Web Design Services

One of the first things to consider as you plan to hire a web designer or web design company is the specific skill set, experience, and personality of the person or team you are engaging. Some designers are very talented, but might not be the right fit for your company. If you are a lifestyle brand, hiring a developer who specializes in technical projects probably won’t deliver the experience you want your customers to feel on your site. Additionally, understanding the personality and values of the individual or team you partner with goes a long way to ensure the project is fun and enjoyable while also being successful.

While some businesses are more comfortable with working with a local company in their hometown, the world of digital marketing has evolved considerably and there are many better ways to select the right web design company for your project. If you think about it, locality really doesn’t define a good fit unless your business relies heavily on a deep understanding of your local culture. Instead, find a company that you feel you can have honest and productive conversations with, has experience building the type of site you need, and understands how to build it in a way that aligns with your goals.

The cost of professional web design may catch some companies off guard; however, there are a few things you can do to avoid being shocked when the proposal arrives. First, make sure your proposal outlines a detailed plan of your site specifications–design, content, and functionality–this will help you and your design agency make adjustments if needed. Second, consider getting multiple proposals to get a better idea of the variety in prices and approaches. Always plan for some unexpected costs if you come up with new ideas along the way, and be sure to leave room in your monthly budget for future maintenance and updates to your website.

While a small business can have a very effective website on a tight budget, the differences between design and development when compared to a large corporation are drastic. Between legal considerations based on protecting consumer data, CRM (customer relationship management) and lead tracking integrations, user experience considerations, and SEO (search engine optimization) research, the cost and scale of a corporation’s needs will often vastly outweigh that of a small business.

A full redesign of a website can be very expensive, so it’s important to assess whether you really need one or not. Common reasons to redesign your website vary, but the most common include rebranding your business, increasing website traffic, generating more leads, or adding functionality to improve user experience. If you are simply readjusting your marketing goals or messaging, a minor overhaul may be all you need. Be sure to check that your site is still aligned with your newest marketing plans on an annual basis!

If a web design company doesn’t have experience running marketing campaigns as well, you may end up with a nice website that isn’t actually built to drive traffic, leads and sales. Don’t forget to consider this in your hiring process. A good web designer should understand that design and functionality are important, but understanding the psychological foundations of marketing and communication are key too. Additionally, having an understanding of your business’ profit margins, customer LTV (lifetime value), average deal size, and other metrics will help you and a competent marketing agency determine what type of website and budget make the most sense to help you reach your goals.

Adding to that, working with a web design crew that also has experience with SEO, Facebook Ads, email marketing and social media strategies can be a big win to help your business leverage its new website. Unfortunately, “if you build it, they will come” rarely applies to new websites, especially if you don’t have a large audience to start. Make sure you ask this question up front if a big reason you are building a new website is to directly generate more new business through its presence.

While it is a worst case scenario, you want to make sure you understand what’s at stake if the project does go sideways. Having a clear understanding of terms, billing, and dispute process is a must before starting any project. Even if you feel great about the designer or agency you are working with, asking these tough questions up front will ensure clarity and execution of your project. Be wary if you receive a proposal that doesn’t outline the legalities and scope of the collaboration.