One of my favorite things to say to clients when I first meet with them is, “let’s make sure we don’t put the cart before the horse.” The reason I say this is because time and time again, client after client, I’ve met individuals that have been in business for months or even years, yet they have fundamentally failed to represent their brand online through a website.
Now, I know this can be a difficult task for start-ups for several reasons, but I can’t stress on how important it is to get a website designed. Your website is the nucleus of your business. It sits at the forefront and represents who you are. With it you can tell your story and get your brand out there for the world to see. Potential customers will look at your site and decide whether to do business with you.
Which brings us to why it’s very important for you to choose the right web design company. But with so many companies out there, how are you supposed to choose right? Here are a handful of things to look for when choosing a web design company.
Make sure they listen to your ideas
The truth is that you’re the master of your craft and the expert in your industry. You also know your products and services and who your intended audiences are. Your web design company should be able to listen to your ideas, create a strategy and then execute based on your feedback. Don’t do business with a designer that won’t take your ideas into account and will just design whatever they want.
Make sure they have their own ideas
Although you do want your ideas to be heard, you also want your designer to have some creativity of their own. After all, that should be their area of expertise; being innovative and creative. Your designer should bring new, unique and exciting ideas to the table that will make you stand out and be recognized. The last thing you want is for your website to be dull and boring.
Make sure they can show you sites they’ve designed that are live
When you’re at the store the main reason companies try to get you to sample their products is because the best way to find out if you want to buy something is to try it. The same thing goes for a web design company. They should be able to lead you to live sites that they have designed. That way you’ll be able to visit them and decide for yourself if they will be a good fit for your brand.
Make sure they design using a content management system (CMS)
Static HTML websites are a thing of the past. Content management systems are important for your website because if needed you’ll be able to go into the system and perform any updates you deem necessary by yourself. A good web design company will be familiar with the best CMS such as WordPress or Magento, and they will be more than qualified to manage your website for you.
Make sure they aren’t extremely cheap
Your website is a vital asset to your business. There’s just no room for shortcuts here. I know it’s tempting to save some money by letting your cousin or friend of a friend design your site, but do you really want it to cost your reputation and business? A web design company that claims they can design a custom site for only $1,000, will probably use a free theme from GoDaddy or Wix and drag and drop your pictures and content. If you’re serious about your website, then you need to be serious about your investment into it. A great website should give you a good return on your investment.
Now that you know a few simple things to look for when choosing a web design company, Pael Digital Marketing would like to be that company. Leave us your information and a Marketing Consultant will contact you shortly.
