On the internet today, there are many people who call themselves web designers and web design companies. Some people do it for fun, as a hobby, or part-time. Web designers who design full time are the way to go. Someone who does web design part-time tends not to take it as seriously as someone who does it for a living. There are also people who do web design, who have no formal training. Make sure your web designer has some formal training from a reputable school. People who are self-taught, though I applaud them for doing so, have relied on the internet for all their information, and as you know information on the internet can be inaccurate.
Relevant experience
The web design company you choose for your project should have relevant experience. If you want them to design an ecommerce website, it is better to choose a web designer who has ecommerce websites in their portfolio. Your web design company should be ready to submit a proposal for your website project along with a contract. Beware of companies that do not give you a formal contract. The contract should describe exactly what the web designer will do and how long it will take, the price, and what you have agreed to supply. A formal contract is the best way to avoid disagreements between you and the web designer. Make sure that your contract describes all the possible problems that can occur.
Different types of websites
There are different types of websites such as: static HTML (brochure type), e-commerce (with shopping cart), database, Flash, and a website with its own content management system. All of this needs to be put into perspective when looking for a web design company. For example, if you’re looking for a fully interactive Flash website, you’d better make sure that the web design company you choose has made plenty of Flash websites. There is a difference between companies that can make Flash headers for a standard HTML site and web designers that can create an entire website in Flash. Your best bet when choosing a web design company is to have a face to face meeting to discuss how you would like your website to look, also some sketches and some website addresses that you like. This gives the web design company a chance to fully understand what you are looking for and a better chance of providing you with an accurate proposal.
Things to keep in mind
Does the web design company have an upgrade package? You should know that after you have built your website, it will require updates from time to time. Maybe they will be small, maybe not. If the web design company you choose does not have an upgrade package, you should check the price of upgrades after the initial design. You should consider the price of the upgrades before beginning the design process. Make sure the web design company or web designer you choose sets realistic goals for the timeline. Usually, if it sounds too good to be true, then it is.
Many web designers have their own personal style. For example, my personal style is clean and bright colors. Some web design companies love Flash and always build Flash websites. This would not be ideal if you are looking for an extremely search engine friendly website.
You would also have to consider warranties. Does your prospective web design company offer a guarantee? Most web design companies don’t. So when you find one that does, you can tell that they feel very confident in their abilities. Another thing to consider is: Does the web design company display a phone number where they can be contacted? Sometimes as a customer you would like to speak to someone, not just get a response to an email the next day.
How to find a web design company
There are a few ways to find web design companies in your area. One way is to search the web for: “Vancouver web design” or “Sarasota web design”, obviously depending on the city closest to you. You can also look in the yellow pages for web design companies. Most of the web design companies that can afford to advertise there have already built a pretty good reputation and have been in business for a while.
Another option is to search the web and when you see a website you really like, look for a link at the bottom of the page or on a contact page.
