquire about the web design company’s track record in meeting deadlines. Do they have a reputation for delivering projects on time? A reliable company will set realistic timelines and have efficient project management processes in place to ensure timely completion.
16. Seek a company that offers responsive customer support:
Technical issues and questions may arise after your website goes live. Ensure the web design company provides responsive customer support and has a dedicated support team you can reach out to for assistance. Prompt and reliable support will help address any issues or concerns efficiently, minimizing downtime and ensuring a smooth user experience.
17. Check for compliance with web standards and accessibility guidelines:
Accessibility and adherence to web standards are crucial for ensuring your website is usable and inclusive for all users. Inquire about the web design company’s commitment to web standards and accessibility guidelines, such as WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines). A company that prioritizes accessibility demonstrates their commitment to reaching a wider audience and providing an inclusive experience.
18. Trust your instincts:
Finally your instaints play a major role in selecting a reliable web agency. Remember how they communicated with you since you made an enquiry. Were they pushy or changed their statements during the process? Pick up red flags, and be mindful of every conversation you have with them. Genuinity is hard to put on. Even though price plays the most important role in this, good people to work with are more valuable for the long term.
Conclusion:
It’s tough to choose the right company for any product or service. There are too many out there and the criteria is so dynamic. Our observation and research is based on our own experiences with clients for 23 years now. If you do find a good company to work with, hold on to them. It works both ways. A good vendor always loves working with a good customer and vice versa.
Quick recap: Look out for portfolio, reviews, core team age & detailed proposal with complete terms.
