What to Look For When Hiring a Website Designer
When it comes to having a presence on the web, you'll definitely want to put your best effort out there to shine.
In today's world, the web is often the only place you'll have to make that crucial first impression.
For that reason, you want a website that truly represents you and what you do. The best way to make sure this happens is to hire the correct web designer.
But how do you pick the one that will work for you?
Here are some tips for getting the right web designer for the job.
Agency or Freelancer?
There are many web designers on the market today. All of these designers tend to fall in one of two groups - agencies or freelancers.
A freelancer will usually be more flexible and more affordable. There are some excellent freelance web designers on the market today, but they may be limited in the number of clients they serve.
An agency will tend to cost more, but you have an entire company in place to back you up and get your work done. Agencies may also have a broader range of services, which may help with other aspects of getting your business on the web.
There is no best decision when it comes to choosing a freelancer or agency as your web designer. It really depends on the services you need for your business. Either way, you will want to look for a degree of professionalism in their approach to work.
Website Methodology
It is essential to determine the website methodology for a candidate web designer. Many companies will gyrate towards a general website model that appeals to any number of potential clients. While there is nothing wrong with this approach, you may find that a company that focuses on a particular subset of the market may work best for your needs.
For example, some web designers on the market today will focus on restaurants. You can find others that specialize in retail solutions or ticketed events. While these companies tend to have a slightly generic approach to the clients, their stricter area of focus allows them greater leeway.
The last option is to find a website designer that is willing to build a custom site to your specifications. While this approach might be slightly more expensive, you end up with a website that is uniquely yours. This could help you stand out from your competition.
Services Offered
If you don't already have a website or have one that needs to be overhauled entirely, it might be good to consider all of the services the web designer offers. For example, you may need a shopping cart solution that requires some development work.
It could be that you need new or better hosting. Many companies now offer a hosting plan for the websites they design. This could simplify management and make it easier when you need changes down the road by having a single point of contact for all your web needs.
Even the best website is going to need some marketing. Ask if the web design company offers these services as well. By using your designer as the marketer, they will be able to keep marketing efforts and website design in step as they roll out any campaigns.
Past Work
One of the best ways to get a feel for the quality of work a company does is to look at previous projects. Many web designers will offer a showcase of their work directly on their website. This gives you a good idea of the caliber of work the designer provides.
If there is not a showcase to browse, don't hesitate to ask for examples. Most web designers will be only too happy to point out a past project or two for your consideration.
Note if they have won any awards or other accolades for their work. While this will vary based on the situation, it can be a good indicator of past efforts that were well received.
Personality
When it comes to picking the right web designer, make sure that their personality lines up with your business. You will be trusting this person to represent everything about your company in their design, so make sure that you have a good rapport with them.
Without comfortable and robust communication, it will be impossible to adequately convey the message of your business to the web designer.
We specialize in web design and digital marketing, offering the best in breed services for your company. Contact us to see how we can help you present your vision on the web.
