When it comes to choosing the right web designer, there’s no shortage of options to pick from. Today, you will find various web designers and developers, ranging from small agencies to large tech companies and even freelance programmers. Along with a diverse clientele and cost structure, they have a variety of websites and content that they create, which gives you a list of possibilities to select from.
An appealing website contributes to a business’s success by increasing web traffic. Not only does this help with the image of the company, but it also increases the sales of its products. If you want to get a website designed for your business or plan to rebuild one that already exists, you must ensure that you find the right web designer for your needs.
Here are a few tips to help you decide which web designer is right for you.
1. Set a budget
With web designing, it’s often a case of “the more you pay, the more it’s worth.” Most web developers and designers charge rates based on the number of hours they put into your project. If you provide them with your requirements, the team or designer will estimate how long the job will take and factor in that with their hourly rate.
Taking price quotes from multiple companies can help you decide the most economical website designer for you. Before investing, you must consider how important an online presence for your business is. Make sure you hire a company that takes the time to understand your business, do appropriate research, and accomplish what is required to make the website a success.
However, don’t do it just because everyone around you is doing it. Do it only if it will be a significant source of revenue for your enterprise.
2. Go through portfolios
All competent web designers have several websites in their portfolios. Request a portfolio beforehand to see if their design style is on the same wavelength as what you have in mind. If their portfolio isn’t relevant to your industry, look for other websites with similar functionality.
Don’t just look at screenshots; visit their client’s website and go through all the features you like and dislike. Some of the designs might be a little too off-putting for you. It’s best to ignore them as designers usually attach them to engage potential customers or clients.
Consider these websites as potential target customers, and see if you like any of the features they offer. You can then decide which web designer is best suited to showcase what you intend to provide. If you find the added features annoying or unnecessary, this is not a good option for your company.
3. Maintain an open communication
In an initial meeting with your potential designer, you will most likely discuss the website requirements, outlook, budget, and responsiveness. This is expected. But this is not all it should be. The company you are hiring must acknowledge and appreciate your expertise regarding your products and services, customer response, and marketing strategies. They must realize that you know your business better than anyone else and consider your opinion, regardless of your knowledge about web design.
Ideally, a designer should listen to your views. On the other hand, you don’t want a designer who just nods and does what you ask without providing any suggestions of their own. A reliable designer should have the knowledge and skillset to deliver a website that is better than you imagined. They should be able to persuade you to explore options that might not sound worthwhile at first but eventually turn out to be great at generating profits.
Another aspect to think about is that meetings with web designers should not be a one-time thing. Look for someone who keeps you in a constant loop with frequent updates throughout the design process.
4. Tech-savvy
A web designer must be a tech-savvy individual, but oftentimes, developers allow their growth to become stagnant and stick with old methods instead. Picking a designer who knows the latest trends and best practices can land you a user-friendly website with minimal effort. Technology is constantly evolving, and keeping up with changing trends is a prerequisite for any good developer.
A potential candidate must have responsive websites in their portfolio. The fact that more people browse websites on their phones rather than laptops and PCs means it’s important to make sure your website is accessible across all devices. If your designer does not have experience with building a responsive site or suggests building a separate one for mobiles, you should move on to the next potential web designer.
Developers should understand that creating a website serves a purpose bigger than making an aesthetically pleasing platform. The website is a forum that generates revenue for the business. It calls potential customers and converts them to buyers. A web designer should be knowledgeable about user experience (UX) design, what constitutes an insightful layout, and how to ensure coding and plug-ins are updated once the website goes live.
5. Get testimonials
There’s no better way to receive honest feedback regarding your potential candidate than to get testimonials from someone the developer has directly worked with. You’ve already gone through their portfolio, so why not pick a company your designer has built a website for and ask them a few questions? Questions like were they easy to collaborate with, or if they were able to deliver within the promised time, or how satisfactory the project was will save you precious time and money.
Often designers use online review systems to gather feedback from their clients. Look for your potential candidates online and go through a few reviews before selecting a designer.
Conclusion
Your website is an online reflection of your business, and hence you cannot pick a designer out of the blue and hand over the project to just anyone. First, make a list of all your requirements, do a thorough review of potential candidates, and set aside a budget before you select a web designer to create your website.