Professional web design companies seem almost outnumbered these days. The market is flooded by freelancers, "garage" companies and Johnny next door, all offering a solution to your web design problems. Many of these smaller companies, on the face of it, offer very competitive rates and may even sound very professional, using the right web related jargon like "search engine optimization", "e-commerce" and "meta tags"! They do seem to have all the answers, don't they?
You may be attracted to the low rates these individuals charge for their web design skills but do you really know what you are paying for? Even a little money needs to get a return on that investment and you may not actually get what you pay for. However, a scenario where you may get "exactly what you paid for" is even more frightening!
The last thing your company needs is a badly designed website, with poor use of internet marketing tools and bad search engine rankings. Does your nephew really know how to get your business to the top of the Google listings?
You may be asking. "What's in a Name?" and we agree, names, aren't everything, but would you really buy your computer from the guy next door? Treat your website with a similar ethic or it could be the downfall of your small business.
So, what can a professional, experienced web design company offer you that you won't get from your cousin or roommate's sister.
To set the tone for this article compare the cost benefit analysis of a full page advertisement in the New York Times with a full page advertisement in the Ohio Farmer's Weekly. Are you starting to see where I am going with this?
Listed here are some things to look out for that will highlight the benefits available to you if you do decide to go the route of a professional web designer with a good industry reputation.
Website Design Looks Good, But What Does It Mean?
Your nephew may be a graphic art student, well versed in attracting attention using a graphical interface. In fact, he may build very eye-catching sites, but he may be missing a very important concept of internet marketing.
If a potential customer lands on your website, he probably already wants to be there. Search engine optimization tools (discussed below) may get him to arrive at your site, but the real trick is getting him to stay there.
Your professional, marketing savvy web design company knows the difference between useful and attractive graphical features and fussy and obnoxious ones. Not getting the balance right between your initial "look" and useful features of the site will probably lose potential customers.
Programming Geeks Don't Equal Web Design Know How!
If your web designer tells you he is a whiz at Java or C++ this should raise an immediate red flag. Today many websites do use a lot of programming and database, this, at least, is true.
However, simply being able to program doesn't make an effective web designer. There are many aspects of programming a website and it takes years of experience to learn them all.
A professional web designer will make sure your website looks professional, yet still remain functional.
Search Engine Optimization Techniques Are You a Google "Player"
Building a website is one thing, marketing it, is quite another. Think about your local, much utilized bookstore. For a start, the reason you know about it at all is probably due to its central location, in a popular mall for example.
Secondly, what attracted you to it? It probably had a professional looking outside display stand featuring a selection of new books on popular topics. If you weren't really book shopping, how much time did you spend looking at the hundreds of books inside the store? How often do you visit a rival bookstore in a dingy part of town?
Search engine optimization techniques do the same with your website, pushing you to the top of the page when a user types a request into his Google interface. How well versed is your freelancer in maximizing your web marketing opportunities via the search engines?
If you don't know, ask him. Then ask your professional web design company to explain their techniques. I am guessing your mind will be made up right then and there!
By now you are probably starting to get an idea of the questions to ask your "expert" web designer. We recommend you do further research and make sure you know the risks involved when your local "expert" really isn't one.
Professional, experienced web design companies are old hands at making your website work for you. Costs may initially be higher but the benefits of hiring an expert are probably well worth it. Global competition is staggering and your business needs to implement ways to stay ahead.
The primary point of this article is that a professional designer should have many, many different capabilities and lots of experience. There's more that goes into a website than just design, programming or marketing. It must be a balance combination of all three.
A web site can help you expand your business, but getting one up and running can be a major project. Below we've compiled a few tips to help you get started and steer clear of pitfalls.
Step 1: Research
Before contacting any web site designers, you should have some idea of what you're looking for. A Google search of your industry should list a number of companies similar to yours. Browse these sites, and notice several things.
What kinds of functionality do the sites have? Are they purely informational, or do they offer features such as online shopping and response forms? It isn't good enough to have a nice-looking site; one must have an effective site.
