Finding a website designer that you can trust can be overwhelming especially with the plethora of designers out there. When choosing a web designer, your ultimate goal is to get more customers through a website that engages your audience and reflects your brand in the right way. Web design projects are usually time-consuming and costly, so you want to find the designer who’s going to deliver the results you want.
Below are some things to consider when hiring a web designer:
Experience – When perusing the internet to find a web designer, ask yourself these questions: How long has the web designer been in business? Do they have an About page that talks about the history of the business? Do they share valuable tips and information in blog posts or via their email newsletter?
Portfolio – Portfolios are necessary for a designer to share. You need to see their previous work so you can judge if this person produces quality work. Does the web designer have a portfolio on their website? If not, why not? Do the websites listed in their portfolio appeal to you? Can you visit those websites? Do they load quickly? All of these questions are important when making a decision on who to hire to see if they create effective websites.
Expertise – Does the web designer offer other services in addition to design? The right company could provide other services giving you the benefit of working with one source who really understands your business. Once they finish your website, perhaps they can manage your SEO (search engine optimization), blogging, email marketing, or social media. Plus, since they had success working for you in the past they may likely be successful again. However, be wary of solo web designers offering too many services indicating a red flag where they may spread themselves too thin.
Reviews – Reviews are a great way to see what real people think of the designer. Do they display any reviews on their website and are these reviews also available on third-party websites such as Google or Facebook? If there are any bad reviews, how did the web designer respond? Seeing how they addressed previous clients gives a lot of insight into what they would be like to work with in the future.
Pricing – Does the web designer list pricing on their website or provide a ballpark figure in your first introductory meeting? You need to understand if they’re able to work with you inside the budget that you have available. It’s also important that you have a clear understanding of your own budget. A website is likely the first thing that potential customers will see of your business and you should allocate the appropriate budget to warrant such an important marketing piece that will last years to come.
Availability – So you have found the perfect designer with a professional portfolio but do they have the time to work with you? It’s normal for web designers to be booked up a few weeks or months in advance. The most successful designers will always have a waiting list in place. Decide how long you’re willing to wait before committing to work with someone. Once you interview several designers you may see that you’ll have to wait for most and it will be worth it.
Discovery Meeting – A discovery meeting or onboarding meeting is usually a meeting where the web designer will work with you to create a clear plan of action that suits your business and requirements. Discovery meetings are a good indication of a professional company. Does the web designer offer a discovery meeting at the start of the project? It’s helpful to know the process of how you will work together so expectations can be set.
Designing a website can be a daunting and overwhelming process but it doesn’t have to be when you are guided by the right team. BG Digital Group has been designing websites for nearly 16 years right here in North Carolina. We helped hundreds of small businesses get their business online and reach customers. If you would like to work with an experienced team of designers, schedule a quick introductory meeting with us to determine if we’re the right fit for you.