Whether you’re running a small business or need a platform for your content, you’ll need a professional-looking and functional website.
Web design is something that many people think they can do on their own, but it’s not as easy as it sounds. If you want to keep people on your site – shopping, reading, or otherwise – then it needs to be perfect. A professional website designer can do that for you.
Not all web designers are created equally, however. In this post, we’re going to give you eight undeniable tips for hiring a professional website designer that can create your dream site.
Your website is usually the first thing people will see when they look you up, so you need it to create a good impression. Keep reading and you’ll never have to worry about your site letting you down again.
1. Set a Firm Budget
Before you start to seek out different website design firms, you should do a bit of research to figure out ballpark costs for web design. The factors that will determine the overall cost will be dictated by how in-depth your project is, as well as the experience and expertise of the website designer.
If you have any other needs, such as SEO or video production, that will affect the price as well. Once you’ve got a sense of what kind of website you want and how much those sites typically cost, set yourself a budget. This can help you narrow down your choices to the designers that fit in your price range.
2. Look At Portfolios
You might have a general aesthetic in mind when you think about your website. It can be really helpful to go on each website designer’s company page to get a sense of what they produce.
Their portfolio will give you a selection of the projects they’re most proud of. A designer that has done a lot of sites that catch your eye is certainly one to reach out to for more information.
If you want a website designer that has worked with other small businesses in your industry, the portfolio is a great place to look. It’ll also help you when you’re at a loss for what you want your website to look like – if there’s something particularly fetching in their portfolio, you can reference it when they start working on yours.
3. Timelines
When you start talking to different website designers, one of the important things to ask about is how long your project will take. Every web design project has different demands, but if you have a particular deadline you’re trying to meet, let them know. If they can’t accommodate you, then you can quickly rule them out and move on.
4. References and Reviews
Always ask colleagues and acquaintances if they can refer you to a website designer they’ve used before. Likewise, when you’re talking to the designers themselves, ask if they’ve got any industry references that you can speak to.
It’s important to talk to references and check testimonials to get a better sense of the quality of work that they produce. In particular, online customer reviews are helpful in getting an idea of their overall public reputation.
A website design company with lots of good ratings and positive reviews is almost always one you can trust with your site. Conversely, when a company has poor customer service or incomplete work, you’ll see that reflected in the Google and Yelp reviews as well.
5. Look At Experience
How many years of experience does the website designer have? Along with the portfolio and reviews, this is one of the most important criteria you can use to separate professional website design companies.
Websites nowadays are incredibly complex, involving all sorts of design philosophies and concepts that weren’t part of the conversation a few years ago. Any good web design firm should have their ear to the ground on the latest web design trends. They should also be able to seamlessly integrate those trends into your website without you specifically having to request them.
6. Other Needs
Often, web design companies will offer other services, such as SEO, content creation, or video production. If you have other digital marketing needs, don’t hesitate to ask what else they can do for you.
These full-service companies eliminate the need for you to outsource everything separately. It can also be really beneficial to have all of the above operating out of one place, helping you to create a cohesive branding identity.
In addition, a web designer may be able to host your site, give you a domain, and provide technical support. It’s important to ask about all of these things because you don’t want to be left to deal with them unexpectedly.
7. Talk to Multiple Designers
As one of the top web design agencies for small businesses, one of the best tips we can give is to speak to multiple designers. The only way you can truly get the lay of the land is to speak to a range of companies that specialize in different types of web design.
At this point, you should have a list of needs for your site. By speaking with multiple design companies, you can match what they do well against your needs. This can help you narrow down your choices to a select few.
8. Focus on Collaboration
As a small business owner, having your vision come to life is probably a pretty important part of having a company website. Your website design company should always put a special focus on collaboration so that you’re satisfied with the end product.
Not all designers do this – some will take your initial plans and come up with a site on their own. A good company will keep you involved in the entire process. If this is something you care about, then don’t hesitate to ask about their process and the level of input you’ll have.
Get the Best Professional Website Designer
Now that you know what to look for in a professional website designer, it’s time to tell you about the best one available. At Decisive Sites, we offer affordable web design solutions for small businesses. Out powerful sites and marketing services can help you generate more leads and revenue for your company without breaking the bank.
To look at our plans and pricing, visit our site and when you’re ready to talk about your new website, don’t hesitate to contact us ASAP.