What do the sites look like? Do they use photographs or illustrations? What colors do they use: Bright colors, such as yellows and reds, or subdued colors, such as blues and tans? Clients should pay attention to how a web site speaks to the target market.
How large are the sites? A very basic site may have just a few informational pages (such as a home page, an "about us" page, an "employment opportunities" page, and a "contact us" page). A more comprehensive site may have numerous pages describing individual products and ecommerce functionality. There's no one way to create a good web site, so make a list of those you strongly like and dislike, and note why you feel that way about them. This list will be very useful to your designer as they try to create a site to match your business and your vision.
Step 2: Prepare
Once you have an idea what you like and dislike about other web sites, determine what information your web site should contain.
Make a list of the information you want to appear on your web site. For example, you might require an "about us" page and "product description"? pages.
Write as much copy as possible before contacting a web designer. You can always modify it later if necessary.
Determine if there is a corporate image or brand already created, such as a logo, standard fonts, and standard colors used in printed materials. If not, will creating this image or brand identity be a part of the project? If so, be sure to discuss this with the web site designer before you're given an estimate.
Decide if there will be interactive elements on the site, such as forms, polls, votes, and reviews.
Decide if you will you be selling products online.
Will the project involve application development, such as online event registration, inventory management, quizzes that show results or calculations, and password-protected registration systems? Often prospective clients don't understand that the development of database-driven applications and features drive up the cost of the project. Make a list of these items. It may also be helpful to include a.) a brief company description, b) information about your target audience, c) a paragraph or two about what you wish to accomplish with your site, and d) what features on your list are necessary and what features are just ideal. While this does take some time, it's a necessary procedure to ensure proper handling of your request.
Step 3: Compare
Once you know what you want, you're ready to shop around for a web site designer.
There are many ways to find designers: If you like a particular web site, look for the name of the designer in small print near the bottom of the home page, or contact the company and ask who designed their site. Ask colleagues, vendors, and clients for referrals. An online web designer directory such as Xemion.com's Web Design Company Directory is often the easiest way to find a local designer.
Review the web site designers' online portfolios. Do you like their graphical style? Do they have experience creating the features you want? Is their location convenient for whatever type of contact you want (in-person, phone, or e-mail)?
Next, send your list of requirements to two to four designers. Ask for a proposal and estimate for the entire project. Review each reply and note several things. How professional is the reply? How long did it take to get? How thorough is it? Be sure you know exactly what is included. Are there additional fees for imagery? Who will make updates to the site? Who will host the site? Who will own copyrights? How long will it take to complete the site? What are the payment terms?
There's no single way to choose one web site design company over another, but to provide some assistance, remember that great web site design companies are a combination of graphic, technical, marketing, and consultative skills. When contrasting one company versus another, find out what the design process is she explains, so you can identify if you are dealing with a company that will deliver what it thinks is right for you or one that will take the time to truly understand the scope of the project and the market.
What about cost, before automatically going for the lowest bidder, you ask yourself : What is the cost of a bad or mediocre site in terms of corporate image, revenues, and opportunity losses? This is a risk that must be calculated. Your web site is your company's identity exposed to the world, and it's hardly something you want to take chances on, so take this very seriously.
Step 4: Enjoy your web site
If you've followed these steps, you've probably located a designer and your web site should be well underway. Good luck!
The number of companies offering professional web design services is astounding and can be quite overwhelming. Narrow it down by going straight to the heart of the matter the portfolio. A gallery of sites created by the web design company should showcase its best work. Close scrutiny of the portfolio will give you an impression of the quality, style and content of sites created by the web designer as well as its market potential. Web sites should feature good design components, simple, user-friendly navigation and good search engine optimization. Your web design company should fulfill all these requirements.
It is strongly recommended that you test the sites in its portfolio to determine the suitability of the web designer and web design company to meet your business and marketing needs. You can use some of the below methods to "test" a web design company's portfolio.
