The 5 Most Important Characteristics to Look for In a Website Design Firm

Your company website may be the most important tool you have for promoting your company and making sales. Even if your website is not an e-commerce site, it is important that it be engaging and easy for visitors to use.

Jeremy had dreamed of owning his own business for years and now he had launched his own e-commerce business. Now, he needed a website that would establish him as the premier fly-fishing product destination. He interviewed a number of website design firms and finally settled on one that he knew would turn his website into just what he wanted. With their experience and knowledge and a past track record of successful websites, he knew he had made the right decision.

Today, he updates his website weekly with new products and a blog that brings in hundreds of visitors daily.

Experience

One of the qualities to look for in a website design firm is experience. You can determine experience by asking for references from clients they have worked with in the past. Ask the following questions of references:

• Did they meet deadlines?
• Were you satisfied with the end product?
• How effective do you think the website they designed is?
• Do you still have the same website design today?
• Would you use them again?

Also, ask a prospective design firm for a portfolio of their work. They should be able to give you a list of website pages from a variety of industries. Also, ask them if they have worked with companies similar to your own in the past.

Knowledge

Another characteristic to look for in a website design firm is knowledge. They should be able to talk to you clearly about the key elements of effective website design, including color schemes, themes, use of fonts, content, website structure and important content, such as contact information.

A good website design firm should also be able to translate discussions with you into a concrete website design plan. After several discussions, ask them for sketches of design ideas and decide if they reflect your own vision of the website and meet your goals.

Price

Another factor in choosing a website design firm is price. Design firms charge a number of different ways. They may charge a flat rate for the entire project; they may charge an hourly rate; or they may charge a basic flat starting rate with additional charges if the project runs over a specific estimated number of hours. Newer web designers tend to charge lower rates. However, you are also working with a less experienced designer, so that may be a factor to consider.

Flexibility

Another quality to look for in a website design firm is flexibility. The design process is often one that involves a number of changes as the project progresses. When talking to past clients, ask how the designer handled changes. You want to know if changes to the design added to the cost of the project and if they were easy to make or encountered resistance and were difficult.

Communication

A good website design firm will place a high value on communication. You should be able to talk to the project manager every step along the way of the design process. Look for design firms that have established communication schedules and will talk to you regularly on the telephone or via email.

Choosing a website design firm can be a make or break deal when it comes to a new business. Even for established businesses, finding a quality website designer can make the difference between an easy transition to a new website or the process dragging on for weeks or months.

If you need a website design firm, let F & A Worldwide Solutions help you. Contact us and let us show you how our years of experience and knowledge will get your website quickly and efficiently up and running in no time.

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