Undoubtedly, you need a great website to maximize your business growth and success, but not all designers are created equal. How to choose the right website design agency for your business? Our experts are helping you with the vetting process to find the best match possible.
In today’s world, your website is either making you money or costing you money, so it’s vital to keep it updated functionally and visually. While some people choose a DIY site builder, nothing compares to a great web designer who understands your vision and can execute it perfectly.
How to choose the right web designer?
To make the most of your website, you must find the right web design agency suited to your needs. Here’s how you can find the right partner to bring your vision to life and serve up the best results and ROI on your investment possible.
#1: Knowing Your Goals & Needs
If you hope to find the right designer with the right skills, you need to figure out what you actually need from them. You don’t need to build an entire site blueprint—that’s what a designer is for—but you do need to stop, take a pause, and determine your biggest website goals and needs throughout the process.
Ask yourself:
- What’s the purpose of your website? If you’re looking for a one-page website, an online portfolio, an eCommerce storefront, a blog, or a lead-generation page, you want to find someone with real experience and expertise in that area.
- What features are non-negotiable? List the features that must exist on your website, like a contact form, booking system, sales platform, and more, including any software your site must integrate with.
- Who are you trying to reach? Your target audience will shape the site design and functionality you need, making it easier to match with the right web designer skills for the job.
- What’s your web design budget? Web design projects range from around $3,000 to $20,000+, so your realistic budget will dictate the type and depth of the design you choose. What is a good price for web design? It really depends on what you need.
Come to any web design interviews with these questions in hand so you can discuss them with any potential designers, get clear on your goals together, and determine who is the right fit for you.
#2: Evaluating Expertise and Experience
Most designers will offer you a peek into their portfolio, but those past projects paint only a part of the picture.
After you check out a designer’s portfolio, you should assess their expertise in your particular industry, which can give them insights into the specific design challenges you face and best practices they’ll need to follow.
Ask about their technical skills, like SEO, UX design, responsive design, and more. Understand the platforms they use, like WordPress, Shopify, or WooCommerce, as they can help guide your decision or use their experience to work with the platforms you love.
Finally, ask them about their accessibility practices. Your website should be accessible to as many users as possible, which means prioritizing aids and designs that give users with disabilities a great experience.
#3: Seek Out Client References
Beyond the testimonials you see on an agency’s website, those views are usually curated—they’re not necessarily untrue, but a handpicked selection of their very best reviews. Look to Google to see the full picture and speak to past clients for a more unbiased perspective of the company.
Ask potential designers about their communication and responsiveness throughout the process, their ability to complete the project on time and budget, how they dealt with unexpected responses, and their standards for post-launch support.
#4: Assess The Design Process
What makes a good website design company?
Every designer finds a workflow that works well for them to build websites—but it needs to work well for you, too.
Ask about the company’s approach to the discovery and planning process and their design and development stages. How will they gather information about your business, and where along the timeline will you get to review and request revisions?
If their timeline or design standards don’t work for you, it’s best to move on to a team that matches your needs well. Much like with dating, there’s nothing wrong with having different preferences—you just need a team that aligns with you.
#5: On-Going Support and Maintenance
Some businesses want a web design agency for a one-time build, while others want ongoing maintenance, updates, security measures, and even an ongoing content project.
What to look for in a website design company?
Ask web developers about their maintenance packages, content updates, and the security measures they implement to keep your new website safe in the coming months and years.
Whether you want full, hands-on support or a “set and forget” website, you should find a team that can deliver what you need.
EB Media—Brantford Web Designer For Hire
Choosing a great web design company takes time and careful consideration as you entrust them with a critical piece of your digital presence. Don’t look for the biggest company or the most expensive, but the team that knows your vision, communicates transparently, and holds a proven track record for success in their past work.
Don’t rush the process—take your time and ask the right questions.
What is the best website design company?
Our team at EB Media can take your online presence to the next level and build a website you’re proud to show off. If you’re ready for a free quote or want to discuss your next web project, contact us today.
