Choosing a web design firm is similar to choosing a doctor, laywer, or contractor. As with these types of professionals, it’s wise to conduct thorough research prior to commiting your time, money, and business’ corporate identity and online presence to just any company.
There are several things you should look for when choosing a web design firm…
- What Have They Done for Other Clients?
- What Do Their Clients Say About Their Work?
- Contact the Web Design Firm
- A Thorough Proposal is Key
- Personality & Accountability Are Important
Take a close look at a web design firm’s portfolio. Doing so will give you a good sense for their capabilities, design skills, and project scope. Is the purpose of each web site immediately clear? Are the sites easy to navigate? Do all of the links work properly? Are there misspelled words and other errors? Do the sites look custom made or do they have a cookie-cutter / template-driven look and feel? Are the sites’ designs similar or vastly different? A company’s portfolio is the best place to start when looking for a design firm and assessing whether they would be a good fit with your business.
A good web design firm will have multiple references and a list of clients who can provide testimonials about their involvment with the web design firm and their satisfaction levels with their work. Contact the references and ask them if they were happy with the web design firm’s work. Ask whether they stuck to the established budget and timeline. And, whether they would recommend the firm.
One of the best ways to determine whether a design firm is a good fit is to contact them and discuss your project’s needs. It’s best to have a phone meeting or, better yet, a face-to-face meeting. The web design consultant(s) should ask a lot of questions about your business, the goal(s) of the web site, the site’s audience (your current and potential customers), your business’ competitive environment, etc. The consultant should also provide ideas, possible solutions, and be a problem solver with a strong focus on identifying measurable goals.
After meeting with the prospective web design firm, you should be provided with a detailed proposal which includes a suggested site map, detailed pricing information, and a comprehensive contract which should specify a timeline to complete the web project.
The business relationship you establish with a web design firm will most likely last for years to come. Make sure you feel comfortable with the consultants and designers from the web design firms you are interviewing. Also, make sure they are accountable. Are they easy to contact and get a hold of? Do they do what they say they will do, when they say they will do it? The design firm will become an important business partner and needs to be one you can rely on year in and year out.
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