If you are a business owner or executive who is comparing web design companies, we know you’re facing a big challenge. A lot of creative companies can seem similar to one another, and there are more choices than ever before. Things get even harder if you aren’t already an expert in online marketing, as you may run into terms and jargon you don’t fully understand.
At the same time, you’ll want to do everything you can to choose the right web design company to work with. It’s a big decision not just from a budgetary perspective, but in the sense that the right creative partner can help your business to grow for years to come.
With that in mind, allow us to give you a little bit of insider advice from the web design industry. Here are the steps we would follow if we were looking for a creative partner or digital marketing agency ourselves…
Start by Looking at Web Design Samples
You certainly won’t have any problem finding web design companies on Google. Go to the search bar and you’ll literally come across dozens within a few tenths of a second.
One way to start identifying your favorites is by comparing the samples they have posted online. Which web designers best fit your style in terms of their artistic instincts? Have any of them posted layouts that really appeal to you?
Evaluate Case Studies and Client Results
The way a website looks is important, but what it does for a company is even more critical. That’s why we would recommend you look through case studies and past client results to see what sorts of bottom-line results were achieved.
As part of this process, you’ll start to learn that some web design companies are stronger when it comes to marketing than others. Ideally, you want to work with a creative team that can not only help you create a website, but also promote it through search engine optimization, internet advertising, social media, etc.
Look at the Team’s Philosophy and Specialties
Some web designers have very specific industry or technical specialties. For example, you may come across firms that primarily work with lawyers, or excel at building ecommerce websites.
Naturally, you’ll be looking for a vendor who can provide a lot of skill and experience in the areas you want to see your company grow. For example, if your goal is to increase walk-in traffic to your retail locations, look for a web designer who has a positive track record in that area.
Talk Web Design Fees and Terms
At some point, choosing a web designer becomes a business decision. That means evaluating all the relevant fees, terms, and conditions that are going to be part of your agreement.
After you’ve met with a few good candidates, you can start to collect web design proposals. It’s important to scrutinize these carefully so you don’t just focus on the fees being quoted. You also want to see delivery times, the number of edits or revisions that will be allowed, whether your web designer provides content creation, and which ongoing services are included in the agreement.
Trust Your Instincts
If you follow the process we have laid out so far, you may end up with a clear winner. Or, you might find yourself in a situation where two or three firms all seem to be a good fit.
When that happens, it’s best to simply trust your instincts. A lot of what goes into creating a website is about matching personalities and creative styles. In other words, with all other things being equal, you want to find a company that’s easy to work with.
Zeroing in on the perfect web design team for your project can seem like a big challenge, but it gets a lot easier when you break the process down into easy steps. Follow them one by one and you’re sure to find a creative team that can help you grow your business.