Finding a web designer that meets your company and your expectations can be a difficult process. A website can be a large investment, so doing your research and asking the right questions is crucial. Here are the top 10 things to look for when making your decision:
1. They Listen
You know your business better than anyone. A great design team will take your ideas and refine them to create a beautifully designed, user-friendly website. If your designer doesn’t require a discovery meeting to gain knowledge about your business, you run the risk of ending up with a cookie-cutter website.
2. They Contribute
Any great designer should offer you their expert opinion and advice, using your ideas and current design trends and statistics to present a professional, responsive, and modern website design.
3. They are Comprehensive
When deciding on an agency to work with, it is important to consider if they have a developer to carry out your visions, or a SEO expert to make sure your site is seen. Working with a full-service design agency will guarantee a successful end product.
4. They Have a Live Portfolio
A designer may have had some impressive websites years ago, but it is important that they provide you with current, live references as well. Web design is often more than just a static page – it is creating a great user experience that will convert and grow your business.
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5. They Have Vitality
Choose an agency that you can trust will be around for a while. Do your research – how long have they been in business? How many projects have they successfully completed? It’s important to choose a designer that will not leave you hanging in the future.
6. They use CMS
A Content Management System is a foundation a website can be built on that allows non-developers to update content without programming knowledge. The use of CMS has become an industry standard. A website designed with static pages can make the maintenance of your website a nightmare.
7. They Design for Responsiveness
The current state of web design is mobile first. Mobile devices make up a huge portion of the search market, so every website should cater to this demographic. The right design agency will create a website that is responsive on ALL devices.
8. They Are Usability Experts
Your designer should have the expertise to create a beautifully designed website that gives an excellent user experience and guides the user appropriately.
9. They Are Appropriately Priced
Pricing for website design ranges drastically depending on the size and functionality of your site. Investing in a custom built website will pay off greatly in new customers, sales and easy maintenance for years to come.
10. YOU own your website.
When all is said and done, you should have total ownership over your new business website. A great graphic designer will give clear instructions on how to maintain your website on your own and provide all necessary steps for success.