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Website Design - How do you choose the right provider?

shelly green
Updated ·5 min read
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If you are looking for a web design agency, they better have good website visibility for their own business.In other word, they should rank on the Internet for their own web development and Internet marketing services. These days, you don't just need a digital brochure, you need a website that generates leads, phone calls and sales. How do you choose the best website designer? You find the best web design companies by targeting those that offer various digital marketing services such as WordPress web design, web development, reputation management, and digital marketing and search engine optimization. Before choosing a web agency, you must first identify the providers with the best track record, best portfolio and best reputation in your metro area. Thorough research is needed in order to select the web agency that will best meet your company's needs.

The right choice all boils down to strategy. It requires some basic knowledge of your ideal customers. You have a lot riding on this decision. The final choice will result the project's success (or failure) and ultimately if and how your new website will benefit you company. The goal is to make an investment winner and be ultimately satisfied with the product.


Check The Search Engines!
Some people still ask a friend, neighbor or relative for a referral. But the most popular method for anyone to find anything these days is through Google. Just type in a keyword on this search engine, such as "Kansas City web designers" and you will find a page full of the best web designers in the area. Ranking highly on Google suggest a high quality of services, but it's no guarantee. A good rating can be the result of a very good SEO. You will have to dig deeper to see previous work, get references and read through online reviews. In fact, Google is not a substitute for due diligence. It's not able to identify the quality of service and it can certainly evaluate the artistic quality of a website. To know for sure if a web agency offers quality service, it must meet some basic criteria. The web development company must have good design and evidence of its ability to provide a good user experience. Beware of web design salespeople! They will tell you anything to make the sale.
Be sure to study the agency's achievements, references and portfolio and verify that the sites displayed are real and still active.


Communication
After identifying a short list of web agencies, call them so that they communicate to you a contact email address. Then you can send them your specifications. The next step would be a physical meeting or a telephone interview with the owner of the agency as well as the project leader.
However, the first impression and your guy instincts are really important. Your web design partner must have some essential qualities such as responsiveness, the availability and good communication. A successful web agency communicates his knowledge, it helps customers make their choice and to identify their needs. It also helps to lay the foundation for the success of the project. An unorganized start can lead to a waste of time and a return to square one; which is never very pleasant.

The following could also be red flags:

  • The agency seeks to cut short the meeting(s) and presses you to close the sale on the spot.

  • They spend more time selling their skills than trying to understand your needs.


Customer service
You have the right to ask questions about customer service. Good customer service is a sign of good quality and evidence that a website design company will stand behind its work.

The Company's Website
The design and content of Website Company is proof of their skilling and ability. In today's business world, a website is the heart and soul of lead generation. If a web design company does now rank or provide you with a convincing experience on their own website – run away! Their site should showcase their expertise and credibility. Rich content includes company resources, as well as a clear communication of the agency's value proposition. Look for articles, news stories, eBooks and white papers. The corporate blog should convey their values, qualities, experience and expertise. It should also shows a strong brand image and a rock solid reputation. In general, an effective blog shows the authority of a company in its niche.

The Cost of Services
The cost of services is a key. Expect to spend $5,000 to $15,000 for a custom, search engine friendly web design - and much higher from larger advertising and digital marketing agencies.

Deliverables & Methodology
It is important to know what you expect from a web agency:

  • Make sure you get a Content Management System. You need to be able to edit your own content and make necessary updates for your website.

  • Nowadays, portable devices such as smartphones and tablets, have the most marketing share. That means you must get a "responsive web design. " This means your website with automatically adapt to the screen size of the user. Google loves mobile friendly website and ranks them higher.

  • Make sure you get all the necessary documentation and make sure that the agency offers training on site.

  • Make sure your web agency is able to provide you with a search engine friendly website design. SEO (Search engine optimization) which results in optimizing for search engines. The agency should also help you setup Google Analytics and Google Search Console so that you can monitor website traffic as well as the SEO health of you new website.


Warranty
Any web agency that stands behind their work will provide a warranty period to fix bugs that was missed after launched. A 30-day warranty period is fair, and you should also consider a monthly maintenance agreement, that can range from $99/month and up, to handle website updates and minor site updates as they arise.

Conclusion
There you have it – everything you need to pick a great web design, and not get burned by an unqualified website developer.