Please note that these are basic rules and there are always reasons to break the rules at certain times. Certain websites have different goals than others. Not every website needs to be optimized for the search engines.
Basic Functionality
Searching the Sites in Your Web Designer's Portfolio
Testing Standard Design Features
A standard design is far more likely to work well using any web browser and is easier to update. The portfolio should show evidence of this and your web designer should be consistent throughout.
Un-friendly home page messages create a negative impression of your site. Avoid sites that indicate "Flash required", "best viewed using Netscape" or "best viewed using Internet Explorer". Scan the portfolio, your web designer should not be using this type of feature.
Conclusion
A technically sound portfolio suggests a knowledgeable web designer and a web design company worth its salt. By performing these basic tests you can determine if the sites created by the company will actually work to optimal levels. Choose one that builds web sites that will work on all the levels listed above and don't get left behind in the global market!
The One Guaranteed Way to Do It at No Cost
Ever since businesses realized that the Internet the ultimate resource to reach more people in less time for less than most other marketing mediums, business owners have been asking how can I get my business online and thus in the global marketplace. This question was answered with many solutions to include my son took a web class in school, he can do it. Well let's look at the seven different ways to put your business online and the pros and cons of each.
1. Do It Yourself
The first way would be the obvious, to do it yourself. If you have technical knowledge and time on your hands then this is a great way to put up a site that suits your business.
Pros:
Cons:
Results:
In most cases the results are the business owner builds a site that brings no results. The site is a creation that only the owner appreciates. Due to the lack of expertise and time they miss many critical elements in their site. So though the price was not much more than registration of a domain name, purchasing of software, hosting fees and time, I cost the owner thousands in loss time and sales.
2. Friend and Family
Many business owners have friends and family that have some web design experience but few have people in their circle that have a full understanding of developing a business site and how it interacts online.
Pros:
Cons:
Results:
In most cases the results are the same as the results of if the business owners would have done it themselves. With out the expertise in web design and Internet marketing the site brings no results thus waste valuable time and money.
3. Templates and Sitebuilders
Templates and template driven site builders are the newest trend in web design. There are numerous sites that business owners can go to and download a template or go through an easy step by step process which will put them online in a matter of minutes.
Pros:
Cons:
Results:
The results tend to be slightly better with template driven sites due to the web site layout is visually appealing and structure is functional. The challenge is still to get people to come and by from your site. This still is placed on the ability of the business owner.
4. Directories
Many business owners rely on online directories to place their contact information and a brief description of what they offer. This is fairly inexpensive but you are relying on the merit that that site has many visitors interested in your offering and you have little competition on that site.
5. Freelancer or Employee
Many businesses have an employee dedicated to tend to their webmaster needs. They work on salary and can perform many different functions within your organization. You can also have freelancers bid on your project and work within your budget. This is a very popular approach since the fall of dot.com. Many highly qualified designers are looking for work and will do a stand up job within your budget.
Pros:
Cons:
Results:
If you get a quality designer that is freelancing you will have a very quality web site. If you specify your needs and have the proper budget you should see some return on your investment.
6. Web Design Firm
Hiring a design firm that specializes in business development is a smart decision. They have the expertise and focus on developing you a web site for your business that is geared to accomplish your goals.
Pros:
Cons:
Results:
You will have a professionally designed site with the functional structure and components to generate business. If the design firm is quality it will be a higher closing rate once visitors come to your site. Many design firms have people versed in marketing that can give you tips on how to bring traffic to your site. This will be priced higher than the other methods but will bring higher results.
7. eMarketing Firm
The final way to get your business online is employing services from an eMarketing firm. These firms provide you an online solution customized to your business model which will include web development, online software application and Internet marketing. This typically is the most expensive out of the seven methods but it is the most complete solution for most business that needs an effective online presence.
Pros:
Cons:
Results:
Once again you will have a professionally designed site with the functional structure and components to generate business. You will also have a marketing plan with strategies to generate business through your site. Return on Investment (ROI) is typically gained in a shorter period of time.
