Expert Tips For 7 Things to Consider When Choosing a Web Designer 

If you don’t have a website for your business, you are missing out on moneymaking opportunities. Having a website is an essential part of any business. It establishes credibility, markets your products, and leads to conversions. Without it, starting a profitable business can be challenging. 

So now that you know a website is an essential business component, you need to figure out where to get one. There are different ways to get a business website. For example, you could look into partnering with a freelance web designer, find a DIY CMS template, or hire a web design agency. Whatever route you choose to go with, several essential things need consideration before making your decision. 

We will be sharing 7 things to consider before choosing a web designer for your business. 

#1 Figure out your website needs and goals 

First, you should know your website needs and goals. Creating goals will help you understand what you want out of a website.  

To guide you on concepting, consider what industry you are in and how your customers will engage with your website. Whether that is through E-commerce, CRM, form fills, or other functions.  

To get your thought process flowing, you can start by thinking about your sales funnel and how your website would play a part in it. Evaluating your sales funnel will help paint a better picture in your mind of how your website will work. 

From there, you can set goals for the timeline and cost of your site. For example, consider the date of when you want to have your website to be done and how much you are willing to pay for it. Setting these goals will make your search a lot more efficient because it will eliminate who can meet your expectations and who cannot. 

#2 Consider Your Web Designer’s Years of Experience 

The second step in considering a web design agency is how much experience they hold. The number of years you are looking for is based entirely on your preference. If you see a designer has potential and can produce the end product you want, including website maintenance, that designer could be a possible fit. 

It’s also good to research who their previous clients are and the industry they are in. If the designer has experience with clients in the same industry as you, the designer will be more knowledgeable about the customer experience. Having an understanding of the same industry will be beneficial when choosing a designer. 

If they do not have any relevant experience in a similar industry, explain the features that you want on your website and see if the designer could still fulfill those needs. However, their sales pitch to you could hold a lot more weight when they don’t have any proven experience. 

#3 View the website designer’s portfolio

Viewing portfolios is an essential step in choosing a web designer. All creative positions in the design industry have portfolios because they present the designer’s aesthetic, style, and tone in their previous work. The portfolio will show you the websites they designed in the past.

However, design is not the only important part of a portfolio. Testing websites functionality is also an essential part of choosing a web designer. A website’s UX design plays a significant role in the customer experience. Although an excellent web design makes the website eye-catching, it will not make the customer convert if it can’t function properly. 

Also, check to see they could do layouts for mobile. 60% of US website traffic comes from a mobile device, so having a website that can do a mobile design is essential.  

Lastly, look to see if the designers have won any rewards for their previous work. Rewards are a good source of credentials when looking for candidates. 

#4 Take into consideration their average customer size 

While you review their portfolio, consider the size of their clients and how this could impact working with them. If they service relatively small businesses, think about how they would handle working with a larger company. Would they manage all the operations that go into making a website for a large business? If the situation is vice-versa, and the agency primarily works with larger clients, would they give enough attention to a smaller company? These are things to consider that could potentially impact your relationship. 

#5 Learn their agency culture 

After you researched who the agency services and their previous work, look into their company culture, you will be working with this team often, and you want to be sure that you can work together nicely.

You can learn a lot about a company’s culture by looking at their team page. If they have an “our history” page, it can help you learn more about how they got established. A company’s social can also be beneficial to look through. The team should be selling you how their values are incorporated into their work to make clients happy.

Also, research other services the agency offers. Other marketing initiatives can supplement your website after it’s complete, making your brand appear more unified. A brand that is consistent in its marketing appears professional to its audience. 

#6 Read Online Testimonials and Reviews 

Learn what others have to say about the agency by reading testimonials and reviews. Reading what customers have to say will show you how the customer experience is.  

And make sure you are not only reading what is on their website. Check third-party review sites as well. Review sites will show the good, bad, and ugly of previous clients and their experience. In addition, look for specific names used within the review. For example, if a customer mentioned how well someone developed their website, it will give you insight into who you want to work with.   

#7 Ask Questions 

Once you have selected your candidates, remember to ask questions. If you misunderstand anything about the services they provide, ask about it so you can learn more. Make sure that the agency you choose can produce the end product you envisioned.

Take your time in choosing a website designer. Your website is a critical player in your marketing strategy, and if it is not serving its purpose, it could severely impact your business goals.  

Agency Partner lives in the digital world, and we know how the digital landscape changes by the minute. If you have any questions about our web design services, please contact Agency Partner.