11 Tips for Choosing Your Web Design Company

  1. Obvious one to start with it… Be careful not to judge your decision based purely on price. The lowest quote rarely represents the best value. Remember you are not looking for A website for your business, you are looking for THE website for your business.
  2. Before calling anyone you need to jot down your goals for the website. This will then help you decide what type of web design company you need to hire.
  3. Match your goals against the skillsets of the web design companies on your shortlist. Example 1: if you need your website to be findable on Google, you need a company that includes search engine optimisation as part of their package. Example 2: If you want to be able to update your site after launch you will need a firm that is experienced with Content Management Systems.
  4. Design is not just about look. In terms of websites, design encapsulates both the look of the website and also how well it anticipates typical visitor requirements. Find a website company that can deliver both great look and great function. There are many beautiful looking websites that are visited just once because it is so difficult for visitors to find the content they need.
  5. Portfolio – check the portfolios of all of your shortlisted firms. Don’t just look at the basic design. Visit the sites in question. Is the navigation system intuitive? Can you find all content easily? Is it easy to enquire, purchase, sign up, seek help, etc
  6. Also check how well they do in terms of search engine rankings. Try to figure out what keywords suit the websites best and then do tests on Google.
  7. If you have an existing website that needs to be revamped, it can be a very good idea to get an assessment done on your existing website. Choose one or two firms from your shortlist and see what they tell you. This can be a great indicator as to which firm is best for your project.
  8. If you need a content management system (CMS) for updating your website post launch, then remember that it will be you or your team that will be using this CMS so ask to see a working example of a CMS before signing up. Some systems are very complicated, others are almost fool-proof.
  9. It is very tempting to pick up the phone and start calling website companies as soon as you decide you want a new website. A more efficient way is to write up a short spec (outline brief) of what you want to achieve. This can then be added to as you progress to the quote stage and then make a final decision.
  10. A blog is a great idea but only if you are going to keep it up to date! Your website company should be experienced enough to guide you on blogging.
  11. Social networking – website companies that actively participate in social networking will naturally know more about what they can achieve for your business. Look out for Twitter and Facebook links on their homepages.

Check Out Our Other Guides

Below is a list of other guides that you may be interested in reading:

  1. Website Design and Development
  2. Content Management Systems (CMS)
  3. Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
  4. Search Engine Marketing (SEM)
  5. Selling Products & Services Online
  6. 11 Tips for Choosing Your Web Design Company
  7. Common Mistakes with Website Projects
  8. Email Marketing & Information Marketing
  9. Fixing What's Wrong With Your Existing Website
  10. Social Networking Websites