Conclusion
Many have been told the myth, Build a business web site and they will come which proved to fail many businesses eager to expand. To see how to put your business online with no cost you must first understand what cost means in contrast to price. Price defines the amount of purchase where cost represents the end result. To better explain this I will give you an example.
If you paid $100 for a web site that generates you no business in a year then how much did the site cost you?
If you paid $1000 for the same site but that site brought you $100 a month for a year, how much did that site cost?
The first site cost you $100 after a year were the second site paid you $1200 at the end of the year and cost you nothing. Actually the site paid you $200 for having it. Makes sense. The only guaranteed way to get a site for nothing (so to speak) is to have it built right as well as marketed to your targeted market the first time. So decide your method wisely.
You have less than eight seconds to create an impression on your visitor when visiting your website. Be very selective when it comes time to choose the web firm for your website design. Here are ten guidelines and pointers to help you choose the right designers:
1. Do they have a portfolio?
Make sure they have some experience under their belts and unless you want to be a designer's test subject, make sure they have some experience behind them.
2. Can they cater to any type of business?
Look through the portfolio for variety. Do their client's websites all look similar in format and structure? Make sure you are paying for a custom web design service, not a cheap template.
3. How is their response time?
This is vital to the success of your website. Take note of their choice of response (e-mail, phone, fax, instant messenger, chat) and how quickly they can respond to your inquiries. If you prefer to do business over the phone and the designer doesn't, then it's probably best to move on to your next choice.
4. Do they have a contract?
If it's not written - it's not true. Everything should always be put down in writing. Before you sign anything, make sure you read the entire contract, including all the fine print. If you have any questions on anything: ASK! Don't sign a contract unless you understand everything in it. If the company's representative makes you feel awkward or uncomfortable with your "bothersome" questions, then end discussions and find another designer.
5. How reasonable are their prices?
Make sure you get what you pay for and if you are on a budget, that the designer you choose won't exceed it. But it is also important to insure you put plan for extras and have a plan to continually invest into the website's construction. Your website is going to the link between you and your customers, so make sure it is the best it can be. Nowadays, you can find websites for $500, or "package deals" that will "save" you money. You'll soon find that these kinds of deals are like going to McDonald's when you should be going to the grocery's healthy foods section.
If you can't afford for everything you feel your website should have then settle for a smaller website and create it in stages. Don't settle for a cheaper designer. You get what you pay for.
6. Can they help you market your website?
Online marketing is key to your website's success It is best to find a designer that knows how to promote the sites they work on whether it be through search engine optimization, pay-per-click marketing, viral marketing or another method. Ask your design firm what they feel is best for your company. You should feel comfortable in their explanation and reasoning, otherwise ask some other firms what they'd recommend.
7. Are their clients satisfied?
Can you find client testimonials on the site? Don't hesitate to contact their clients to ask for opinions and get their feedback on how their service with that company went. It's your money after all. It's better to spend 15 minutes on the phone than months of hassle and pain with the wrong developer.
8. Are they able to meet all your needs?
Do you want an e-commerce store, Flash elements or a custom web application? Can they do everything you want? The last thing you want is different companies meddling with your website's design. Choose a firm that has the full corporate solution for your needs - whether it's Flash intros or database-driven websites.
9. Can they deliver on time?
Are they willing to meet reasonable deadlines? If you need your site done by a certain date, can the designer you choose get it done by then? Be sure to ask about delivery times when you're on Step #7.
10. Do they take a personal and friendly approach?
Is the designer willing to help and suggest his/her own ideas, or do they robotically go along hoping they got everything you want? It's always best to find a designer that has some ideas of their own, with fresh ideas and that knows their limits and won't insist something be done a certain way if that's not what you want.
Although this article can seem like a no-brainer to some, many companies will often run into difficulties and conflicts within their design process. These are simple yet often overlooked steps, and can be the difference between a rough or smooth design process. Keep this list in mind when looking for a web designer and you should find the right one to create your website!