Ready to go online? Or make your website better than before? Then it's time to start looking for a new web design company. If you're serious about creating a website that serves your business's bottom line, make sure the company you work with can grow you with you instead of holding you back.
In this article, we're going to highlight the qualities of a trustworthy web design company.
They're highly skilled
There’s a difference between the guy on UpWork who can throw together a Square site in 48 hours and the web design company you should hire to build your website. Truly skilled developers can offer you custom code solutions rather than regurgitated themes from a library. Not only are they able to talk about the tools they use to build websites, but they also have preferences (and reasons for those preferences).
Ask them questions like:
● What do you recommend we use as a CMS?
● What are your favorite tools and plugins?
● What do you do to ensure fast website load times?
These questions will give you a good idea of who they are and where their skills sit in the realm of web design.
They've worked with your niche before
In an ideal world, the web design company that you work with will have a basic knowledge of your niche. If you hire the guy who builds portfolio websites to build an eCommerce website, you’re not going to get what you wanted. When refining your list of candidates, ask to see a portfolio and compare the niches within their portfolio to where your business sits.
Though you don’t always have to choose a company that knows your niche to get a good product, it makes the working relationship between the two of your easier to navigate. If you choose a company that knows nothing about the automotive industry when you own a car garage, you’re going to spend a lot of time educating the web design company on your niche.
They're transparent
Honesty is the best policy. Nothing is worse than feeling like you have no control of your website, how it’s built, or how to use it. A transparent web design company will make sure that you understand the offering and everything it takes to achieve that. To test your candidates, ask questions like:
● When is the last time you broke up with a client? Why?
● What is your ideal working relationship?
● Will I understand how to use my website? Will you train me?
● How do you organize projects on this scale?
Companies that are able to clearly communicate all aspects of the working relationship are important for a healthy working relationship. Moreover, companies like Webris or Direction that have landing pages that detail their unique offerings can give you a good feel on what’s important to them and where their skill level sits. Here’s an example: https://direction.com/web-design-washington-dc/
They have the data to back up their claims
In a lot of ways, web design is a part of the marketing spectrum. An established designer will have an understanding of that and it will reflect across their work. They’ll have deep reasons behind button placement because they understand what it takes to get the click. More importantly, they have case studies that prove that their web design has helped their clients with a go-to-marketing approach.
Likewise, they have customers and reviews that highlight the experience of working with them. Anyone can leave a 5-star review. It takes a truly happy customer to type a recommendation on Google, Facebook, or Yelp.
Conclusion: Take your time to find the right company
You should spend as much time interview in the web design company as you would an employee. Your website is one of the biggest digital assets you have and deserves the same love and care as day to day operations. Don't rush the process.
How did you know when you found the right web design company for your business? Share your experience in the comments.